Filip Mesar has been somewhat buried under the giant shadow of childhood friend Juraj Slafkovsky since the two Slovakians were selected by the Canadiens in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft.
When Mesar and Slafkovsky attended their first Canadiens training camp two years ago, veteran defenceman Chris Wideman called the duo Batman and Robin after they were selected first and 26th overall, respectively, at the draft.
“Every time I turn around they’re right next to each other,” Wideman said at the time. “So if I ever see one, the other one’s not too far away.”
Since that first training camp, Slafkovsky has lived under the bright Montreal hockey spotlight, but he really started to shine last season, posting 20-30-50 totals in 82 games. In July, the Canadiens rewarded the 20-year-old with an eight-year, US$60.8-million contract extension that begins with the 2025-26 season and will have an annual salary-cap hit of US$7.6 million.
Mesar, meanwhile, has had to adjust to a new country, a new lifestyle and the smaller North American rink while living away from the spotlight in Kitchener and playing for the OHL’s Rangers.
It hasn’t been easy — on or off the ice.
“The first year was pretty hard for me,” Mesar said Thursday while taking part in his third Canadiens’ rookie camp in Brossard. “The lifestyle and everything is new. I would say the second year was more comfortable for me.”
Mesar had 17-34-51 totals in 52 games during his first season in Kitchener.
At this point last year, Mesar was hoping to play a full season with the AHL’s Laval Rocket. But after playing only two games in the AHL, the Canadiens returned him to Kitchener, where Mesar had 19-33-52 totals in 45 regular-season games and added 1-15-16 totals in 10 playoff games. Mesar said the pace and physicality in the AHL was a big jump for him.
“It was better last season than the one before,” Mesar said about his time in Kitchener. “I had the same billet family. Also I have a girlfriend in Kitchener, so it was pretty good for me. I would say that first year was a little bit harder.”
Mesar will get another chance to play in Laval this season and believes he’s better prepared for the AHL.
While some Canadiens fans might already be looking at Mesar as a bust, there are only eight players selected at the 2022 draft who have played more than 20 games in the NHL, led by Slafkovsky with 121. Of the six players selected after Mesar in the first round, two of them (Buffalo’s Jiri Kulich and Winnipeg’s Brad Lambert) have played one game in the NHL. Only 10 players selected in the first round of the 2021 draft have played more than 80 games in the NHL.
It’s way too early to give up on Mesar as a Canadiens prospect.
During the first two on-ice sessions of this year’s rookie camp, Mesar has displayed the offensive skills that made him a first-round pick. He’s aware he needs to improve his play in the defensive zone, which is normal for a young forward. He also believes he needs to start shooting the puck more, including in two-on-ones, and become less pass oriented.
“I would say if I play my best game I’m competitive, play hard and create plays,” he said. “I think that’s the best version of myself.”
“Every player has a different path to the NHL,” he added. “(Slafkovsky) made it first year. Maybe it takes more time for me, but I still believe I can do that. In the next couple of years, I believe in myself that I can prove it. Just work hard, go step by step.”
Mesar is looking forward to being able to spend more time with Slafkovsky this season while being nearby in Laval, but he doesn’t think Batman and Robin will be roommates.
“I went to check his apartment a week ago, probably,” Mesar said. “He has a new apartment — four bedrooms. It’s a big apartment, but I have a girlfriend now, so I’ll probably find a place. But if we have free time we’ll go for dinner or something.
“I still can’t believe it,” he added about watching Slafkovsky follow a quick path to stardom in Montreal. “We grew up with each other, played on the national team on the same line year by year and now he’s making millions of dollars. He’s a great guy. But nothing changed. He’s the same guy as he was before. He works hard every day. He’s not like cocky or anything now.
“He didn’t change. It’s the same old Juraj and we’re still the same friends.”