Should Canadiens Be Worried About Slafkovsky's Slow Start?

Sometimes, a hockey player can have a pretty good night, but there's still a bigger picture to consider. Juraj Slafkovsky picked up two assists in the Montreal Canadiens' 4-3 shootout win over Buffalo on Tuesday, helping set up goals by Lane Hutson and Cole Caufield. That's encouraging. Slafkovsky got one of those assists on the power play, and Montreal found a way to win a game that wasn't always comfortable.

But there's another part of the story. Through six games, Slafkovsky has just one goal and three points. Last season, he averaged 30 goals and 73 points over 82 games. That's quite a difference. Should Canadiens fans be concerned?

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Slafkovsky Has More to Offer Than His Early Numbers.

It's easy to look at the box score and decide a player is struggling. Goals and assists are convenient, measurable, and right there in front of us. But six games is a small sample, especially for a young player still developing his game. Slafkovsky is 22. He's already shown that he can be a productive NHL forward, and one quiet stretch at the start of a season doesn't erase that.

His two assists against Buffalo remind us he can contribute even when he isn't putting the puck in the net himself. Getting the puck to Hutson and Caufield in scoring situations is useful work. Sometimes, the player who makes the play before the goal doesn't get nearly enough credit. Of course, Montreal needs more offence from Slafkovsky over time. Nobody is suggesting otherwise. But there's a difference between expecting more and deciding something is wrong.

Patience Is Part of the Canadiens’ Player Development.

Here's what interests me about Slafkovsky's slow start. The Canadiens are trying to build a team, not simply collect good individual statistics. They need players who can contribute in different ways, find chemistry with their linemates, and help the team win when the scoring doesn't come easily.

Tuesday was a good example. Montreal gave up a two-goal lead, but it recovered to win in a shootout. Slafkovsky helped create offence, and the team got the two points. That's not a bad night's work.

I'd like to see Slafkovsky start scoring more regularly, just as Canadiens fans would. But I wouldn't turn six games into a referendum on his future. Sometimes, a young player needs a little time to find his rhythm. The important thing is to keep watching the player, not just the numbers.

If we're still having this conversation 20 or 30 games from now, that's different. For now, I'd take the two assists, enjoy the win, and give Slafkovsky some room to get going.

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