Off the Ice With Slavo

”New season, new life—same goal.” In a year that could deliver not one, but two shots at greatness—read: a Stanley Cup + Olympic gold—Jaccob Slavin remains as humble and chill as ever. 

While skating toward literal history is no small feat, the Canes’ quiet cornerstone remains dialed in on what drives him—both on and off the ice. Now littering almost every awards watch list with a near-lock Olympic slot and a chance to finally push a franchise that’s long been flirting with the Cup, “Slavo” is just as likely to bend your ear about philanthropy, faith and family as he is about hockey.

This very well could be the year of Slavo—but either way, for the principled father of two, it’s just another chance to serve: with his game, his community and the people who drive him. We sat down with the defenseman in front of what is primed to be his biggest season yet to get to know the man off the ice—and bend his ear for some bold predictions. 

What made Raleigh stick? The area, the people—just so many cool opportunities and situations God’s placed in our life over the 10 years, like our work with Raleigh Rescue Mission, Raleigh Dream Center, Refugee Hope Partners and a golf tournament I help co-host. It’s home. 

Let’s talk family: How’d you end up adopting your daughter? My wife always had adoption on her heart. … After an event with a story about a 6-year-old boy who was adopted, on the way home, she said, ‘I want to adopt.’ It’s been so fun.

Game. Birth. Game. Walk us through it. That was 2019. We played Game 1 in Washington on Thursday—first time we made it back to the playoffs. She was born Friday in NC. Then we had Game 2 in Washington Saturday. I was there for all of it.

Memorable moments? For Canes, the Stadium series… but, personally, representing Team USA at the Four Nations last year was so cool—that game in Canada was unbelievable. And playoffs: Game 1 against Washington in 2019… I don’t think I’d ever heard the rink that loud. I was like, ‘Playoff hockey is awesome. And Raleigh is awesome.’

ESPN dubbed you the Team USA “Quiet Hero”—do you buy it? I don’t. I think that just comes with how I play the game and not being super flashy. I try to do my job as a defenseman and stop the best players.

Humility vs. confidence—how do you juggle it? It goes back to my faith. I’m only out there to glorify God, not to impress me or anyone else. Big picture, it doesn’t affect who I am as a sinner in need of grace. I can’t get prideful because I still need someone to come from Heaven and save me.

With the Olympics and playoffs, is this your biggest year yet? I try to go into each game and season with the same mindset: ‘What is my purpose here?’ We want to win the Cup. That’s everyone’s goal. First and foremost my allegiance is to my NHL team, but anytime you get to represent your country, you do it with pride and give it your all.

Last year’s playoffs lessons? We shot ourselves in the foot last year. Going down 3-0 in a series makes it hard to crawl back. Some goals we gave up were on mistakes—mismanaging the puck, penalties. We can’t be giving teams of that caliber those opportunities. In Game 4, we managed the puck well, played our game—and we won. Florida’s gone to the Cup the past three years because they stick to their game plan and execute it well.

The Eastern Conference Finals hump—what’s it gonna take? I don’t think it’s a head game… it’s more how guys are going to step up when that big moment comes. We need everyone to be playing their best hockey at that time.

People say you’re underrated—does that fire you up? I don’t feel disrespected. There are so many other good defensemen out there. I know I’m good at what I do, but I know the offensive guys are really good at what they do.

Bold prediction? Nikishin wins the Calder.

Is this the year? It definitely could be. We got better this offseason. We just have to get there and do it.

If not   hockey? I gravitate to sports. Baseball was my other main sport, but I’d probably want to be a pro golfer—though I don’t have the skill for it.

Raleigh go-tos? Prime Barbecue—great food. My wife and I like Brewery Bhavana. We go to Marbles with the kids, and we like Blue Jay Point. 

Current binge? Alaskan Bush People with my wife

In your earbuds? I love Christian hip-hop—KB, Lecrae, Andy Mineo. Forrest Frank is getting up there too.

Pastime off the ice? I enjoy cooking. I recently got into trying to learn how to smoke meats.