Juraj Slafkovsky out to prove he deserves his new contract

For exactly one month now, Ivan Demidov has been the talk of the town (and rightly so). After all, he’s the next big thing in Montreal.

But right now, there’s another young winger who’s getting a lot of attention: Juraj Slafkovsky. The man who just beat a triathlete in a canoe race also signed a huge contract a few weeks ago.

This pact, as he confessed to Slovak hockey insider Tomas Prokop, he hasn’t given it much thought. “Maybe it will happen later,” he told the journalist. For now, he’s concentrating on his summer training.

He goes to the gym every day, skates two to four times a week and much more. He’ll be ready for the season, in any case.

But where he puts most of his attention is his desire to get better and show the fans that he deserves this contract. Because the contract will be pocketed (barring a buyout, of course), but he hasn’t necessarily proven that he deserves that much money, yet…

“I’m happy about the new contract. I haven’t thought about it deeply yet. Maybe that will come later. First and foremost, I have to prove to everyone that I deserve such money. We have a long-term plan, we want to perform better in the near future.”

– Tomáš Prokop (@Lewysko) July 28, 2024

The organization and the Slovak have a very specific plan.

They want to feel a constant progression in the player. And so far, it’s looking good. In the second half of the 2023-2024 season, he didn’t stop improving, so much so that at the end of the year, he scored his first career hat trick.

According to Prokop’s recent posts on X, Slafkovsky is also very excited about the prospect of representing his country at the Winter Olympics. He’d like to take part in the qualifiers next month.

But, as he sees it, he doesn’t have the final say. The Canadian will have to give his consent.

About august olympic qualification for Slovakia Men’s team: “I’m ready to represent my country at the Olympics qualification, but this decision is not up to me. Montreal Canadiens’ management will decide whether I will participate. They have to say how they see it.”

– Tomáš Prokop (@Lewysko) July 28, 2024

I don’t see why the Habs would refuse his participation.

After all, it would give him a great international experience against the best players in the world, and Montreal knows full well that he’s one of his nation’s best and most popular players.

Overtime

– He dominated.

For those wondering if Demidov could have played in the KHL last season or the NHL this season – have a look at him in action last August in KHL friendlies. He was arguably SKA’s best forward in these games. https://t.co/5hUgGDKM2n

– Grant McCagg (@grantmccagg) July 28, 2024

– Interesting.

A bridge deal is likely for #Habs blueliner Arber Xhekaj. How much might that contract cost? https://t.co/184I4s3G8t

– HabsWorld.net (@habsworld_net) July 28, 2024

– Big win.

To be able to do that..at that moment..against that team..is quite an achievement!!!

What a performance

Bravo to the girls…they owe it all to themselves

Like they’re up to something incredible..@RC_Sports #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/EXd25cOmT7

– Hassoun Camara (@HassCamara6) July 28, 2024