For an NHL draft taking place in Montreal and the holders of the 1st overall pick being the Montreal Canadiens, it is kind of funny that the draft headliners were two Slovakians. Shocking, I know, as Montreal took Slovakian winger Juraj Slafkovsky 1st overall and the New Jersey Devils took Slovakian defenseman Simon Nemec 2nd overall.
Nevertheless, this draft will be remembered for presumptive #1 pick Shane Wright’s horrendous draft fall.
I can’t remember the last time the consensus (for the most part) #1 pick for at least the last 2-3 years, Shane Wright, dropped outside of the Top-3. Yes, Shane Wright was not only passed up by his hometown team, the Montreal Canadiens, but also by the #2 Devils and the #3 Arizona Coyotes.
It was Ron Francis and the Seattle Kraken that put Wright out of his misery and took him 4th overall, potentially setting up one of the most dynamic center tandems (him and Matty Beiners) for years to come.
Back to the Habs, it is true that Slafkovsky’s draft stock shot up to these past few months to rival Shane Wright’s presumptive 1st overall selection. That doesn’t make his selection anymore surprising.
Seeing as the Canadiens were the ones picking at #1, I thought there was no chance they would pass up on the Canadian golden boy himself. Especially not in front of the Bell Centre crowd.
However, Canadiens GM Kent Hughes has far more courage than I would in his position as he took the Slovakian wonderkid, who should be ready at the start of next season to bolster the Canadians Top-6 winger core.
In truth, it was probably the best choice drafting Slafkovsky as Wright’s compete effort was heavily criticized and question since the WHL playoffs finished. Wright simply did not display the desire every NHL team demands while playing for Kingston.
Plus, Slafkovsky’s grinding, power-forward style of play gives the Habs a much-needed toughness up front. Him and Nick Suzuki should form a great partnership.
As for Nemec, I think this is a great move for the Devils. With Luke Hughes having a great year at Michigan, Nemec will prove to be a great partner for the current Wolverine in a few years’ time.
Due to Nemec’s two-way game being outstanding, he’ll easily cover up any defense decencies that Hughes may bring with him to the NHL. Hopefully, both him and Hughes will be ready in a few seasons to lead the Devils out of their misery and back to Stanley Cup glory.
Perhaps, these two can even form as good a partnership as Scott Stevens and Scott Niedermayer did during the Devils’ cup runs.
Moving on, I must give my condolences to Shane Wright. Ever since he was old enough to skate, he must have been told he would wind up going 1st overall. Then, when his boyhood team, the Montreal Canadiens, won his draft lottery, it must have seemed like fate was propelling him to play for the Habs and led them to greatness again.
Yet, to not only be passed up by Montreal, but also by the Devils at #2 and the Coyotes at #3 must have stung. As long as he does not sulk and pout his draft fall and puts all his effort into the Seattle project, then I think he will prove all the scouts, the Habs, Devils, and Coyotes foolish to overlook him.
Lastly, I must say that this draft took an eternity to finish. At 5 hours long, this must go down as the longest ever draft in NHL history. Gary Bettman and the NHL really are selling their souls for that sweet, sweet advertiser money. But, hey, if it benefits the NHL, then I’m all for it.
What a draft!
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