The Journey: 2022 NHL Mock Draft — Version 1.0

Hadi Kalakeche

2021-10-30

Welcome back to The Journey, where we follow hockey prospects and their paths to the NHL, providing fantasy predictions and analysis along the way.

This week, I thought I'd finally complete the top 32 of this year's draft-eligibles and provide some updates to last month's top 15, using the league's current standings as a reference point for who goes where. It's early, and we have no idea what the final draft order will look like, but this first round is unfathomably good and I can't wait any longer before delving into it.

Seriously, if there's any two-year period in which you can afford to trade the whole team away and start over, perhaps even rebrand and rename, it's 2022 and 2023 (looking at the Blackhawks right now). Next year's round of selections especially is on the way to being a marquee draft year in NHL history, with at least four potential superstars (Bedard, Michkov, Dvorsky and Fantilli) entering their first year of eligibility.

These will be succinct breakdowns of 2022's top draft-eligible prospects and their play so far, with bits of footage on those who I can find online. This draft is set to be deeper than usual, with high-end prospects that will almost definitely overflow into the early second round; I'll include a couple of honorable mentions to ensure we cover most of the top-end talent available this year.

Without further explanation, here's this year's first round so far:

  1. Arizona Coyotes — Shane Wright, C, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)

Strong, smart and clinical, with a touch of finesse in tight quarters. If Tottenham's Harry Kane was a hockey player, I assume he'd play something like Wright does. He's off to a bit of a lukewarm start with the Frontenacs (six points in six games) but the elite skill and shot, combined with the high-end two-way ability and off-puck involvement he shows all over the ice, make him the runaway first-overall pick. Average skating is his only setback, but I could definitely see him improving that aspect over the first few years of his NHL career.

  1. Chicago Blackhawks — Matthew Savoie, C, Winnipeg Ice (WHL)

Savoie's second-overall selection comes after the prospect's ever-improving game reached a new level after the prospect's stint in the USHL last year with Dubuque. The prospect now has 16 points in 11 games, good for second on his team, and looks electrifying with the puck on his stick. A fine playmaker and an outstanding shooter, Savoie keeps opponents guessing on his intentions while exploiting space with his soft hands and high-level skating. His small frame (5-foot-9, 180 pounds)  could be an issue to other teams, but the Hawks have a record of dismissing size as a factor (as they do with many things, it seems).

  1. Montreal Canadiens — Šimon Nemec, RD, HK Nitra (Extraliga)

The Habs' cold start could very well land them outside of the playoffs, and if they select here, they'll have to pick between two holes to fill: the right defense gap with Weber gone and Petry aging, or the center line after the loss of Kotkaniemi and Danault in the offseason. I think they go for Nemec, who has shown so far that he has the potential to be a top-pair defender. Tremendous skater, great hands, booming shot, incredible hockey mind, dictates pace and tempo to maximize offense, just an all-around great defender.

  1. Los Angeles Kings — Brad Lambert, C, JYP (Liiga)

Lambert's season start has been less than ideal, with only a goal and an assist to his name through 12 Liiga games for JYP, but the prospect's talent is undeniable: he can carry the puck at tremendous speeds, and stickhandles effortlessly while accelerating or pivoting. If he can work on gaining the middle off the boards, the prospect would find himself in much better positions to score on a regular basis. Therein lies the lack of production this year, and if he can nail that aspect of his game, Lambert could become an exceptional top-line playmaker. I think he does it, but the risk keeps him out of the top-three.

  1. Arizona Coyotes (via Colorado) — Joakim Kemell, RW, JYP (Liiga)

Lambert’s teammate currently leads the entire Finnish men’s league in goals (11) and points (17) through 15 games, and doesn't turn 18 years of age until April. To compare, no draft-year prospect with more than two Liiga games played has ever scored more than a point per game at that level. Not Aleksander Barkov, not Anton Lundell, not Patrik Laine. Laine had 17 goals in 45 Liiga games in his draft year — Kemell is set to eclipse that quite soon. It was hard to keep him out of the top-four, but I believe in Lambert's game improving from here, which can't be 100% guaranteed for Kemell.

  1. Ottawa Senators — Danila Yurov, RW, Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)

A high-energy winger with outstanding skating and stickhandling. He can connect plays really well and works hard off the puck to regain possession, using his physicality well despite his average frame (6-foot-1, 175 pounds). I love his game, but his KHL team doesn't seem to — there have been nine KHL games in which Yurov dressed for Magnitogorsk as a 13th forward, and played less than three minutes (five of those games, he did not step on the ice at all — literally 0:00 of ice-time). This explains his scoreless pace through 15 KHL matchups, despite his nine points in only four junior games in the MHL. KHL coaches truly baffle me — this is a pro-ready prospect.

