The suspense, the doubts, and the excitement surrounding the first overall pick lasted right up to the very last second in the Centre Bell, some not wanting to believe the early reports on the choice.

The tension grew as Montreal's management walked up the podium, reaching its pinnacle, when, after thanking the crowd and welcoming all of the prospects and their families, general manager Kent Hughes announced: "With the first overall selection, the Montreal Canadiens are proud to select… Juraj Slafkovský" 

It took a second, but the trepidation turned to cheers as the Centre Bell erupted to welcome the newest member of their franchise to the organization.

A mitigated reaction was understandable here; the choice went against many fans and even industry expectations. The Habs fan base had grown ac