Montreal Canadiens: First Round Picks Signed, But Where Will They Play?

The Montreal Canadiens added two players to the organization as first round draft picks last week. Now, both of them have officially joined the team by signing their entry-level contracts.

Juraj Slafkovsky was selected first overall, somewhat surprisingly being picked over Shane Wright, and he was also the first to sign his entry-level deal. The Slovakian left winger signed for the maximum amount a player can on his first NHL contract.

Technically, Slafkovsky’s cap hit and salary next season are $950,000, but he can earn a lot more since he has all of the eligible bonuses worked into his deal as well. A full list of bonuses can be seen here on puckpedia.com, but for example, Slafkovsky would get an additional $212,500 if he achieves any of the following: scores 20 goals, has 35 assists, has 60 points, is top six among forwards on team ice time, makes the end of season all-rookie team or is top three among forwards on the team in plus-minus.

He would also get a $2 million bonus if he is able to achieve any of the following: top ten in the league in goals, assists, points or points per game, or if he wins the Hart, Selke, Rocket Richard or Conn Smythe in any of the next three seasons.

Filip Mesar also signed his entry-level contract. The 26th overall pick in the draft signed for a cap hit of $950,000 but he does not have the chance to add significant salary in the form of bonuses during his first three years in the organization.

The big question for both now is, where are they going to play? The broad answer to that is somewhere in North America. Slafkovsky played last season in Finland and Mesar was in Slovakia. Both were playing in pro leagues and can’t return there while under contract in the NHL.

Both players were also drafted out of pro leagues in Europe, so they don’t have to abide by the NHL-CHL transfer agreement and are free to play in the AHL as teenagers.

So, for Slafkovsky, that essentially means he will either make the Montreal Canadiens or be sent down to play with the Laval Rocket to begin the season. His CHL rights are owned by the Erie Otters, but it is unlikely he will return to Junior after playing pro last season.

Mesar however, could find himself in the CHL. He will of course attend Canadiens training camp, but the team will then have the option of keeping him in the NHL, sending him down to the Rocket, or assigning him to the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL, who own his Junior rights.

As a 18 year old who was a late first round pick, it probably makes the most sense to have Mesar play a season in the OHL. It would be a great organization to help him transition to the North American game.

Mesar has pro experience in Slovakia, so he might prove to be pro-ready at Canadiens camp. If so, he could start the season with the Rocket, but if not, a season with the Rangers in the OHL would be a nice landing spot.

It is also worth noting that both players are 18 so their three-year contracts are eligible to slide if they don’t play nine NHL games next season. Essentially, their entry-level deal doesn’t really start until they play a 10th NHL game, so even though it says it is for the 2022-23 to 2024-25 seasons, it is possible they don’t burn that first year right away if they play in the AHL or OHL.

That question won’t be answered until NHL training camp when a lot of eyes will be on the two Slovakian first round picks.

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