We're heading to the home stretch of the 2021-22 NHL regular season and, for the most part, teams are getting an idea of where they will be selecting in this summer's NHL Draft.
The bottom-dwellers — Canadiens, Kraken and Coyotes — are in prime position to snag potential franchise player Shane Wright. This is a top-heavy draft with clear-cut players to be taken in the top 10. The field opens up a lot more after that.
MORE: When is the 2022 NHL Draft? Date, time, TV channel, top prospects
The trade deadline produced a lot moving around of draft picks, but there was hardly any turnover in the first round. Only the Bruins moved their 2022 first-round pick at the deadline, sending it to the Ducks as part of the Hampus Lindholm trade.
While the draft is still a few months away, it's never too early to take a gander at who is potentially going to go where.
Here's The Sporting News' post-trade deadline NHL Mock Draft.
NHL Mock Draft 2022
1. Montreal Canadiens: Shane Wright, C, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
The consensus No. 1 pick is heading to the Habs. Wright had a slow start to the OHL season but bounced back nicely; he was up to 77 points in 52 games, good for 11th in the league. He's an excellent playmaker who will join a very promising forward group in Montreal with Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki.
2. Arizona Coyotes: Logan Cooley, C, USA U18 (NTDP)
Matty Beniers' high-IQ, two-way game went No. 2 in the draft last year; the same applies to Cooley, the prospective No. 2 pick of this year's draft. The University of Minnesota commit has 54 points in 37 games with the U.S. U18 national team. He's a smaller center (5-10) but he covers that with smart decision-making. After taking a scorer last year in the first round in Dylan Guenther, a center like Cooley is essential for the Coyotes' rebuild.
3. Seattle Kraken: Juraj Slafkovsky, LW, TPS (Liiga)
Slafkovsky has become my favorite player in this draft. He looks like a power forward (6-4, 218 pounds) but has quick hands and a rifle shot. He raised his stock with his performance at the 2022 Olympics in February, helping Slovakia to a bronze medal with seven goals in as many games and earning tournament MVP. The 17-year-old would make for an excellent pair with Matty Beniers as Kraken's future.
4. Ottawa Senators: Simon Nemec, D, Nitra (Slovak Extraliga)
Nemec is a steady blueliner who has put up points the last two seasons with Nitra of the Slovak Extraliga. He has 25 assists in 39 games. He excelled at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer with six points in five games. The Senators can't afford to miss in the first round again after taking Tyler Boucher No. 10 overall in the biggest head-scratcher of the 2021 draft. This is a strong, safe pick to bolster their defense.
5. Philadelphia Flyers: Matthew Savoie, C, Winnipeg Ice (WHL)
Savoie is arguably the most dominant pure scorer in this draft. His speed-shot combination makes him dangerous whenever he's in the offensive zone. In his first full season in the WHL, the center is seventh in the league and first among rookies with 78 points in 56 games. The Flyers have only drafted one pure center in the last three drafts and it came in the seventh round. If Savoie is still there at No. 5, there's no reason to pass on him.
6. New Jersey Devils: Joakim Kemell, RW, JYP (Liiga)
The Devils have a plethora of top prospects and Kemell should be added to that list. He has an extremely active stick in both ends and he mostly handles the puck well. His release makes him an excellent weapon on the power play. In his first season in Finland's Liiga, he has 15 goals and eight assists in 39 games.
7. Buffalo Sabres: David Jiricek, D, Plzen (Czech Extraliga)
Despite suffering a season-ending leg injury at the World Juniors, Jiricek is still considered the top defenseman by Central Scouting and ranked as the No. 4 skater out of Europe. The Sabres took the left-handed Owen Power first overall last year, so they would address the right side by selecting Jiricek. He has top-notch skating ability and a knack for walking the blue line. He had 11 points in 29 games with Plzen before the injury.
8. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Chicago Blackhawks): Danila Yurov, RW, Magnitogorsk (KHL)
There are concerns about whether Russian prospects will be allowed to come to North America given the situation in Ukraine. Yurov is one of those players. The Blue Jackets could play it safe and not take him, but the winger is too talented for them to pass on him. While he's pointless in 21 games in the KHL, he's playing an extremely limited, bottom role with Magnitogorsk. He put up 36 points in 23 games with the club's MHL team in Russia's major junior league. He plays hard and fast and comes with an excellent, well-rounded skill set.
