Slafkovsky intends to continue battling for spot in Habs lineup
Despite being the first overall pick in this year's draft, there is no guarantee that Juraj Slafkovsky will remain with the Montreal Canadiens for the entirety of the 2022-23 season.
Headlining what was considered to be a weak draft class, there has been talk that Slafkovsky may be re-assigned by the Habs after his nine-game stint, the maximum allowed without burning a year off a player's entry-level contract. That said, the 18-year-old is doing his best to tune out the outside chatter, and is focusing on what he can do to stick with the club.
"I had this challenge last year in TPS at the beginning. I kept going better and better and I believe it will go better and better as well here,» Slafkovsky told reporters on Tuesday. "I will just keep fighting for my spot. I believe when I do all the small things good and we will keep winning, I can get more and more ice time."
As Slafkovsky mentioned, the Habs have been doing a fair bit of winning early into the season, with four points through four games. For some teams that may be disappointing, but it is quite solid for Martin St. Louis' squad, one who many pencilled in as a lottery team this season. Despite the success, however, Slafkovsky has yet to record a point through four games. He will look to change that on Thursday night in a game against the Arizona Coyotes.
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