Source: SportsNet
Here’s the complete list:
1. Montreal Canadiens: Juraj Slafkovsky, LW, TPS (Liiga)
2. New Jersey Devils: Simon Nemec, D, Nitra (Slovak Extraliga)
3. Arizona Coyotes: Logan Cooley, C, USA U18 (NTDP)
Grade: B+
The free fall for Shane Wright continues. The Coyotes elect to go with Logan Cooley, the top American prospect. He’s a strong, two-way center of smaller size, but he has an extremely high hockey IQ. He’s a strong pick and I would have given the Coyotes an A had Wright been selected before, but I’m not sure Cooley’s a better pick, especially since the two play the same position.
4. Seattle Kraken: Shane Wright, C, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
Grade: A
The Kraken take the best player available in Shane Wright. While I wondered if they would stray away from Wright simply because they took Matty Beniers, a center, at No. 2 last draft, they elect to forego positional needs and stick to taking the top player on their draft board. I don’t know if anyone thought Wright would fall this far, but the Kraken now have two extremely strong, two-way centers to build their team around. While the offensive output disappointed a bit this season for Wright, he’s got all of the right tools to excel in the NHL.
5. Philadelphia Flyers: Cutter Gauthier, LW, USA U18 (NTDP)
Grade: A-
The Flyers go with the big American winger in Cutter Gauthier. He’s a complete player and uses his size to his advantage. Gauthier is a beast along the wall, winning puck battles left and right. He flew under the radar on the U.S. national team, but his size and strength is what shot him up late in draft boards. The Flyers get a strong left wing that brings some versatility as he has played center as well.
6. Columbus Blue Jackets: David Jiricek, D, Plzen (Czech Extraliga)
Grade: A
A no-brainer for the Blue Jackets. David Jiricek not only was the best player available at No. 6, but he addresses a big need on defense for Columbus. He can play physically and does an exceptional job of picking off passes. Jiricek is great in the transition, with a knack for knowing when to jump in on the attack and when to hold back. Had he not suffered the leg injury at the World Juniors, there’s a chance he would’ve gone higher, but the Blue Jackets happily take him at No. 6.
7. Chicago Blackhawks: Kevin Korchinski, D, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
Grade: C
I really like Korchinski. His stock skyrocketed over the last couple of months as he broke out during the WHL playoffs. But I think there was a chance he was still available at No. 13, and they could have gone in a different direction at No. 7. He’ll be a good fit in Chicago, as he’s a premier two-way threat who loves to have the puck on his stick and bring it up the ice with his superb skating ability. But they traded a lot to get that top-10 pick and take Korchinski, who I don’t think would have been a top-10 selection otherwise.
8. Detroit Red Wings: Marco Kasper, C, Rögle (SHL)
Grade: B+
The Red Wings needed to address center and they get that in Marco Kasper. The Austrian forward is a very intelligent player, who is big, strong and consistent. He drives to the net with the puck to create opportunities in the offensive zone, and he never shies away from the chance to lay a big hit. He’s not going to light up a scoreboard, but Kasper is a safe, reliable choice. Plus, he plays in the SHL, which is right on par for recent draft picks by Detroit.
9. Buffalo Sabres: Matthew Savoie, C, Winnipeg Ice (WHL)
Grade: A-
Perhaps the most prolific scorer in the draft, Savoie is a great, versatile pick for the Sabres. Buffalo didn’t really have one specific need, and I think he’s the best player available at No. 9. His speed-shot combination makes him dangerous whenever he’s in the offensive zone. Savoie is smaller, but he’s a difference maker on offense and will gel in nicely with the Sabres.
10. Anaheim Ducks: Pavel Mintyukov, D, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Grade: B+
While there were better players left on the board, Mintyukov is the best defensemen available and that was arguably the Ducks’ biggest need. He is a two-way weapon on the blue line, as his skating and poise with the puck allow him to jump up into the play and create chances off the rush. His offensive game has greatly improved since coming to North America. Despite being Russian, he’s staying in the U.S. so the concern of him staying in Russia is off the table. .
11. Arizona Coyotes: Conor Geekie, C, Winnipeg Ice (WHL)
Grade: C-
The Sharks traded No. 11 to the Coyotes for No. 27, No. 34 and No. 45 in this year’s draft. With the pick, the Coyotes take Conor Geekie. He’s an imposing figure on offense and his size makes him tough to play against along the wall. While he’s built like a power forward, his style more emulates a playmaker, as he’s displayed a soft touch. The skating is a concern and he is on the slower side. While I like the player, I don’t see him worthy of giving up the draft capital that the Coyotes did in order to take their second center of the draft.
