Montreal Canadiens fans get a taste of the potential first draft pick

Youngest fans of the Montreal Canadiens and their families took a closer look at the club’s potential first draft pick a day before the decision was announced at the NHL draft in Montreal.

Shane Wright, Juraj Slafkovsky, Cutter Gauthier, Matt Savioe, Logan Cooley and Conor Geekie laced up their skates to attend a youth hockey clinic at the Bell Sports Complex.

The practice gave six of the NHL’s top prospects a real taste of what it could be like to be a Canadian from Montreal. Not only did it take place in the Habs practice arena, players Nick Suzuki and Jonathan Drouin joined them on the ice.

General managers Kent Hughes and Vincent Lacavalier held a press conference Monday to discuss their possible selections.

This is Montreal’s first time since 1980 to pick first place overall.

Habs management says the team is scrutinizing three players – Shane Wright, Juraj Slafkovsky and Logan Cooley.

Global hockey analyst Brian Wilde tells Global News the team is doing a great job keeping their cards close to their chests.

“I would say Shane Wright will be the choice. But I can’t say for sure. And that really surprises me, because for three years, Shane Wright was supposed to be the pick,” Wilde said.

During Wednesday’s media availability of prospects, players also played coy.

When a reporter asked Slafkovsky if he thought Montreal would be calling his name, he said with a smile, “I don’t know, ask her.”

18-year-old Shane Wright, from Ontario, said: “Well, I know what jersey I want to wear.”

Fans will have to wait until Thursday night to see who will be first to don the blue, white and red jersey in front of the hometown crowd.