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After refusing to reveal their selection all week, the Montreal Canadiens have decided to pick a player that only recently climbed into the top spot on most prospect lists. Juraj Slafkovsky is joining the historic franchise, beating out Shane Wright and Logan Cooley for the top spot after months of speculation.
In January, Bob McKenzie’s scout poll for TSN had Slafkovsky ranked No. 5– a very good player but still far from the very top. At the Olympics in February, however, things started to change. Dragging his country to its first-ever medal in hockey, Slafkovsky was a force, scoring seven goals in seven games to lead the tournament. He would be named MVP, and suddenly it was easy to imagine how he could perform at the NHL level.
A few months later, he did it again at the World Championship, this time scoring nine points in eight games just two months after his 18th birthday, at a tournament that included even more NHL talent. His performance at these events, plus strong play in the Liiga playoffs for TPS, have pushed Slafkovsky right to the top of the wishlist for many teams.
The impressive part of his game is how it already appears he has full control of his 6-foot-4 frame, using it to shield the puck from defenders or drive the net to finish plays. So often, young players his size appear out of control, needing time to grow into their abilities and might take longer to develop than some of their peers. That’s not the case for Slafkovsky, who will likely step directly into an NHL lineup and be difficult to handle.
In Montreal, he’ll join an exciting young core centered around Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, who could very well be his linemates for years to come. With another pick later in the first round and 12 more picks on Friday, the Canadiens will have a huge influx of talent this year, led by the big Slovakian winger.
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