As the preliminary round of the 2026 Winter Olympics wraps up and the hockey tournament moves into the playoffs, NHL teams are keeping a close eye on their players. For the Montreal Canadiens, the biggest storyline could be seeing one of their own break out on the international stage.
Canadiens Forward Leads the Charge for Slovakia at the Olympics
Montreal Canadiens’ forward Juraj Slafkovský, representing Team Slovakia, has been one of the tournament’s standout performers so far. Through three games, the Canadiens forward has piled up three goals and three assists for six points, playing a key role in Slovakia finishing first in Group B.
That group wasn’t easy. Slovakia battled heavyweights Finland and Sweden, all three teams finishing with six points. Slovakia ultimately claimed the top spot thanks to the tiebreaker advantage, and Slafkovský’s production was a major reason why.
This isn’t new territory for him, either. At the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Slafkovský exploded for 7 goals in as many games, leading Slovakia to a historic bronze medal and earning tournament MVP honors. Now, four years later, he looks even more confident and complete.
The Canadiens selected Slafkovský first overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, a move that came with enormous expectations. Unlike other No. 1 picks such as Connor McDavid or Auston Matthews, his NHL dominance didn’t happen overnight.
His rookie season in 2022-23 had its struggles, and patience was required from both the organization and its fan base. But this season, the breakthrough has arrived. Slafkovský is enjoying a breakout campaign in Montreal, posting 45 points in 57 games and showing the power-forward toolkit that made him such a coveted prospect.
Former NHL star Marian GáborÃk, now working as an analyst for Slovak television (STVR Sport) during the Milan Games, has been vocal about Slafkovský’s upside. “I truly believe he has unlimited potential (the sky’s the limit). We just have to be patient with Juraj…We’re seeing tremendous growth…I’ll say it again, but there are no limits for him,” GáborÃk said.
GáborÃk, who played over 1,000 NHL games, has even spoken directly with Slafkovský during the tournament. “I gave him my opinion on a few things,” GáborÃk said. “I quickly realized that he’s looking to improve and that he listens to advice. I think he’s a good student. The Montreal Canadiens are happy to have him.”
For the Canadiens, this tournament is about more than medals. Seeing their former first-overall pick dominate against elite international competition confirms that his development is on track, and perhaps even accelerating.
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Next up, Slafkovský and Slovakia face the winner of the Germany vs. France qualification playoff game in the Olympic quarterfinals on Wednesday.
