Juraj Slafkovsky is turning heads at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, and one NHL analyst believes his impressive performance isn’t a sudden surge, but a continuation of strong play. Arpon Basu, a senior writer for The Athletic, has been closely following Slafkovsky’s development, particularly during his time with the Montreal Canadiens.
Basu is experiencing firsthand the fervor surrounding the Slovakian star within his home country. “I’ve never been to Slovakia, though I hope to visit soon,” Basu said. “His status in your country seems fascinating. I would compare it to Sidney Crosby in Canada, and I think that’s appropriate.”
Slafkovsky appears to be embracing a different role with the Slovakian national team, a change Basu has observed. The forward currently sits atop the tournament scoring leaderboard, tied with Team Canada’s Connor McDavid with three goals and three assists through the first three games of the competition, according to TSN. This strong showing has propelled Slovakia into contention within their group.
Basu also highlighted the play of another Slovakian player, noting the potential of forward Pospíšil. “He’s a power forward, and those types of players have immense value for clubs in the NHL, provided they can stay healthy. But if he’s constantly injured, maybe he needs to dial it back. A good start would be to stop hitting teammates from behind in practice,” Basu commented.
Slafkovsky’s Star Power
While a comparison to Crosby in terms of pure hockey skill might be ambitious, Basu clarified his point. He emphasized the level of national adoration Slafkovsky receives in Slovakia, a phenomenon he finds compelling. “He performed like a No. 1 draft pick,” Basu noted, as reported by The Athletic.
