Juraj Slafkovsky doing all that he can to help the team win
Juraj Slafkovsky backs up his teammates and even used his frame to screen the opposing goalie. He is developing into exactly what the Habs thought he would be.
The Montreal Canadiens won't know what they have with Juraj Slafkovsky for a while, but they know he is flourishing in front of us.
Whatever he has to do to help the team, you name it and he will likely do it. The team comes first and if that means fighting, blocking shots or throwing hits he will do it. Even screening the goalie with his large frame and doing what he can to create havoc in the opposition's crease is not off-limits.
Juraj Slafkovsky is the ultimate team player.
— William Leblanc (@xwleblancx) October 10, 2024
Absolute dog https://t.co/n89snQEyo6
The photo above is pretty wild, but it shows that Slafkovsky will do all he can to gain an advantage. While he hasn't found the scoresheet yet (it's only been two games), Slafkovsky is doing all the little things right. Even his preseason fight showed that Slafkovsky would do anything to win and bring energy to the team.
It's promising to see the 20-year-old doing work all over the ice, showing he can be impactful away from the scoresheet. Ideally, you would like to see a goal or two, but Slafkovsky isn't coasting, he is very engaged. Thankfully for the Canadiens, Slafkovsky has yet to ignite, but when he does, the Habs will be better for it.
What's to come?
It's a little frustrating that Slafkovsky hasn't found a way to score yet, but I don't think that it's for lack of trying. With that said, it would be a huge boost to the Canadiens' offence if he could. Nick Suzuki and Slafkovsky have started quite slow, which was fine in game one, but the Boston Bruins flexed hard on the Habs in their 6-4 win on Thursday night.
I would be surprised if the Habs didn't come back with a fighter's mentality to get back in the win column on the first Saturday night game of the new season. Slafkovsky just needs that first one and once he gets it, I suspect that the floodgates will open. Cole Caufield has a goal in both of the Habs games and once the trio can find their stride, I think they will all have personal bests this season.
I think that Slafkovsky could reach 70 points this season and the power play will go a long way in ensuring that. With Lane Hutson hopefully on the number one unit soon enough, the creativity that has been lacking will go a long way. Like Andrei Markov before him, Hutson will be the perfect setup man, and if Slafkovsky stays trigger happy, it's attainable.
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