Last night, on the ice and on the bench, Juraj Slafkovský had an expression that spoke volumes.
The young Slovak, who was to be the face of the Canadian’s new generation, was dragging a baboon visible for miles.
Frustrated, annoyed, seeming to wonder what he was doing there, he gave the impression of a child whose favorite toy had just been taken away.
Because for Slafkovský, playing alongside Jake Evans and Alex Newhook is not a gift. He who dreams of shining, of being alongside the stars, finds himself relegated to the shadows, and his frustration oozes with each lazy movement, each disdainful glance in the direction of Martin St-Louis.
His abandonment was obvious on the ice. This is called the frustration of a spoiled gamer…or rather…a spoiled baby…
For observers and fans, it’s impossible not to notice Slafkovsky’s attitude in recent matches.
On the ice, he drags his skates, lacks commitment and seems to avoid contact as if each shock could scratch his fragile ego.
The slightest missed pass is greeted with a shrug, and the looks he gives to his teammates betray deep irritation.
By being removed from the first trio, he seems to have made a decision: make his coach pay, let go and sulk instead of fighting to regain his place.
“Why me? » seem to cry out from his eyes at every moment.
And the fans are seeing more and more clearly the reality behind this child prodigy: Slafkovský is perhaps not the warrior they hoped for, but a young player who has never been so lost under the weight of its privileges.
For those who follow the Canadian closely, signing Slafkovský for eight years at $7.6 million per season is now seen as a monumental management error.
Why offer such a generous contract to a player who has yet to prove anything?
Why stuff a young NHL talent with money and recognition before he has even sweated in the corners of the rink, before he has proven his worth alongside the veterans?
A contract of this magnitude ensures that Slafkovský feels untouchable, a spoiled child who was given everything too quickly. And we see the result night after evening, live from the Bell Center.
Slafkovsky, far from being grateful or motivated, displays a sullen look whenever things don’t go his way.
For him, the game seems to be a simple formality. He is no longer there to fight, to prove anything: he is there because he has already been crowned king.
And what happens when you spoil a child without setting limits? He takes everything for granted and only moves away from the expectations placed on him.
Added to this attitude of a disillusioned young prodigy is a fact that has left its mark on many minds this season: the famous McDonald’s advertisement where Slafkovsky sits, smiling, playing the role of the relaxed athlete.
Paid a huge sum for this advertising appearance, between 100,000 and 120,000 dollars, the young attacker seems to have let the glamor of advertising contracts go to his head.
Instead of focusing on his game, he seems to revel in his status as a burgeoning star, forgetting that success in the NHL is not built on advertising contracts, but on the ice, with hard work and humility .
Fans even talk about the McDonald’s curse – this strange series of evil spells that befall players who participate in the chain’s commercials.
Before him, Jonathan Drouin, Jeff Petry, and even Max Pacioretty all saw their careers collapse after playing the game for the cameras for a few more greenbacks.
And Slafkovsky could well be the last victim of this black series, if he continues to drag out his nonchalance and his disdain for the efforts required.
If Martin St-Louis tried to coach Slafkovsky by offering him simplistic advice – move his feet, play with anticipation – this approach seems to have had the opposite effect.
The coach, by trying to treat his young protégé, nourished this attitude of a spoiled child, allowing Slafkovský to believe himself above reproaches and adjustments.
The result? A baby on the bench, a detached attitude, and increasingly exasperated supporters.
“The last thing you want to do with a spoiled baby is spoil him more.”
And the management of St-Louis, for the moment, has only reinforced this perception of a young talent treated with white gloves, when he would rather need a good lesson in humility.
The contrast between the high expectations placed on Slafkovský and his current behavior is stark. What should have been an inspiring story of a young Slovakian becoming the symbol of a rebuilding team is increasingly turning into a nightmare.
On the networks, comments are pouring in, and fans are expressing disappointment which only increases with each match.
“A sulking overall first choice? And why? Because he’s no longer on the first line? » an Internet user is outraged.
“This guy is a perfect example of everything not to do. »
It’s almost sad to see how the Slafkovsky story in Montreal turned sour so quickly. What could have been an epic tale of determination and success now feels like a lesson in misplaced pride.
For a player who has yet to prove that he deserves the status he has been given, every sulky look, every nonchalant movement becomes a new argument for his detractors.
Slafkovsky is caught in a vicious circle of privilege and laziness, and only a brutal awakening could get him out of it.
Slafkovsky’s path today seems more uncertain than ever. If Martin St-Louis and the team hope to see him one day shine, it will be imperative to change the approach, breaking this spoiled child dynamic which affects not only the player, but also the team spirit.
Slafkovsky must understand that the honor of wearing the blue-white-red sweater is not earned by signing an advertising contract or by sitting on the bench, acting like a fool.
It is won on the ice, with sweat and commitment.
For now, what shines through is a player whose attitude is more like that of a wayward child than that of a rising star.
And as long as nothing changes, the supporters will continue to see in him not the future of CH, but a disappointing, ephemeral mirage, which has only added one more note to the long list of promises broken in Montreal.
How sad.
