Frankie Corrado predicts major jump in production for $60.8M Montreal Canadiens forward

By Srihari Anand

Modified Oct 15, 2024 15:21 GMT

The Montreal Canadiens have started off their 2024-25 NHL regular season with two wins and two losses, and are third in the Atlantic Division standings. The Habs lost 6-3 to the Penguins on Oct. 14th, in a game where Juraj Slafkovsky scored his first goal of the season.

The 20-year-old forward signed an eight-year, $60.8 million contract with the Montreal Canadiens in July 2024, which will kick in at the start of the 2025-26 season.

NHL analyst Frankie Corrado discussed Juraj Slafkovsky's ceiling for this season, on SC's Jay OnRait show on October 14. The former NHLer turned analyst suggested the Habs forward has to use his 6'3'', 230lbs frame to get in front of the net to maximize his production this season.

Provided Slafkovsky can grow his net-front game, Corrado predicts a major jump in the Habs forward's points total this season. Corrado said (0:31),

".So, if he gets to that (net front) area, I have no worries that the production is going to be there for him. Maybe he takes a jump, 20 points, and he’s a 70-point player."

Corrado deemed Canadiens stars like Cole Caufield, and Nick Suzuki, among others, as the major challenge for Slafkovsky to unleash his true scoring abilities. He opined the experienced players on the team will need to step up, and have a team-first mentality to unlock their teammates' potential.

Corrado added,

"There are also individuals that have to make it their problem that the team gets better. They have to be the ones that it’s not just about their individual performance, it’s about leading the charge for the team."

As per NHL.com writer Pete Jensen's August column 'Montreal Canadiens fantasy projections' for this season, he predicts Juraj Slafkovsky to have 67 points in his third full NHL season for the Habs.

Slafkovsky critical of Montreal Canadiens conceding 3-2 lead in loss to Penguins

The Montreal Canadiens were down 2-0 when Kaiden Guhle scored just before the end of the first period. Juraj Slafkovsky scored during the powerplay and Emil Heineman got on the board to give the Habs a 3-2 lead to end the second.

The veterans on the Penguins roster stepped up big time in the third period. Three unanswered goals from Kevin Hayes, Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin, sealed the victory for the Pens.

In the post-game interview, Juraj Slafkovsky was critical of the Habs' inability to hold onto leads. He said,

“Yeah it sucks. You come back then you lose your own game again by your own mistakes so it sucks. We have to eliminate that for the future.”

Slafkovsky lauded his team for their game in the second period when they mounted a comeback to lead the game 3-2, but also pinned the loss on Habs players taking too many risks on the ice against 'great players' on the Penguins roster playing against them who capable of mounting their comeback.