NHL.com is currently doing a series that is focusing on one fantasy hockey breakout candidate for each team. Their pick for the Montreal Canadiens' breakout candidate was announced on August 15, and it is an exciting player who fans are certainly hoping can hit a new level in 2025-26.
NHL.com's Chris Meaney picked forward Juraj Slafkovsky for the Canadiens' top breakout candidate for the 2025-26 campaign. When noting that Slafkovsky is only 21 years old and has already shown promise during his NHL career, it is understandable that Meaney picked him as Montreal's top breakout candidate for next season.
Slafkovsky has already shown that he can be a solid top-six forward early on his career. During the 2023-24 season with the Canadiens, he posted 20 goals, 50 points, and 152 hits in 82 games. He then followed that up by posting 18 goals, 51 points, and 194 hits. Overall, the 2022 first-round pick has had back-to-back strong seasons. However, he has yet to have that big offensive season for the Habs, and it will be intriguing to see if he can in 2025-26.
With the Canadiens looking to take that next step and become closer to being true contenders, they will certainly be hoping that Slafkovsky can cement himself as a star for them in 2025-26. He should be put into a position to succeed with the Canadiens, too, as he will likely play on their first line and power play.
While NHL.com went with Slafkovsky as the Canadiens' top breakout candidate, Montreal has other exciting youngsters who could reach new heights in 2025-26. Among the most notable include Ivan Demidov, Zack Bolduc, Jakub Dobes, and Kaiden Guhle. With this, it is an exciting time for the Canadiens right now.
Canadiens Have Interesting Potential Target In Kraken Forward
It is fair to say that the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> have had a strong off-season so far. They notably boosted their blueline by acquiring Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. They also acquired a young forward in Zack Bolduc, who has the potential to emerge as a top-six winger for them.