Proposed strategy for Kent Hughes to draft Shane Wright and Juraj Slafkovsky

Published June 18, 2022 at 11:32 PM
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For the past few weeks, there has been one question on every Habs fan's lips: who will be the team's first choice on July 7 at the Bell Centre?

Shane Wight or Juraj Slafkovsky?

It's very likely that one of these two prospects will be the first overall pick in the NHL draft, but with less than a month to go before the draft, most experts are unable to predict who the Canadiens organization will select.

But instead of having to choose between the two prospects, TVA Sports analyst Maxim Lapierre suggests a strategy for the Canadiens to select both Wright and Slafkovsky in next month's draft.


At least that's what he said during the first intermission of Game 3 of the Eastern finals last Sunday.

"Since the draft is in Montreal, you have to have a show. You have to go for the home run and get the first two picks.

I know it's going to be complicated, but the team also has a late first-round pick (the 26th) and an early second. Trade that and some veterans to the New Jersey Devils, who already have a lot of youth, make a big deal and we won't go wrong. If we have picks 1 and 2 and we get it wrong, then there's a big problem."

Still pretty bold as a proposal. He also said that in his opinion, three players were untouchables in Montreal.

"You have material to complete a transaction, so why not try? You offer any player to the Devils besides Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Alexander Romanov to get the second overall pick."

The New Jersey Devils hold the second overall pick in the draft and some pundits have even suggested that team GM Tom Fitzgerald may be considering trading his pick.

However, if this is the case, there is a good chance that the price could be astronomical for the Habs organization and that one of the three untouchables mentioned could be demanded by the Devils in a possible trade.

But the good news is that if the Habs get the second pick in the draft and Wright and Slafkovsky become part of the organization, they won't be able to say that the team made a mistake and drafted the wrong player.

To hear what Maxim Lapierre had to say, click below.

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June 18   |   431 answers
Proposed strategy for Kent Hughes to draft Shane Wright and Juraj Slafkovsky

Should the Habs offer a big package for the 2nd overall pick?

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