9. Detroit Red Wings: Jonathan Lekkerimäki, RW, Djurgårdens IF 20 (J20 Nationell)
The Red Wings have taken a Swede with their first pick in the last two drafts and here they make it three in a row with Lekkerimäki. The center has split time between Djurgårdens IF's professional SHL team and its junior hockey team in the J20 Nationell. He's a born goal scorer, with a deceptive release and knack for finding scoring areas. He has recorded 20 goals in 26 games with the J20 team. He would be another excellent addition to Steve Yzerman's club.
10. Anaheim Ducks: Frank Nazar, C, USA U18 (NTDP)
A crafty forward from the development program, Nazar is a fringe top-10 candidate, but I think the Ducks take him at No. 10. He stands out on a U18 loaded with talent, with 60 points in 46 games. Nazar is mainly a distributor, but his ability to score can't be overlooked as he's incredibly creative with the puck on his stick. He has a knack for drawing penalties as well. Anaheim can add Nazar to a deep prospect pool at forward with Mason McTavish, Sasha Pastujov and Jacob Perreault.
11. San Jose Sharks: Brad Lambert, LW, Pelicans (Liiga)
Lambert is the Aatu Räty of this draft. Once thought to be competing for the No. 1 pick, the results haven't been there for the Finnish forward, which has lowered his stock. The skillset is there, though; Lambert is a fast skater with excellent hands and is very dangerous when he has the puck with space. After just six points in 24 games with JYP, he switched back to his old team, Pelicans, in hopes of more production, but he has managed just four points in 25 games. This is a high-risk, high-reward prospect, one the Sharks should be willing to gamble on if he falls this far.
12. New York Islanders: Conor Geekie, C, Winnipeg Ice (WHL)
Geekie (6-4, 205 pounds) is an imposing figure on offense. He's extremely tough to play against along the wall, which makes him a machine when it comes to puck battles. But don't be fooled by his stature; he has surprisingly soft hands. He's averaging over a point per game (19-40-59 in 54 games) on a loaded junior team. Skating is a concern and he struggles in transition, but with his offensive output and sound defensive game, he has the makings of a solid NHL player.
13. Columbus Blue Jackets: Pavel Mintyukov, D, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
The top-rated North American defenseman by Central Scouting, Mintyukov is a two-weapon on the blue line. His skating and poise with the puck allow him to jump up in the play and create chances off the rush. Sometimes he's a little too anxious to exit the zone, which he'll need to improve upon. The Russian defenseman is enjoying a successful rookie season in the OHL with 49 points in 56 games. The Blue Jackets go back-to-back Russians with this pick after selecting Yurov earlier.
14. Vancouver Canucks: Liam Öhgren, C, Djurgårdens IF (SHL)
Öhgren isn't a flashy pick, but he's an extremely well-rounded player with a great toolkit and already has NHL size. He's a very safe pick as one of the most NHL-ready prospects in the draft. He is a solid facilitator on offense, a dangerous shooter and intelligent on defense. Like his teammate Lekkerimäki, Öhgren has seen time with Djurgårdens IF's professional and junior teams. He has recorded 58 points in 30 games with the latter.
15. Buffalo Sabres (from Vegas Golden Knights): Rutger McGroarty, C, USA U18 (NTDP)
If you need a hard-nosed, physical center who plays with intensity, McGroarty is your guy. The Nebraska native is a hot topic in the NHL scouting community. Some see his awkward skating mechanics as a major red flag; others feel he makes up for it in other areas of his game. I tend to go with the latter. He can create on offense and already has the size to play in the NHL. McGroarty has 49 points in 40 games this season. A future 1-2-3 down the middle of Dylan Cozens, Tage Thompson and McGroarty in Buffalo is going to be hard to play against.
16. Winnipeg Jets: Cutter Gauthier, LW, USA U18 (NTDP)
Gauthier is as complete a player as they come. He plays a strong 200-foot game and has an uncanny ability to position himself well and win 1v1 puck battles. He has flown under the radar on the NTDP team, overlooked for the likes of Cooley and Nazar. At 6-3, he can play a power forward role in the NHL. The Boston College commit is up to 47 points in 42 games with the program.
