The 2022 NHL Draft has arrived, and even before the election is done, all signs point to us seeing a bit of history.
For the first time in 13 years, the Draft returns to Montreal. And for the first time in nearly four decades, the host city will also be the first to get on the podium, with the Canadians with their first No. 1 pick since 1980.
The 2022 Draft is just a piece of a busy few weeks in the league as the NHL low season kicks off. Once the Class of 22 has been drafted and delivered its new threads, the focus will be on July 13, when free agency begins and construction work on the 2022-23 lists begins.
But as we look at next season and the decisions that will shape the 32 clubs in the league, it all starts Thursday night in the draft. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2022 NHL Draft.
WHEN IT HAPPENS AND WHERE CAN IT BE SEEN?
Day 1 of the festivities begins on Thursday, July 7, with coverage starting at 6:30 pm ET on Sportsnet.
David Amber, Sam Cosentino, Jason Bukala and Pierre McGuire will provide analysis from the Desk, while Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek track the latest news from across the league as they begin the draft. Caroline Cameron and Kyle Bukauskas will talk to the new big players and their families as the day begins, and online Steve Dangle and Colby Armstrong will team up for a live broadcast of the NHL Draft on YouTube’s YouTube channel. Sportsnet.
Rounds 2-7 will begin on Friday, July 8, and coverage will continue at 11 a.m. ET on Sportsnet.
WHO WILL FIRST IN GENERAL?
For much of last year, all eyes have been on the Kingston Frontenacs center, Shane Wright, as the name will likely be named first from the podium.
Among a select group of players who were granted exceptional status to begin their youth careers, after eventual highlights such as Connor McDavid, John Tavares and Aaron Ekblad, Wright accumulated 39 goals and 66 points in 58 games in his first year with Kingston. He followed with 94 points last season: in the last edition of his ranking of prospects, Sam Cosentino of Sportsnet had enough to stay in first place:
That said, in recent months it has been seen that Wright’s condition is the likely number 1 questioned, with two names closer to the conversation. The first is Logan Cooley, who leads the last class of prominent Americans in the U.S. National Team Development Program. The Pittsburgh-bred center has been catching the head lately, and for Jason Bukala, a former director of amateur scouting for the Florida Panthers, he’s done enough to earn the No. 1 spot.
If you know Cooley’s story, you already know why moving on to the rankings first would complete the circle. The Penguins captain, and the first team of 2005, Sidney Crosby, gave the 18-year-old his first chance to play hockey. Now, he’s almost certain to become the most recruited player to ever come from Pittsburgh.
Great read: Fourteen years ago, Sidney Crosby began giving hockey equipment to Pittsburgh kids.
Now, one of those kids is heading to the NHL Draft as the most promising prospect his city has ever produced.
This is the story of Logan Cooley.
By @SachdevaSonny: https://t.co/EdQy92nX5j
– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 3, 2022
But Cooley isn’t the only one fighting for Wright’s throne. There is also Juraj Slafkovsky, who has also been designated by some as the rightful owner of this number 1 site on the night of July 7th.
The stock of the big body end has been steadily increasing as a name has been made against TPS Turku men in the Finnish League. But he made a more significant leap to the 2022 Winter Olympics, where Slafkovsky finished as the tournament’s top scorer, won MVP honors and led Slovakia to its first ice hockey medal.
Juraj Slafkovsky has risen to the draft tables since his MVP performance at the Olympics. And the possible rise of number 1 may mark the start of a bigger turn in Slovak hockey. (By @Dixononsports) https://t.co/A29VL6LMjD
– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 4, 2022
WHO CHOOSES WHEN?
Given how he shook the draft order, the first-round figures will bring a lot of intrigue. Seven teams have multiple choices in this initial round, suggesting that there are arrangements to be made and movement to be made.
As for the Canadian clubs, Montreal and Ottawa have the best shots, with the Canadians picking at No. 1 (and again at No. 26) and Ottawa taking the podium at No. 7.
Winnipeg also has a couple of picks, at numbers 14 and 30, while Vancouver will select at number 15. Toronto and Edmonton close out the first round, picking No. 25 and No. 29, respectively. Calgary is the only Canadian team without a pick in the first round, having given up its in the deal to acquire Tyler Toffoli.
