The news is in on one of the premier, young wingers in the game. The Montreal Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovsky has an upper-body injury and will miss sometime. The team made the announcement today that Slafkovsky will miss at least a week. After that time has passed, the young Canadien star will be reevaluated. Therefore, at this time, there is no anticipated return date.
NHL Predictions: Oct. 22 w/ New York Rangers vs Montreal Canadiens
L’attaquant Juraj Slafkovský (haut du corps) ratera une semaine d’activité et sera réévalué par la suite.
Forward Juraj Slafkovský (upper body) will be sidelined for one week and will be reevaluated afterwards.
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) October 22, 2024
Juraj Slafkovsky of the Montreal Canadiens Has an Upper-Body Injury
It is not certain when Slafkovsky sustained the injury. The timeline has him leaving Friday’s practice early, but then going ahead and playing Saturday versus the New York Islanders. Fast forward to today’s practice, and although Slafkovsky hit the ice, it was on his own, before the main squad practiced.
Slafkovsky and his two regular first-line linemates, Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, have had a good start to the season. As a trio, in 65 minutes on ice together, they are outscoring their opponents 6-3. From not only a personal but also a developmental standpoint, hopefully the injury doesn’t keep Slafkovsky out of action for too long. Everything offensively has been trending in the right direction for Slafkovsky thus far in his career. In 2022-23, he had ten points in 39 games. Then, last season, he bumped up his scoring rate to 50 points in 82 games. Already on the young season, he’s playing a little more per game (18:14 up from 17:56), and his one goal and five assists have him clipping away at a point-per-game pace.
Who Fills in for Slafkovsky?
With the injury to Juraj Slafkovsky, and the fact he will be out of the lineup for more than a game, the roster will have to shuffle around. The big Alberta native, Kirby Dach, will slide into Slafkovsky’s top-line, winger role. Dach is hoping this can provide a little spark to his offensive production. Despite playing with the top power play unit, Dach still only has one point through six games. Well below the standard set by the top line. Furthermore, look for Michael Pezzetta to draw into the lineup for the absent spot. Pezzetta would also like to get going in 2024-25, as this will be his season debut. Thus far, his lack of opportunity is definitely a personal disappointment. In his three years in the NHL so far, he’s never played fewer than 51 games. Therefore, for each of Dach and Pezzetta, this will be a huge opportunity to prove to head coach Martin St. Louis they belong in these (temporary) elevated roles with the Habs organization.
Main Photo Credit: David Kirouac – USA TODAY Sports
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