The Montreal Canadiens' drafting strategy in 2022 included selecting Juraj Slafkovsky first overall and Filip Mesar at 26th. While Slafkovsky made an immediate impact, Mesar faced challenges, spending time in the Ontario Hockey League before joining the Laval Rocket.

Despite a promising start this season with five points in five games, Mesar's progress has been halted by a lower-body injury that will sideline him for eight to ten weeks. The Canadiens' prospects are struggling, with David Reinbacher also facing a long recovery.