  1. Anaheim Ducks — Logan Cooley, C, USNTDP (USHL)

Cooley is truly one of the most well-rounded prospects in this draft — he's smart, he defends at a high level, can stickhandle extremely quickly and is great at takeaways and faceoffs. He plays on a stacked NTDP squad, which could easily see five or more of its prospects selected in the first round, and leads them all in points with 12 through nine games for the team. His edgework is excellent, and he uses it to create speed differentials and separation from his opponents. A projectable on- and off-puck game makes Cooley a must-have within the top-10.

  1. Seattle Kraken — Ivan Miroshnichenko, RW, Omskie Krylia (KHL)

Miroshnichenko, at the beginning of the year, was one of the players I considered a guaranteed top-three pick, but his performance so far in the VHL has me doubting the translatability of his game to the NHL's style. His nine points through 18 games sit outside of the top-100 in the league, and he is fifth on his team in that metric. His goal-scoring ability and playmaking are the hallmarks of his game, but his ability to get into high-danger areas against men has been inconsistent. He remains a top-10 pick on talent alone, but will need to find a second gear to stay there.

  1. Vegas Golden Knights — Conor Geekie, C, Winnipeg Ice (WHL)

Geekie's performances in the WHL so far have put a lot of questions to rest in terms of his defensive ability; although his skating needs work, he can reach a decent top speed and has smooth stickhandling for his size (6-foot-4, 215 pounds). The center has used his hands to get under opponents' sticks and disrupt the puck every chance he gets with his wingspan, and has earned 11 points through his first 11 games for the Ice. If he turns into a top-six forward in the NHL, he'll be a force to reckon with below the faceoff dots on a regular basis.

  1.  Nashville Predators — Juraj Slafkovsky, LW, TPS Turku (Liiga)

Another massive forward (6-foot-4, 225 pounds) with impressive hands, Slafkovsky's ability to power to the net with his large strides and strong legs makes him hard to contain on offensive rushes, while being able to get free efficiently inside the opponent's zone to release his heavy shot. His small-ice playmaking is decent, but his long game is inaccurate and leads to the occasional avoidable icing call. He has three assists through 12 Liiga games for TPS Turku, and 13 points in six U20 games for the club's junior affiliate. He could continue improving his game with the opportunities he has available to him in Finland.

  1. New Jersey Devils — Rutger McGroarty, C, USNTDP (USHL)

McGroarty's shot is among the best in this class, as he can wire the puck from anywhere in the offensive zone. His below-average skating makes his offensive positioning doubty at times, and his defensive involvement falters in stretches, but the amount of offense he can generate, especially on the power-play, make the shortcomings more than manageable, hence the 11th-overall ranking. His 10 points through 8 USNTDP games are a testament to that.

  1. Boston Bruins — Isaac Howard, LW, USNTDP (USHL)

Howard is very slick, gifted offensively and can shoot the puck hard and with little warning. He cleans up on rebounds extremely well, and can play a variety of roles for his team. He'll drive play through smart passes when playing on a line with finishers, he can use his high engine and foot speed to get involved defensively on a checking line, and can wire the puck when paired with a distributing center. Great versatility and projectable pace make him a decent pick-up outside of the top-10.

  1. Toronto Maple Leafs — David Jiricek, RD, HC Plzeň (Extraliga)

I think the Leafs will quickly identify the few major weaknesses in Jiricek's game and get to work in rectifying them; although the right-shot defenseman has an outstanding shot, great edgework and posture along with an aggressive physical game, he can easily lose his assignment or get too hasty with the puck on his stick, and discipline can be an issue at times. With any other development team, I'd have more doubts, but I trust the Leafs' ability to draft players with key weaknesses and address them in order to maximize their potential.

  1. Dallas Stars — Denton Mateychuk, LD, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)

An underrated mobile defenseman with an average frame and high-end skating in my top-15 is more or less a given anytime I rank draft-eligible prospects; Mateychuk can skate like the wind, and can alternate between simple, efficient defense and joining the rush every second play depending on the system and the score, and his hands make me believe that he could quarterback a power-play with ease. Most see a lack of flash in his play —  I have yet to agree. Great defender, great offensive reads, not much to dislike about his game.

