Despite being 18 years old, Slovak forward Juraj Slafkovsky could break through to the Montreal Canadiens next season.

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At least that's what the National Hockey League (NHL) website suggests, which, in a large portrait of the Montreal club, places Slafkovsky as well as defenders Justin Barron and Jordan Harris among the players who gate". The name of Kaiden Guhle could certainly have been added to it.

"Slafkovsky, the first overall pick of the most recent draft, will have the chance to carve out a spot on the Canadiens' roster in the opener," reads the article published on Wednesday.

The Slovak, who will only turn 19 on March 30, 2023, will obviously have to continue his development and gain experience before feeling completely comfortable in the NHL. Thus, it will probably be necessary to wait a little before seeing him complete a trio alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. It would probably be wiser to see him play in the American League, with the Laval Rocket. His rights in the Ontario Junior Hockey League also belong to the Erie Otters.

A youthful turn

Josh Anderson should normally accompany Suzuki and Caufield. The other nine forwards in NHL.com's "planned roster" to start next season are: Jonathan Drouin, Kirby Dach, Brendan Gallagher, Mike Hoffman, Christian Dvorak, Evgenii Dadonov, Rem Pitlick, Jake Evans and Joel Armia. On the line, we believe to guess that Barron and Harris will be of the defensive brigade, just like Joel Edmundson, Chris Wideman, Mike Matheson and David Savard.

A youthful turn is taking shape at the Canadiens, but to what extent? Between now and the first game of the season, on October 12 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, many things can still change. The Montreal club will also play eight preparatory games, starting September 26, in less than two months.