Juraj Slafkovsky says the car accident that left him without a ride last year is behind him now, and he’s also making clear that his bond with Ivan Demidov has only grown stronger through it all.
The Montreal Canadiens forwards have become more than just teammates. Their connection, Slafkovsky explained, has been built through time spent together away from the rink as much as through their work on it.
“We are very similar in age and in terms of our mentality. Demi and I were even neighbours.
When I didn't have a car, we went to the (Bell Centre) together. After the games, we played FIFA or watched something.
We have the same sense of humour and we help each other on and off the ice.”
That relationship took shape after Slafkovsky’s accident on the way to the first home game of the season last year, when he found himself without a car. Demidov stepped in and drove him to the Bell Centre for much of the season, turning a practical problem into one of those easy locker-room stories that sticks.
Slafkovsky also pointed to the way that off-ice comfort has carried over into their hockey. The two young forwards share chemistry, and he said they keep helping each other in every situation.
Now, after what he described last year as a frightening experience, Slafkovsky is back on the road. And the friendship between him and Demidov still looks just as steady, whether they’re headed to the arena or already inside it.
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Canadiens Suddenly Fit A Rare NHL Pursuit Fans Need To Watch
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It also leaves open a question that will matter to Canadiens fans watching the next wave of talent decisions: who else was willing to get aggressive when Carlsson was available? Marek said there is no way to confirm whether Montreal was among the teams involved, but the possibility alone speaks to a rare kind of pursuit that can change a front offices priorities overnight. With young stars becoming more expensive by the month, the Canadiens suddenly fit into a conversation that used to feel more theoretical than real. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Suddenly Have A Real Montembeault Trade Opening
The goaltending market can change in a hurry, and Frederik Andersens injury has done exactly that for Edmonton. With the Oilers now facing an early stretch without him, the ripple effect has brought Samuel Montembeault back into the conversation for Montreal, giving the Canadiens a fresh look at a trade path that seemed to have gone quiet not long ago.
Montembeault had been part of summer trade chatter before, but nothing came together at that time. Now the timing is different, and both sides appear to be revisiting the possibility as Edmonton weighs its short-term crease options and Montreal considers whether this is the kind of opening worth acting on. No deal is in place, but the situation has suddenly become one to watch. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Fans Just Got Another Reason To Dream On Jacob Fowler
Jacob Fowler keeps adding to the sense that Montreal may have something special developing in net. The Canadiens prospect was recently ranked among the top young goalies tied to NHL organizations, a nod that reflects how quickly his name has moved from intriguing draft pick to one of the more talked-about goalie prospects in the sport. A third-round selection who reached the NHL at age 21, Fowler has already earned attention for the poise and technical skill that stand out at a position where patience is usually required.
For a franchise that has spent years looking for stability in goal, that kind of optimism matters. Jakub Dobes is handling the starting job for now, but Fowlers rise gives Montreal another potential long-term answer and, just as importantly, another player whose ceiling seems to keep climbing. The comparisons around him are getting louder, and the real question for Canadiens fans is how long it will take before the organization has to make room for a goalie prospect who already looks like more than just future depth. [Read more 🡒]