Canadiens surprise home crowd, select Juraj Slafkovský with top pick of 2022 NHL draft
CBC
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 — long viewed as the presumptive top selection — 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.
"It was a really big surprise for me," said the 18-year-old Slafkovsky, who has a big frame and a big personality. "We had meetings, but we don't get to know almost anything from that meeting. I still could just guess when I was waiting for this.
"But now it's reality."
Not everyone in attendance was happy with the selection at the league's 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.
"Hockey is their passion as well as mine," said the six-foot-four, 229-pound winger, who later waded into the stands and high-fived fans to raucous support. "Maybe some of them didn't like me.
"But I will do everything that I can (to) play good for this team and they will actually maybe like me one day."
The top-ranked European skater by NHL Central Scouting starred for his country at both the Beijing Olympics and world championships.
Minutes after picking Slafkovsky first overall, the Canadiens were right back at work and adding more to the evening's 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.
