“Let’s not make the same mistake that happened with Kotkaniemi.”

Montreal Canadiens young forward Juraj Slavkovski may have been the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, but he still hasn’t been able to prove himself in Bateman’s arena.

It must be said that number 20 was injured in half of the 2022-2023 season. But so far, in 47 NHL games, he has collected just 11 points, including four goals.

However, this is the situation, according to Alain Chantelois, where CH should not make the same mistake he did with Jesperi Kotkaniemi, another high-level pick for the organization.

KK had five very average campaigns with the Habs and Carolina Hurricanes between 2018 and 2023. But this season, the Finn has scored nine points in nine games.

“Let’s not make the same mistake we made, for example, with Kotkaniemi,” Chantelois stressed on Monday during the presentation. JC On TVA Sports. Look, he became a very good player, it took him 5-6 years, and now he’s with Carolina. Let’s not make the same mistake with him.”

However, the ‘Baron’, who celebrates his 50th career this week, still believes in Slavkowski’s potential.

“I’ve always defended him, and I love him,” Chantelois said. I find, as Maxime (Lapierre) said, that he’s not playing with the right players or currently, as I was discussing with Alan Cheney, he’s not the hockey player I expected. He’s 6’3″ tall and weighs 230 pounds, and often ends up on the ground. I think this man has lost his self-confidence.

“When you have the first pick in the draft, you organize yourself so that he scores goals. I went after him for that. How many does he have? He has 0 in the last 11 months. Well, you’ll tell me he’s been injured, okay. I think at 19, he’s not ready After to play in the National League.

Watch in the video above.