12. Columbus Blue Jackets: Denton Mateychuk, D, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Grade: B+
I love Denton Mateychuk and I thought he would drop in the draft, but Columbus goes back-to-back defensemen and take him at No. 12. Mateychuk can eat up minutes on the back end. He possesses good vision that he uses on the breakout to get the puck up ice. Mateychuk is a more undersized defenseman, but his skating is superb and he is as well-rounded of a defenseman as they come. My only knock on this pick isn’t on Mateychuk, it’s that Columbus passed on talented forwards to go with another blue liner.
13. Chicago Blackhawks: Frank Nazar, C, USA U18 (NTDP)
Grade: A
Kyle Davidson makes up for his Korchinski pick at No. 7 by taking the speedy Frank Nazar at No. 13. Nazar is so creative with the puck; his ability to find teammates and create scoring chances is uncanny. He stood out on a U18 team loaded with talent. He’s a threat as both a scorer and passer offensively. For a Chicago team that traded away Kirby Dach, center was going to be a concern, but they get a replacement in Nazar.
14. Winnipeg Jets: Rutger McGroarty, C, USA U18 (NTDP)
Grade: C+
Another player that I really like, but he definitely would have been available later in the draft. Rutger McGroarty is a hard-nosed, physical center who plays with intensity. While there are some questions about his skating, there are none about his other assets, such as his IQ, passing and scoring ability. McGroarty brings a wicked shot that is ready to face NHL goaltending. He can play right wing as well and should fit in fine with Winnipeg, however you can’t help but feel there were more talented players available.
15. Vancouver Canucks: Jonathan Lekkerimäki, RW, Djurgårdens IF 20 (J20 Nationell)
Grade: A
One of the players I didn’t expect to fall this far, Lekkerimäki is a natural goal scorer with a deceptive release and a knack for finding scoring areas. He can utilize a snap shot, wrist shot, one-timer or backhand extremely effectively. Lekkerimäki isn’t afraid to get in on the forecheck despite his size either. It’s a great pick for Vancouver who probably did not expect the Swede to still be around for their selection, and they add skill to their forward group.
16. Buffalo Sabres: Noah Östlund, C, Djurgårdens IF J20 (J20 Nationell)
Grade: B+
With their second pick in the first round, the Sabres grab the Swede Noah Östlund. He’s a reliable, two-way center who is quick and plays with intensity. He constantly races for loose pucks along the wall, owning a really strong motor. Östlund definitely needs to fill out, but he’s an exceptional passer. The Sabres grab two smaller, but extremely skilled and intelligent forwards in the first round.
17. Nashville Predators: Joakim Kemell, RW, JYP (Liiga)
Grade: A-
Joakim Kemell’s fall out of the top-10 stops at No. 17 as the Preds take the talented Finn. There’s a lot to like about Kemell. He has an extremely active stick in both ends and strong puck-handling ability. His release makes him an excellent weapon on the power play and his ability to draw penalties is a plus as well. Kemell’s inconsistency probably was a factor into why he dropped so far, but Nashville is the beneficiary.
18. Dallas Stars: Lian Bichsel, D, Leksands IF (SHL)
Grade: B+
With the Stars in need of young defensemen, they grab one of the biggest ones of the draft in Lian Bichsel. Among defensive defensemen in the draft, there may not be one better than Bichsel. The Swiss defender towers over everyone, playing physical, throwback style on the blue line. He’ll be a steady, reliable player for Dallas.
19. Minnesota Wild: Liam Öhgren, LW, Djurgårdens IF J20 (J20 Nationell)
Grade: B+
The third member of Djurgårdens IF’s junior club comes off the board as the Wild take Liam Öhgren. He’s an extremely well-rounded player with a great toolkit. He already boasts NHL size and is a solid facilitator. Öhgren’s a dangerous shooter on offense and an intelligent player on defense. I would have liked to see the Wild address center here with some options still on the table, but it’s a good, safe pick.
20. Washington Capitals: Ivan Miroshnichenko, C, Omsk Krylia (VHL)
Grade: B
The Capitals gamble here by taking the highly talented Ivan Miroshnichenko. There’s no questioning his play. Miroschnichenko is a terrific skater and shooter with plenty of offensive upside.The concerns comes from the fact that he is recovering from a diagnosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, in addition to being from Russia and the question of his ability to come and play in the U.S. The Caps must have done their due diligence on both situations and felt comfortable enough to take the gifted Russian. Plus, Miroshnichenko gets a superb mentor in fellow countryman Alex Ovechkin. High-risk, high-reward pick.
