https://www.sportingnews.com/canada
The Canadiens had a chance at grabbing a franchise player at the 2022 NHL Draft.
They made a bit of a shock move in the process, selecting Slovakian winger Juraj Slafkovsky over.
The decision to take Slafkovsky over Shane Wright, a player tipped for the No. 1 selection for much of the past few seasons, will stick out for years to come. However, with a 6'3, 218-pound frame, Slafkovsky certainly has the size and strength to make an impact at NHL level soon.
The 18-year old scored five goals and five assists in 31 games playing against grown men in Liiga, Finland's top professional league. Slafkovsky shined at Olympic level, leading Slovakia to a bronze medal in the process.
Now, the Habs are hoping to pair the talented winger with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caulfield as they hope to rebuild a squad that struggled to recreate the success of their Cinderella run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2020.