Juraj Slafkovsky Anticipates a New Olympic Experience
MILAN — Juraj Slafkovsky fondly remembers his dream experience at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where he secured a bronze medal with Slovakia and was rightfully named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. At just 17 years old, during his first foray into Olympic hockey, Slafkovsky shouldered the offensive responsibility for his team, impressively scoring seven goals in seven games. His youth was barely noticeable, save for the braces he still wore.
As the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 approach, Slafkovsky is poised to be a key player for Team Slovakia once again, but the circumstances will be markedly different. Unlike Beijing, this tournament will feature the participation of NHL players, elevating the competition significantly.
A Different Tournament Landscape
“It’s a different tournament with all the best players in the world being here,” Slafkovsky stated after practice at Santagiulia Arena on Monday. “I just want to give my best performance. I’ll look to help my team and to be the best version of myself. Hopefully I can help the team win a few games.”
Surrounded by a throng of journalists from his home country, Slafkovsky briefly shifted his attention to engage with the reporters he regularly interacts with in the Montreal Canadiens locker room.
Pressure and Expectations
When questioned about the pressure from his homeland, Slafkovsky responded with his characteristic humor. “It’s a good thing Slovakia’s such a small country,” he quipped with a laugh. “I don’t have the attention of a huge country like Canada. But I like that. I’ve dreamed about this since I was a kid. I want to have fun.”
He continued, “I hope the other teams don’t focus on me too much. But I feel like if I want to be the guy who makes the difference on the ice, I’m going to need to go up against the other teams’ best forward lines and best defensemen. I’m going to be looking to make things difficult for them and score some goals.”
Team Slovakia’s Strategy
Slovakia will kick off the men’s Olympic tournament against Team Finland at Santagiulia Arena on Wednesday (10:40 a.m. ET; Peacock, USA, CBC Gem, TSN, CBC). Group B presents a challenging lineup, including hockey powerhouses Finland and Team Sweden, alongside Team Italy. Success in the preliminary round will require a collective effort from coach Vladimir Orszagh’s team, rather than relying solely on Slafkovsky.
“The Olympics aren’t the story of one single player,” Orszagh emphasized on Tuesday. “Juraj is a dominant winger in the NHL and a first overall pick (2022 NHL Draft). He had a wonderful tournament in Beijing and scored plenty of goals, but it’s a different story in Milan. We’ll still need him. He’ll be very important for our team on the ice, but also in the locker room. People will look to Juraj, but he won’t be the only one. We can’t rely on just one player. We mustn’t forget that he’s still a young player at 21. We need to realize that he’s going to play against the best defensemen in the world. The other teams will be keeping an eye on him, because they know he’s going to be a threat.”
Expert Insight
Craig Ramsay, who coached Slovakia in 2022 and now serves as a special consultant, believes Slafkovsky will be crucial once again. “He knows it too. If he uses his speed and his size, he’ll find ways to stand out. We also have good players who can get him the puck. I’d like to see him take more shots; he doesn’t always have to think about trying to make the perfect pass.”
Ramsay has consistently believed in Slafkovsky’s potential since the Canadiens drafted him. He notes Slafkovsky’s growth in his fourth season with Montreal, where he’s recorded 45 points (21 goals, 24 assists) in 57 games. “I’m noticing an improvement in ‘Slaf’s’ play from one year to the next. He has confidence in himself now. He’s scoring goals and now he’s raised his game to become an important player for Montreal. I’m so happy for him. He always tells me that he wants to do even more. That’s the sign of a good player: he’s never satisfied.”
Ramsay concludes, “I know the NHL. Very few players are able to dominate right from Day 1. It takes time for the vast majority of those early picks. That was the case with Slaf.”
Learn more about the Olympic Winter Games: Official Olympics Website
