The Young Star Provides Insight into His Health and Readiness for the Season
It has been more than a week since Juraj Slafkovsky last wore the Montreal Canadiens jersey. The player chosen first overall in the 2022 draft has not participated in any games since October 19 due to a shoulder injury sustained in practice shortly after.
It was anticipated that Slafkovsky would be sidelined for a minimum of one week due to his illness. Nevertheless, the Canadiens will not need to delay any further for their top player to come back to the team.
“My shoulders are completely fine and (the injury) was something else, Weird injury … but it’s all good now.” Said Juraj Slafkovsky
Slafkovsky refused other provide more details but the injury, which isn’t surprising. Hockey players are notorious for keeping quiet regarding the exact details of injuries because they believe being too descriptive could give the opponents an edge.
While the full nature of Slafkovsky’s injury may never be known, Canadiens fans are hoping that he picks up right from where he left off.
Following his record-setting performance of scoring 50 points last season, Slafkovsky remains at the forefront of Montreal’s offensive efforts. The Slovakian winger has scored one goal and made five assists in his initial six matches, projecting at 79 points if he plays every game.
His work has exceeded the expectations set by the eight-year, $60.8 million contract renewal he agreed to during the off-season. The Canadiens aim to secure their third straight win against the struggling Kraken, who have suffered three consecutive losses. Slafkovsky has contributed two assists in four previous matchups against Seattle, and it remains to be seen if he can increase that number in his next game.
Amid the Montreal Canadiens’ early-season struggles, GM Kent Hughes is actively searching for ways to bolster the lineup, specifically looking for a tough forward.
The Habs lost their primary summer acquisition, former Columbus Blue Jackets winger Patrik Laine, for whatever that’s worth. The sniper injured his knee in preseason and will be out for a few months, but so far he hasn’t needed surgery.
As per Elliotte Friedman on Hockey Night in Canada, Hughes is focused on being physical while still ensuring the team’s long-term goals are preserved. It seems that Hughes is focusing on acquiring a forward with strength and physicality to put pressure on opponents in the offensive zone, a trait that Montreal is missing at the moment.
Despite defensemen Arber Xhekaj and Jayden Struble’s physical presence, Hughes wants a comparable aggressiveness in the forward position. The difficulty, of course, is in locating the correct player without jeopardizing future resources and not giving up draft picks or prospects like Lane Hutson, Logan Mailloux, and David Reinbacher.
The Canadiens won last Sunday against the Philadelphia Flyers with a 4-3 score away from home, bringing their non-overtime game record to 4-4 along with one overtime loss, resulting in a 4-4-1 record after nine games.
Image Credit David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports
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