ESPN's New Projection for Juraj Slafkovsky Raises Fresh Concerns for Canadiens Fans

According to their most recent projections, the Slovak forward could have a second straight season marked by stagnant offensive production, despite the growing expectations surrounding him.

In 2024-2025, Slafkovsky played 79 games, scoring 18 goals and adding 33 assists for a total of 51 points, with a +4 differential. A performance deemed disappointing, considering he played almost exclusively alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, the two offensive pillars of the Tricolore.

For 2025-2026, ESPN projects a similar campaign: 19 goals, 32 assists, and again 51 points, this time in 80 games.

This assessment comes in a particular context. Last summer, the Canadiens handed Slafkovsky a maximum eight-year, $60.8 million contract extension, betting on his potential to become a long-term cornerstone.

The former first-overall pick of the 2022 draft has yet to surpass the symbolic 60-point mark in a regular season, despite heavy usage and power-play time.

ESPN nonetheless notes that it is still too early to draw definitive conclusions. Slafkovsky's imposing frame, combined with his youth, suggests there is still room for growth. However, in a market as demanding as Montreal and as a former first-overall pick, impatience could quickly grow if the offensive production does not follow.

Slafkovsky will need to prove that the investment was not premature and demonstrate that he can not only complement Suzuki and Caufield but also become a consistent offensive threat in his own right as a power forward on Martin St-Louis' first line.