17. Edmonton Oilers: Denton Mateychuk, D, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
The Oilers need to improve on defense, and after taking two centers in the first round of the last two drafts, they should eye the blue line in this one. Mateychuk is as strong a two-way defenseman as you'll find at this point in the draft. His 56 points in 57 games rank fourth among defensemen in the WHL, and his vision and decision-making have led to 47 assists. He's reliable in his own zone and defending opponents 1v1.
18. Dallas Stars: Isaac Howard, LW, USA U18 (NTDP)
The NTDP's points leader isn't Cooley, Nazar, McGroarty or Gauthier — it's Howard. The offensive dynamo has 62 in 46 games. He is an all-offense weapon with a lethal shot and a knack for finding a way into prime scoring areas. He lacks size and needs to improve his play off the puck, but the Stars need a forward to help them put pucks in the net.
19. Los Angeles Kings: Seamus Casey, D, USA U18 (NTDP)
Casey is a smaller defenseman (listed at 5-10), but he possesses elite puck-handling skill and vision. But he doesn't always use it to his advantage. He's not jumping up in the play as much as other defensemen who have his kind of skill set. Casey will need time to develop, so the Kings will have to be patient with him, but he should be worth the wait if he continues to improve.
20. Nashville Predators: Filip Mesar, RW, Poprad (Slovak Extraliga)
The third Slovakian projected to go in the first round, speed is Mesar's strength. He can fly with the puck through the neutral zone and set up his team in the offensive zone as he's more a distributor than a shooter. The size isn't there so he'll likely be overlooked, but a Predators team that's already filled with size can use some speed on the outside.
21. Washington Capitals: Tristan Luneau, D, Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)
Luneau was the No. 1 pick in the 2020 QMJHL Draft to Gatineau. His stock took a hit coming into this year as he recovered from surgery in the summer. He's a pass-first blueliner who can QB a power play. He showcases great patience with the puck, willing to outwait an opponent to find an open passing lane. Despite the fact that he doesn't shoot a ton, Luneau has 11 goals in 46 games this season and 31 points total. The Caps need to find their next puck-moving defender with John Carlson getting older.
22. St. Louis Blues: Marco Kasper, C, Rögle (SHL)
The forward from Austria won't necessarily "wow" anyone. Kasper doesn't have flashy dekes or an insanely hard shot or even the results on the scoresheet to grab people's attention. But he is big, strong and consistent. He drives to the net with the puck, creating opportunities in the offensive zone. Kasper has 11 points in the SHL this season. He would be a good addition to a Blues team that likes to play heavy.
23. Minnesota Wild: Ty Nelson, D, North Bay Battalion (OHL)
The Wild filled the well with defensemen last year, but they go for another one in the first round this year. Carson Lambos, one of their first-round picks in 2021, is a powerful, two-way defender; Nelson brings the offense. His high IQ and puck-moving ability make him a great candidate to play the QB role on the power play, and he doesn't hesitate to join the rush, finding his teammates with a quick pass up the ice. He has recorded 48 points in 57 games with North Bay.
24. Anaheim Ducks (from Boston Bruins): Jimmy Snuggerud, RW, USA U18 (NTDP)
Snuggerud is arguably the best defensive forward on the U.S. U18 team. He reads plays well and has an active stick, helping him to get into potential passing lanes to break up the play. There is nothing flashy about his offensive game, but he has been able to produce over a point per game this year (50 points in 46 games). With all of the Ducks' offensively-talented prospects, they need someone who'll be sound in their own zone.
25. New York Rangers: Nathan Gaucher, C, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
A responsible, two-way center: that's what Gaucher brings to the table. He shuts down opponents' top lines with his 6-3 frame and competitive game. He can make the occasional skill play on offense, but it's his defense that shines. He's in his third season with the Remparts. He has 95 points in 130 career games in the Q.
26. Toronto Maple Leafs: Calle Odelius, D, Djurgårdens IF 20 (J20 Nationell)
Odelius is the third-highest ranked European defenseman by Central Scouting. He sort of came out of nowhere this season. He never was that high of a point producer at the younger levels, but he has exploded for 30 points in 43 games. The offensive output is due to the Swede's brilliant skating and puck-handling ability. Odelius isn't being talked about as much as the other defensemen since there wasn't the hype around him before the season. Toronto needs defenders; it should snag him if he falls here.
