Juraj Slafkovsky was just as shocked as the Bell Centre crowd.
And Shane Wright had to wait a lot longer than expected to hear his name called.
The Montreal Canadiens hosted the first round of the 2022 NHL draft Thursday.
They made sure there was plenty of intrigue.
The Original Six franchise selected Slafkovsky with the No. 1 pick, while Wright B次元官网网址� long viewed as the presumptive top selection B次元官网网址� fell to fourth overall.
Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes announced the first pick, but was drowned out by the electric crowd response that included both cheers and jeers.
脟a ne s'invente pas. 馃ぉ
B次元官网网址� Canadiens Montr茅al (@CanadiensMTL)
Meant to be. |
B次元官网网址淚t was a really big surprise for me,B次元官网网址� said the 18-year-old Slafkovsky, who has a big frame and a big personality. B次元官网网址淲e had meetings, but we donB次元官网网址檛 get to know almost anything from that meeting. I still could just guess when I was waiting for this.
B次元官网网址淏ut now itB次元官网网址檚 reality.B次元官网网址�
Not everyone in attendance was happy with the selection at the leagueB次元官网网址檚 first in-person draft since 2019 after the last two were held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A handful of Canadiens fans sported Wright jerseys with his No. 51 on the back, while Slafkovsky was booed on the red carpet outside the rink before entering the building on his big night.
B次元官网网址淗ockey is their passion as well as mine,B次元官网网址� said the six-foot-four, 229-pound winger, who later waded into the stands and high-fived fans to raucous support. B次元官网网址淢aybe some of them didnB次元官网网址檛 like me.
B次元官网网址淏ut I will do everything that I can (to) play good for this team and they will actually maybe like me one day.B次元官网网址�
The top-ranked European skater by NHL Central Scouting starred for his country at both the Beijing Olympics and world championships.
B次元官网网址淲e were leaning toward Slafkovsky, I would say, sometime Wednesday morning, mid-morning,B次元官网网址� Hughes said following the first round. B次元官网网址淲e wanted to meet him, but weB次元官网网址檇 had so much debate and evaluation, discussion among the group.
B次元官网网址淲hen we talk about his character, his desire to be a difference-maker, you see it. You see it in the way he plays, you see it when you speak to him. HeB次元官网网址檚 a very charismatic kid.B次元官网网址�
Minutes after picking Slafkovsky first overall, the Canadiens were right back at work and adding more to the eveningB次元官网网址檚 drama.
The first team to host the draft and pick first since the Toronto Maple Leafs grabbed Wendel Clark, Montreal acquired the 13th selection from the New York Islanders for defenceman Alexander Romanov and the 98th pick.
The Canadiens then packaged that selection with the first pick of round three (66th overall) and sent them to Chicago for centre Kirby Dach.
In the process of dismantling their roster for a rebuild, the Blackhawks also traded star forward Alex DeBrincat to the Ottawa Senators for three picks earlier in the day, including FridayB次元官网网址檚 seventh overall selection.
The New Jersey Devils followed the Slafkovsky stunner and took defenceman Simon Nemec second overall.
B次元官网网址淎mazing moment for my family, for me,B次元官网网址� said the defenceman, who along with Slafkovsky are the highest drafted Slovaks in NHL history.
B次元官网网址淎mazing night.B次元官网网址�
The Arizona Coyotes then took American centre Logan Cooley of the U.S National Development Program at No. 3.
NHL Central ScoutingB次元官网网址檚 top-ranked North American skater heading into Thursday, Wright finally had his name called when the Seattle Kraken stepped to the microphone to make the centre the draftB次元官网网址檚 fourth selection.
B次元官网网址淒efinitely going to have a little chip on my shoulder,B次元官网网址� said the captain of the Ontario Hockey LeagueB次元官网网址檚 Kingston Frontenacs. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e always been self-motivated, always been pushing myself internally.
B次元官网网址淏ut itB次元官网网址檚 definitely gonna give me a little more fire.B次元官网网址�
League business got going earlier in the day when the Colorado Avalanche acquired goaltender Alexandar Georgiev from the New York Rangers for three picks.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, meanwhile, announced a six-year, US$36.6-million contact extension with defenceman Kris Letang, while the Minnesota Wild signed goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury to a two-year, $7-million deal.
