Canadiens: What to Expect From Juraj Slafkovsky

Juraj Slafkovsky is back in town and all over the Montreal Canadiens' social media just like he'll be all over the ice this season.

It's been a great off-season for Juraj Slafkovsky and not just because he was signed to a brand new eight-year contract extension worth $60.8 million but because he had a whole Summer of training. On the 32 Thoughts Podcast, host Elliotte Friedman said they (Sportsnet) were in Europe with him and he let them see his training session. He thought the winger looked like a beast and an absolute monster. 

Slafkovsky's sophomore season was a big improvement compared to his first one. For one thing, he remained healthy and played all 82 games, 43 more than in his rookie year. The increased number of reps led to the hulking forward coming into his own. 

It almost looked like he finally figured out how big he was and it gave me the confidence to stay up on his skates even when hit by big guys. He wasn't skating with his head down either, much more aware that if you do that in the NHL, there will be someone to run you over and you will hit the dust.  

This newfound confidence was no stranger to his promotion to the first line and the increased production that followed. When the curtain came down on the season, the 20-year-old has reached three impressive numbers; 20 goals, 30 assists and 50 points. Numbers captain Nick Suzuki didn't reach until his third season in the league (he only played 71 and 56 games in his first two campaigns however). 

Now that he should start the season on an established line with teammates he's used to and knows how to read, there's no reason why we should expect a regression from Slafkovsky. Although Kent Hughes did say he expected there to be dips in the future as well since he's such a young player, you know growing pains. Perhaps he'll skip those just like the sophomore jinx, time will tell. 

While it's quite possible Martin St-Louis gets the hitch to try Patrik Laine on the first line in training camp, I'm fairly confident he will start the season with the tried and tested formula, keeping his first line intact.

Still, Laine's arrival will have an influence on Slafkovsky in any case. The Canadiens finally having a second line that can threaten offensively on a constant basis will take some of the heath and better defensive coverage away from the first line. There should also be a Laine effect on the power play and the big Slovak was getting better at occupying the spot by the net to feed the wingers for show toward the end of the season. 

Points prediction? Well, if everything goes perfectly and everyone stays healthy, I have no issue saying 60 points would be a conventional prediction. It took some time for Slafkovsky to get going last season and the same can be said for Caufield. With a full season on a stable line, the only way to go is up. 

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