NHL Rumors: Canadiens' Top Prospect To Be Sent To AHL

Montreal Canadiens' first overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky's NHL rookie season may be cut short. The team has so many forward options that he is stuck playing on the fourth line. He has averaged just 11:26 per game through the first five games of the season and has scored just one goal.

The initial expectation was that he would at least get top-nine minutes. On the fourth line and with so little ice time, he isn't able to play in a position to succeed. Every other forward is more experienced, so the best thing for him may be to play on the top line in Laval of the AHL for some time in 2022-23.

Darren Dreger said, "it's believed that it's likely the Canadiens will send Juraj Slafkovsky down to Laval in the AHL. It is probably the worst thing for a young player's development to play them so little. Unless the top prospect is ready to enter the NHL lineup in a scoring role or receive minutes, he can develop much better honing his craft in a tough AHL with other hungry young players.

If Slafkovsky is sent to the AHL soon, he will be back up in the NHL by the trade deadline and stick with the team until then. There is expected to be trades out of Montreal this season, so more playing time will be available and his confidence won't he hurt.