(Brossard) Juraj Slafkovsky made the handful of journalists seated outside his locker laugh Monday evening, saying that even his mother was texting him to tell him to shoot more often.
The 18-year-old Slovak had three shots on goal in the Habs’ 2-1 shootout win over the Calgary Flames on Monday. It was only the fifth time in 23 games that he challenged the opposing goaltender at least three times.
Asked about this on Tuesday, head coach Martin St-Louis wanted to qualify the message he said to his foal.
“If you just focus on shooting more, are you really going to make the best game? I think it’s more important that he concentrates on thinking faster, explained St-Louis. It’s not a matter of choosing between shooting or passing the puck. It’s a matter of making the decision quickly.
“In the NHL, things go so fast. You need to think quickly and make a decision. So I don’t think he has to shoot more, but rather make decisions faster,” he added.
Despite this criticism, St. Louis once again praised the first pick last draft, as Slafkovsky continues to find his bearings in the big leagues.
“We’re trying to think long-term with him, hoping to help him become the player we believe he can become,” St-Louis said. There are going to be ups and downs, but when we believe he is ready to take on more responsibility, we give him more. »
Slafkovsky notably obtains more and more presences on the power play. St-Louis noted that this allowed the young forward to touch the puck more often, which helped him gain confidence.
The Montreal coach also continues to appreciate Slafkovsky’s candor.
“He’s an intense player, but there’s also a light side to his personality,” he said. He doesn’t take himself too seriously. He knows when he is making a mistake. He is easy to manage, as he is very receptive to our advice.
“He is hungry and wants to be the player he knows he can be. He is aware of the work to be done to get there and it makes our job enjoyable,” added St-Louis.
Slafkovsky has a goal and three assists in his last six games. He has four goals and five assists in 23 games this season.