Hockey Hall of Famer Marian Hossa has some high praise for Juraj Slafkovsky
PUBLICATION
Cooper Godin
August 13, 2022 (9:39 PM)
In an interview with Slovak hockey reporter Tomas Prokop, Hockey Hall of Famer Marian Hossa had some high praise for 2022 first overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky.
When it comes to Slafkovsky's playing style, Hossa compared him to one of the NHL's greatest players of all-time, Jaromir Jagr.
Note: the quotes in this story are translated from Slovak.
"There is talk about Jaromír Jágr, we talked about it with our friends. His skating reminds me of Ri Zedník, who also skated more on the ice. I like how he can cover the puck with his body. It will only get better with age." The three-time Stanley Cup champion told Prokop.
Hossa went on to say that he believes Slafkovsky should and will begin the 2022-23 season with the Canadiens.
"Draft units usually play in the NHL right away. I would be surprised if this was not the case with Juraj. I think they will be patient with him at the club. He would have to be downright worried for it to be otherwise. In my opinion, he is ready to start the season with the best players in the world. During the year, he will touch and improve. I don't see a problem in his game, in my opinion he will catch on immediately," Hossa said.
When your name is being compared to that of a hockey legend in Jaromir Jagr, that puts a lot of pressure on your shoulders, but it also shows that others believe you can be a top talent. For those words to come from a Slovak hockey legend like Marian Hossa, that means a lot and surely it's something that Slafkovsky will remember for a long time.
Slafkovsky's first opportunity to don the 'bleu, blanc et rouge' will likely come next month during the team's rookie tournament in Buffalo, before joining up with the Canadiens for their main camp. There's a good chance he will get the initial nine-game trial during the regular season before management and the coaching staff decide on what direction to take for his development for the remainder of the year.
Source: Tomas Prokop - Sport.sk.
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