A change of situation concerning the young Juraj Slafkovsky? A stint with the Laval Rocket could be greatly beneficial to him
Many fans are eagerly looking forward to seeing how Juraj Slafkovsky will perform in his second season in the NHL, having only collected 10 points in 39 games last season. Unfortunately, the current situation is not favorable for the Tricolore forward as Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Kirby Dach, Josh Anderson, Alex Newhook, and Sean Monahan are all expected to secure a spot within the top two lines of Martin St. Louis.
Boasting undeniable talent and exceptional offensive abilities, the Slovak must absolutely play with quality players if he wants to be able to produce and continue his development. Let's remember that last year, Slaf predominantly played on the third and fourth lines, averaging only 12:13 minutes of play per game, ranking him 30th among the most utilized players on the Canadiens.
To this effect, during his daily column alongside Paul Houde, the former Montreal Canadiens player, Gilbert Delorme, made a major statement regarding the overall first pick in 2022. According to him, it would be preferable to send Juraj Slafkovsky to Laval if he is not able to get playing time on the top two lines.
Honestly, a few game stint with the Rocket could be greatly beneficial to him if he is unable to establish himself as a power forward from the beginning of the season. Slafkovsky could possibly be the most utilized forward on his team, surrounded by offensive-minded players, and gain confidence in his abilities before rejoining the Tricolore lineup.
We must not forget that the 6'3", 238-pound forward is only 19 years old. The Canadiens have too often affected the development of their young players by keeping them immediately with the main team. Moreover, the team led by Martin St. Louis does not aspire to great honors this season, so it will be essential to prioritize the progression of certain players like Juraj Slafkovsky, even at the expense of some fans who want to see him in Montreal.
Take Max Pacioretty as an example, the former captain of the Habs spent nearly three seasons with the Hamilton Bulldogs before truly becoming a 30-goal scorer in the NHL. It will therefore be important to remain patient with the Slovak forward and give him time to reach his full potential.
What do you think, should the Canadiens send Juraj Slafkovsky to Laval if he can't get a lot of playing time with the Habs?
| POLL | ||
Do you believe that the Canadiens should send Juraj Slafkovsky to Laval, if he cannot get a lot of playing time with the Habs? | ||
| Yes | 245 | 80.1 % |
| No | 61 | 19.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
