The 2022 NHL Draft kicks off this Thursday from Montreal so there is no better time than for our one and only mock draft of the season.
This is a tough year to predict what will happen in the draft because of limited views and canceled tournaments over the past year. Shane Wright looks to be the near-consensus top pick for the Montreal Canadiens but beyond that, it's anyone's guess. With the shortage of natural centers in this draft, Wright's value, especially to the Canadiens, can not be understated. Getting that extra value of having a prospect fill that position is massive for some teams, especially the host city.
Currently, I have five defensemen in the top 15 with Simon Nemec going off the board first to the Arizona Coyotes. Could we see a run on defensive in the first round? It's always possible a few more could move up.
Players to watch: Brad Lambert, was once a top-five lock. How far down will Conor Geekie fall because of his skating? Will Marco Kasper go higher than 11?
Teams to watch: Will the Philadelphia Flyers actually trade the fifth overall pick? I don't think so but it's possible. Will the Montreal Canadiens package some picks and move up? That's possible. The Arizona Coyotes' pick at #3 could affect the next five picks after that.
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2022 NHL First-Round Mock Draft
1. Montreal Canadiens – Shane Wright – C – The Canadiens new era is beginning, and they can't afford a miss. Wright is guaranteed to be a terrific NHL player and a center at that.
2. New Jersey Devils - Juraj Slafkovsky – LW – The Devils have been searching for the power forward for a while. Now. The search is over.
3. Arizona Coyotes – Simon Nemec – D - With the eventual departure of Jakob Chychrun. Nemec could fill the need for a franchise offensive defenseman.
4. Seattle Kraken – Logan Cooley – C – Let's see if this really happens. But it could. If it does the two-center approach of Matty Beniers and Cooley can be dynamic in the future.
5. Philadelphia Flyers – David Jiricek – D – The Flyers have a lot of needs, and a future top-pairing defenseman is one of them for sure.
6. Columbus Blue Jackets – Cutter Gauthier – LW – In my eyes, this is still a rise for Gauthier since the hope is he can be an NHL center. His offense is undeniable.
7. Ottawa Senators – Joakim Kemell – RW – Every team can use a two-way goal scorer who has a crazy good wrist shot with great accuracy.
8. Detroit Red Wings – Jonathan Lekkerimaki – RW – He has a tremendous wrist shot and is a quick trigger passer. High hockey I.Q.
9. Buffalo Sabres – Matthew Savoie – C – The Sabres still need help down the middle and Savoie can provide that. The Sabres will allow him time to develop properly.
10. Anaheim Ducks – Frank Nazar – C – This player gives Anaheim a terrific second-line creative offensive player who finds loose pucks in the offensive zone.
11. San Jose Sharks – Marco Kasper – C – He might play professionally before the others. Solid playmaker. Always around the puck.
12. Columbus Blue Jackets – Pavel Mintyukov – D – A two-way defenseman with offensive upside and a great first pass.
13. New York Islanders – Brad Lambert – C/RW – He is one of the most talented players in his age group. He needs to mature.
14. Winnipeg Jets – Kevin Korchinski – D – A hard-working excellent offensive talent.
15. Vancouver Canucks – Ryan Chesley – D – Has been playing a shutdown role but his elite skating gives him some offense that some don't realize is there.
16. Buffalo Sabres – Jimmy Snuggerud – RW – Good size, strong. Sabres met with him. His dad played for them. Two-way player, pro one-timer.
17. Nashville Predators – Conor Geekie – C – Skating issues aside. He's a very talented center. Nashville could get the most out of him.
18. Dallas Stars – Liam Ohgren – LW – A power forward who can dangle in tight and rip a wrist shot goal too.
19. Minnesota Wild – Rutger McGroarty – LW – He's a power forward, a scorer, a leader, and calm under pressure. Skating needs some work.
20. Washington Capitals – Danila Yurov – RW – He has a slick one-timer and a heavy wrist shot. Worth waiting for.
21. Pittsburgh Penguins – Isaac Howard – LW – He has a fast action wrist shot from the slot and a hunger to score goals. Models himself after Jake Guentzel.
22. Anaheim Ducks – Owen Pickering – D – Big, smart defenseman who can add some heft on his frame and has a good offensive game.
23. St. Louis Blues – Lian Bichsel – D – At 6-5, 225, he's a unicorn in this draft. He skates well and can move the puck. He clears the net too.
24. Minnesota Wild - Jiri Kulich – C – Hoping the magic from the U18s wasn't fool's gold.
25. Toronto Maple Leafs – Noah Ostlund – C – He has really good hands and is a solid two-way player already.
26. Montreal Canadiens – Nathan Gaucher – C - He's big, strong, and has good quickness, excellent stick, and puck skills, and he scores goals.
27. Arizona Coyotes – Filip Mesar – C/W – He has a good offensive game, and he is physically mature even at 5-10, 170. Had a great meeting with Arizona.
28. Buffalo Sabres – Sam Rinzel – D – If he doesn't go higher taking a high school defenseman with offensive upside and size makes sense.
29. Edmonton Oilers – Calle Odelius – D – A smart, effective, all-around defender. A safe pick late.
30. Winnipeg Jets – Denton Mateychuk – D – He's a smaller offensive defenseman. The Jets have taken bigger risks before.
31. Tampa Bay Lightning – Owen Beck – C – A smart player who always has the stick down and has some dangle as well.
32. Arizona Coyotes – Seamus Casey – D – He has deception on his wrist shot. A great one-timer and a good shot blocker on the PK.
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