Montreal, Canadiens, Feature, Habs, News, NHL, Juraj Slafkovsky, Jaromir Jagr, Marian Hossa, Richard Zednik, Filip Mesar, Slovakia

ROCKET SPORTS MEDIA | MONTREAL, QC. — The Montreal Canadiens’ rookies completed a three-game tournament in Buffalo this past weekend. As expected, eyes were on 2022 first pick overall, Juraj Slafkovsky, who participated in two games of the 2022 Prospects Challenge.

Fans and media alike have followed Slafkovsky’s every move since draft day. This shouldn’t be a surprise; Juraj is the first Canadiens first overall pick since Doug Wickenheiser in 1980.

Once rookie camp has been completed this week, Slafkovsky will no doubt be invited to the Canadiens main training camp. Canadiens management and their prized draft pick have all expressed their hope that Slafkovsky earns a spot on the opening night roster.

Comparables for Slafkovsky

Hockey Hall of Famer Marian Hossa is one former player who believes fans will see a fellow Slovakian in the Canadiens lineup this season. “In my opinion, [Juraj] is ready to start the season with the best players in the world,” said Hossa speaking to Sport SK. “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.”

When the discussion turned to comparable players for Slafkovsky, Hossa said, “There is talk about Jaromir Jagr, we talked about it with friends. His skating reminds me of (former Montreal Canadien) Richard 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.”

Is Hossa truly comparing the 18-year-old Slafkovsky to Jagr, a Hall of Fame player, a two-time Stanley Cup champion and a five time Art Ross Trophy winner?

Oto Haščák, assistant manager of Slovakia’s national team, made a similar comparison with a qualification. In a recent article in The Athletic, Haščák is quoted saying, “This guy looks like Jagr! [..] No, it’s not like Jagr. Obviously, Jagr is the best player (from) Europe in the whole hockey world in the past. But I (meant) to say he reminds me of his style, in the corners, skating and his shooting and (protecting) the puck, those things.”

Haščák noted that Jagr has also referenced Slafkovsky saying, “‘This guy looks like me when I was 17!’”

Ice Hockey Legend Jaromír Jágr on young talent 🇸🇰Juraj Slafkovský:

"He's strong, he plays a bit like me. I said the other day I want him in my team but I've been told he's only 17 years old. He's gonna play somewhere else."

Smile on his face as always!

— Jakub Hromada (@JakubHromadaCZ) April 6, 2022

But it’s reasonable to ask, are the comparisons valid?

Slafkovsky vs Jagr

Obviously, both players are from roughly the same region in Eastern Europe with Slafkovsky being from Kosice, Slovakia. Just 700 kilometres away, you’ll find the hometown of Jagr in Kladno, Czechia.

Both players have an imposing physique. At only 18-years-old, Slafkovsky was listed at 6-foot-3-inches, 238 pounds. While Jagr is in the 250-pound range these days, records show that he was 6-foot-2-inches, 198 pounds in his draft year.

It has been reported that Slafkovsky’s physical game and puck protection skills are reminiscent of Jagr’s playing style. These elements of Slafkovsky’s game were on display during the first Canadiens rookie camp game between Montreal and Buffalo.

During a penalty kill, Slafkovsky raced to get the puck. He used his physical posture to control the puck and paused for the opportunity to pass it to Filip Mesar, who finished the play with a beautiful goal.

#Habs Juraj Slafkovsky wins race in the corner and sets up Filip Mesar for goal vs #Sabres@AllHabs @RocketSports #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/ZSWENwQLf5

— Chris G (@ChrisHabs360) September 15, 2022

Some may be tempted to claim that Slafkovsky looked very ‘Jagr-esque’ when earning this assist. But it was only one-play, and one game in a rookie tournament.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Both players were top-5 overall picks in their draft year with Slafkovsky going first overall as we know and Jagr selected fifth overall in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

At the time, many scouts considered Jagr the best player in the draft. His slip to fifth may have had something to do with NHL team’s confidence in bringing him to North America, but that didn’t stop fellow Czech Petr Nedved from being taken second overall by the Vancouver Canucks.

Going further down this path, the comparisons between Jagr and Slafkovsky start to fade.

Continuing in his draft year, Jagr played for Kladno of the Czech league scoring 22 goals and 28 assists for 50 points in 42 games. Slafkovsky scored just five goals and five assists  for ten points in 31 games in the Liiga in Sweden last season.

The Czech league and the Liiga are leagues of different calibers, of course. However, the difference between the scoring totals cannot be explained by the different level of those leagues alone.

At the international level, Jagr only scored five points in ten games at the 1989-’90 World Championship. Slafkovsky had better statistics in his 2022 World Championship stint, getting nine points in eight games.

But in this situation the calibre of players and other teams come into consideration.

In 1990, Jagr and Czechoslovakia had to go up against teams that had exceptional lineups like Canada, Sweden and the Soviet Union. Canada iced players such as Steve Yzerman, Paul Coffey and Theo Fleury. Does Team Canada’s 2021-’22 World Championship roster measure up, with their best players being Thomas Chabot, Josh Anderson and Pierre-Luc Dubois?

In other words, Slafkovsky and Jagr’s performances at the World Championship at the same age are difficult to compare.

Best Possible Outcome

In his rookie year, Jagr put up 57 points in 80 games on 27 goals and 30 assists. He immediately followed that up with a season where he put up almost a point per game.

Will Slafkovsky achieve the same level of success? That would likely exceed the expectations of even the most optimistic Habs fan.

The bottom line is Juraj Slafkovsky is a unique player who will carve his own path. Comparisons are fun, especially with Stanley Cup champions like Jaromir Jagr.

But the most important thing for the foreseeable future is that Slafkovsky is that he is  developed to his full potential. That’s something all Habs fans can celebrate.

Listen to the Canadiens Connection podcast

The Habs unveiled a new leadership team and showcased their rookies last week. We discussed prospects with Buffalo-based reporter Joe Yerdon.

Here’s a brand new episode of the Canadiens Connection podcast!

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By Gustave Pinault-Masson, Staff Writer
All Habs Hockey Magazine
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