With this week’s NHL 2022 Draft, the McKeen’s Hockey team has prepared a mock draft to give you an idea of how the first day might unfold. Scout Director Brock Otten, Director of Video Exploration, Will Scouch, Video Scout, Sam McGilligan and Editor Robert Howard met and chose the ones we believe fit best for the watch equipment. It was a fun and interesting process. They certainly don’t reflect our McKeen standings, which aren’t trying to predict the draft, but what prospects will become NHL players and at what level in five years. ]
Each NHL team has its own roster, its own goals, and surprises are expected, so enjoy our best estimate on who your next team will be.
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1. Montreal Canadiens (Sam McGilligan) Shane Wright, C, Kingston (OHL)
The decision to select Shane Wright is easy. There’s a reason he was considered the first overall potential in the years leading up to this draft and it’s because of his impeccable understanding of the game, killer pitch, and most prepared style of play of the entire draft. There is a level of safety and projection in each of his strengths, and while weaknesses exist, they are not important enough to reasonably predict that Wright will fight in the NHL. The flat here is a low-end second-line center, and some may make a reading grimace knowing that this is the first general choice they are supposed to modify a franchise.
Make no mistake, Wright has this potential on the same level as men like Juraj Slafkovský and Logan Cooley too, he just doesn’t show up in the top spot in such a beautiful way. We may never really know to what extent its development was affected by the closure of the OHL last year, but it is safe to infer that Wright’s scoring numbers suffered as a result. There is a world where this closure does not occur and Wright is continuously boosting momentum until this very week with much higher scoring totals, ending the debate before he has a chance to start. Given the advantage and level of security, choice number 1 is a no-brainer even if you don’t end up being the best player in the class.
2. New Jersey Devils (Brock Otten) – Juraj Slafkovský, LW, TPS (Liiga)
There are so many options for what happens with this selection. Do the devils treat you for some form of immediate help as speculated? Who goes first and what impact does this have on this selection? In this simulation, Wright goes first and the Devils take Slafkovský second. Slaf is the most prepared prospect for the NHL draft thanks to his size, speed and combination of skills. What he has been able to do by playing against high caliber competitions at the Olympics and World Championships is very impressive. Sure New Jersey may be this choice, but the irony is that Slafkovský could be an ideal choice to play alongside the group of talented but small-sized Devils.
3. Arizona Coyotes (Will Scouch) – Logan Cooley, C, USN U18 (USNTDP)
This one is pretty easy for me. Arizona needs it, well, everything. Cooley has an excellent combination of skill, creativity, dynamic pace and awesome attacking tools, and if Arizona can select other skillful, high-paced players who can finish and intervene a little defensively on Cooley’s wing, he could be one of Cooley’s most productive players. the draft. One of the most efficient offensive transition players I’ve followed with a game mind, Cooley is a great building block for getting the Coyotes to point in the right direction with an exciting streak in their game by putting vagabonds in their seats.
4. Seattle Kraken (Brock Otten) – David Jiříček, D, HC Pilsen (Czech Republic)
It seems quite likely that the Kraken will be looking for a defender to build their team out there. You have available in Jiříček, Nemec, Mintyukov and even Kevin Korchinski (in the backyard). Something tells me that Ron Francis and his exploration director Robert Kron (a Czech compatriot) could favor Jiříček and his two-way advantage. He finished the year pretty strong after returning from a knee injury and can offer the greatest boom potential of any defense available this year.
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5. Philadelphia Flyers (Robert Howard) – Simon Nemec, D, HK Nitra (Svk)
The Flyers will be very tempted by Cutter Gauthier here as a fixation in the center of the ice in the future, however, they could use depth in all positions. The organization’s most recent rumors are more about adding pieces to win now and perhaps short-term needs will outweigh future options. Nemec can represent the best player available right now, and a potential future cornerstone on defense with solid two-way play and a considerable advantage on offense. Playing against men in the Slovakian professional league for a second season, he scored 26 points in 39 games and set a league record for scoring a defense in the playoffs. He could be making a significant contribution at the end in a couple of seasons.
