Juraj Slafkovsky, already in the spotlight for his disappointing performances, decided to go after journalists directly in a recent media outing that left everyone perplexed.
With a condescending tone and an arrogant attitude, the young Canadian forward has dug even deeper the gap that separates him from fans and observers.
“What are you saying? No, I don’t care.”
Faced with a legitimate question asked by Anthony Martineau of TVA Sports on his interest in what the press writes about him, Slafkovsky was merciless:
A cold statement, tinged with contempt, which immediately provoked reactions. While many players use criticism as a lever to improve, Slafkovsky seems to choose to make fun of it, going so far as to ridicule the situation.
“I can only joke about it. We win a match and you write nice things. We lose one and everything goes wrong. It’s quite funny. »
It’s hard to imagine a worse disconnect between a player and the expectations of his team, the media and the fans. But Slafkovsky didn’t stop there. He continued by comparing Canadian media to those of his native Slovakia:
“In Slovakia, everyone translates from English to Slovak and people tag me in posts. I can only laugh about it. I have two good matches, everything is perfect. I have two bad matches, everything is bad. »
The problem ? Slafkovsky doesn’t have “two good games.” His current stats, two goals and five assists in 30 games, speak for themselves.
This outing is not a first for the Slovak. Since his arrival in the NHL, Slafkovsky has made a name for himself with often disconcerting statements.
During a previous interview with The Athletic, he downplayed the expectations placed on him:
“People talk a lot, but I do what I want. »
More recently, after a humiliating 9-2 loss to the Penguins, he responded with contempt to a question about the poor performance put on by the team:
“If you were a fan, would you pay hundreds of dollars to see this team play? »
His response:
“Yes, I would pay. »
A comment that was seen as an insult to fans, especially coming from a player who is struggling to justify his $7.6 million per year contract which will come into effect next season.
Slafkovsky was drafted first overall to become a cornerstone for the Canadiens. But so far he’s playing like a depth player, without any notable impact.
He is unable to use his 6-foot-3, 238-pound frame to physically dominate. As some recruiters have said:
“If he was 5-foot-10, he wouldn’t even be in the NHL. »
His inability to evolve in key moments and his blatant lack of intensity suggest a catastrophe to come. And his public arrogance does nothing to improve his image.
More and more recruiters are expressing doubts about its future:
“It’s slow, heavy, and lacks creativity. »
“For a power forward, he plays very small. »
“He needs to look in the mirror and stop blaming others. »
Tony Marinaro, well known for his strong opinions, recently said:
“Slafkovsky’s contract is a disaster in the making. If he doesn’t wake up, he could be traded within two years. »
The situation is already tense this year, with Slafkovsky taking home $950,000, but the pressure will come to a head next season, with a guaranteed salary of $7.6 million per year.
Fans will not forgive another disastrous start to the season.
Juraj Slafkovsky must understand that patience has limits, whether for fans, the media or even his teammates.
His arrogance and inability to accept criticism could not only ruin his career in Montreal, but also tarnish his reputation throughout the league.
If the Slovakian doesn’t change his approach quickly, he risks becoming one of the biggest flops in recent NHL history.
And the laughter he shares with journalists today could quickly turn to tears.
