The Montreal Canadiens caused a bit of a stir at the 2022 NHL Draft when they selected Juraj Slafkovsky with the first overall pick. The big Slovakian winger was not projected by many to go first overall, but the Canadiens elected to go with the player with power forward potential.
While that pick was often discussed, picked apart, and sometimes celebrated, the Canadiens have another first round pick in that draft and selected another Slovakian. This time it was Slafkovsky’s childhood friend Filip Mesar who was taken 26th overall.
Mesar had played two seasons of pro hockey in Slovakia before being drafted but headed to the Kitchener Rangers for the 2022-23 season.