21. Pittsburgh Penguins: Owen Pickering, D, Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
Grade: B+
The Penguins take a tall defenseman in Owen Pickering. He can’t be missed on the ice with his height. He plays a physical game while also jumping up in the play. Pickering’s extremely mobile for his size, and he has better vision than most blue-liners his age. He’s young and certainly will be a project, but there’s a lot to like. Pittsburgh don’t have a ton of rangy defensemen in their prospect pool so this is a very solid pick.
22. Anaheim Ducks: Nathan Gaucher, C, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
Grade: A
With their second pick in the first round, the Ducks take a responsible, two-way center in Nathan Gaucher. He shuts down opponents’ top lines with his frame and competitive game. He can make the occasional skill play on offense, but it’s his defense is what shines. Anaheim has a ton of skilled forwards up front, so adding someone like Gaucher who can focus more on the defensive/physical games is an excellent move.
23. St. Louis Blues: Jimmy Snuggerud, RW, USA U18 (NTDP)
Grade: B-
The Blues elect to not take a defensemen, but rather go with Jimmy Snuggerud, another National Team product. He might not get as much shine as some of his U18 teammates, but Snuggerud is still one heck of a player. His shot stands out the most, as the future University of Minnesota forward can get a shot off from multiple angles and find ways to get the puck into the back of the net. I would’ve liked to see St. Louis address the blue line here instead of taking another wing.
24. Minnesota Wild: Danila Yurov, RW, Magnitogorsk (KHL)
Grade: A
Yurov certainly took a hit on draft day due to the fact that he’s from Russia and the ongoing uncertainty of their ability to come over to the United States. But Minnesota gets a steal by taking Yurov at No. 24. He plays hard and fast and comes with an excellent, well-rounded skill set. The talent is there, but he had an extremely sheltered role in the KHL, so the stats weren’t impressive. The Wild already had a first-round pick before Yurov so it’s not as big of a gamble.
25. Chicago Blackhawks: Sam Rinzel, D, Chaska High (USHS), 6-3, 180
Grade: C
Chicago rolls the dice by taking high schooler Sam Rinzel after trading with the Maple Leafs for the No. 25 pick. Rinzel has a big frame and he broke out in his junior season with Chaska High, getting the attention of scouts by the end of the year. It’s a bit of a reach here by the Blackhawks, but since they already had two picks in the first rounds, they could afford to be more on the aggressive side. Although, I do think he would have been available in the second round.
26. Montreal Canadiens: Filip Mesar, RW, Poprad (Slovak Extraliga)
Grade: A-
Montreal goes Slovakian wing again by taking Filip Mesar with their second pick on Day 1. The kid can flat-out fly with the puck through the neutral zone. He isn’t receiving the recognition he deserves because of the league he plays in and his size, but he’s like a water bug shifting through defenders with the puck. Martin St. Louis has proven he can help out smaller forwards like Cole Caufield, and he should be able to do it again with Mesar.
27. San Jose Sharks: Filip Bysetdt, C, Linköping HC J20 (J20 Nationell)
Grade: C-
I had Filip Bystedt as a fringe first-round candidate, but I’m still surprised the Sharks went with him at No. 27. He’s a big center who plays a reliable, steady game down the middle. He’s got some offensive flair to him as well, so Bystedt will contribute in all three zones. I would have preferred to see the Sharks go with a defenseman with a couple high-quality ones still on the board.
28. Buffalo Sabres: Jiri Kulich, C, HC Energie Karlovy Vary (Czech Extraliga)
Grade: A-
The Sabres triple down in the first round by taking another skilled center in Jiri Kulich. Kulich has a knack for getting himself into open areas to make a quick pass or shoot when he’s in the offensive zone. His speed makes him dangerous with or without the puck. He doesn’t shy away from attacking the opposition 1 on 1. While I don’t love taking three players at the same position, Kulich can play wing so Buffalo can get creative with how they use him.
29. Arizona Coyotes: Maveric Lamoureaux, D, Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
Grade: D+
The Coyotes take a defenseman with their third pick in the first round with the selection of Maveric Lamoureux. His size is the biggest draw, as he stands at 6-7. Despite his height, Lamoureux is actually a pretty good skater and handles the puck fairly well. This is certainly a pick that is going to be a work in progress, and while I think Lamoureux can be a fine defender, his size is the only thing that screams “first-round.” Arizona certainly can afford to take a risk after having two other picks earlier in the night, but I don’t like reaching for Lamoureux here.
30. Winnipeg Jets: Brad Lambert, LW, Pelicans (Liiga)
Grade: A-
It was expected Brad Lambert was going to fall in the first round and that’s exactly what happened. However, the Jets take advantage and select him at No. 30. There’s no denying the talent. When watching him play, he’s fast and slick and looks like a constant threat on offense. But the numbers weren’t there this past season and there have been questions about his attitude. I think the Jets might have gotten the steal of the draft with their second selection — that’s if Lambert can prove this past year was a fluke.
