Top of the Class

MONTREAL -- Drafting is the epitome of an inexact science.

At the very least, it takes several years to establish a meaningful answer on the actual value of the players chosen. There are simply too many factors involved in the developmental process to draw an early conclusion.
But with a little luck and a lot of hard work, there can be a few key elements that act as a lighthouse, guiding teams as they navigate the foggy shores of the NHL Draft.
In the Canadiens' case, the due diligence performed prior to the Draft will certainly help the team prepare to make the first overall pick in what can easily be described as the most important Draft in recent franchise history.
"It's very exciting,"
explained Adam Nicholas
, the Canadiens' director of hockey development. "It gives us a really good piece to start building around. The process right now is just doing our homework. Extensive video work, the biggest component is trying to figure out what players we can actually enhance, and get them to that franchise-type player."
Simply put, the Draft is but the first step on the long road to the NHL.
"We'll be patient [with the player]," said general manager Kent Hughes. "We want the best player for the future, not the best player for next season."
But some journeys are slightly more expeditious than others, which could be the case for a few of the top prospects available in 2022.
Shane Wright, in particular, is the consensus choice among scouting experts as the player who could immediately make an impact in the NHL. He's one of the most exciting forwards available due to his combination of skill and defensive awareness.
He's an excellent skater with elite hand-eye coordination, which allows him to dangle around opposing defensemen with ease or create space on the ice for his linemates.

The 6-foot-1 center finished the season with an impressive offensive haul, scoring 32 goals and 62 assists in 63 games for the Kingston Frontenacs.
But Wright is far from the only exciting player available.
Logan Cooley is one of the most interesting forwards in the Draft, given his elite defensive play and ability to light it up on the offensive side of the puck.
He has great hands, which makes him a perfect player when it comes to generating controlled entries into the offensive zone. He also possesses a fantastic work ethic, which is sure to garner a lot of attention on Draft day.

The American center finished the season with 27 goals and 48 assists in 51 games with the United States National Development Team (Under-18).
There are other forwards the Canadiens may consider drafting early on, including Conor Geekie, Danilla Yurov, Joakim Kemell, and Matthew Savoie, but the general consensus is that Juraj Slafkovský should be ranked among the top-3 forwards in the upcoming draft.
Slafkovský spent time with TPS in the Liiga this year, giving him a wealth of experience playing against older opponents. The 6-foot-4 winger also featured for Slovakia at the Olympics, finishing the tournament with seven goals in seven games, leading all forwards in scoring and earning Player of the Tournament honors in the process.

As for defensemen, there are two players who have established themselves as the top candidates.
Šimon Nemec, a right-handed defenseman, played in several tournaments this year, including the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he was named the most valuable player.
But his excellent play isn't reserved simply for playing against peers of his own age. Nemec looked great playing against older players with HK Nitra in Slovakia, not to mention his steady play at the Olympics with Team Slovakia. He's incredibly poised regardless of where he's playing, and projects as a high-level, two-way defender.

David Jiříček also played against much older players this season, featuring for HC Plzeň in Czechia. He's a mobile defenseman with good size, clocking in at 6-foot-3. He has a keen eye for developing plays, giving him the type of insight necessary to shut down opposing forwards before they have a chance to establish a cycle in the offensive zone. He is also a right-handed defenseman, one of the most sought-after positions in the draft.
Regardless of who the Canadiens chose there's one guarantee going forward; they'll have the best opportunity to draft the type of player who can make a significant impact on the franchise.
(NHLe is an NHL equivalency formula designed to project current production to the NHL level)