Coyotes Head Coach Sends a Clear Message to Juraj Slafkovsky and the Canadiens
The performance of Juraj Slafkovsky is currently a hot topic. Although the young man is still very young and there's absolutely no reason to give up on him, it's his development that is drawing attention.
The first overall pick of 2022 has only one point to his name in ten games, and it was recorded in the first game of the season.
It's evident that he doesn't look like the player who seemed to have taken a step forward during the preseason. His confidence appears to be at rock bottom, and Martin St-Louis insists on pairing him with another immensely disappointing player so far, Josh Anderson.
But to focus back on the tall Slovak, Arizona Coyotes' head coach André Tourigny, known for his straightforwardness, threw a subtle shade at the Canadiens with a strong statement implying that the NHL isn't a development league.
"The NHL isn't a development league. You don't play in the NHL to develop; you play in the NHL because you're capable of helping your team win."
That's a direct hit at a significant issue with the Canadiens, and Tourigny is spot on. At the moment, Slafkovsky isn't helping his team win; he's barely managing to stay afloat.
"We're in a professional league where there's no room for trial and error," he said. "If you can't execute tasks that are normally part of your role without being nervous, it's because you're not there yet."
Without stating it outright, this is precisely the description of what's happening with the Canadiens' youngster. Tourigny also notes that there are excellent leagues specifically designed to develop players and help them progress so they are ready for the National League when the time comes.
This stands in stark contrast to the Canadiens' philosophy, which seems inclined towards developing their young player in the NHL. Given what we're seeing from Slafkovsky, there are concerns about how the organization is managing one of its most promising assets.
| POLL |
3 NOVEMBRE | 1165 ANSWERS Coyotes Head Coach Sends a Clear Message to Juraj Slafkovsky and the Canadiens Do you think the Canadiens are screwing up Slafkovsky's development? |
| Yes | 808 | 69.4 % |
| No | 357 | 30.6 % |
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