The Montreal Canadiens were hoping for a franchise center when they selected Alex Galchenyuk third overall in 2012. The American born center was a scoring sensation with the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League. However, it was a risk as he had missed most of his draft year with a knee injury.
Galchenyuk had scored 83 points in 68 games as a 17 year old in 2010-11 with the Sting. He went scoreless in two regular season games the following year, but the Canadiens rolled the dice and took him. It was their highest pick since they took Doug Wickenheiser first overall in 1980.