As the 2026 Winter Olympics officially get underway in Milan, all eyes in Montreal and Slovakia are fixed on Juraj Slafkovský. The 21-year-old Canadiens winger, who became a national hero after leading Slovakia to a bronze medal and earning tournament MVP honours in 2022, returns to the Olympic stage today, 11 February 2026, as the undisputed face of Slovak hockey.
Olympic Spotlight: Slovakia vs. Finland
Slafkovský and Team Slovakia open their tournament this morning against Finland. While the matchup was expected to feature a “Habs vs. Habs” battle, Finland’s Oliver Kapanen (also of the Montreal Canadiens) has been ruled out of today’s contest. Slafkovský, despite battling a minor lower-body injury that sidelined him for Montreal’s final three NHL games before the break, is confirmed to lead the Slovak top line.
2025-26 NHL Season Performance
Before departing for Milan, Slafkovský was enjoying a breakout campaign with the Montreal Canadiens. His development into a dominant power forward has been a primary storyline for the 2025-26 season:
- Games Played: 44
- Goals: 21
- Assists: 24
- Total Points: 45
- Physicality: 225 lbs (102 kg) frame utilized for 88 shots and a +10 rating.
His January performance was particularly notable, where he tallied 16 points in 16 games, cementing his role on the Canadiens’ top line alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield.
The “Slafkovský Factor” in Milan
The pressure on the young winger is immense. Unlike the 2022 Beijing Games, where he was a 17-year-old “under the radar” prospect wearing a full cage, Slafkovský is now a seasoned NHL star. Analysts suggest that Slovakia’s hopes of an upset depend almost entirely on his offensive production, as the roster lacks the depth of traditional powerhouses like Canada or the USA.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Olympic Status | Active (Game 1 vs. Finland) |
| Health | Recovered from lower-body injury |
| NHL Contract | Signed through 2032-33 |
| Role | Top Line LW / Power Play Specialist |
With the NHL returning to the Olympics for the first time in a decade, Slafkovský has expressed a desire to “lead the team” and replicate the “magical run” of 2022. For Montreal fans, the hope is that he returns from Italy healthy and with the same momentum that has him on pace for a 70+ point NHL season.