In the 2022 entry draft, Juraj Slafkovský became the Montreal Canadiens’ first No.1 overall draft pick since 1980. In his first three seasons, he showed flashes of why he earned the right to be taken with the top-overall selection. However, inconsistency has held him back from truly breaking out.
Slafkovský is now in his fourth season and entering the first year of his new $60 million contract. Now, it’s beginning to look like he can cement himself as a star in the NHL.
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2022 Draft Lead Up
The 2022 draft held in Montreal marked a new turn for the host city’s franchise.
The season after the underdog Canadiens fought their way to the Stanley Cup final, they found themselves in a position Habs fans couldn’t have seen coming. The team stumbled out of the gates and never recovered from its poor start. As a result, Head Coach Dominique Ducharme was fired during what was expected to be his first full season leading the Canadiens.
Montreal was selected to host the draft. Barring any surprises in the draft lottery, it seemed quite clear that the Canadiens would have the top selection. For most of the year leading up to the draft, it looked like Shane Wright was the sure-fire top choice. It’s clear to see why scouts were so interested in him. As an 18-year-old, he put up 94 points in just 63 games of the OHL regular season.
Even with a solid season from Wright, Slafkovský stole the spotlight. Ranked anywhere from the top five to the mid‑teens in prospect lists before the 2022 Winter Olympics, the Slovakian native decided to rewrite his narrative.
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Slafkovský’s 2022 International Play
Since NHL players weren’t present for the 2022 Beijing Olympics, the spotlight allowed younger talents to be able to rise to the top on the international stage. As a 17-year-old, Slafkovský not only made the Slovakian Olympic team, but led the tournament in goals and points. This performance helped Slovakia secure its first Olympic medal in men’s hockey. Slafkovský received the tournament MVP honors.
After catching scouts’ attention with his Olympic performance, teams now wanted to see how he would fare at the IIHF World Championships that summer. Now with the MVP under his belt, the World Championships offered a chance to see him against active NHL players.
Yet again, teams got to see flashes of what could be a potential top-end power forward. At the World Championships, he totaled another nine points in eight games. As an 18-year-old prospect, he showed that the spotlight wasn’t too much for him. And in Montreal, a city that treats hockey as religion, there is no more valuable trait than craving the moment.
A Slow Start
The Candaiens decided it was best for their top prospect to play for the big club in the season after his first-overall selection. With the team beginning a rebuild, an eighth-place finish in the Atlantic division wasn’t an overwhelming surprise. Unfortunately for Slafkovský, his season was cut short due to a lower-body injury. The 18-year-old saw just 39 games of action and totaled 10 points.
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With his slow rookie season, expectations were tempered for his second year. After starting with only 15 points in the first 42 games of the sophomore year, fans began to wonder if the adjustment to the NHL was too much for him to handle.
Just when it looked as though the Canadiens might have taken too big a risk on the Slovakian forward, he proved his potential. He showed that he could turn into something special.
In the last 40 games of the season, the man now given the nickname “second half Slaf” by fans registered 35 points. After a strong finish to the season, Canadiens brass rewarded Slafkovský with a contract extension. He signed an eight-year deal worth $60.8 million.
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Slafkovský’s Year 3
Juraj Slafkovský’s third season in the NHL looked a little too familiar for Habs fans. With 51 points in 79 games, his production was nearly identical to the previous season. The difference? Montreal’s top line was the best in hockey for 2024-25. According to moneypuck, no line scored more goals in the regular season than Montreal’s trio of Suzuki, Caufield, and Slafkovský.
Montreal was back in the playoffs for the first time since its Stanley Cup final run; however, the Canadiens’ playoff run was cut short. After only five games, the Washington Capitals ended their season.
But for the second youngest team in the league, there is no more valuable experience than playoff hockey.
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Time for the Next Step
Now in Slafkovský’s fourth season and first of his new extension, it was time for him to take the next step in his development. He’s answered the call in a major way.
With over 20 games left in the regular season, Slafkovský has already set a career high in goals. While the jump in production has been a great sign of progress, it hasn’t been the only noticeable change to his game.
Slafkovský went from being the third option on the top line to becoming a play driver expected to produce with two rookie linemates. Not only has this helped elevate his game, but it has also given Montreal stability in the middle of their lineup. He’s now tiptoeing the line between a solid NHLer and a game breaker at just 21 years old.
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Where Is Juraj Slafkovský’s Ceiling?
Yet again, the narrative surrounding Slafkovský is changing. The discussion is no longer about whether he can find his footing in the NHL. Instead, it’s about how good he can truly become.
He’s drawn comparisons to a current top player Mikko Rantanen of the Dallas Stars. It’s clear to see why — both have the size and ability to take control of games.
Rantanen is a five-time 30-goal scorer and has eclipsed the 100-point mark twice in his career. Still, he isn’t the biggest name Slafkovský has been compared to.
Recently, the NHL’s second all-time leading scorer, Jaromír Jágr, compared Montreal’s young star to himself.
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In an interview regarding Slovakia’s recent surge in Olympic performance on the ice, Jagr credited the former tournament MVP with being a driving factor behind the breakout. “I like Juraj Slafkovský’s play, maybe because I see myself in him when I was young,” he said.
Slafkovský is obviously unlikely to finish his career as the second-highest scorer in league history, but, if a player is mentioned in the same breath as Jágr, it shows he is special.
Montreal’s Future is Bright
After being the second youngest team in the league a season ago, the Canadiens are now the youngest team in 2026. The Canadiens are still an inexperienced team. As they attempt to make the playoffs in consecutive seasons, the roster will need to develop and mature quickly.
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The team will be relying heavily on Suzuki and Caufield to produce down the stretch. However, the biggest X-factor will be how quickly Slafkovský can reach his star potential.
The post It’s Time for Juraj Slafkovský to Become Canadiens’ Next Star appeared first on The Lead.
