It’s here!  It’s time!  The NHL season is in full swing and for the first time since February 2020, the majority of leagues in the world have returned at least to a form of normalcy. Leagues like the OHL that cancelled all of last season are playing normal schedules again and finally scouts can have a solid look at different prospects

Here are a few observations regarding this draft class as the season begins.

  1. There is an undisputed #1 prospect:  Shane Wright. Some have referred to him as a generational talent. That might be a bit of a stretch, but he is certainly an elite prospect. Wright missed all of last season due to the OHL season being cancelled, but he tore up the Under-18’s and showed why he is a much coveted prospect. It’s unlikely Wright will receive much competition for the number one slot.

  2. The draft appears to be forward heavy early on. Most preliminary lists have only forwards in the top 10. This could change as the season progresses. It’s unlikely the 2022 draft will take place without at least one defenseman taken in the top 10, but we could see most consensus lists missing a defender in the top 10 prospects.

Without further ado, here is my preliminary top 32 prospects for the 2022 NHL Draft

Rank Position and Name Height and Weight Team and League
1. C Shane Wright 6’1 188 Kingston (OHL)
2. C Matthew Savoie 5’9 180 Winnipeg (WHL)
3. C Brad Lambert 6’0 180 JYP (FIN)
4. W Joakim Kimmel 5’11 180 JYP (FIN)
5. W Ivan Miroshnichenko 6’1 185 MHL (Russia)
6. C Connar Geekie 6’4 205 Winnipeg (WHL)
7. C Logan Cooley 5’10 174 US NTDP (USHL)
8. W Juraj Slafkovsky 6’4 225 TPS (FIN)
9. D Simon Nemec 6’1 192 HK Nitra (SLO)
10. W Danila Yurov 6’1 172 Magnitogorsk (KHL)
11. D David Jiricek 6’4 176 HC Plzn (CZE)
12. D Ryan Chesney 6’0 194 US NTDP (USHL)
13. D Dante Mateychuk 5’11 192 Moose Jaw (WHL)
14. W I. Howard 5’10 183 US NTDP (USHL)
15. C Jack Hughes 6’0 165 Northeastern (NCAA)
16. C/W Jonathan Lekkerimaki  5’11 172 Djurgardens (SWE)
17. D Elias Salomonsson 6’1 161 Skelleftea (SWE)
18. W Antonin Verreault 5’8 165 Gatineau (QMJHL)
19. C/W Danny Zhilkin 6’2 183 Guelph (OHL)
20. C Ryan McGroartney 6’0 205 US NTDP (USHL)
21. C Matthew Poitras  5’11 170 Guelph (OHL)
22. C/W Nathan Gaucher 6’3 207 Quebec (QMJHL)
23. C/W Frank Nazar 5’10 174 US NTDP (USHL)
24. C Owen Beck 6’0 190 Mississauga (OHL)
25. D Tristan Luneua 6’2 174 Gatineau (QMJHL)
26. W Liam Ohgren 6’0 190 Djurgardens (SWE)
27. W Marco Kasper 5’10 176 Rogle (SWE)
28. D Seamus Casey 5’10 162 US NTDP (USHL)
29. D Ty Nelson 5’8 172 North Bay (OHL)
30. D Lane Hutson 5’8 150 US NDTP (USHL)
31. D Mattias Havelid 5’10 172 Linkoping (SWE)
32. C/W Noah Ostlund 5’10 160 Djurgardens (SWE)

 

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