Slafkovsky: Montreal 'a great place' for Laine to restart career

Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky is ready to start the new season after the team's addition of Patrik Laine.

"It's good to see (Laine) join our team and hopefully he's excited too," Slafkovsky said Wednesday, according to NHL.com's Derek Van Diest. "I'm sure he wants to come and restart his career, and I feel like Montreal is a great place for him to do that."

The Canadiens acquired Laine and a second-round pick from the Columbus Blue Jackets for defenseman Jordan Harris on Monday.

Laine scored 30 or more goals in his first three NHL seasons, highlighted by a 44-goal campaign at 19 years old, but hasn't reached that mark since 2018-19. He's struggled with injuries in recent seasons and spent time in the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program this year.

Montreal's bet on a reclamation project has Slafkovsky amped for October.

"I wish we could skip training camp and just start the season because I'm excited to play games that mean something," Slafkovsky said.

Slafkovsky has admired Laine's game since he was a young teenager.

"In 2016, I was probably 13 or 14 at that time, and I was a big fan of (Laine's), waiting to see whether he or (Auston) Matthews would go first (in the draft)," Slafkovsky said. "So I was a fan of his back in the day."

Slafkovsky added, "I know who he is, but I don't know if he knows who I am."

The first overall pick in the 2022 draft, Slafkovsky began to excel in the back half of last season. He recorded 16 goals and 37 points in 46 games after Jan. 1.

"If I compare my 39 games from my first year to last year, it was like I was a different player," Slafkovsky said. "My last year in Finland, my first year in Montreal, and my second year in Montreal, it was like I was three different players."

Slafkovsky enters his third campaign with the Canadiens knowing expectations are rising.

"In my first two years, Montreal has been calm, because I think the fans know it is not going to happen overnight," Slafkovsky said. "It takes time, but it's getting to a point when they expect it to be time. We think it is time as well and I can't wait to keep pushing towards that time when we are going to be good."