Today we look at each NHL team’s greatest need for the 2022 NHL Draft.
The greater need, in this context, does not mean the immediate need in the staff of the great club. It’s not about meeting the needs of the NHL’s 2022-23 season. The aim of this, from the perspective of the NHL Draft, is to examine the full depth chart of an NHL-level club and prospects and project their needs over the next few years.
Anaheim Ducks: Defender
The Ducks have some great young defenses in their system, with Jamie Drysdale on the way to becoming a top-tier player and Olen Zellweger looking great as a junior. After facing Josh Manson and Hampus Lindholm, however, there is an urgent need for more defensive talent from the top four on the team.
Arizona Coyotes: Center
Any look at the four centers the coyotes were starting on a given night would probably lead you to the same conclusion: this organization needs more than half. I still like Barrett Hayton, but the Coyotes need a lot more around him. It helps that there is probably a very good center available in selection number 3.
Boston Bruins: Defender
As for what the big club needs right now, I would lean towards a center, but the Bruins at least have John Beecher and I think you could get some Brett Harrison games out too. On defense, there is very little on the way. Maybe you can turn Mason Lohrei into an NHL player, but it’s not a sure thing, and apart from him there’s not much.
Buffalo Sabers: Center
The Sabers have a deep farm system, so there is no compelling and blatant need, but in a post-Jack Eichel world, the center is the need that would stand out, especially another high-level center. They have a lot of good pieces between Peyton Krebs, Casey Mittelstadt and Dylan Cozens that could possibly be these solutions, but it might not hurt to add more.
Calgary Flames: Defender
The Flames have used many of their best picks in recent years to add talented strikers like Matt Coronato, Connor Zary and Jakob Pelletier. They have decent defense prospects, but there is an obvious need for more talent in this position, especially considering that Juuso Valimaki has not yet made that big step forward in his development.
Carolina Hurricanes: Center
Carolina has had a lot of draft picks over the past few years, so there is no urgent need in her system. I’ve highlighted the center because while they have good forward-looking prospects, some of which are listed as centers, it’s realistic they don’t have many perspectives projected as legitimate three-line NHL centers and many of their listed centers can being pushed to the wing in the NHL.
Chicago Blackhawks: Defender
I could have gone in several directions for Chicago’s greatest need, but I chose the defense. I did so because after exchanging Adam Boqvist and Henri Jokiharju, and after several of his other high-defense elections in recent years have not unfolded as planned, there is very little of that position in the pipeline.
Colorado Avalanche: Goalkeeper
I was tempted to say defense here after Colorado changed Justin Barron and Drew Helleson to the deadline, but they still have Bowen Byram, who will be a great NHL player, and Sean Behrens had a good year in college. His main goalkeeper prospect is Justus Annunen, who is a good size, but has been fine as a professional, and could realistically use another option in case he doesn’t come out.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Defender
Columbus did a great job last year, adding to a key need at the front and especially at the center, bringing Kent Johnson and Cole Sillinger to the draft. Now, the focus is on the blue line. Columbus has only used a selection of the first two rounds in a defense since Andrew Peeke in 2016, and is seen when you check out his reserve list.
Dallas Stars: Defender
I wouldn’t call this need for Dallas pressures; obviously they have Miro Heiskanen at the big club who is still quite young, and I think Thomas Harley will also be very good over time. This is a position where they could use more depth because after these two there is not much on the way, apart perhaps from Artem Grushnikov.
Detroit Red Wings: Center
Stop me if you’ve heard it before, Wings fans. The Wings have done a very good job building their blue line through the draft and adding a quality goalkeeper to Sebastian Cossa, but given the very good development of former center Michael Rasmussen, this has become a clear position of need for the Wings to address.
Edmonton Oilers: goalkeeper
The Oilers have a clear current need for a quality starting goalkeeper, but that need will not be addressed with this project, given how long you will be waiting for even the best goalkeeper. That said, his system also lacks a clear goalkeeper for the future. Stuart Skinner held up well in a test, but is not sure, so adding more depth to this position seems like a priority for this organization.