  1. Tampa Bay Lightning — Ryan Chesley, RD, USNTDP (USHL)

Tampa will need a right-handed defenseman with upside, and this year's the one to get it. I believe that Chesley edges out the rest of the RHDs available at this point due to an already-refined defensive game. He keeps up with cycling forwards easily, and can stifle rushes with both forward or backward skating. He identifies openings away from the puck to enter pockets of space, can wire bombs from the point, and can move the puck in simple and quick plays that pick up the tempo.

  1. Vancouver Canucks — Elias Salomonsson, RD, Skellefteå AIK (J20 Nationell)

The first prospect on this list who has yet to have a DobberProspects player card, Salomonsson going to the Canucks just makes sense; they like their overseas prospects, and would be well-served with a long-term partner for Quinn Hughes. One of the youngest prospects available this year, Salomonsson excels at moving the puck and stifling rushes, while having great vision and passing accuracy through traffic. His 8 points through 11 junior games show a glimpse of what he could give.

  1. NY Islanders — Noah Östlund, C, Djurgårdens IF (J20 Nationell)

Östlund is a pure playmaker with outstanding skating and stickhandling, who can get involved defensively at a decent rate. I really like the way he thinks the game and controls opponents' body positioning before pulling the puck the opposite way. He has shown in Djurgårdens that, when paired with a sniper, he can make things happen consistently. The next step is for him to do what he does at the pro level — he has played three SHL games so far and remained pointless, but earned 15 points in 10 J20 games.

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  1. Winnipeg Jets — Frank Nazar III, RW, USNTDP (USHL)

Nazar being available at 18th overall is simply a result of how good this draft year is; he skates extremely well, is a force in transition with deceptive stick-handling and a quick release, and can find open ice well in tight quarters. His 11 points in 11 games put him among the NTDP's best, and he is versatile enough to play both special team units for the program. His consistency and engagement need to improve if he wishes to ensure his presence in the NHL one day, but the foundations are there.

  1. Philadelphia Flyers — Seamus Casey, RD, USNTDP (USHL)

Casey is another undersized defender (5-foot-10, 161 pounds) with excellent edgework and distribution ability who finds himself in the top-20. His ability to delay or accelerate his play based on what's in front of him makes his offensive game tick, and he can defend better than some of the larger blueliners in this first round — great stickwork and gap control. I'm still on the fence about whether his defense translates against men, but the rest of his game looks great.

  1. Columbus Blue Jackets — Filip Mešár, RW, HK Poprad (Slovakia)

A skilled offensive winger with great skating and puck control, Mešár often puts himself in great positions to score through nifty dekes and smart give-and-go plays, and he really understands how to exploit defenders' feet to get around them while carrying the puck. His defensive game is still growing, but there have been some improvements since last year within that aspect. A great pick-up around the 20th range for a Blue Jackets team known for picking overseas wingers with underrated potential.

  1. Pittsburgh Penguins — Ty Nelson, RD, North Bay Batallion (OHL)

The right-handed blueliner has earned eight points through eight games for the Battalion so far this season, and has showcased his high-end offensive brain by joining rushes at timely moments and entering pockets of space at the right moment to receive the puck and make a play. Most of the time, Nelson looks for a stick to throw the puck to when faced with the shoot/pass dilemma, but has a decent shot which he could use a bit more. His speed and edgework really make him a threat in transition, and he can fire the puck with weight.

  1. San Jose Sharks — Jonathan Lekkerimäki, RW, Djurgårdens IF  (J20 Nationell)

Another Swedish winger for the Sharks to develop overseas, Lekkerimäki's ability to release the puck off either foot and find the twine from awkward positions makes him deadly when paired with a player who can find his wheelhouse from anywhere. He's earned a goal per game in juniors, and has been called up to the SHL, playing one game so far without registering a point. If he gets a chance on Djurgårdens' half-wall, he could bury a surprising amount of SHL goals this year.

  1. NY Rangers — Tristan Luneau, RD — Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)

Luneau has dropped a fair bit since last month, in which he was the 14th pick in my top-15. He still remains a talented prospect, but his season start has me doubting his offensive prowess, as the Olympiques are winning games while he remains pointless through five matches. His decision-making, escapability and buildup passing make him a great transition driver, but his offense can be quite inconsistent. A fun project to give time and opportunities to.

