BUFFALO | Impossible to know what impression Juraj Slafkovsky made on the leaders of the Canadiens during meetings this week at the NHL evaluation camp in Buffalo. One thing is certain, the great Slovak presented himself in front of the cameras and microphones as if he were in his slippers, operating with a magnetic charisma.
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After weeks of evoking Shane Wright and Logan Cooley as potential targets for the Canadiens with the very first draft pick in Montreal on July 7, Slafkovsky invites himself to dance in the eyes of a growing number of observers.
Yes, his personality stands out, but many also see in this burly winger (6'4", 218 lbs) a more intriguing offensive and physical potential.
Earlier this week, Kent Hughes, Jeff Gorton and other members of the staff sat down with him, twice rather than once. No dinner as was the case with Wright and Cooley, but Slafkovsky does not consider that he has gone under the table.
"We didn't have dinner together, but for me, our discussions tasted better than a meal!", He launched, sowing hilarity among the journalists.
Which version?
Obviously, like the rest of the 2022 vintage, Slafkovsky does not show up without question marks.
In the Liiga, Finland's elite league, he was rather erased with 10 small points in 31 regular games against men. In the playoffs, he did no better with seven points in 18 games.
However, it was on the international scene that he made his mouth water. At the last Olympics, he led the tournament with seven goals in seven games.
He recovered with nine points in eight games at the senior world championship this spring. Some will say that during these two competitions, the crème de la crème was not always there, but for an 18-year-old, the performance is still surprising.
"I got more freedom from our coach," he said, waving flowers to national team driver Craig Ramsay.
“In the league (in Finland) it’s much more defensive and by the way it’s very boring to watch! Still, that's no excuse. I need to score more often. I'm still happy with the way my season ended. I can build on that to become a solid hockey player,” he added.
In trust
Slafkovsky can't guess if Montreal will be his destination, but he said he was flattered that the team met him twice in Buffalo.
“They knew everything about me. Sometimes I was like, Wow, even I hadn't noticed such and such in my game! I appreciated that they brought so many details,” he said.
To date, never has a player from Slovakia been drafted first overall in the NHL. Marian Gaborik, ranked third in 2000, still holds the mark for skaters in this country.
“It would mean a lot to me. For hockey in Slovakia, it could have a big impact. For young people who are wondering if they should continue or do something else, it can set a good example,” he said.
Whether in Montreal or elsewhere, Slafkovsky says he is convinced that he holds the key to flourishing on the ice.
"I always knew I could play hockey, but it's all about the confidence to play the right way. Now, I'm pretty confident," he smiled, highlighting the brooches that remind us that despite his build as a man, he remains a teenager bursting with hope.
