Marián Gáborík: Slafkovský will stay the whole season in the NHL – ŠPORT.SK

today 11:40 | When Marián Gáborík entered professional hockey, he was a similar phenomenon to Juraj Slafkovský. He joined the NHL as an 18-year-old and until Thursday night held the record for the youngest Slovak scorer in the professional league. He heartily congratulates the last draft unit on his success and believes that after a successful match the pressure will ease off him a little. A goal can help Juraj stabilize his position in Montreal, says MARIÁN GÁBORÍK What do you think about the fact that Juraj Slafkovský broke your record as the youngest Slovak scorer in the NHL? “I congratulate him. It’s nice, although I don’t think you, like me, would rely on such things. The main thing is that he managed to score a goal. He was definitely relieved and a stone fell from his heart. It was such a typical goal of his, he used an excellent swing shot.” How do you remember your first goal, which was also the very first in the history of the Minnesota Wild? “The first goals are among the most memorable for everyone. It was no different for me, I put it in front of the goal against the Anaheim Ducks. I value him all the more because he succeeded in my first game in the NHL. It was an amazing feeling, even though we didn’t win.” Marián Gáborík in the Minnesota Wild jersey. Source: TASR You also jumped straight into the NHL at eighteen. Were you nervous? “I was very nervous before the first warm-up game we played, I think against Vancouver. After that it was just classic nervousness, nothing exaggerated.” With Slafkovski, it is constantly being decided whether he will stay in the first team or whether he will be sent to the farm. What do you think about his situation? “The goal can help him a lot to stabilize his position in Montreal. I think they will keep him in the first team all season. Coach Martin St. Louis does a good job with him, artfully regulating his stay on the ice. In my rookie season, I also thought about getting sent down. But it gradually declined. I’m sure Juro has it somewhere in his head, but I think he won’t go to the farm. After all, the Canadiens are not favorites for the Stanley Cup. If they had an ‘inflated’ team, it is in a different situation. However, they are rebuilding the team, it gives more to young players.” “I think that Juro will handle the enormous pressure in Montreal and will do well.” Marián Gáborík How do you perceive the pressure in Montreal? “It’s huge. Jura’s every step is taken care of and he certainly puts pressure on himself. I think he can handle this as well and do well.” Was there a moment during your rookie season when you were threatened by the farm? “I haven’t heard anything officially, but sometimes you get the feeling. I had to keep working hard not to give them a reason for that.” Juraj is a different type of player than you, but you were also ready for the professional league from a physical point of view. Do you see a parallel in this with the Canadiens striker? “I was different. Juro is, after all, a strong type of player, he weighs over a hundred kilograms. Speed ​​prevailed for me. I also had the advantage that we didn’t have a star-studded team. I had a stable place in the lineup and I also managed to score.” GÁBORÍK STARTED GREAT IN THE NHL Marián Gáborík made a stellar start to the NHL. Minnesota played its first season in the NHL in 2000/01, and the three-time draft pick immediately jumped at the chance. On October 6, 2000, in a duel against the Anaheim Ducks, the native of Trenčín became the Wild’s first ever scorer in the pro league. At the age of eighteen, after six duels, he had four goals, an assist and also played a two-goal match. However, even he did not avoid a difficult period in his rookie season, when he once did not score in eight games in a row. Overall, he played an excellent first year. He scored 18 goals and 36 points in 71 games. YOUNGEST SCORERS IN MONTREAL HISTORY 1. Mario Tremblay 18 years, 75 days 2. Jesperi Kotkaniemi 18 years, 118 days 3. Claude Lemieux 18 years, 141 days 4. Juraj Slafkovský 18 years, 204 days