Juraj Slafkovský Is Starting to Prove Doubters Wrong

Elite Prospects lead scout David St-Louis breaks down Juraj Slafkovský's progress this season.
This video is part of an article on Juraj Slafkovský's progress:
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[@nutkum8700]

the best thing about him is that he mentally survived the period of haters. He is mentally very well and will not break down

[@TpsTerminator]

He never gived a damn. I remember him at the draft, fans booed him and couple minute later he was cheering whit them, hugging and giving hand shake celebrating with his new partisan!

[@PridajStudio]

I am slovakian and most amazing thing was olympic. He play against some NHL players, he was 17 old and still was outstanding there. Made 7 goals, MVP and medal. He show there what he is able to do and if improve it, je can be one of the best in NHL.😊

[@dangshnizzle6929]

Which was a big argument for why they drafted him.

[@artbosma9985]

Agreed!

[@jerryrikki9466]

Slafkovsky is a good example of how far NHL scouting has come and the competence of montreals management. Even though Shane wright looked like the guy for years, cooley tearing up and Nemec looking like a solid number one defenseman they made the call to get Slafkovsky, the sleeping giant is waking up

[@habsfan9383]

This is why armchair GMs remain armchair GMs. 😂

[@jerryrikki9466]

@@habsfan9383 it's also why some NHL GMs lose their jobs

[@GloxZation]

“The competence of montreals management” Montreal has one of the worst drafting records in the nhl. It’s not a great pick when you have 1st overall. It’s expected for the player to be great. Keep drinking your French kool aid

[@jacoblapointe8181]

@@GloxZationayt name a better 1st rounder in his draft my guy … I’m waiting

[@petrblazek6051]

@@GloxZation Well which player in that 2022 draft would you choose? Wright is still in AHL putting up above average numbers, surely not 1st overall numbers, Cooley has less points and less impact on the games than Slafkovsky so he is not better too, the only other option is Nemec and since Habs had a lot of D prospects at that time and they still have and they needed to fill that winger spot in that first line they choose Slaf. I think it was correct decision, but we will see in about 5 years at least if it was the best one.

[@habsfan9383]

Having this type of hockey sense and physical ability at 19 is unheard of. His passing and visions are elite and he has an above average shot. His ceiling is essentially endless, there was a reason Jagr mentioned he reminded him of himself. This is great news for Montreal!

[@OrphanTraveler97]

Hockey sense ?😂😂😂 funny French boy

[@Hubson.1]

@@OrphanTraveler97you have not watched a habs game then, slaf has eagle vision.

[@samspade4050]

@@OrphanTraveler97 wow you are desperate for attention

[@TheMaestro116]

@@samspade4050 From his adopted parents maybe lmao

[@jeffnador9594]

His vision is average to above average. It’s not elite, in the sense that he doesn’t “make the players around him better” the way that guys like Crosby, Kane, Draisaitl, Marner, Panarin, or Jack Hughes can. Those guys have *elite* vision. Slafkovsky is never going to be quite that breed of player. What I will say, though, is that he does enough other things really well that his vision is certainly good enough to put him on a first line. If he can improve his release, and his 3-step acceleration, I think he’ll be extremely dangerous, even if it’s not entirely because of his vision.

[@slipperynodd578]

One of my favourite qualities about him is his compete, the dude is on eight game point streak, yet he still isn’t satisfied. He wants to win. And and because of that, he’s been practising longer and more than his teammates to get better.

[@jacp5628]

He was PISSED at losing to Washington. Love to see that passion in a lost season

[@marianmarkovic5881]

Another thing he may have common whit Jagr,..

[@hockeyislife7686]

I’m just happy people are respecting him now and appreciating him for his talents

[@plevasseur]

Presque personne voyait son réel potentiel, c'est fou. Éric Bélanger qui disait que son hockey IQ était à 2 sur 5. Un analyste quelconque qui chialait parce que Slaf se mettait en option de tir sur réception sur l'avantage numérique, en disant que c'qu'on voulait de lui, c'tait simplement qu'il se mette en face du filet pour faire écran et ramasser des rondelles. Parce que c'est yink un "gros bonhomme". Gaston Therrien qui disait que si on était chanceux, Slaf deviendrait un joueur comme Anderson. Latendresse qui disait que Slaf devait apprendre à garder ça simple, arrêter ses feintes de pee-wee pis juste se crisser devant l'net pour avoir des garbage goals. Allez péter, pour vrai.

[@Oli-sc4ib]

Bref, trois analystes qui devrait pas analyser... surtout les deux premiers!

