In the weeks and days prior to the 2022 NHL Draft, the Montreal Canadiens were diligent in keeping their intended selection for the first-overall pick a secret.
Some considered it a two-player race between Canada's Shane Wright and Slovakia's Juraj Slafkovsky, with the former spending most of the season as the projected No. 1.
But, in a slight turn of events, the Canadiens opted to pass on Wright and take the six-foot-four left winger, leaving the Bell Centre and social media in relative disbelief on Thursday.
Slovakia sweeps the top two
Minutes after Slafkovsky became the first Slovakian player to be drafted first overall, fellow countryman Simon Nemec was selected second overall by the New Jersey Devils.
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