Canadiens Juraj Slafkovsky Is Growing Right in Front of Our Eyes
Juraj Slafkovsky is only 21, but he’s already turning into the face of both the Montreal Canadiens and Team Slovakia. And the wild part is how comfortable he looks doing it. Some players grow into the spotlight; Slafkovsky looks like he went out and bought extra lights.
After practice the other day, he said something that stuck with me: “I want to be the guy.” No hesitation, no nerves, just a young man who fully expects to make things happen. And so far? He’s been right. Six points in the Olympic group stage, helping Slovakia win their group — that’s not riding coattails. That’s pulling the sled.
From “Kid at His First Olympics” to “Give Him the Keys.”
It’s easy to forget that, at the last Olympics, he was basically a teenager trying to figure out where to stand in the photo. Now he’s carrying the offence like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Three games, three goals, three assists — that’s a statement.
Coach Craig Ramsey noticed it too. He keeps saying Slafkovsky loves the responsibility. And you can see it; he plays like someone who wants the puck in the big moments, not someone trying to dodge the pressure.
What jumps out this year is the confidence. There’s no wide-eyed look anymore. Now, he wants the puck. That’s a big shift for any young player, especially one carrying the expectations of a whole country.
Montreal’s Pressure Cooker Might Actually Be Helping Him
Back in Montreal, he’s thriving in a way rookies don’t always manage. Forty-five points in 57 games, playing beside guys like Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. He’s part of a young core starting that’s starting to feel like something real is about to happen.
It’s funny how some players show up in Montreal, and you can practically see the weight of the city leaning on their shoulders. Slafkovsky looks like he’s feeding off it. His coach with Team Slovakia, Vladimir Orszagh, even said he’s acting like a grown man now. You can hear the pride in his voice. That’s the kind of praise you earn, not the kind someone throws at you because you’re a high pick.
A Player at Ease With Himself and Embracing the Moment
What I like most is how Slafkovsky carries himself. He’s not pretending to be a superstar. He’s just comfortable with the pressure, the expectations, the attention, all of it. Many players don’t find that gear until their mid-20s, if they find it at all.
But big games don’t spook him. Big moments don’t shrink him. He leans into everything about the Olympics (and playing in Montreal). He likes the spotlight, the noise, the weight. That’s what real leaders do, even the young ones.
And now, with the Olympics moving into the knockout rounds, this is where we really see what he’s made of. If the group stage was the warm-up act, the real show starts now. And based on everything we’ve watched the past few months? I wouldn’t bet against him for a second.
Slovakia needs a star. Slafkovsky looks ready to be the star.