With a 4-8-2 record, placing them at the bottom of the Atlantic Division, the Montreal Canadiens have struggled at the start of the 2024-25 season. This has led fans and analysts to blame various elements, including head coach Martin St. Louis, the team’s defense, and rising star Juraj Slafkovsky. Slafkovsky is eager to improve his performance and boost his statistics. In this discussion, we will explore his season so far, analyze the reasons for his challenges, and suggest ways to turn things around.
This season, Slafkovsky has been sidelined for three games due to an upper-body injury, which, while not a criticism of him, has contributed to his slow start. His absence has also forced Coach St. Louis to adjust line combinations, leading to a lack of chemistry among the top nine forwards, which has been frustrating. However, as Slafkovsky finds his rhythm, he is expected to perform well on the top line, especially since his linemates, Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki, have been consistent.
So far, the Canadiens’ top line has not been a problem this season. Despite not having higher individual production, their struggles have added to the team’s overall issues. Slafkovsky, in particular, has been under scrutiny for his performance. However, we argue that Slaf, alongside Suzuki and Caufield, has been doing well. To support our view, let’s look at some stats comparing Slafkovsky’s performance this season to last.
In the 2023-24 season, Slafkovsky played 64 games with 64 minutes of ice time, posting 40 goals and an xGoals% of 51.9%. So far this season, he has played only 10 games, with 74 minutes of ice time and 7 goals, resulting in a lower xGoals% of 40.7%.
From a line perspective, Slafkovsky, Suzuki, and Caufield have teamed up well, scoring seven goals in around ten games together, reflecting a solid 70% Goals%. Critics might point to the lower expected goals percentage of 40.7%, indicating the line’s analytics aren’t favorable. However, this is counterbalanced by Caufield’s impressive shooting percentage of 26.3%, which suggests that, while the line may not be spending a lot of time in the offensive zone, they are still effective in scoring.
Looking at Slafkovsky’s individual statistics, he has eight points in 11 games, averaging 17:57 minutes of ice time. Although he is pointless in three of his last four games, he can focus on improving his consistency. Of his eight points, only one is a goal, and he has taken just 17 shots. While Caufield may be commanding more offensive attention, Slafkovsky needs to be more active on the ice, especially during power plays.
The Canadiens currently boast the 12th best power play at 20.8%, but Slafkovsky has only tallied one goal and two assists during these opportunities. Yet, with some adjustments, either from a more balanced offensive approach as Caufield’s performance normalizes or Slafkovsky stepping up his power play contributions, he and his linemates should be just fine. No