Florida Panthers: Defender
The Florida system isn’t that deep and they don’t have many options, but they do have several good, young strikers and Spencer Knight on the net. They have very little in the blue line. I like Evan Nause, but they need a lot more than him.
Los Angeles Kings: goalkeeper
The Kings have a deep organization of young talent in most positions, including premium center and defense positions. What they do lack is a clear goalkeeper for the future. It may not be the draft class to tackle this, but it would be worth it to swing at least one goalkeeper.
Minnesota Wild: Center
Minnesota has done well in the selection of premium center, defense and goalie positions in recent years. After watching Jack McBain walk by and seeing Marat Khusnutdinov re-sign with his KHL team, a little more depth in the middle would be nice to add to the organization.
Montreal Canadiens: Center
I think here you can discuss the center or the Montreal goalkeeper. After the disappointing development of third team Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Ryan Poehling becoming a solid but not great player, they could use more depth of quality for the center.
Nashville Predators: Defender
After being known as a defense factory for years, Nashville has recently invested more of its draft capital forward and net. Your system has few results on the blue line and you have to imagine this draft they are looking for to address it.
New Jersey Devils: goalkeeper
The Devils have had a lot of picks in recent years and have addressed many critical needs in the draft, but the only position they still have to fill is a clear goalkeeper for the future if Mackenzie Blackwood can’t be that type. It is possible that Nico Daws or Akira Schmid are, but they are not sure about things.
New York Islanders: Defenseman
The islanders have many needs in their system, so here they could have gone in many different directions. Noah Dobson looks great on the blue line, but after him he’s bleak. Maybe Robin Salo plays, but it’s not a guarantee.
New York Rangers: Center
The Rangers have chosen often and high in recent years, so their stable of young talent is in a good position with depth and quality. The only thing they could really use is more depth in the middle. Filip Chytil’s positive playoffs are reassuring, but there’s almost nothing outside of the NHL.
Ottawa Senators: Defender
Ottawa has a very good farming system and young players in the NHL club, so I don’t really see a clear need in any position. But if I had to choose one, it would be the blue line. The obvious warning is that Jake Sanderson is an elite defense potential and they also have many other good defense prospects. If he had to compare the young depth between the Sens strikers and the Blues, they could use one or two more quality prospects to play alongside Sanderson and Thomas Chabot. Lassi Thomson or Jacob Bernard-Docker could be that, but if they can’t, more depth doesn’t hurt.
Philadelphia Flyers: Center
Flyers have several clear needs, but there are few answers in the current organization about who their future centers are. In a post-Claude Giroux era, this is a position that needs a lot of help.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Defender
The Penguins have had few draft picks in recent years and the ones they have done have not gone so well. He could have easily gone with the center here, but the lack of defensive prospects in his pipeline is surprising.
St. Louis Blues: Defender
The Blues haven’t had or held many high picks recently, but you have to like the progress of top strikers Zachary Bolduc and Jake Neighbors, and obviously Robert Thomas has flourished at the big club. At the back, there is less depth of quality and therefore it should be an area they seek to address.
San Jose Sharks: goalkeeper
San Jose has some young players in defense, side and center, especially if William Eklund can play in the center. I like Benjamin Gaudreau, but he did such a low season, so it’s unclear if he, or anyone else in the pipeline, is the goalkeeper for the Sharks ’future.
Seattle Kraken: depth
Having passed just one NHL Draft with just seven picks, Seattle’s farming system is pretty thin. Matty Beniers is fantastic, and both Ryker Evans and Ryan Winterton look like good NHL prospects, but they just need a lot more players.
Tampa Bay Lightning: scoring forwards
Tampa hasn’t picked much or high in recent seasons, so the farm is understandably thin with several needs. I could have picked the center here, but I like Jack Finley enough to think he will play. Looking through its pipeline, Tampa has a lot of hard-working strikers, but there aren’t a lot of skills, or guys who can project themselves to make a lot of mark as professionals.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Center
Roni Hirvonen is a solid prospect who I think will play in the NHL. He’s played in the center before, but I don’t think it’s a block to be an NHL pivot, and after him there’s not much else to come for Toronto …