1st – Juraj Slafkovsky, LW, TPS Turku (Liiga)
Juraj Slafkovsky has a presence that commands attention at 6’4 and 229 Lbs. The left-winger from Slovakia is a sound skater and is reliable in all three zones. He is not afraid to use his size to battle in front of the net or win puck battles along the boards.
The big Slovakian recorded six goals and 12 assists for 18 points in 11 games for TPS U20. He also recorded five goals and five assists for ten points in 31 games for TPS.
Slafkovsky had a good showing at the 2022 Olympics, scoring seven goals for Slovakia. He also recorded three goals and six assists for nine points in eight games at the World Championship.
2nd – Shane Wright, C, Kingston Frontenacs, OHL
Shane Wright has decent size at 6’1 and 200 Lbs, and he put up the offensive numbers to be first overall. Even with the impressive point totals, some scouts were looking for more.
Sam Cosentino from Sportsnet says there are some games where Wright stands out and other games where he is barely noticeable.
Wright has the speed, skill, and vision to warrant being selected first overall, but I would not be surprised if he slips to second.
He recorded 32 goals and 62 assists for 94 points in 63 games and scored 14 points in 11 playoff games.