The Montreal Canadiens have selected forward Filip Mesar with the 26th overall pick of the 2022 NHL Draft.
The Canadiens acquired the pick back in February in the trade that dealt 29-year-old forward Tyler Toffoli to the Calgary Flames.
Mesar joins fellow Slovakian forward Juraj Slafkovsky, Montreal’s first overall selection in this year’s draft. While Slafkovsky brings size and physicality down Montreal’s middle, Mesar’s game is all about smarts and skill.
The two have grown up together in the Slovakian system, which had incredible success Thursday night with three first-rounders (Šimon Nemec was selected second overall by the New Jersey Devils).
Mesar has spent the past two seasons playing professionally in Slovakia with HK Poprad, and in 2021-22 registered eight goals and 16 points in 37 games.
The hosts of this year’s draft have been one of Thursday’s busiest teams — after kicking things off with the selection of Slafkovsky first overall, they landed Kirby Dach from Chicago in a pair of trades that first saw defenceman Alexander Romanov dealt to the New York Islanders.