Montreal Canadiens: Lighter Slafkovsky Looking To Silence Pundits

Heading into his rookie season, Juraj Slafkovsky had some big expectations given his selection with the first overall pick. He didn’t have an awful year, but to say he met or surpassed Canadiens fans expectations would be an understatement. Pair that with the fact that he was unable to stay healthy, and it added up to a disappointing year for the hulking Slovakian forward.

With a full offseason to get healthy and be better prepared for year two, Slafkovsky got to work. There were videos of him doing some work in Czechia to improve his breathing, which should certainly translate to an improvement in his skating, which wasn’t bad to begin with. He also showed up at the Canadiens annual golf tournament looking visibly smaller, and he explained that he was down to 102-103 kgs, which is roughly 225-227 lbs, compared to the 238 lbs he was last year.

As a first-overall selection, expectations from the get-go are high and often unrealistic. Slafkovsky, though, is his own biggest critic, and given the fact that he used the offseason to build on his successes and improve upon his shortcomings, tells us all we need to know; he intends to hit the ground running in year two. And if he can keep his head up and continue playing the game that earned him all the hype prior to being selected, he should do just fine.

Lighter On His Feet, Slaf Has His Sights Set On Big Year

Slafkovsky was his usual happy-go-lucky self, but the energy he exuded was all business. He isn’t the type to dwell on the past, but he is aware that staying healthy will be the best way for him to perform consistently. There is no question that he has the size and smarts, but now that he has some experience playing in the NHL, he should be able to build on that and find more success.

His powerful skating, heavy shot and physical traits allowed him to show glimpses of his potential during his rookie year. He has the tools to protect the puck, rush the net and blow the puck past opposing goaltenders, and if he can slow the game down a little bit and utilize his teammates, he might find himself in the top six before the end of the season. In the interest of tempering expectations, I think it’s best if he slots in with some veterans to acclimate in year two. With Sean Monahan and Brendan Gallagher on the Canadiens third line, he should benefit from the space that those two can open up and be put in a great position to exceed.

I don’t think it’s a great exercise to predict what his offensive output will be, because I don’t want to limit the level he can reach. I also think that Slafkovsky’s stat line in year two won’t be indicative of what he can achieve at the peak of his development. A word that best describes Slafkovsky is growth, which is exactly what the Canadiens said they were seeking with their selection. Not necessarily the best player now, but the guy who will be the best player in the future.

His rookie year, the first of the Hughes-Gorton era, might have been one with lower expectations, and he did miss out on that opportunity to develop. But, with year two being a year for the team to take a step forward, the pressure will be increased, which will be an excellent way for Slafkovsky to show how vital his offseason work will be for his growth. Regardless of where he plays, the organization believes in him, and they will be patient with the player because the reward that a player of Slafkovsky’s stature will provide the club is worth waiting for.

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