The last match is in the past. In the Montreal Canadiens locker room, bags are being packed, equipment is being handed over and players are appearing one by one in front of the press.
After the end of the season, hockey players in the NHL have a habit of cleaning out their lockers and seats (locker clean-out day) in the home locker room, where they sit throughout the season.
In addition, they attend final media appearances and meetings with the club’s management.
For Montreal players, it’s the last day at the Bell Center before they go on summer vacation.
Juraj Slafkovský completed the fourth such day in his career. In the 2025/26 season, the Canadiens reached the Eastern Conference playoff finals, where they lost to Carolina 1:4 in games.
The vintage was successful in many ways. And it applies not only to the whole club, but also to Slafkovský.
We want to go to the finals for the Stanley Cup
Montreal’s locker cleanout was a little different on Monday. Right at the start, striker Brendan Gallagher revealed to journalists that this was probably his last 14th season in the Canadiens jersey.
“He’s a great person, probably one of the best you can have coming into the NHL.
We sit close to each other in the cabin, so there is no shortage of his little jokes. He is an exceptional person,” Slafkovský began his interview with journalists.
VIDEO: Slafkovský evaluates the season for overseas journalists
And what did he learn from Gallagher? “That you can go headfirst into every fight, that’s what I sometimes do too (laughs).
But mainly his way of working every day, how he plays hard for the logo and doesn’t focus on himself, but on the team. Like I said, one of the best guys I’ve ever played with.”
After that, the questions focused on the evaluation of the season.
One of the first alluded to the fact that in the regular season, the first formation of Montreal pulled the team, but did not do enough in the playoffs.
“Good question,” Slafkovský responded ironically.
“We all wanted more from each other. In some games we felt like we tried to do too much and then it didn’t work. That’s how it is sometimes. You don’t have much time to think, you can’t get stuck on one game.
It was a rollercoaster that I don’t like, I want to keep going up in performance. One hundred percent it could have been better, but it made us stronger for next season,” he added.
Slafkovský played a longer playoff for the first time in his career. He played in 19 games, in which he scored 12 points for six goals and six assists.
“I think all of us have moved on in the playoffs this year. We’ve gained a lot of valuable experience, whether it’s taking care of your body or managing a tough schedule when you’re playing practically every other day.
It is especially difficult when the first two series stretch to seven games. It definitely made me a better player. Now I know how to better prepare for the next season and how to be more effective in every match,” he added.
According to Slafkovský, playoff matches are difficult especially from the mental side. Although there was speculation during the playoffs that he was playing with injuries, he denied it after the season ended.
Carolina defender Jaccob Slavin and Juraj Slafkovský in a fight. (Author: REUTERS)
“I felt good. I don’t think we should throw anything at how our bodies feel. We’re playing against players whose bodies feel the same.
I don’t think it’s a big deal. No one should blame their performance on how they feel. It seems to me that it’s mainly about the mindset,” he added, adding that his health was close to 100 percent at the end of the playoffs.
And was it more difficult for the Slovak to handle the physical or mental part of the playoffs? “It was 65 percent mental and 35 percent physical. I feel that mental health is more important in the playoffs.”
Slafkovský is known for placing the highest possible expectations on himself, but he doesn’t always do as well as he would like on the ice. What must he do then?
“Sometimes you don’t need to try harder, but instead play simpler and more intelligently. When things don’t go as planned, I should focus on simple solutions and not complicate it.”
He has the highest expectations for himself and the team for the next season. Montreal would like to see the Stanley Cup playoffs in the finals.
“We’re one of the youngest teams in the league and we made it to the Eastern Conference Finals. It wasn’t a fluke, we earned it with our performances. I think the next step is to get to the Finals, and I feel like that’s exactly what everyone in this organization wants to achieve.”
Slafkovský played 107 matches in the 2025/26 season. He did not miss a single game in the regular season of the NHL, he also appeared at the Olympics and for the first time in his career he tried a longer playoff.
What year did he survive?
Basic part of the NHL
Matches: 82
Points: 73 (30+43)
A season full of superlatives. Juraj Slafkovský created a new record in the number of goals, assists and points.
From the beginning of the year, many criticized him again and claimed that he was not fulfilling his potential. He had only three points from the first nine duels. However, his performance gradually improved.
In November, the coach of Montreal St. Louis included Slafkovski in the attack with Kapanen and Demidov. “Kid line” played very well and the arrival of the Slovak revived it. He himself got more space with the puck and asserted himself more often.
At the end of December, for the first time in his career, he was among the top three players of the week in the NHL.
Later, he moved to the first formation again, where together with Suzuki and Caufield, they formed a striking trio and one of the best attacks in the league.
During the season, Slafkovský showed that he is not only an additional player, but that he can pull his teammates. He looked more and more comfortable on the ice, he reacted quickly, distributed pucks and was good at guarding them.
His shot was also striking, thanks to which he recorded his first 30-goal season. Several times he decided the match in favor of Montreal with his executive.
He set the single-game scoring record in March against the Islanders, where he had a 2+2 record. In total, he played four games in which he had at least three points.
He also made history in Montreal, becoming the club’s most productive player before turning 22 years old. He surpassed the legendary Henri Richard.
The Slovak forward has completed his first season, during which he earned 7.6 million dollars. He has already managed to show in it that he deserves this salary.
2026 Olympics
Matches: 6
Points: 8 (4+4)
He came to the Olympics in Milan as the biggest star of the Slovak team. He confirmed this position in the very first match of the tournament.
In a 4:1 win over Finland, he scored two goals and assisted on one.
VIDEO: Clips of the Slovakia – Finland match at the 2026 Olympics
In addition to the match for bronze, which the Slovaks lost 1:6 against Finland, he scored points in every match, scored against Sweden and in the semi-finals against the USA.
He scored a total of eight points, was the most productive Slovak and the fourth most productive player of the tournament.
For the second time in his career, he also made it to the All star team of the Olympics.
NHL playoffs
Matches: 19
Points: 12 (6+6)
He entered the playoffs as best he could. He scored a hat trick in the first game of the series against Tampa. After Petr Šťastny, he became only the second Slovak in history to score three goals in the elimination part of the NHL.
“The Olympics is like a playoff series. You also play seven games there, even against other teams. Performances at the Olympics gave me self-confidence,” said Slafkovský.
In the very second match, he dropped the gloves and fought with Brandon Hagel. It was Slafkovski’s fourth fight in the NHL.
In the fourth game of the series, he again took a hard hit from Max Crozier, after which he missed several minutes of the game.
He did not score again until the end of the series against Tampa, which Montreal won 4-3.
VIDEO: Slafkovski’s hat trick into Tampa’s net
In the second round against Buffalo, Slafkovský recorded a goal and five assists. He was particularly successful in the fifth meeting, scoring up to three goal assists.
Montreal won 4-3 for the matches.
Slafkovský dominated in the first match against Caroline. In a clear 6:2 win, he scored two goals and assisted on one.
He did not score until the end of the series, Montreal lost 1:4 in the games.
