There was something in the way Martin St. Louis answered the question about Juraj Slafkovský that made you listen. Not because it was flashy or particularly polished—but because it wasn’t. You could almost hear the coach thinking it through as he spoke. He chose his words carefully, like a coach trying to explain something that matters more than systems or stats.
What he kept coming back to, in his own roundabout way, was trust.
Slafkovský Was Not a Typical First-Round Draft Pick
When you’re talking about a first-overall pick, having that kind of trust in the organization might be rare. Slafkovský didn’t come into the league with the same profile as a Connor McDavid. He’s not built around flash or highlight-reel skill.
He’s a big, strong power forward who has to learn how to use that size effectively if he’s going to make an impact with the Canadiens. But it’s not always easy to listen to someone share that vision, especially when you’re 18, and you might be thinking differently. As a first-overall pick, it’s easy to believe the whole hockey world is your oyster and you can be the kind of player you have in your own head.
And that’s where St. Louis seemed almost… impressed.
Slafkovský Was Willing to Listen and Learn from His Coach
Not by the goals or the points, but by the willingness of a young player to buy into a plan that didn’t necessarily match the outside noise. Most players that age—especially ones drafted first overall—come in with an idea of who they are and who they want to be. They try to model themselves after the stars they’ve watched. They want to prove something right away.
Slafkovský didn’t do that. Or at least, not in the same way. Instead, he listened. He trusted. And maybe most importantly, he allowed himself to be shaped a little.
St. Louis made a point of saying that the Canadiens didn’t force anything. They didn’t walk in, hand him a script, and say, “This is who you are now.” It was slower than that. They had a lot of conversations and coaching. There were adjustments that included a bit of give-and-take. The kind of development that actually sticks because the player is part of it.
The Relationship Between the Player and the Team Is Rare
That’s rare. Coaches will tell you that all the time, usually off the record. Young players can be stubborn. It’s quite understandable, actually. They’ve been the best player on every team they’ve ever played on. Changing that mindset—even slightly—takes time and a relationship.
What you heard in St. Louis’ answer was a coach recognizing that relationship. And what you saw, if you were paying attention, was a player who’s starting to grow into something that might not have been obvious on draft day. Not just a collection of tools, but a player with direction.
That doesn’t happen by accident.
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