For the Canadian, Juraj Slafkovský is a big piece in the attacking group. The one who has just signed a big eight-year contract is seen as part of the solution, and his development is essential for the future of the club.
He was a first overall pick, after all.
That said, this season it’s not necessarily easy for him on the ice. He doesn’t play bad hockey, but we feel that he is capable of giving more.
It is therefore up to him to find solutions, but also up to his trainer to help him get out of all this. And at a press briefing today, Martin St-Louis decided to challenger a little about his young attacker:
He has to move his feet, and he has to be more direct in the way he does it. […] It starts with him, he must anticipate the game better and move his feet. – Martin St-Louis
The question is around 38:30 of the following video, for those who want to hear it.
It’s interesting to hear that because yesterday, the young Slovakian admitted in his blog that he is not always the easiest player to manage and that he is often challenge by his trainer. Both do it in a spirit of dialogue and collaboration, but St-Louis is not afraid to push its young attacker.
It’s a good way to get the best out of him, after all.
The coach notes that he is confident that from the moment Slavs will move his feet more, good things will start to happen more regularly. It’s not necessarily a huge change, but it would make him a much more active player… and that’s a good way to get opportunities in a match.
The question now is to see if Slafkovský will live up to his coach’s challenge. We know he is capable of being a dominant player in a match, and if he is really only one or two small adjustments away from being that, I hope that his coach’s comments this morning will lead to results on the ice.
As St-Louis said, it’s up to him to prove it now.
In burst
– The coach is looking forward to seeing Patrik Laine in a real sweater of practice.
– Certainly.
– Phew.
– What a stop!
– The tossed of the day.
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