Since 2012, the Canadiens have selected in the top three at the NHL Draft three times. That year, they used the third overall pick to select Alex Galchenyuk. In 2018, they once again picked third, choosing Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Then, under new management in 2022, the Canadiens held the first overall pick after winning the Draft Lottery, surprising many by selecting Juraj Slafkovsky over consensus top prospect Shane Wright.
Galchenyuk showed early promise in Montreal but struggled as his career progressed, reportedly listening more to his father than his coaches. This led to his departure from the Canadiens and marked the beginning of his decline. However, Marc Bergevin salvaged value from the pick, trading Galchenyuk for Max Domi, who was later flipped for Josh Anderson—still a key piece of the team today.
Kotkaniemi’s path mirrored Galchenyuk’s in many ways. Drafted as the big center the Canadiens desperately needed, many believed he should have spent another season in Liiga to develop. Instead, the organization kept him in Montreal, hoping to control his growth. While his rookie season was encouraging, his development stalled, and after two underwhelming seasons, he signed an offer sheet with the Carolina Hurricanes, which the Canadiens declined to match. Since leaving Montreal, he has yet to surpass 18 goals or 43 points in a season.
When Kent Hughes took the stage at the Bell Centre in 2022 to announce the first overall pick, selecting Juraj Slafkovsky, the decision drew some boos from fans who preferred Shane Wright. As discussed recently, Slafkovsky’s development hasn’t been linear, but he has hit his stride this season. Now thriving on the Canadiens’ top line alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, he’s become an integral part of one of the NHL’s hottest trios since the Four Nations break.
With Slafkovsky now at the 185-game mark, a comparison to Galchenyuk and Kotkaniemi at the same stage reveals just how promising his trajectory is:
|
Player |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
PTS/GP |
+/- |
TOI/GP |
PP TOI/GP |
HITS |
BkS |
|
Galchenyuk |
185 |
41 |
59 |
100 |
0.54 |
+9 |
14:37 |
1:47 |
160 |
91 |
|
Kotkaniemi |
185 |
24 |
41 |
65 |
0.35 |
-12 |
13:56 |
1:52 |
217 |
88 |
|
Slafkovsky |
185 |
38 |
63 |
101 |
0.55 |
-34 |
16:27 |
2:39 |
368 |
144 |
Hindsight
While hindsight always provides clarity, draft selections are never an exact science. In 2012, Nail Yakupov (1st) and Ryan Murray (2nd) proved to be worse choices than Galchenyuk, as would have Griffin Reinhart (4th). However, players like Filip Forsberg (11th), Tomas Hertl (17th), Teuvo Teravainen (18th), Morgan Rielly (5th), Tom Wilson (16th), or Jacob Trouba (9th) would have been better picks for Montreal.
In 2018, many fans wanted QMJHL star Filip Zadina (6th), who would have been an even worse selection than Kotkaniemi. Instead, the Canadiens would have been better off with Brady Tkachuk (4th), Quinn Hughes (7th), Evan Bouchard (10th), Noah Dobson (12th), or Joel Farabee (14th).
However, in 2022, the early returns suggest the Canadiens got it right. Slafkovsky leads his draft class in points, with Logan Cooley (3rd) as his closest competitor, while Lane Hutson (62nd) is already outpacing Shane Wright (4th). Though it’s still early, betting on Slafkovsky or Hutson as the top players from that draft seems like a smart wager.
The future
With back-to-back fifth-overall picks in 2023 and 2024, the Canadiens have continued adding promising young talent. David Reinbacher has performed well in Laval since recovering from knee surgery, and KHL rookie sensation Ivan Demidov leads SKA St. Petersburg in scoring despite inconsistent ice time. The future in Montreal looks brighter than it has in years, and unlike their past top-three selections, Slafkovsky appears to be on a path to stardom rather than stagnation.
Looking at their first 185 games, Slafkovsky’s numbers already surpass those of Galchenyuk and Kotkaniemi in both total points and points per game. More importantly, his trajectory is vastly different. While Galchenyuk and Kotkaniemi both peaked early before stagnating, Slafkovsky’s production continues to trend upward. His increased ice time, physical presence, and growing role on the top line suggest he’s still scratching the surface of his potential.
Unlike his predecessors, Slafkovsky has the tools, mindset, and opportunity to become a cornerstone player for the Canadiens. With elite linemates, a coaching staff committed to his development, and a steady upward trajectory, he appears destined to avoid the pitfalls that hindered Galchenyuk and Kotkaniemi. If his growth continues at this pace, he won’t just be the best of the three—he has the potential to be a true star in Montreal.