31. Tampa Bay Lightning: Isaac Howard, LW, USA U18 (NTDP)
Grade: A
In all honesty, I was shocked seeing this pick simply because I did not realize no one had picked Isaac Howard yet. He is an offensive weapon with a lethal shot and a knack for finding a way into prime scoring areas. He has progressed to being more of a playmaker as well, showing an ability to find open teammates through tough passing lanes. Howard’s defense is rounding out, but his skill is off the charts. It’s a great addition for a Lightning team that is need of high-caliber prospects.
32. Edmonton Oilers: Reid Schaefer, LW, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
Grade: C
With the final pick of the first round, the Oilers reach a bit and take Reid Schaefer. His stock rose up like his teammate Kevin Korchinski thanks to Seattle’s success in the WHL playoffs, but I didn’t expect him to go Day 1. Schaefer is known as a scorer, and given his size, shapes up to be a power forward. He also has some playmaking ability in him as well. He’s a decent pick for the Oilers, but a slightly underwhelming one to end Round 1.
NHL Draft picks 2022: Live results from Rounds 1-7
Below, you’ll find the complete selections from all seven rounds of the draft.
Round 1 results
Round Pick Overall Team Pick
1 1 1 Montreal Canadiens Juraj Slafkovsky, LW, TPS (Liiga)
1 2 2 New Jersey Devils Simon Nemec, D, Nitra (Slovak Extraliga)
1 3 3 Arizona Coyotes Logan Cooley, C, USA U18 (NTDP)
1 4 4 Seattle Kraken Shane Wright, C, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
1 5 5 Philadelphia Flyers Cutter Gauthier, LW, USA U18 (NTDP)
1 6 6 Columbus Blue Jackets (from Blackhawks) David Jiricek, D, Plzen (Czech Extraliga)
1 7 7 Chicago Blackhawks (from Senators) Kevin Korchinski, D, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
1 8 8 Detroit Red Wings Marco Kasper, C, Rögle (SHL)
1 9 9 Buffalo Sabres Matthew Savoie, C, Winnipeg Ice (WHL)
1 10 10 Anaheim Ducks Pavel Mintyukov, D, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
1 11 11 Arizona Coyotes (from Sharks) Conor Geekie, C, Winnipeg Ice (WHL)
1 12 12 Columbus Blue Jackets Denton Mateychuk, D, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
1 13 13 Chicago Blackhawks (from Islanders via Canadiens) Frank Nazar, C, USA U18 (NTDP)
1 14 14 Winnipeg Jets Rutger McGroarty, C, USA U18 (NTDP)
1 15 15 Vancouver Canucks Jonathan Lekkerimäki, RW, Djurgårdens IF 20 (J20 Nationell)
1 16 16 Buffalo Sabres (from Golden Knights) Noah Östlund, C, Djurgårdens IF J20 (J20 Nationell)
1 17 17 Nashville Predators Joakim Kemell, RW, JYP (Liiga)
1 18 18 Dallas Stars Lian Bichsel, D, Leksands IF (SHL)
1 19 19 Minnesota Wild (from Kings) Liam Öhgren, LW, Djurgårdens IF J20 (J20 Nationell)
1 20 20 Washington Capitals Ivan Miroshnichenko, C, Omsk Krylia (VHL)
1 21 21 Pittsburgh Penguins Owen Pickering, D, Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
1 22 22 Anaheim Ducks (from Bruins) Nathan Gaucher, C, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
1 23 23 St. Louis Blues Jimmy Snuggerud, RW, USA U18 (NTDP)
1 24 24 Minnesota Wild Danila Yurov, RW, Magnitogorsk (KHL)
1 25 25 Chicago Blackhawks (from Maple Leafs) Sam Rinzel, D, Chaska High (USHS), 6-3, 180
1 26 26 Montreal Canadiens (from Flames) Filip Mesar, RW, Poprad (Slovak Extraliga)
1 27 27 San Jose Sharks (from Hurricanes via Canadiens, Coyotes) Filip Bysetdt, C, Linköping HC J20 (J20 Nationell)
1 28 28 Buffalo Sabres (from Panthers) Jiri Kulich, C, HC Energie Karlovy Vary (Czech Extraliga)
1 29 29 Arizona Coyotes (from Oilers) Maveric Lamoureaux, D, Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
1 30 30 Winnipeg Jets (from Rangers) Brad Lambert, LW, Pelicans (Liiga)
1 31 31 Tampa Bay Lightning Isaac Howard, LW, USA U18 (NTDP)
1 32 32 Edmonton Oilers (from Avalanche via Coyotes) Reid Schaefer, LW, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)