Slovakia took two of the top names of the NHL booking event. JYP striker Joakim Kemell was the first Finn to be booked.
Slovakian striker who played in Turku Palloseura for the previous three seasons Juraj Slafkovsky, 18, was booked as the first player of the hockey NHL booking event. The Slovakian made Finnish puck history, as he is the first NHL number one booked from a Finnish team.
Slafkovsky changed the history books in his home country as well, as he is the first Slovakian number one in the series.
Slovakia got the first two bookings, as the New Jersey Devils grabbed a defenseman on their second shift By Simon Nemec. The Canadian center was ranked first, ahead of Slafkovksy Shane Wright booked fourth to Seattle Kraken.
The Finns were booked the highest Joakim Kemell, when the Nashville Predators called the Finn’s name as the 17th player of the occasion. Kemell played his first full season in the SM league in JYP last season. The winger started strongly, and the broken season ended after 39 games with 15+8=23 points.
Slafkovsky, on the other hand, won the SM silver in the ranks of TPS. He scored 5+5=10 in 31 league games and 2+5=7 in 18 playoff games.
In the national team, the Slovak was in top form, as he was chosen as the most valuable player of the Olympics with 7+0 performances, when Slovakia reached the Olympic bronze. In the spring WC, Slafkovksy hit 3+6=9 in eight matches.
Another Finn was booked in the first round, when the Winnipeg Jets booked by Brad Lambert in turn 30. Lambert was once often higher than Kemelli in the listings, but his shares have fallen in recent years.
Despite his young age, the attacker has managed to play in the SM league in HIFK, JYP and Pelicans. He played a total of 99 matches in these clubs with an output of 11+16=27.