[@TpsTerminator]

Quand j'ai entendu le Belly dire que Slaf était un 2 sur 5 en I.Q, j'ai compris pourquoi il avait perdu sa job avec les Lions de Trois-Rivières. Heille pendant 1 ans c'est ce cabochon la qui gérais nos jeunes de la ECHL...VOIR. Et Gaston Therriens, il a coacher Junior Majeur. Sérieux, c'est inimaginable, il doit avoir scrappé tellement de développement... l'autre jour il disait que Caufield était lâche. Heille faut tu etre un sale.... Bref un autre qui mérite de perde ca job... Entk, Slaf je le connais depuis sont premier championnat U18. Avec Simon Nemec s'était les seules joueur de 15 ans du tournoi. Quand on la drafté j'ai hurler de joie. J'ai jamais eu de doute a son sujet, au contraire haha

[@MayorRobFord2]

en même temps, faut être moyen épais pour écouter ce que deux plombiers comme Latendresse et Lapierre ont à dire sur la game

[@TheGreekPoet]

Great analysis as usual, David. Kid has unlimited ceiling at this point considering how fast and in how many ways he's improving, and still only 19. Nothing is out of the question for him, IMO.

[@davidst-louis8315]

Thank you!

[@martinlatour9311]

Great analysis. As a Habs fan I'm super stoked seeing Slaf growing into the player we were hoping he would be. Really pushed his play to the next level this year. Our first line has been the only shining light this season but it feels good knowing the future looks bright

[@lukaskaciasvili9351]

This is Gold. What a great analysis. Am happy to find this channel.

[@davidst-louis8315]

Thank you!

[@BubbleGumPlant]

Enjoy the video but there was no mention about his defensive prowess and more importantly his compete. At age 19, he is already a complete 200 foot player and showing why he went #1.

[@MayorRobFord2]

I mean, it’s something that even his biggest haters couldn’t shit on, he was one of the best defensive forward for the Habs since his first game, it just happen that people are now shedding light on the offensive spectrum of the game, but there isn’t much to say about the defensive spectrum since he’s already a power house in that regard

[@jancihamara]

Thank you for this fantastic analysis, great materials for haters calling him a "bust" before even finishing his first full season.

[@davidst-louis8315]

Thank you!

[@genestdaniel9882]

I'm happy to see his confidence being reinforced. He improved his puck management speed and handling, Montréal have no other choice than to put him in a good position for producing if Montréal wants him to reach a first pick potential. Happy for the kid, thats good news!

[@janholka2500]

Juraj ( Slaf🙂),držíme palce 👍, kto si myslel, že bude hneď hviezda, ani náhodou, celkove v mladom veku sa všetkému prispôsobiť..., koľko podobných mladých hviezd odišlo do zabudnutia... Zaradenie do 1. postupne..,bola skvelá práca, mladí sa musia učiť od starších, a potom rastú a lepšie vedia presadiť svoj talent , tak to bolo, aj bude, česť výnimkám👍. Habs , niekedy ikona, sa potáca na dne, čo je smutné, táto legendárna značka by mala byť vždy v popredí, budujú mladý , snáď perspektívny tým, majú dobrú chėmiu.👍👌💪

[@hockeyislife7686]

Slafkovsky single handedly improved the Canadiens powerplay with his IQ, vision and his ability to keep the puck in the zone and complete on the tape passes

[@toddlauretteHabsFan]

Great video and analysis. Thanks, loving slaf, can't wait to see him in a few years, hopefully we will have some more offense then, it'd be nice to have 4 strong lines. We r competing with one!

[@ThompsonExpress]

My man literally as eyes behind his back. This dude reads the ice like an open book and constantly make the smartest move to give himself and his teammate the best scoring chance possible. Glad this guy is on our team

[@laurent29093]

this kid rolled a 100 on genetics

[@dan7291able]

Great video bud, great analysis too

[@SpiritoftheWoods863]

The best thing about Slafzilla is - He's a HAB!!

[@art333-dg8dd]

i must say i am pleasantly surprised, the first half of the season he was too nervous .,not playing his game and he did not want the puck, now he is provoking players making them loose the puck aand he has gained confidense, he might be on his way to become a star.

[@matthewcolitti8456]

crazy that people called him a bust lmao

[@user-bi6cl9rt9o]

Too many people think that being a contrarian is a sign of knowledge.

[@user-bi6cl9rt9o]

This is very nice. Real hockey analysis. I'm subscribing.

