Slafkovsky: Chasing the Wrong Shadow

If Juraj Slafkovsky wants to become the elite power forward the Montreal Canadiens hope he’ll be, he needs to stop looking across the division and start looking across his own locker room.

Slafkovsky was obviously impressed by Brady Tkachuk’s performance at the 4-Nations Face Offs and he admitted publicly wanting to model his game with the Senators’ captain. Both are big, left-shooting wingers. Both play in Canadian markets. Both were drafted high and expected to be franchise cornerstones. But beyond that, the similarities dry up quickly.

Tkachuk thrives on chaos. He’s part throwback, part agitator, part wrecking ball. He’s the kind of guy you love to have and hate to play against—because he plays with a chip on both shoulders. That’s not Slafkovsky. Juraj doesn’t have the same brand of snarl, and that’s okay. He’s more methodical, more deliberate and cerebral in his decisions. He doesn’t run on raw emotion like Tkachuk does—he calculates, reads, adapts. Trying to become someone he’s not is a sure way to stifle the things that make him special.

Instead of trying to play like someone he’ll never be, Slafkovsky would be better served modelling himself after someone he sees every single day…

Learning From the Guy in the Room

Josh Anderson’s NHL journey hasn’t been linear. Drafted in the fourth round in 2012, he had to scratch and claw for every opportunity. Early on, he was known primarily for his speed, goals’ scoring input and power-forward potential but struggled with consistency. One night he’d be a game-breaker, the next, a ghost. Montreal fans have seen the full spectrum—frustration when the puck isn’t going in, but appreciation for the nights he played with fire, finished checks, and forced turnovers.

To his credit—and coach St-Louis—Anderson gradually rounded out his game. He improved defensively, earned time on the penalty kill, and became one of the team’s most dependable north-south skaters. He accepted that scoring streaks would come and go, but effort could never be optional. That’s a lesson Slafkovsky should take to heart.

Gallagher’s Fingerprints

While it hasn’t been talked about much, there’s reason to believe Brendan Gallagher has helped shape Anderson’s growth. Gallagher’s influence goes far beyond his numbers. He’s the embodiment of relentlessness—always first in on the forecheck, always battling in the dirty areas, always leaving everything on the ice. Even when his body has betrayed him, his spirit never has.

That ethos appears to have rubbed off on Anderson, especially this 2024–25 season. We’ve seen more calculated pressure from Anderson, smarter defensive reads, and a stronger net-front presence. He’s embraced the ugly side of the game, the one that doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet but earns the respect of teammates and coaches alike. With that, he has found more consistency. That same influence can benefit Slafkovsky—if he’s willing to absorb it.

Different Tools, Same Toolbox

Let’s make one thing crystal clear: No one is confusing Josh Anderson with Juraj Slafkovsky when it comes to skill. Juraj’s hands are better. His vision is clearer. His passing touch is more refined. He has a higher offensive ceiling, plain and simple. But that’s exactly why the Anderson comparison matters.

If Slafkovsky can adopt Anderson’s mindset—the straight-line drives, the physical commitment, the daily compete level—and layer it over his superior skill set, the results could be explosive. We’re not talking about just becoming a good NHLer. We’re talking about becoming a dominant one.

Imagine a player with Anderson’s fire, Gallagher’s tenacity, and Slafkovsky’s raw skill and poise. That’s a unicorn. That’s a franchise forward.

The Road Forward

Slafkovsky doesn’t need to reinvent himself. He just needs to round out what’s already there. Play with more urgency, demand more from himself physically, and let his skill shine through that framework. He doesn’t need to chirp, punch, or posture like Tkachuk to dominate. He needs to grind like Anderson and Gallagher, and the rest will follow.

Slafkovsky has a higher ceiling. But ceilings only matter if you’re willing to climb.

If he matches Anderson’s intensity and grit, his skill won’t just carry him forward—it’ll launch him. And in doing so, he’ll stop chasing comparisons and start setting new ones.