Nothing seems to be going well for Juraj Slafkovsky. The 20-year-old forward, first pick in the 2022 draft, is going through a dark period just as the Montreal Canadiens are on fire.
Cruel irony, Slafkovsky, supposed to embody the glorious future of CH, is today considered the worst player on the team, and this for a second consecutive match.
A rarity that arouses frustration and indignation among supporters.
Slafkovsky is a ghost on the ice,
Unable to win his battles along the ramps, he drags his skates. He is amorphous. Like he didn’t want to fight.
Bravo to Martin St-Louis for making him warm up the bench, because Caufield’s goal was scored when Jake Evans was on the ice in place of Slaf.
Slovak is extinct. On the ice, he seems lost, unable to keep up with the pace of a team that has a string of incredible performances.
His lack of offensive production is glaring, and his confidence seems to be in free fall. But above all, his effort is non-existent. He is a giant…who plays like a dwarf…
The situation came to a head in the last game, where coach Martin St-Louis benched him for the second half of the third period and overtime.
A strong decision which says a lot about the current state of the Slovak winger.
It’s not just about numbers; it’s a question of impact. Slafkovsky cannot use his size and physique to impose his game, and his decisions on the ice often leave something to be desired.
The expectations that weighed on his shoulders now seem to turn into an unbearable weight.
In this context, the rumors surrounding Alexis Lafrenière in New York take a particular turn in Montreal.
Lafrenière, although also criticized for his uneven development with the Rangers, remains a talented player with several seasons of experience in the NHL.
The Rangers, for their part, are desperate to add a power forward to their roster.
The idea of an exchange between Slafkovsky and Lafrenière therefore began to germinate in the minds of the partisans. After all, Lafrenière is a Quebec product, a former first-round draft pick who could benefit from a change of scenery and a less hostile environment than New York.
For Slafkovsky, leaving Montreal for New York could also represent an opportunity to start fresh, away from Montreal’s stifling spotlight.
The question divides. On one hand, angry fans believe that Slafkovsky is a failure in the making, and that the Canadian should capitalize on his current value before it drops further.
And above all, get rid of his contract of $7.6 million per year for the next 8 seasons.
On the other hand, some point out that the Slovak is only 20 years old and that it is premature to draw conclusions about his long-term potential.
The Rangers, meanwhile, could see Slafkovsky as a solution to their physical problems on the wing, while the Canadiens would get a player more ready to contribute immediately.
However, this trade would be risky for both teams, as it would involve giving up very high hopes. But we’re talking about two very first picks in total.
Nothing could be more logical as a transaction.
Slafkovsky is at a crossroads. Its development is regressing, and criticism is intensifying. Meanwhile, Lafrenière represents a unique opportunity for Montreal, but also a risk.
The trade question divides, but one thing is certain: time is running out for the Slovak, and the Canadian will quickly have to decide if he is still in their long-term plans.
In this drama where expectations crush young talents, our thoughts go to Juraj Slafkovsky, who must find the strength to bounce back in an environment where pressure is omnipresent.
Whether he stays in Montreal or leaves for New York, one thing is clear: the sky must clear for this young man, before his career suffers irreparable damage.
Juraj Slafkovsky’s situation continues to worsen, and the very idea of a trade with Alexis Lafrenière illustrates the extent to which more and more fans’ confidence in him is collapsing.
We wonder how Kent Hughes who awarded him this monstrous contract feels.
However, what is even more shocking is Slafkovsky’s attitude towards this adversity.
Since his arrival in Montreal, the young Slovak has displayed a misplaced arrogance which is starting to irritate the fans as much as the leaders.
He seems to ignore the seriousness of his situation and continues to bring up his past moments of glory, as if they could erase his current performances.
Recall this scathing statement where he asserted that he “does not care about criticism from the media and supporters”.
An attitude perceived as haughty, especially in a market like Montreal, where fans and journalists live for their team.
His recent interactions with the media have reinforced this image of a disconnected player. On several occasions, he tried to minimize his errors, claiming that “statistics do not tell everything” or that “criticism is always black or white, never nuanced”.
A posture which, in the context of his poor performances, sounds hollow and irritating.
Slafkovsky’s intimate relationship with a waitress at Flyjin also raises questions about his pace of life.
While NHL players must optimize every detail of their daily life to perform, the choice of being around someone who works late at night is seen by some as a potential distraction.
Comparisons with players like Alex Galchenyuk, known for his nights out in Montreal, are not flattering.
Galchenyuk, once seen as a promising prospect, is now an example of a wasted career, in part due to a lack of off-ice discipline.
Perhaps most concerning is Slafkovsky’s impact on team unity.
Friday night, captain Nick Suzuki was seen shouting at him on the bench, a rare scene for a player who is usually reserved and discreet. This tense exchange demonstrates a growing frustration within the locker room.
Well-known expert Pierre McGuire summed up the situation by saying that Slafkovsky had simply “abandoned his teammates.”
A difficult observation to accept for a team which counts on him as a pillar of its future.
Yesterday in Colorado was even worse than in Chicago. Slafkovsky has no desire to sacrifice himself on the ice. Martin St-Louis can no longer accept it.
In this context, the idea of exchanging Slafkovsky for Alexis Lafrenière is taking up more and more space in the discussions…and is increasingly exciting Quebec.
Lafrenière, despite his own struggles in New York, is a local player who would bring a breath of fresh air and a Quebec identity to a team on the verge of qualifying for the playoffs.
Imagine how much the Bell Center would vibrate.
However, it would also be a risky bet. Slafkovsky, at just 20 years old, remains a player with rare physique and potential with many more intangibles than Lafrenière.
But how much longer can the Canadian wait for it to develop?
Laffy has something that Slaf doesn’t: stability and humility
On the Rangers side, the addition of Slafkovsky could fill a glaring need for physical impact on the wings. But would you be willing to trade one broken promise for another?
This is the dilemma facing both teams.
Slafkovsky finds himself at a critical juncture in his young career. If he does not quickly show signs of progress, discussions around his future could quickly turn into concrete actions on the transaction market.
And in a market as unforgiving as Montreal, there will be no second chances.
For a player supposed to embody the future of the Canadian, it is time to prove that he has his place not only on the ice, but also in the hearts of fans.
Otherwise, Juraj Slafkovsky’s story could end much sooner than expected, and probably far from Montreal.
