Montreal Canadiens select Juraj Slafkovsky first overall in 2022 NHL Draft, Top picks.

The Montreal Canadiens have selected Juraj Slafkovsky with the first-overall pick of the 2022 NHL Draft.

The Canadiens selected winger Juraj Slafkovsky with the first pick in the N.H.L. draft Thursday night at their home arena, making him the first player from Slovakia to be taken at No. 1 overall.

Although Canadian centre Shane Wright was widely expected to be taken first, the Devils unexpectedly chose Simon Nemec, a Slovak defenseman and Slafkovsky's Olympic teammate, at No. 2 after Wright was eliminated.

Before Wright's drop ended with the Seattle Kraken at choice number four, the Arizona Coyotes selected Logan Cooley, a centre from the Pittsburgh region, with the third pick. After being passed over by three teams, Wright declared he would play with "a little more fire" and have a chip on his shoulder.

Slafkovsky is now the first player from Slovakia to ever be taken first overall in the NHL Draft, creating new history.

Slafkovsky, who was named the most valuable player at the Beijing Olympics for leading the tournament with seven goals in seven games, started thinking he could be selected first overall after meeting the Canadiens at the N.H.L. scouting combine in Buffalo in June.

More: 2022 NHL Draft tracker: Every Pick in the First round, Full results.

Another Slovak player, wing Filip Mesar, went 26th to Montreal.

Alexander Romanov, a defenceman, age 22, and a 2022 fourth-round pick were also transferred by the Canadiens to the Islanders in exchange for the 13th pick.

A lot of trades were anticipated before the draught, according to Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher, whose team selected forward Cutter Gauthier fifth overall.

In exchange for a third- and a fifth-round pick in this draught, the Stanley Cup champions Colorado Avalanche acquired goaltender Alexandar Georgiev from the Rangers.

DeBrincat was then moved to Ottawa by Chicago. Chicago selected Canadian defenseman Kevin Korchinski with the No. 7 pick it received in the deal.
Petr Mrazek and the No. 25 pick were traded by Chicago to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for the 38th overall pick.

General Manager Mike Grier, became the first Black G.M. in league history, was selected by San Jose in the first round. The Sharks traded the Nos. 27, 34, and 45 to Arizona for the No. 11 pick.

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nytimes.com