  1. Detroit Red Wings — Marco Kasper, C, Rögle BK (SHL)

Moritz Seider's teammate from last year, Kasper is one of the rare 16 year olds to have played in the SHL last season, and I think the Wings got more than their fair share of looks at this prospect. He was played in a fourth-line role by Rögle last year and has moved up to the third line this season, earning three goals and an assist through 12 men's league games so far. His skating and puck protection make him a great transitional play-driver, and he plays the small-area game very well. With an April birthdate and a pro frame already (6-foot-1, 183 pounds), Kasper is a very intriguing prospect.

  1. Buffalo Sabres — Liam Öhgren, LW, Djurgårdens IF  (J20 Nationell)

A well-rounded forward with very few outright weaknesses in his game, Öhgren's defensive involvement and skating posture are great foundations for his game, and he uses his ability to steal and protect pucks in order to feed his teammates in dangerous positions and get some surprise shots off from the high slot. His offensive upside might not be as high as some of the other prospects available here, but I really like his game and he should be able to make the NHL.

  1.  Calgary Flames — Jack Devine, RW, University of Denver (NCAA)

His eight points in 13 USHL games last year put him on my radar, and he's off to a good start with Denver in the NCAA (three assists in five games). Rarely does a forward make the NCAA in his draft year, and I have a feeling that Devine might just be getting started. Slick hands, great playmaking ability and a smart defensive game make him an impressive player to watch against older University players. Could use some more muscle (5-foot-11, 172 pounds), but gets away with it at his current level.

  1. Minnesota Wild — Jack Hughes, C, Northeastern University (NCAA)

The second Jack Hughes to be drafted in the NHL recently, this one has less of the game-breaking talent than the former first-overall pick, but his two-way game makes him one of the most sure-value picks of the late first round. His playmaking stands out on the offensive side, but what earned him a place in the NCAA was his maturity and pro-level off-puck involvement. High-end compete level, seems to out-care his entire team at times.

  1. Edmonton Oilers —  Pano Fimis, C, Niagara IceDogs (OHL)

Don't sleep on Pano. Speed and skill are abundant in this center, who can dig in and play a defense-first role when asked to. His playmaking and stickhandling allows him to create lanes and get the puck to dangerous areas, although his upright skating posture leads to some issues in puck protection and agility. If Fimis can be taught to assume a more dynamic posture to go along with the rest of his game, watch out.

  1. Arizona Coyotes (via Carolina/Montreal) — Simon Forsmark, LD, Örebro HK (SHL)

One of the best decision-makers available in this year's draft, Forsmark's defense relies upon this standout strength, as he will read and react to the opponent's intentions very well, using both his long stick and massive body (6-foot-2, 194 pounds) to stifle threats all over the ice. He is surprisingly mobile for his build and can connect with teammates in-stride efficiently. His 20 games in 17 J20 games indicate that this prospect has untapped offensive potential to go with the already-refined defense.

  1. St. Louis Blues — Nathan Gaucher, C, Québec Remparts (QMJHL)

Great compete level and slick hands combine with Gaucher's raw size (6-foot-2, 192 pounds) to make a very difficult forward to contain. The prospect also has some finesse in his passing game, which he uses to find his wingers in transition. He has 11 points, including six goals, in 10 games for the Remparts so far. His build and ability to pursue the puck relentlessly would fit right in on this Blues team, which favors a style revolving around heavy forechecking, net-drives and tip-ins.

  1. Washington Capitals — Ludwig Persson, C, Frölunda HC (SHL)

An outstanding puck-carrier with a high-end motor and top-quality skating, Persson creates lanes to drive through the neutral zone and exploits speed differentials with a smart inside move or a disguised pass to a wide open teammate. His shooting isn't necessarily a strength, but his playmaking makes up for it as he manages to increase his teammates' chances of hitting the net with pinpoint dishes. Three-zone consistency remains his primary setback.

  1. Florida Panthers — Alexander Perevalov, RW, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)

Perevalov's offensive game is extremely promising, as the prospect leads his MHL team by eight points with 27 in only 15 games. His 13 goals in that span mainly come from heavy wristers on his off wing, and he uses his decent size (6-foot, 185 pounds) to get an edge on defenders when cutting inside from the boards. Perevalov's lack of drive away from the puck is a concern, but there's enough runaway offense here that I'd be willing to take the upside if I'm the Panthers.

Honorable mentions: Kasper Lundell, Cutter Gauthier, Danny Zhilkin, Matthew Poitras, Filip Bystedt

Follow me on Twitter @HadiK_Scouting for all of your fantasy prospect needs!

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