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Canadiens' Slafkovsky excited to team up with idol Laine
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    Canadiens’ Slafkovsky excited to team up with idol Laine

    Juraj Slafkovsky grew up idolzing Patrik Laine.

    So the Montreal Canadiens forward can barely contain his excitement now that the two are teammates.

    “I just landed in Prague and it popped up on my phone and I was so happy,” Slafkovsky said from the NHL European Media Tour in the Czech capital, according to NHL.com. “In 2016, I was probably 13 or 14 at that time, and I was a big fan of his, waiting to see whether he or [Toronto Maple Leafs centre Auston] Matthews would go first (in the NHL Draft), so I was a fan of his back in the day.”

    The Canadiens acquired Laine on Monday in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

    The three-time 30-goal scorer joins an emerging core of talented forwards that includes Slafkovsky, Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Kirby Dach.

    Laine is coming off a down season in which he played in only 18 games due to a shoulder injury and time spent in the NHL/NHLPA players assistance program. Slafkovsky said he hopes a change of scenery can help Laine return to the goal-scoring threat he was earlier in his career.

    “It’s good to see him join our team and hopefully he’s excited too,” Slafkovsky said. “I’m sure he wants to come and restart his career, and I feel like Montreal is a great place for him to do that.”

    The upcoming season promises to be a big one for Slafkovsky after he took a big step offensively last year. The first-overall pick in 2022, Slafkovsky set career highs in goals (20), assists (30) and points (50) while appearing in all 82 games for the Canadiens.

    The Canadiens awarded his leap in production with an eight-year, $60.8-million contract extension that begins in 2025-26.

    With all the activity around him, Slafkovsky says he can’t wait to get the season started.

    “I’m excited about the season, especially with the Patrik Laine trade,” Slafkovsky said. “I wish we would could skip training camp and just start the season, because I’m excited to play games that mean something.”

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    The Montreal Canadiens’ newest prospect, forward Juraj Slafkovsky, is thrilled at the opportunity to play alongside his idol, fellow Slovakian and NHL star Patrik Laine. The 18-year-old Slafkovsky was selected by the Canadiens in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft, and he couldn’t be more excited to join the team and learn from one of his hockey heroes.

    Slafkovsky has long looked up to Laine, who has made a name for himself as one of the league’s top goal scorers. The young forward has admired Laine’s skill, speed, and scoring ability, and he is eager to soak up as much knowledge and experience as he can from his idol.

    In an interview with reporters, Slafkovsky expressed his excitement at the prospect of playing alongside Laine, saying, “I’ve always looked up to Patrik and admired his game. To have the chance to learn from him and play on the same team as him is a dream come true for me.”

    Slafkovsky’s admiration for Laine goes beyond just his on-ice abilities. He also sees Laine as a role model for how to conduct oneself both on and off the ice. Slafkovsky hopes to emulate Laine’s work ethic, professionalism, and dedication to the game as he embarks on his own NHL career.

    The Canadiens are also excited about the potential partnership between Slafkovsky and Laine. General Manager Marc Bergevin praised Slafkovsky’s talent and potential, saying, “Juraj is a highly skilled player with a bright future ahead of him. We believe that playing alongside a player of Patrik’s caliber will only help him develop and reach his full potential.”

    As Slafkovsky prepares to make the jump to the NHL, he knows that he has a lot to learn and a long road ahead of him. But with Laine by his side, he feels confident that he has the support and guidance he needs to succeed in the world’s top hockey league.

    Fans of the Canadiens are eagerly anticipating seeing Slafkovsky and Laine take the ice together, and they are hopeful that this dynamic duo will help lead the team to success in the upcoming season. With two talented Slovakian forwards on their roster, the Canadiens are poised to make some noise in the NHL.