Juraj Slafkovsky is playing the best hockey of his career… and he knows it

Marc-Olivier Cook
Juraj Slafkovsky is playing the best hockey of his career… and he knows it
Credit: Getty Images

The Canadiens have played eleven games since the start of the new year.

And I'm going to go with a hot take: Juraj Slafkovsky is the Canadiens' best player since then. Lane Hutson dominates on defense, but Slaf is really showing that he can take over a game.

He's playing the best hockey of his career right now. And he knows it.

At least, that's what it says on his latest blog(NHL.com). Slaf has said that he needs to continue on the same path and that he needs to build more good things, but he likes what he's been bringing to the ice in recent weeks.

And he's right to be happy with his progress.

I'd like to think that I'm probably playing the best hockey of my young career these past few months.

I like the way I'm playing and the direction I'm going. – Juraj Slafkovsky

The Slovak is producing at a really interesting rate right now.

He has 40 points (19 goals) in 50 games so far this season. That's a pace of 31 goals and 65 points over a full 82-game season…

Expectations have always been really high for Slaf because we're talking about a first overall pick. It's taken a little longer to see him become the player he is now, and I'll be honest in saying that there have been more worrying moments since his selection in the 2022 draft.

But right now, no one—and I mean NO ONE—can take anything away from him.

Slaf is proving that the Canadiens were right to be patient with him, and that's great to see too.

He's starting to dominate at the age of 21. He understands things as time goes on… and clubs can start to fear for the next few years.

Because Slaf is already a monster. And it's only going to get better…


Overtime

– Nice contract.

– What do we think?

– Not crazy.

– Ah well.

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