Former Slovak representative Richard Zedník (50), who worked in Montreal during his career, is enjoying the excellent form of the Košice native.
“I’m happy that Juraj succeeded in entering the playoffs and became the hero of Montreal in the first game,” he says.
What did you think when you learned in the morning that Slafkovský scored a hat trick in the opening game of the playoffs?
First of all, I was excited. I immediately watched the goal moments of the match and I have to say that they were all beautiful. With them, Juraj fully showed that he is a natural shooter, as we know him from the national team.
It’s great that he started like this. The playoffs, especially in the NHL, are practically a new competition. Only the best of the best will succeed in it.
Juraj was able to do it and helped the team to an important win on the ice of an experienced team like Tampa. Hats off, he deserves huge praise.
In the NHL, you experienced playoffs with several teams. Is there a big difference in how Canadians and Americans experience it?
It is diametrically different. When the series moves from Tampa to Montreal, you’ll just see how Canadians experience it.
And I’m not talking about if Montreal advances and in the next round they meet, for example, Boston. They would experience something incredible.
There is a huge rivalry between Montreal, Boston and Toronto. In Montreal, people are incredibly hungry for hockey. And now especially.
Why?
They feel they have a great squad that can go far. They are very excited. The first game against Tampa only confirmed that.
I know how people can create an atmosphere in Montreal. It is not pleasant for visiting teams. The hall is literally going to fall down.
Slafkovský continues his great performances from the end of the regular season. Did a more successful Olympics or a return to the first formation help him?
It helped Juraj when he was reassigned to Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen in the formation before the Olympics. There he discovered that he can be the leader of the entire attack.
Photo: Mitchell Layton / Getty images / Profimedia
Richard Zedník Richard Zedník in Montreal jersey.
Subsequently, he continued this at the Olympics, where he had an incredible run. At the beginning of the season, he was perhaps not so dominant and productive in points.
However, he performed other tasks. It can be seen that he has matured and calmed down. It’s all about the mindset.
Is mental toughness a strong point of the Slovakian forward who had to deal with the pressure of being a draft pick?
A lot depends on how it is set up. Does he regularly read the news in the Canadian media and on social networks. When I was in Montreal, I tried to avoid the Canadian media.
A teammate advised me. I only watched American television. It’s not good to put pressure on yourself. When you don’t go one match, they already want to replace you.
This is also the reason why many Canadians do not want to play for Montreal. It’s natural that if you read criticism about yourself, it will eventually rub off on you and do something to you.
Before the start of the playoffs, Canadian fans were asked who would be the difference player for Montreal in the elimination battles, and the majority chose Slafkovski. Is he a big game player?
I am convinced of that. I had a similar experience. I also loved the playoffs because there was so much at stake. Some guys feel more stress or responsibility weighing on them.
It is played more to the body, it is faster. Not everyone is comfortable with it. You have to love a challenge and go all out. Juraj enjoys such matches.
He wants to be the one to decide the match and is not afraid to take responsibility. The value of players like him is rising. Managers and coaches want them.
Tampa has one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Andrej Vasilevsky, and one of the best forwards, Nikita Kučerov. Where do they have a weakness?
They have a very experienced team. It’s great for Montreal that they were able to win the first game, because they traveled to the opponent’s ice with that goal. Tampa has several players on the roster who have experienced tough playoff series.
It’s true that they haven’t been doing too well in recent years. They mainly rely on an excellent goalkeeper. Vasilevsky is having an excellent season. They have an excellent attack. Difficult to find weaknesses.
However, Montreal showed what they are worth. They decided the first game in power plays, and that’s what they need if they want to advance. Tampa must play with discipline because the opponent will punish their every mistake.
Montreal has Czech Jakub Dobeš in goal, who has a friendly relationship with Slafkovský. You also played with several Czechs during your career. Is it similar to having a compatriot on your team?
I have always perceived it that way. I did not distinguish between Czechs and Slovaks. It’s great to have someone on your team who you can talk to in your native language.
In Montreal, I played with Jan Bulis, with whom we were best friends. We spent the most time together off the ice. As for Dobeš, it’s great that he was able to establish himself in Montreal.
It wasn’t easy for him. All season it was decided whether Samuel Montembeault would be the unit. But that didn’t work out too well and Dobeš took the chance.
Read more Slafkovský in stellar company. The Slovak was ranked among the best of the best
It is not a typical unit, but it can be an advantage for the club to have two or three balanced goalkeepers.
Considering the Stanley Cup success, do you think Montreal is the team of the future or of the present?
When I was in Montreal recently, I spoke with Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes. He told me that they currently have a squad with which they can fight for the top ranks for the next ten years.
They have great talented players on the farm. The last drafts worked out perfectly for them. In addition, Juraj is 22 years old and is only playing his fourth season. Performance will go even higher.
If they don’t mess something up in Montreal and can sign 1-2 quality players in the next few years, they are doing so well that other clubs in the NHL can only envy them.
People in the city perceive it. They are happy to have a team that plays attacking hockey and can have fun with it.
What’s your guess, will Montreal get past Tampa or will it not be a long playoff run yet?
It will be difficult. Montreal is still only at the beginning of a new era. On the other hand, Tampa has the majority of players who are at or near the top in terms of performance. There is more pressure on them.
They must advance. They don’t have a young team whose best years are ahead of them. In the past, they often lost to Florida and would like to repeat the success of a few years ago, when they won two Stanley Cups.
Montreal has the advantage of not being under pressure, since as I mentioned, they can go far in the playoffs in the next few years.