Here is the full draft of the first round order:
1. Montreal Canadiens2. New Jersey Devils 3. Arizona Coyotes 4. Seattle Kraken 5. Philadelphia Flyers 6. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Chicago Blackhawks) 7. Ottawa Senators 8. Detroit Red Wings 9. Buffalo Sabers 10. Anaheim Ducks 11. San Jose Sharks 12. Colom13 Blue Jackets. New York Islanders 14. Winnipeg Jets15. Vancouver Canucks 16. Buffalo Sabers (of Vegas Golden Knights) 17. Nashville Predators18. Dallas Stars19. Minnesota Wild (of Los Angeles Kings) 20. Washington Capitals 21. Pittsburgh Penguins22. Anaheim Ducks (of Boston Bruins) 23. St. Louis Blues24. Minnesota Wild25. Toronto Maple Leafs26. Montreal Canadiens (from Calgary Flames) 27. Arizona Coyotes (from Carolina Hurricanes to Montreal Canadiens) 28. Buffalo Sabers (of the Florida Panthers) 29. Edmonton Oilers30. Winnipeg Jets (New York Rangers) 31. Tampa Bay Lightning32. Arizona Coyotes (from Colorado Avalanche)
PERSPECTIVES OF CANADIAN TEAMS:
Montreal Canadiens: The Habs face one of the most important drafts in the club’s recent history: the opportunity to add franchise talent to the first and the opportunity for new general manager Kent Hughes to add a key piece to the your project.
Entering the draft with the first overall option, many elections and a series of business chips, Kent Hughes is looking at his best opportunity to launch his plan for Canadians. And he approaches it with his eyes wide open.
✍️: @EricEngels https://t.co/fzfsD0O7Fq
– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 4, 2022
Ottawa Senators: The Senses have been at the forefront and center with many top-level elections in recent years. GM Pierre Dorion is number 7 this time around, but there has been some talk about whether the club could choose to move the selection for more immediate help.
Just two years ago, the senators were engaged in their high draft election, with two selections in the top five. This time, as @HockeyScanner writes, it’s not just about who Ottawa could draft, but whether he will change his first-round pick.https: //t.co/eMKTHAHe5w.
– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 6, 2022
Winnipeg Jets: The Jets enter the Draft with a pair of first-round picks for the first time since 2016. Like Ottawa, some are wondering if the Jets will get into trade talks, perhaps to have a chance to get on the field. ‘order of the Draft.
After a season of shortcomings, there is a belief that the Jets will look to make some tweaks, and there is also the possibility of a massive deal that includes the core. It all depends on the big swing you are willing to make your GM.
By @WiebesWorld: https://t.co/5ZEgrqMWIN
– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 6, 2022
Vancouver Canucks: After the Canucks introduced a new regime to run the organization, the new Vancouver headquarters, headed by longtime new general manager and explorer Patrik Allvin, will have its first chance to do magic on draft day.
The first round may not be as marked as some drafts. But there will be talent, and for Patrik Allvin, who built his career in amateur scouting, it represents an important opportunity to start shaping this era of Canucks hockey.
For @imacSportsnet: https://t.co/qb3fVoGci9
– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 5, 2022
Toronto Maple Leafs: The Leafs only have three picks in the entire 2022 NHL Draft, with the club all-in to win now. They will still get on the podium in the first round, but they may end up making more noise on Draft Day with a change.
It’s been seven years since Toronto selected a Canadian in the first round. A handful of talented, local candidates are in a mix of a dozen players who could hit a Maple Leafs cap ahead of the 2022 NHL Draft, as he writes @ lukefoxjukebox.https: //t.co/BJwaTWmxFu .
– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 4, 2022
Edmonton Oilers: The Oilers are no strangers to the lottery election, this time the Oilers are on the cusp of a quieter Draft after a deep playoff. And they could look to make it even quieter by reducing order.
The Edmonton Oilers haven’t done such a low draft in a long time.
They occupy the 29th general selection and their next selection is the 158th. Could this open a reduction scenario?
✍️: @SportsnetSpechttps: //t.co/TdbOfleSW4
– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 4, 2022
Calgary Flames: Like everything in Calgary right now, all things Flames-related go back to Johnny Gaudreau’s impending free agency decision. That said, the Draft has often been the site of Brad Treliving’s most important moves, and all eyes will once again be on GM Flames.
The NHL Draft is where Treliving has made some of its most important moves over the years, and with this being the first in-person draft in three years, you can bet the Flames GM will reconsider the possibility.
By @EricFrancis: https://t.co/SZvrW59Faq
– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 5, 2022
OTHER KEY PLAYERS TO SEE:
Conor Geekie: Coming from a town small enough to walk from end to end in 13 minutes, the Geekie family has been catching hockey for years. With Brother Morgan doing his business for the Seattle Kraken, …