[@electrohouselover07]

Great video sir! Boy feels like forever since I clicked on one of your videos... I feel a bit bad cause I missed a few... Well hey that only means I'll have something to watch this week hehe I'll get you that beer one day M.St-Louis!

[@davidst-louis8315]

I see you around! Maybe one day. Thanks for watching :)

[@DontBeClueless514]

0:45, to whoever is the narrator of the video, you can say it, its not easy when your linemate is Josh Anderson, mister I can't make a fucking play or set up a teammate or have any vision or do anything else than take a shot in the goaler's logo. I've grown to despise Anderson so much. Would be the perfect 4th liner at 2-3 millions per season tho.

[@5aturnia]

Good video. He’s a great player. Coming from a flames fan

[@artbosma9985]

This video is awesome, its great to see the young man battle through such mental adversity with all the haters out there and he is only 19.

[@moviestoshare813]

David, you truly are the best

[@tremblay89]

Bon contenu intelligent! Bravo!

[@davidst-louis8315]

Merci :)

[@simonpoirier8213]

Only time will reaveal us how hight Slafkovsky's ceiling really is but what I like the most is that he looks like a player that is build for Playoff. Hockey is more physical and the player must create their own space on ice. I'm really curious to see the Habs in 2 or 3 years.

[@frankhuber9912]

The game is played between the ears. He conquered his insecurity and his anxiety. We are witnessing the result.

[@mathieuroy1301]

He's the best example of why more NHL teams should draft what they need instead of going for the numbers. If Montreal had drafted Shane Wright or Cooley, they would be 4th line center next season. But because they went for what they lacked, he's already on the first line. Of course sometimes it fails (i.e. kotkaniemi) but it's still the best way to develop your prospects. That's how NFL teams draft.

[@channeleverydaythings3195]

Sign him Lets Gooo!!! GHG!!!!

[@keke3440]

I remember a game where he made a little bit of obstruction on Ovechkin to give an extra second to the defenseman who scored. He had no point on the play, but was a big reason why they scored

[@WillMuny]

Funny how time proves all things, not opinions. 3 months ago this guy was a bust and now one can easily argue he is the best player so far from this draft class, also he has the highest ceiling.

[@TpsTerminator]

he never been a bust... none can be before 25

[@___xvr___]

Future Mikko Rantanen right there

[@adamzaofficial3266]

Well good for him and the club, he's the definition of patience

[@mookiller779]

Great breakdown

[@djmashmart]

we all like him no debates

[@Hubson.1]

the only change in his game is confidence, just watching the stat lines from game to game you can see an exponential incline.

[@TpsTerminator]

Great job buddy

[@user-pm3bx2ee4q]

Whoever is breaking down these clips, props to you! You should be on TVA or RDS and replace some of those hacks who do analysis. Way to go. Another point is that Juraj himself joked after being drafted that he’d be a good fit on the wing with Suzuki and Caufield. I guess he’s smart enough to have seen the fit even back then

[@travelista7572]

He didn't say that after draft, but prior the draft, during Combine interview. I guess they asked him why should they choose him and he said "I heard Suzuki and Caufield need a linemate. I am here if you want me". I loved that answer (and they apparently too). I knew he's been their guy since then.

[@HunterMagunter]

Kid is a stud

[@catchdafever9207]

A star in a making...Go habs Go!

[@louisfred]

I'd like to see defenceman plays : d zone coverage, break down plays, etc.

[@natedawg3654]

He looks like he'll be 1 piece of an eventual nice 1st line. Montreal still needs 1-2 high end forwards to bumb Suzuki and Caufield down the lineup a bit.

[@muizzzmehrii7714]

He reminds me of prime Mark Stone tbh. With how he distrups the offense so much

[@HabsTypeBeat]

Mark Stone ain’t bad. Similar in some ways, not sure he has the upside defensively as Stone, but he’s going to be very good on that side of the puck. He has better tools than Stone though. His offensive ceiling is quite a bit higher.

[@olivierpeartnoy]

0:40 When your linemates are.... Josh Anderson

[@Taooflu]

His back checks are really strong and consistent.

[@maximusrusso8758]

Video too short

[@bionicnarwhal7709]

Can you do one on Alexis Lafreniere pls?

[@davidst-louis8315]

I could! I'll add it to the list.

[@bionicnarwhal7709]

@@davidst-louis8315 lets goooo ty haha. Love the content 👍

[@marianmarkovic5881]

I like Craig Ramsey comentary about hist first few matches in NHL (in time everyone want send him to farm). Slavkovsky needs better teamates to shine. And hell, old man was right. Also 4:10 ,... how, just how did you fuck this up?

