In the realm of NHL draft picks, Juraj Slafkovsky stands among the elite, joining the ranks of legends such as Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Auston Matthews, Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, and Connor Bedard. However, despite his potential star power, the spotlight on Slafkovsky has not been as intense in Montreal.
“I like it that way,” Slafkovsky remarked, embracing the lack of hype surrounding him.
Nevertheless, Slafkovsky is poised to lead the charge for hockey’s next wave of superstars, alongside San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith, Buffalo’s JJ Peterka, and New Jersey’s Luke Hughes.
“It’s really cool to be a part of it, and I hope I will be a part of it,” Slafkovsky stated optimistically, reflecting on his journey since being selected first overall by the Canadiens in 2022. “Hopefully we can do some things as the younger generation.”
Having spent some time in the league, Slafkovsky, Peterka, Hughes, and Quinton Byfield of the Los Angeles Kings are now looking to prove themselves among the NHL’s elite. Meanwhile, newcomers like Celebrini, Smith, Philadelphia’s Matvei Michkov, and Slafkovsky’s own teammate Lane Hutson are frontrunners in the race for the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie.
Celebrini, the most recent top pick, may not carry the label of “generational talent” like Crosby or McDavid, but he did capture the Hobey Baker Award as the nation’s top college player with an impressive 64 points in 38 games at Boston University.
Sharks forward William Eklund, somewhat unfamiliar with Celebrini’s game prior to the draft, took notice of his skill set and expressed excitement about seeing him in action.
“I looked him up a little bit, and obviously he’s a great skill guy,” Eklund acknowledged. “He’s a high-caliber player, and it’s going to be fun to see.”
As the season progresses, the Calder Trophy race heats up, with Celebrini listed at 4-1 odds to secure the coveted rookie of the year award. The competition among these young stars promises to captivate hockey fans and keep the league buzzing with excitement.
