The 2024-25 NHL Season is Juraj Slafkovsky's Coming Out Party

When the Montreal Canadiens selected Juraj Slafkovsky first overall in 2022, the hockey world was more than a little surprised. For months, everyone had been talking about de facto first overall pick Shane Wright, and Slafkovsky had been a late riser, with a fantastic international year. But few thought he would make a run at 1st overall, and less thought Wright would fall to 4th.

And while Wright would struggle (and continues to struggle) to make a full time NHL career, Slafkovsky has also not completely seperated himself from the title of worst 1st overall pick in recent memory.

Slafkovsky was brought into the NHL immediately, and did seem to have some growing pains in his game, as is expected from a player in his first professional season. But he never truly got his footing in his first season, and a lower-body injury kept him out of the rest of the season, after 39 games and 10 points.

There were some high points, like his first NHL goal, and the iconic celebration with him and Arber Xhekaj afterwards. But people were looking forward to what Slafkovsky could do when healthy.

And the next year, Slafkovsky did have a healthy season, and put up some decent numbers. He scored 20 goals and 50 points, which in most ways, is a big step forward and was a success. But for a first overall pick, and a Montreal Canadien, a team that hasn't had a first overall pick in decades? There were some that were still questioning his pick.

Well, Juraj Slafkovsky should put those questions to rest this year.

In 4 games in the 2024-25 season so far, Slafkovsky has 1 goal and 3 assists for 4 points. Which is, in an extremely small sample size is a point-per-game pace.

But the biggest step up in his game is not 100% seen on the scoreboard. Slafkovsky is listed at 6'3" 225 pounds, which is big. And he has really been using his size to his advantage, going to the most physical and demanding areas of the ice, and causing a ruckus.

When bringing the puck up the ice, Slafkovsky now has a lot of confidence and has made better decisions with the puck in this young season. Before, there were a lot of plays that died as he played with the puck, but now he is noticeably smart with the puck, either putting the puck into soft zones that will allow the team entry, or using his speed and size to put opposing defenders onto their heels.

That's not to mention his presence on the powerplay, able to distract goalies with his presence in front of the net, and using really good puck skills like his pass to Cole Caufield on the Canadiens' first goal of the season.

He has finally grown into his skills and body, and is quickly becoming the unique power forward that he had always shown the potential for. Barring any major injuries, this should be the year Slafkovsky puts the league on notice, and becomes the league-wide star he was drafted to be.

I don't think it is too much of a stretch to predict a 30+ goal season for Slafkovsky if he keeps up this pace, and 70 points is more than attainable. If Suzuki can get going after a slow start to the season, that would help even more, and the Canadiens finally have a top offensive line that we have been looking for for such a long time now.