The Montreal Canadiens selected winger Juraj Slafkovsky with the first pick in the NHL draft Thursday night, making him the first player from Slovakia to be taken No.
1. Slafkovsky, who starred at the Beijing Olympics without NHL players and was the tournament MVP, was the choice over Canadian centre Shane Wright, who had long been considered the front-runner to be in this spot even before Montreal won the draft lottery.
Instead, the Canadiens took the 6-foot-4 Slafkovsky, who surpasses Marian Gaborik as the highest-drafted player from Slovakia.
Gaborik went third to Ottawa in 2000. Slafkovsky, who has drawn comparisons to late Hockey Hall of Famer Clark Gillies and plays a bit like a young Jaromir Jagr, said he told the Canadiens on Thursday morning to take him.