We are getting closer and closer to July 7th and it is on that date that Canadiens fans will know which player Kent Hughes will have selected with the first pick in the next draft that will take place at the Bell Centre.
Even if some experts are still in doubt as to who will be the first overall pick, TSN analyst Craig Button has no doubt that forward Shane Wright should be the first player selected and we even mentioned to you that he would call it a mistake if Kent Hughes didn't select him at the very first pick.
But anyway, we're coming into the time of year when many experts go into their mock drafts and as reported by Marco Normandin of Habsolumentfan.com, Button himself got in on the act and released his list of the top 16 picks for the 2022 draft and to no one's surprise, Shane Wright is indeed at No. 1.
The Kingston Frontencas' center would be the first choice of the Canadiens, while the young Slovak Juraj Slafkovsky would be the second selection by the New Jersey Devils. He is making many eyes glaze over with his performance at the World Hockey Championships, where he collected nine points in seven games.
American Logan Cooley will be selected third overall by the Arizona Coyotes, according to Button.
These are the selections of the non-playoff teams that are guaranteed a top-16 pick.