Juraj Slafkovsky opens up about Olympics role with Slovakia

Juraj Slafkovsky is no longer the same player he was in his early days at the Bell Centre.

The Canadiens’ towering forward is gaining maturity, and his offensive impact is being felt night after night.

It’s a quote from Juraj Slafkovsky that says a lot about his rapid progression over the past year. You can feel that the 21-year-old is improving more and more.

On the ice, his solid execution has become increasingly undeniable with the Montreal Canadiens this season. We’re seeing a player who is using his size better to protect the puck in the offensive zone.

His controlled zone entries show a level of confidence that was previously missing. Let’s be honest, Slafkovsky is becoming the engine of his line night after night.

His offensive production is following the upward curve of his average ice time, which keeps increasing. We can all agree that this is exactly what Martin St-Louis wants to see from an elite player.

A natural leader for Slovakia

His desire to lead Slovakia at the next Olympic Games proves that he’s ready for major responsibilities. Let’s admit it, carrying a nation on your shoulders at that age is no small feat.

He often finishes games with a positive plus-minus and a constant physical presence. There’s no doubt about it: his game has become far more efficient, with fewer miscues on quick breakouts.

Slafkovsky now has solid experience under his belt with many NHL games played. His evolution is probably the best news Canadiens fans could ask for.