At the 2022 NHL Draft, the Montreal Canadiens had three selections among the top 33 picks, including the 1st overall. It was Juraj Slafkovsky who was selected with the first overall pick.
It's not a catastrophe, as some players develop a bit later, but the fact that the Canadiens passed on another highly talented forward is the issue. Jiri Kulich, who slipped to the 28th overall pick, is currently excelling in the AHL. He has a much higher ceiling than Mesar, to the point where according to a redraft, Kulich would now be at the 14th overall pick, while Mesar would be at the 63rd.
Already today, it can be said without hesitation that it was an organizational mistake. However, it can also be said that the Canadiens made a good recovery with the selections of Owen Beck and, especially, Lane Hutson in the 2nd round.