The Winnipeg Jets grabbed U.S National Team Development Program winger Rutger McGroarty with the 14th pick before the Vancouver Canucks chose Swedish blue-liner Jonathan Lekkerimaki one slot later.
The Canadiens took Slovak winger Filip Mesar at No. 26 with their second selection of the first round.
The Edmonton Oilers traded the 29th pick, two future selections and bruising forward Zack Kassian to the Arizona Coyotes in another salary dump.
Edmonton acquired the No. 32 pick in the deal and shed KassianB次元官网网址檚 $3.5-million salary. The Oilers then chose Reid Schaefer of the Western Hockey LeagueB次元官网网址檚 Seattle Thunderbirds.
The Senators didnB次元官网网址檛 have a pick Thursday following the DeBrincat trade, while the Calgary Flames were also on the sidelines.
The draft resumes Friday with rounds two through seven.
Thursday evening started with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman getting roundly booed by the crowd.
He didnB次元官网网址檛 mind one bit.
B次元官网网址淭hank you for that welcome,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a return to normalcy.B次元官网网址�
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First Round
1. Montreal, Juraj Slafkovsky, LW, TPS (Finland).
2. New Jersey, Simon Nemec, D, Nitra (Slovakia).
3. Arizona, Logan Cooley, C, USA U-18 (NTDP).
4. Seattle, Shane Wright, C, Kingston (OHL).
5. Philadelphia, Cutter Gauthier, LW, USA U-18 (NTDP).
6. Columbus (from Chicago), David Jiricek, D, Plzen (Czech Republic).
7. Chicago (from Ottawa), Kevin Korchinski, D, Seattle (WHL).
8. Detroit, Marco Kasper, C, Rogle, (Sweden).
9. Buffalo, Matthew Savoie, C, Winnipeg, (WHL).
10. Anaheim, Pavel Mintyukov, D, Saginaw, (OHL).
11. Arizona (from San Jose), Conor Geekie, C, Winnipeg (WHL).
12. Columbus, Denton Mateychuk, D, Moose Jaw (WHL).
13. Chicago (from N.Y. Islanders through Montreal), Frank Nazar, C, USA U-18
(NTDP).
14. Winnipeg, Rutger Mcgroarty, RW, USA U-18 (NTDP).
15. Vancouver, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW, Djurgarden (Sweden).
16. Buffalo (from Vegas), Noah Ostlund, C, Djurgarden (Sweden).
17. Nashville, Joakim Kemell, RW, JYP (Finland).
18. Dallas, Lian Bichsel, D, Leksand (Sweden).
19. Minnesota (from Los Angeles), Liam Ohgren, LW, Djurgarden (Sweden).
20. Washington, Ivan Miroshnichenko, LW, Omsk Krylia (Russia-2).
21. Pittsburgh, Owen Pickering, D, Swift Current (WHL).
22. Anaheim (from Boston), Nathan Gaucher, C, Quebec (QMJHL).
23. St. Louis, Jimmy Snuggerud, RW, USA U-18 (NTDP).
24. Minnesota, Danila Yurov, RW, Magnitogorsk (Russia).
25. Chicago (from Toronto), Sam Rinzel, D, Chaska High School (Minnesota).
26. Montreal (from Calgary), Filip Mesar, RW, Poprad (Slovakia).
27. San Jose (from Carolina via Montreal and Ariz.), Filip Bystedt, C, Linkoping
(Sweden).
28. Buffalo (from Florida), Jiri Kulich, C, Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic).
29. Arizona (from Edmonton), Maveric Lamoureux, D, Drummondville (QMJHL).
30. Winnipeg (from N.Y. Rangers), Brad Lambert, C, Pelicans (Finland).
31. Tampa Bay, Isaac Howard, LW, USA U-18 (NTDP).
32. Edmonton (from Colorado through Arizona), Reid Schaefer, LW, Seattle (WHL).
THE CANADIAN PRESS
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