The Montreal Canadiens have a young star on their hands, but they might not be seeing the full potential of Juraj Slafkovsky just yet. When the team drafted him first overall in 2022, they knew they were getting a project. Slafkovsky has all the physical tools to be an elite player: his size, speed, and stickhandling ability make him a force to be reckoned with. But, as we've seen, the adjustment to the NHL can be a challenge.
Slafkovsky's performance at the 2022 Olympics and the IIHF World Championship was nothing short of impressive. He was a goal-scoring machine, helping Team Slovakia win their first-ever medal in ice hockey. However, when he arrived in the NHL, he struggled to replicate that success. It's not uncommon for players to face an adjustment period, and Slafkovsky was no exception. He had just four goals and six assists in 39 games before a knee injury sidelined him for the rest of the season.
Over the next two seasons, Slafkovsky showed growth but struggled with consistency. He recorded his first 20-goal, 50-point season in 2023-24, followed up with a 51-point campaign the next year despite the goal total dropping to 18. The potential was there, but too often Slafkovsky would disappear for long stretches of the season. Last season was when everything finally came together. Following a modest start to the season, Slafkovsky’s production exploded once he was paired with Oliver Kapanen and Ivan Demidov. Instead of being just another piece of the puzzle on the top line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, Slafkovsky was spearheading the offense on the second line. He later returned to the first line with Suzuki and Caufield, but brought the newfound confidence with him. He set new career highs in goals (30), assists (43), and points (73).
At times last season, Slafkovsky looked dominant, and even with him setting new career bests, he likely still has another level to his game that he has not reached yet. Slafkovsky proved last season that he can be a catalyst on a line, but it was nothing compared to what he did at the 2026 Olympics in Milano-Cortina. Some dismissed his performance at the Beijing Olympics because NHL players were not allowed to compete. He proved that when he puts on that Slovakia jersey, he is a completely different player. He opened the tournament with a three-point performance, upsetting Finland, who would go on to win the bronze medal. He finished the Olympics with four goals and four assists in six games, showcasing that in the big moments he can be someone you depend on.
At his best, Slafkovsky uses his size and speed to effortlessly break through the neutral zone and create plays off the rush. We see it consistently when he plays with Slovakia. With the Canadiens, sometimes he gets lost. Suzuki and Caufield are clearly the team’s offensive focal points, and it looks like Slafkovsky is ok with deferring to them, while making sure to do all the little things to retrieve the puck. For the Canadiens to be true Stanley Cup contenders, they need Slafkovsky to be an offensive force. For that to be the case, he has to move away from Suzuki and Caufield. It would make the Canadiens harder to play against, giving them two lines to rely on for offense, while also unlocking Slafkovsky’s untapped potential, which we have only witnessed at international tournaments. Slafkovsky has all the tools to be a physical force. The Canadiens need to allow him to show it.
Personally, I think the Canadiens are at their best when Slafkovsky is driving a line. His performance at the Olympics proved that he can be a game-changer, and his size and speed make him a force to be reckoned with. However, the team needs to unlock his full potential. They should allow him to take more initiative and be the offensive catalyst they drafted him to be. If they can do that, they might just see the best of Juraj Slafkovsky yet.