27. Tampa Bay Lightning: Noah Östlund, C, Djurgårdens IF J20 (J20 Nationell)
Another member of Djurgårdens IF's program, Östlund is a reliable, two-way forward who can play down the middle. He has a high work ethic and uses quick strides to win short races to the puck. If he had more size and bulk to him (he's listed at 5-11 and 163 pounds), he'd go higher. He has 42 points in 32 games with Djurgårdens. The reigning back-to-back champs take a flier on Östlund to try to replenish their depleted prospect pool.
28. Pittsburgh Penguins: Elias Salomonsson, D, Skellefteå AIK J20 (J20 Nationell)
Salomonsson was highly regarded after a strong performance as a strong 16-year-old at the U20 level with Skellefteå AIK's J20 team, scoring 15 points in 14 games. But he has taken a step back this season and his draft stock has taken a hit. His play has been careless and inconsistent. He has been burned in his own zone frequently. Salomonsson is still worthy of a first-round pick because of his size and skill, but Central Scouting has dropped him to the No. 21-ranked European skater and No. 6 defenseman. I can see a contender like the Penguins taking a flier on him, but don't be surprised to see him drop out of the first round.
29. Montreal Canadiens (from Calgary Flames): Ivan Miroshnichenko, C, Omsk Krylia (VHL)
Miroshnichenko's free-fall ends at No. 29. He was once considered to be a fringe top-10 selection, but not only is Miroshnichenko in the group of Russian players who may be stuck in their home country, he also might miss all of next season after he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. The Habs have their golden goose in Shane Wright and can afford to take a risk here by grabbing Miroshnichenko.
30. Arizona Coyotes (from Carolina Hurricanes): Ryan Chesley, D, USA U18 (NTDP)
Chesley is an interesting case. He's touted as a two-way defenseman, and he is sound on defense. He can close gaps, play hard in the corners and be relied upon to not make a mistake in his own zone. But for as often as he jumps up in the play and for as hard of a shot he has, the results on offense haven't been there. Chesley has managed just 20 points in 45 games this season. He's a skilled player who is worth taking for Arizona. Some time at the University of Minnesota will do him good.
31. Buffalo Sabres (from Florida Panthers): Kevin Korchinski, D, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
After having already taken two forwards in Yurov and McGroarty, the Sabres elect to go to the blue line with their third pick in the first round. Korchinski is a premier two-way threat. He loves to have the puck on his stick and bring it up the ice, but he also is good in transition with his superb skating ability. The defense is a work in progress, but the Sabres can afford to be patient with him. The good outweighs the bad, which makes him worth the selection.
32. Arizona Coyotes (from Colorado Avalanche): Alex Perevalov, LW, Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)
The Coyotes end the round with their third pick in it, and they can afford to take a risk here. Perevalov is another Russian player facing uncertainty about when he'll be able to come to North America. His stats jump off the page, with 50 points in 42 games for Loko Yaroslavl. He has a little bit of everything in his offensive tool belt and is reliable on defense. Arizona should round out the first day of drafting with this proven scorer.
When is the 2022 NHL Draft?
- Dates: July 7-8
- Start time: TBA
The draft spans the course of two days. On Thursday, July 7, the first round will take place, with representatives from all teams selecting the first 32 picks in Montreal.
On Friday, July 8, the remaining picks in Rounds 2-7 will be selected.
Where is the 2022 NHL Draft?
- Venue: Bell Centre
- City: Montreal
The Bell Centre, the home of the Montreal Canadiens, will be the location of the 2022 NHL Draft.
This is the first time since 2009 that Montreal will host the draft. In total, it is the 27th time the city has been the home of the annual event.
Montreal was supposed to host the draft in 2020, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was held virtually.
When is the 2022 NHL Draft Lottery?
- Date: TBA
- Start time: TBA
An exact date for the lottery has not been determined yet. But it will occur after the 2021-22 regular season is over and the 16 non-playoff teams are determined.
NHL Draft lottery odds 2022
Here is how the NHL lottery odds system is broken down. The rankings are determined by going backwards in the standings, so the team that finishes worst is first.
| TEAM FINISH | CHANCE AT No. 1 PICK |
|---|---|
| No. 1 | 25.7% |
| No. 2 | 12.1% |
| No. 3 | 10.9% |
| No. 4 | 9.7% |
| No. 5 | 8.5% |
| No. 6 | 7.6% |
| No. 7 | 6.7% |
| No. 8 | 5.8% |
| No. 9 | 5.4% |
| No. 10 | 4.5% |
| No. 11 | 3.1% |
