Can Slafkovsky Reach 35 Goals and 75 Points?

Throughout his career, it is well-known that Slafkovsky takes his game to the next level every year in the 2nd half of the season. While for the first time in his career he had a good first half of the season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him producing at a better clip than he has so far. Although even if he performs at the same pace that he has over his last 30 games, he should be able to actually finish with around 75 points.

Over his last 30 games, Slafkovsky is producing just above a point per game with 13 goals and 31 points in that span. To reach 75 points, the Slovakian youngster needs 35 points in the Habs’ final 33 games of the season, which seems very plausible given his most recent 30-game sample. If we were to take the point-per-game average and apply it to a 33-game schedule, he would actually be expected to reach 74 points at his current pace.

As the games get bigger for playoff implications down the stretch, we will see if 2nd-half Slafkovsky is still a thing or if this season it will be more about him being more consistent. Nonetheless, it’s safe to say we are seeing Slafkovsky’s official breakout into a 30+ 70-point power forward who should be a force in the playoffs with his size.

His current pace for 74 points over a full season is close to the 75-point mark, but the 35-goal plateau may also be for the Habs power forward if he can up his goal-scoring pace slightly in the final 33 games. Earlier in his career he would often default to Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki to take shots when he played on their line for the past 2.5 years. He seemed afraid to take shots away from them, which would often limit his abilities offensively.

This season, things have changed, as not only is he shooting more because he is playing away from them at even strength, but even on the power play, there is a set play where Slafkovsky shoots from a high spot in the slot. The main reason for his being placed there is that, due to his 6’3″, 225 lb frame, he can muscle off defenders who try covering him. However, once a shooting lane opens up for him on the power play, there has been no more dangerous shot that the Habs have had on the man advantage this season. With that being said, it’s no surprise it seems that Slafkovsky is en route to having his first 30-goal season in the league.

If Slafkovsky continues to score at the exact pace that he has over the past 30 games, he will finish with 33 goals. While he isn’t currently on pace to hit 35 goals and 75 points, they are very much in reach for the 4th-year forward if he can just up his production ever so slightly.

Do you think Slafkovsky will reach both the 35-goal and 75-point plateaus this season?