[@damsquare-nh4md]

It's ridiculous that there were doubters at all to begin with. What were they expecting from an EIGHTEEN YEAR OLD in his first NHL season? Hockey fans sometimes ... Geez.

[@Caylemfarquhar1]

W

[@mtlnascarfan]

Where the hell have you been for the last few months? Slaf has been proving the doubters wrong for a LONG time.

[@668771]

Anyone who doubted this pick should watch a different sport. Anyone who thought Shane Wright was going to be great should stop ranking players. I said it from day 1, Slaf was the top pick and Wright was a bust. Said it over a year before the draft.

[@lucasgillbergkling8667]

These plays are reminiscent of watching Kucherov

[@dan7291able]

I was thinking the same thing honestly, a 6"4 kucherov ffs lmao

[@TheN0VASNHL24team]

You know, Juraj gave me mad KK vibes, And I really thought that he might bust but let me tell you hesbgreat

[@baibamennika4480]

For hockey player Long ha ds not lega are advantage, hockey is not Ballet))

[@HandShakeLineRespect]

16 goals in 94 games 🤣

[@Mehole29]

on the devils example his LACK of hockey iq costed them a goal. easy tap in for suzuki there

[@baibamennika4480]

He with his height and body can be so easily blocked (

[@MuhammadZegras]

Gee who would’ve thought his 18 y/o rookie year wouldn’t be his peak?

[@KP-wt8qr]

30 points in 55 games...Habs fans really desperate to push an agenda on this one I see 🤣

[@theonlyraid8372]

That is such a surface level take. He started with like 10 points and has been like PPG for the last 20. He is doing really well for a 19 year old and we are absolutely not crazy for hyping him up.

[@KP-wt8qr]

@@theonlyraid8372 I mean 2022 was a very weak draft class, the fact he went #1 overall is enough said as it is. But the guy is a -11 and has a pedestrian 12 goals in 55 games, he'll be a serviceable 2nd-3rd liner for his career. Which is ok I suppose.

[@theonlyraid8372]

@@KP-wt8qr I would argue that is where he is right now. His potential is certainly higher. plus minus is also flawed since the team is terrible

[@slipperynodd578]

@@KP-wt8qrIf you want people to take you seriously, don’t have your opening argument of the comment be +/- 😂

[@KP-wt8qr]

@@slipperynodd578 Montreal is a franchise with no past and no future, the definition of poverty.

[@sonanagyova1640]

Ani neviete ešte akého hráča máte slaf vám to ešte len ukáže ako Slováci hrajú hokej

[@user-bi6cl9rt9o]

Well, it works. Thanks Slovakia. Next: Filip Mešár. 😊

[@TpsTerminator]

For Slaf, following him since he is 15... I know buddy, i know, not worries. We have got Stastny here (and nearly got Gaborik in my junior team) so we know as well about Slovaci, haha

[@robertmatus6859]

Už začínajú tušiť!,😎

[@Hubson.1]

how do you say daddy slaf in slovak?

[@lacidarnadi5503]

Tatko Slaf​@@Hubson.1

[@OrphanTraveler97]

If we did a real break down and showed his best options and his decision taking... yall would realized he takes the safest decision and options not always the best options since he knows he cant make those fancy plays. Which yes is his biggest strenght at the moment also making him look good. Yet to claim hes excllent is a stretch hes average at best. As long as he keeps playing safe taking smart decisions and knowing he cant make those fancy plays he will have a somewhat decent run with mtl.. if he thinks he can start making those fancy plays playing out of his skill set as ppl will demand from him... its his downfall. Which in mtl is inevitable just what it is.

[@MarvoloRipley]

Okay boss, whatever your expert-brain-scout-20yearsintheNHL says 🙂

[@samspade4050]

What a ridiculous opinion

[@OrphanTraveler97]

Hockey sense what hockey sense? Hes making simple decision not doing anything special. Hes plahing safe hockey staying in position. Is not playing ahead of the game. Yall bugging. Hes following the game yes... is he ahead of the game.. nope sorry.

[@MarvoloRipley]

Imagine being such a hater of 19y.o. kid who's evolving into NHL star that you need to comment your armchair GM bs under these vids. RENT FREE IN YOUR HEAD boy 😂😂😂

[@samspade4050]

With your tremendous foresight I’m amazed you aren’t a nhl scout but instead you took the route of social media troll

[@HandShakeLineRespect]

He’s going to be an average player at best.

[@trevmac8362]

He stinks

[@jobeaudoin10]

Your smelling yourself i'm affraid.