Entering the 2022 NHL Draft, the Montreal Canadiens had the first overall pick and there was plenty of debate if Juraj Slafkovsky or Shane Wright should be the selection. The Canadiens ultimately went with Slafkovsky, which was clearly the right pick, but if the draft was held today, he probably would not be the top pick.
Recently, The Hockey News did a re-draft of the 2022 NHL Draft, and they had Lane Hutson as the first overall pick. It has ended up being one of the best picks over the past five years outside of the first round, as the Canadiens selected Hutson late in the second round with the 62nd overall pick.
Hutson made an immediate impact as a rookie with 66 points and earning the Calder Trophy, averaging 22:44 per game. He only got better this past season by increasing his ice time more than a minute per game and finishing with 78 points and a +/- of +36. Hutson was also a crucial part of the Canadiens playoff run with 16 points in 19 games and averaging a remarkable 25:27 ice time per game.
The Montreal Canadiens though have to be thankful that a re-draft is not something that happens other than for discussions like this. The reason is that they would not have been able to have both Hutson and Slafkovsky on the roster.
While Slafkovsky may not have been the first overall pick, he would not fall very far and was selected second overall. That would be the right pick for the Devils as he has scored the most goals of any player in the 2022 NHL Draft with 72 and first in points with 184, which is over 30 more than the next player, Logan Cooley.
Similar to Hutson, Slafkovsky's best season was his latest as he broke 30 goals for the first time in his career. In the playoffs, he was one of their most productive forwards with six goals and six assists, including a hat trick in the first game against the Lightning.
The Montreal Canadiens are fortunate to have extended both players when they did
The Montreal Canadiens not only got both picks right, but also ensured they continued to benefit from their success in that year's NHL Draft by reaching contract extensions with both players. They would sign Slafkovsky to an eight-year extension in the summer of 2024 while extending Lane Hutson for eight years last fall.
The team's ability, led by general manager Kent Hughes, to get young players to buy into the vision and commit long-term is one of the reasons this rebuild has been so effective. They have not had to overextend themselves in free agency and have found difference-makers through the NHL Draft.
While winning an NHL Draft doesn't guarantee a Stanley Cup, the Montreal Canadiens have certainly helped their chances. If they do end up winning one in the near future, this draft class is likely to be a big reason for it.
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