Since his arrival in Montreal, Juraj Slafkovsky seems to be evolving under a microscope.
The pressure of being the very first pick in the 2022 draft is overwhelming, and every move of the young Slovakian is analyzed, dissected, criticized.
But since signing his lucrative eight-year, $7.6 million per year contract, it’s not just his performance on the ice that’s been talked about.
His personal life, in particular his relationship with a waitress from the famous Flyjin, Angélie Bourgeois-Pelletier, also raises questions.
Flyjin, a trendy restaurant-bar in Old Montreal, is known for attracting a festive and sophisticated clientele. What surfaced recently is that Slafkovsky’s partner is said to be working there.
The information was reported by columnist Jean Trudel, alias JT Utah, on social networks, launching a series of debates on the young striker’s priorities.
The question asked in the Stanley25 podcast is straightforward: could the nightlife of his girlfriend, who ends her evenings at 4 a.m., harm Slafkovsky’s concentration?
The video extract is as crisp as possible:
“If his girlfriend comes home at 4 a.m. after her shift, how can he be in top shape for morning workouts at the CN Complex in Brossard? The little details make all the difference when you’re playing against the best in the world. »
Jean Trudel is of the opposite opinion.
“Anyway, CH players don’t go to sleep before 2-3 a.m. after matches. It’s better for him to have just one girlfriend instead of running around. At least his girlfriend can take care of him during the weekend. »
However, for a team like the Canadian, looking for consistency and progress, off-ice distractions can become a cause for concern, especially when performances are not up to par.
What annoys the media and fans even more is Slafkovsky’s arrogant attitude when speaking out about his situation.
This attitude, far from easing tensions, fuels criticism.
The Montreal media don’t like players who place themselves above the fray without having proven their worth.
With his new contract, Slafkovsky is now paid like an NHL star. But his performance, below expectations, highlights a brutal truth: he is still far from being the power forward that Montreal hoped for.
His imposing stature (6-foot-3, 225 pounds) seems useless when he plays without intensity, avoiding hot zones and rarely throwing at the net.
Marc de Foy of the Journal de Montréal summed up the situation scathingly:
“He doesn’t display the combativeness of a power forward. He is passive along the boards and he doesn’t shoot enough at the net. »
And fans, already frustrated, are starting to wonder if the Canadian didn’t make a mistake by offering such a generous contract to a player who only showed half a promising season.
Coach Martin St-Louis, for his part, refuses to openly criticize his protégé. He even quoted Muhammad Ali in a press conference, emphasizing that:
“Champions are built when no one is watching. »
While this approach is intended to protect Slafkovsky from outside criticism, it could also send him the wrong message.
The patience of fans and the media is limited, especially in Montreal, where the expectations for young players are enormous.
For Juraj Slafkovsky, the room for maneuver is narrowing. Fans, already exasperated by his performance and attitude, will not wait forever for him to transform into an impact player.
The NHL is a cutthroat league, and if Slafkovsky doesn’t show signs of improvement soon, he could well become the face of the Canadiens’ broken promises.
At 20, he still has time to turn things around, but he will have to learn to manage pressure, stay focused, and, above all, prove that his place is on the ice, and not at the heart of controversies off the ice. hockey.
Opinions differ on the real impact of this relationship on Slafkovsky. For some, the pace of life associated with a relationship with a late-working waitress is detrimental to their recovery and, potentially, their performance. At 20 years old, Slafkovsky still has a lot to learn about the importance of a strict routine and rigorous discipline to maximize his potential.
Others believe these speculations are unfair and misplaced. Blaming his partner for his current struggles is an easy shortcut that distracts from the real issues: a lack of consistency, high expectations, and immense pressure from his $7.6 million per season contract starting this year. next year.
The parallel with other players
Slafkovsky’s story is not unique. Montreal has often been the scene of debates on the personal lives of Canadiens players. From Brendan Gallagher, married to a Quebecer, to Alex Galchenyuk, whose relationship with Chanel found itself at the heart of gossip, the city is known for scrutinizing the smallest aspects of athletes’ lives.
However, comparing Slafkovsky to players like Galchenyuk, who has experienced personal and professional setbacks, seems premature. Slafkovsky is still young, and his relationship could just as easily provide him with welcome stability in an environment as demanding as Montreal’s.
A challenge on and off the ice
The real problem for Slafkovsky may lie elsewhere. With just two goals and 13 assists in 26 games this season, his performances have fallen far short of expectations. The pressure associated with his status as the No. 1 overall draft pick and his lucrative upcoming contract is already immense, and it will only increase.
Martin St-Louis, his coach, refuses to panic, but even he recognizes that Slafkovsky must raise his level of play:
“He needs to find consistency and maximize his physical assets. Production will follow if the process is good. »
For Slafkovsky, the challenge is clear: to prove that he deserves the trust that the organization has placed in him. This not only means improving your performance on the ice, but also managing your personal life intelligently.
Lessons to learn
The debate surrounding Slafkovsky and his relationship highlights a universal reality in sports: Athletes, especially young ones, must navigate high professional expectations and a personal life that can sometimes attract disproportionate attention.
For some, his relationship with Angélie is a distraction that harms his development. For others, it is an aspect of their life that can offer them a necessary balance in an environment where pressure is constant.
Slafkovsky will quickly have to show that he can juggle these aspects of his life while still meeting expectations. Montreal is a passionate, but unforgiving city. If his performances do not improve, criticism will continue to rain down, whether on his game or his personal life.
Juraj Slafkovsky’s future in the NHL will depend on his ability to quell doubts, on and off the ice. A difficult task, but not impossible, for a young player still in search of his full potential.
Opinions differ on the real impact of this relationship on Slafkovsky. For some, the pace of life associated with a relationship with a late-working waitress is detrimental to their recovery and, potentially, their performance.
At 20 years old, Slafkovsky still has a lot to learn about the importance of a strict routine and rigorous discipline to maximize his potential.
Others believe these speculations are unfair and misplaced. Blaming his partner for his current struggles is an easy shortcut that distracts from the real issues: a lack of consistency, high expectations, and immense pressure from his $7.6 million per season contract starting this year. next year.
Slafkovsky’s story is not unique. Montreal has often been the scene of debates on the personal lives of Canadiens players.
From Brendan Gallagher, married to a Quebecer, to Alex Galchenyuk, whose relationship with Chanel, a waitress at Parée, found itself at the heart of gossip, the city is known for scrutinizing the smallest aspects of the lives of athletes.
However, comparing Slafkovsky to players like Galchenyuk, who has experienced personal and professional setbacks, seems premature.
Slafkovsky is still young, and his relationship could just as easily provide him with welcome stability in an environment as demanding as Montreal’s.
Martin St-Louis, his coach, refuses to panic, but even he recognizes that Slafkovsky must raise his level of play:
“He needs to find consistency and maximize his physical assets. Production will follow if the process is good. »
For Slafkovsky, the challenge is clear: to prove that he deserves the trust that the organization has placed in him. This not only means improving your performance on the ice, but also managing your personal life intelligently.
For some, his relationship with Angélie is a distraction that harms his development. For others, it is an aspect of their life that can offer them a necessary balance in an environment where pressure is constant.
Slafkovsky will quickly have to show that he can juggle these aspects of his life while still meeting expectations.
Montreal is a passionate, but unforgiving city. If his performances do not improve, criticism will continue to rain down, whether on his game or his personal life.
He is warned. His girlfriend too.
