Canadiens surprise home crowd, select Juraj Slafkovský with top pick of 2022 NHL draft

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.

The Canadiens were choosing between Slafkovsky, Wright and American forward Logan Cooley in their first time atop the draft since 1980.

Slafkovsky, who turned 18 in March, is among the most NHL-ready players in the draft after playing against grown men in Finland this past season and impressing at the Olympics with seven goals in seven games. The youngest player in the tournament was the biggest reason Slovakia won an Olympic bronze medal for the first time.

New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said he had been taking calls on the second pick ahead of the Arizona Coyotes at No. 3 and Seattle Kraken at No. 4.

Chuck Fletcher, whose Philadelphia Flyers pick fifth, said Wednesday he expected a lot of trades at the draft. Other GMs around the league didn't want for the draft to begin to start dealing.

The Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche got things started by acquiring goaltender Alexandar Georgiev from the New York Rangers for a third- and a