Who will go #1 – Wright, Slafkovský, Cooley
6 July, 2022 (16:05) | HOCKEY TALK | By: Nick
| Barring some shocking turn of events or some epic level of mind games on the part of Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes, we now know that one of Shane Wright, Juraj Slafkovský, or Logan Cooley will hear their name called first on Thursday night at the NHL Entry Draft. Wright has been the odds-on favorite to go No. 1 all year, but nothing is assured. Just two weeks ago at the NBA Draft, Paolo Banchero went to Orlando with the top pick despite being widely projected to go third. |
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| Without a clear-cut sure thing at the top of the draft, there’s plenty of room for draft intrigue, not to mention plenty of room for error. Therefore, the pressure is on for Hughes to come away with the right guy. While so many draft pieces tout the virtues of each of these three players, we figured we might as well do our part by examining why they aren’t the fit for No. 1. |
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| For all the boxes Wright checks off as a prospect (early buzz, World Juniors participation, exceptional status in the OHL as a 15-year-old), his season for the Kingston Frontenacs was—underwhelming! Unlike all the decorated first-overall picks in recent years, Wright didn’t win any individual awards and finished nearly 30 points shy of the league’s leading scorer. Is he still improving? |
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| Positionally, Slafkovský’s status as a winger probably puts him a half-step behind his fellow No. 1 contenders, both of whom are centers. Beyond that, though, there isn’t a strong enough track record of success for the 18-year-old Slovakian. His 6-foot-4 frame and high-end skill will earn him fans, but his 2021-22 campaign for TPS Turku in the Finnish Liiga produced just five goals and five assists in 31 games. Everyone loves Slafkovský from his seven-goal Olympic breakthrough, although he was held pointless in seven career World Junior Championship games. |
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| A two-way threat, it’s tough to identify weaknesses in Cooley’s game. Therefore, we will harshly look at his 5-foot-10 frame. Yes, I know he’s entering a skill-oriented league with diminutive stars like Brad Marchand, Alex DeBrincat, and Patrick Kane—so size concerns might seem a little outdated. Still, that’s a big (no pun intended) detail to overlook if taking Cooley first. |
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