I remember the reaction to Slaf being drafted 1st OA over Wright. Today, not a single soul would write the same thing about Slaf.

The very core of the team that makes us so hopeful was drafted on that day. Slaf instead of Wright and Hutson and the second round.

There are a lot of what ifs in life, but the 2022 draft was a turning point in our franchise. Critics and fans were hard on management, but we wouldn’t be as excited for the future without those pillars.

Let this be a moment for us to appreciate how blessed we are for that 2022 draft.

26 comments

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  2. I was so mad when the pick happened and then within 30 seconds I was on slaf hype train because he was our boy. I would’ve gotten it wrong that day if I was picking

  6. “I deserve to go first”

    “Why didn’t you play last year?

    “Ugh”

    Then the staredown at the draft. Fuck right off pal.

  9. Tbh, Seattle hasn’t really done well developing any of their young players. I was happy with our pick, but Wright probably would’ve panned out better if the Habs developed him.

  10. After drafting Galchenyuk and Kotkoniemi with 3rd overalls and also have missed the mark acquiring other 3rd overalls Drouin and Dach, if we missed again on the 1st overall pick it would be a massive waste for our franchise. 

    We endured the worst season in franchise history to get that 1st overall pick, and Slaf is representation of the pain we had to endure to rebuild and improve. We have other good players to show for the rebuilding years but if we drafted Wright it would have seemed like that year was for nothing. Thankfully we made the right choice, and it must have been a tough one. Shane was rated 1st up until the draft until some, McKenzie included started suggesting Slaf go 1st, which some people thought was insane.

    Sure we got Hutson in that same draft, but he was acquired from an Edmonton pick, so he was a result of good drafting and had nothing to do with where we finished in the standings 

  11. I think Slaf is still just scratching the surface. He is only 21. Thank God for Hughes the man can draft.

  13. I remember, while some were very very vocal against getting Slaf, some also realized fast that something went wrong in the interviews. His attitude and getting ignored two more times…

    I am so glad we got Slaf. He fits the team like a glove. He had an adjustment period, but the coaches did a really good job.

  14. Besides his cockiness. He was a player that actually wanted to play for Montreal. Not many ever says that. Most are humble for sure but he was vocal about it. I wouldnt mind if he comes to Montreal. Im sure Montreal has a different development pattern than other teams. But this team is now filled I just dont see him. But since Kent Hughes said “we are ahead of schedule” I mean if it fits the timeline to gamble on a player go for it. He dint get the Exceptional Status for no reason.

  18. I wonder how not being 1OA affected his confidence? Didn’t he end up 5th? Four teams passing over someone who thought he would be 1OA must have been tough on the psyche.

  19. Shane Wright is still young and could still turn this around.

    You guys are quick to comment negative stuff. Maybe Wright would have turned better as a Habs, who knows. I’m happy Slaf is developing slowly but surely into the 3rd best player of that draft after Lane Hutson & Logan Cooley

  23. Seattle doesn’t do a good job of developing their C, Beniers is nowhere near what people thought he’d be and they choose to play Stephenson way more than Wright

  26. There have been a few first overall busts over the years but Hughes and Gorton knew what they were building and they didn’t see a fit with Wright.

    They had just announced a rebuild and that shifted the focus toward the future and player development. I trusted them when they picked Slafs and I prayed that he would turn into whatever it was that they saw.

    I believe that his development isn’t finished and that he may yet do better than a PPG.

    It’s kind of sad how things haven’t worked out for Wright. Who knows – he may have done better with the Habs.

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