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6. Columbus Blue Jackets (via Chicago) (Brock Otten) – Cutter Gauthier, LW / C, USN U18 (USNTDP)
There is talk that Gauthier might not be available even so late, but if he is, I think jackets make him his pick. There may be an appeal towards selecting a defender here who can help the quarterback in the power play (like Korchinski or Mintyukov), but Gauthier seems like an ideal professional. His game is designed to have a long and impactful career in the NHL thanks to a very comprehensive skill set. He is one of the best scorers available this year and his off-piste game is strong. The jury is still up to see if he can play in the middle, but if you draft it so soon, imagine it.
7. Ottawa Senators (Sam McGilligan) – Marco Kasper, C, Rögle BK (SHL)
Kasper has been an interesting player to watch rise to the drafts tables. The reason for his rise is simple: he only spent an entire season playing professional projectable hockey in Sweden and improved continuously throughout the year. Not only do their strengths shift to a smaller ice surface, but some think they may even benefit from the change. Where Kasper starts to lose some scouts is his level of advantage. Some believe he’s already in the final stages of his development and all that’s left is to simply polish his game to the level the NHL demands, leaving him probably a center of six at best. Others are more confident in their advantage and believe that there is another level to which Kasper can bring his game. The latter would bring it up so soon, and that is exactly the kind of writing by which senators have come to know in recent years. Kasper joins the line of safe players with a reasonable advantage that the development team believes could take a step forward. If Kasper passes Ottawa, I don’t think it will take much longer to finish selected this year.
8. Detroit Red Wings (Brock Otten) – Pavel Mintyukov, D, Saginaw (OHL)
I get the feeling the Wings have their eye on Gauthier or Kasper, but with both missing, they turn their attention to a player right in the backyard. The Saginaw Spirit and Red Wings have had a long-standing relationship and there is no doubt that they have a lot of information about Mintyukov. His offensive advantage is through the roof due to his creativity and playing skills. Defensive play needs improvement, but he is a modelable player who could look fantastic alongside Moritz Seider in the future.
9. Buffalo Sabers (Will Scouch) – Matthew Savoie, C, Winnipeg (WHL)
This is just the opposite. Savoie in the ninth seems to be a great value and while there may be some questions about his likelihood of reaching his production potential due to the lack of separation speed, but for me, this is just a blatant hole in an otherwise excellent talent profile. He is one of the most agile and daring players available in the draft, which shows me the ability to create plays and generate opportunities for himself during the season. It’s exciting, he can play center-back or winger, and would give a big offensive boost to the Sabers ’future to complement the more complete strikers they selected in 2021. Savoie’s defensive play is also underrated, so I have a feeling he’ll patch up. -lo. Playing here and there while encouraging him to stay creative could work wonders for him.
10. Anaheim Ducks (Brock Otten) – Joakim Kemell, RW, JYP (League)
At this point in the draft, I see the Ducks heading to one of the many quality goal scorers available this year. What probably draws them to Kemell (although the Ducks haven’t come out of Finland much in recent years) is that it’s quite competitive. Despite the lack of size, he works hard to get to the middle of the ice and his shot is among the best in the draft. How well would Kemell look alongside Trevor Zegras and Mason McTavish in the future?
11. San Jose Sharks (Rob Howard) – Jonathan Lekkerimäki, RW, Djurgårdens (SWE J20)
The Sharks were encouraged by the progress of last year’s first-round selection to William Eklund of Djurgårdens and look forward to seeing him graduate as soon as this season. For this reason, they were thrilled when one of the best natural goal scorers in the draft, and Eklund’s teammate, is available at Lekkerimäki at 11 years old. He’s young, just turned 18 in July and needs to add strength but hasn’t been scared. away from traffic in the Swedish men’s league. It brings the unstoppable instincts of a scorer, along with the best shot of the draft. He and Eklund will be formidable in the power play in time.
12. Columbus Blue Jackets (Brock Otten) – Kevin Korchinski, D, Seattle (WHL)
Getting …