2022 NHL Mock Draft: Predicting Every 1st-Round Pick
2022 NHL Mock Draft: Predicting Every 1st-Round Pick
Matt MacKay predicts every 1st-round draft pick this week in the upcoming 2022 NHL Draft. The draft will be held live in Montreal July 7-8, so let's dive in ahead of time and look at every team's potential top prospect.
Looking for the best sportsbook offers? Check out the free bets page
1. CANADIENS: SHANE WRIGHT, C, KINGSTON-OHL
Touted by many scouts as the most complete two-way player in the draft, Shane Wright will add immediate value to a Montreal Canadiens' team starved for scoring production.
2. DEVILS: JURAJ SLAFKOVSKY, LW, TPS (FIN)
Juraj Slafkovsky will be a welcome sight in New Jersey, using his 6-4, 218-pound frame to score goals and check opponents in the defensive zone. He scored seven goals for Slovakia during the recent summer Olympics and has experience playing in the top professional league in Finland.
3. COYOTES: LOGAN COOLEY, C, USA U-18 (NTDP)
A smaller prospect, Logan Cooley is an elite offensive player who offers speed and the ability to finish at the goal. This youngster will spend time at the University of Minnesota for a season, but his future is bright.
4. KRAKEN: SIMON NEMEC, D, NITRA (SVK)
Seattle had a disappointing inaugural season after a lot of hype heading into it, but they could salvage their 2022-23 season by drafting top defenseman Simon Nemec. Nemec is an elite distributor who can score when skating in the offensive zone, strengthening the rest of the Kraken defense.
5. FLYERS: DAVID JIRICEK, D, PLZEN (CZE)
David Jiricek is another high-skill, high-motor defenseman who will immediately contribute to the Philadelphia Flyers' porous defense that exposed their goaltending. Jiricek is coming off a knee injury, but he played well during his final season with Plzen in the Czech Republic's top league.
6. BLUE JACKETS: CUTTER GAUTHIER, C/LW, USA U-18 (NTDP)
Columbus jumps up the draft board via trade with Chicago to acquire Cutter Gauthier. He scored 65 points, including 34 goals, for the US National Team Development Program (NTDP) and continued producing points for the United States during the World U-18s. Gauthier will bolster the offensive firepower for the Blue Jackets while adding more youth to its roster.
Bet $5, Get $100 Guaranteed When Betting on the NHL Playoffs
7. SENATORS: MATTHEW SAVOIE, C, WINNIPEG (WHL)
The small, 5-9 175-pound frame of Matthew Savoie will make a sizable impression upon arrival in Ottawa. His 90 points scored across 65 games in the Western Hockey League include 35 goals and a high success rate on the powerplay.
8. RED WINGS: JOAKIM KEMELL, RW, JYP (FIN)
Detroit will address their lack of depth at right wing behind Lucas Raymond and target Joakim Kemell. His slight frame betrays his speed and ability to bury goals, which he did 15 times in 39 games while competing in Finland's top league.
9. SABRES: FRANK NAZAR, C, USA U-18 (NTDP)
Despite an upcoming year spent at the University of Michigan, Frank Nazar will fill a massive void at center for the Buffalo Sabres in 2023. Nazar is physical and has excellent spatial awareness to pair his soft touch around the goal.
10. DUCKS: PAVEL MINTYUKOV, D, SAGINAW (OHL)
Not often do elite skaters and scorers wind up playing defense. Yet, this is precisely the case for Pavel Mintyukov. He racked up 62 points (17 goals) across 67 games for Saginaw and has a lot to offer as a mobile, big-bodied defenseman.
11. SHARKS: DANILA YUROV, RW, MAGNITOGORSK (RUS)
It's not nearly as exciting to draft a prospect like Danila Yurov compared to the other projected top-ten prospects. Despite being a project, Yurov averaged 1.57 points in 23 games competing in Russia's junior league. The long-term payoff could be huge.
12. BLUE JACKETS: LIAN BISCHEL, D, LEKSANDS (SHL)
After addressing their offense, Columbus uses its second draft pick inside the top 12 to acquire defenseman Lian Bischel. His size, strength, and mobility make Bischel an exciting prospect who can manufacture his offense in a pinch.
13. ISLANDERS: MARCO KASPER, C, ROGLE (SWE)
The New York Islanders will add a winning pedigree to their roster with the selection of center Marco Kasper. He scored three goals and three assists across 13 playoff games en route to a Champions Hockey League victory in March.
14. JETS: CONOR GEEKIE, C, WINNIPEG (WHL)
The Jets will tap into their local talent and draft center Conor Geekie. He's a tall 6-3, 196 pounds, and can rejuvenate a sluggish offense behind Winnipeg's top line.
15. CANUCKS: RYAN CHESLEY, D, USA U-18 (NTDP)
More talent is incoming from the US NTDP. Ryan Chesley will head north across the border to join the Vancouver Canucks after completing a year at the University of Minnesota in 2022-23. Chesley has the dual ability to be an enforcer while also using his speed to position himself for success in the offensive zone.
16. SABRES: BRAD LAMBERT, RW, PELICANS LIIGA (FIN)
Buffalo will load up on offense, and Brad Lambert offers a high-ceiling outlook for them to invest. Lambert blends a unique combination of stick handles and speed to navigate around opposing defenders with ease.
17. PREDATORS: OWEN PICKERING, D, SWIFT CURRENT (WHL)
Nashville still rosters Roman Josi, the top-scoring defenseman in the league. However, Owen Pickering is an excellent investment for the franchise's future. The 6-4, 178-pound defenseman scored nine goals and 24 assists across 62 games during a solid season with the talent-starved Swift Current of the WHL.
18. STARS: LANE HUTSON, D, USA U-18 (NTDP)
Lane Hutson nearly set a record with his point total (63) for the USA NTDP team in 2022, scoring ten goals and dishing 53 assists to record the second-highest point total across 60 games by any defensemen in the NTDP since Cam York back in 2018. Hutson's weight is under 150 pounds, but his elite talent should outweigh the physical concerns.
Looking for the best sportsbook offers? Check out the free bets page
19. KINGS: JIMMY SNUGGERUD, RW, USA U-18 (NTDP)
Jimmy Snuggerud scored frequent powerplay goals and emerged as one of the top-performing prospects during the 2022 All-American Game. The Kings need to add youthful scoring to their aging roster, making Snuggerud the perfect fit.
20. CAPITALS: OWEN BECK, C, MISSISSAUGA (OHL)
Washington will add a sturdy two-way player by drafting center Owen Beck out of the OHL. Beck tied fifth for rookies in the OHL in 2021-22 with 51 points, including 21 goals, across 68 games. He's also among the best in face-off win percentage, an underrated metric that will help Washington keep possession in critical junctures of the game.
Bet $5, Get $100 Guaranteed When Betting on the NHL Playoffs
21. PENGUINS: RUTGER MCGROARTY, LW, USA U-18 (NTDP)
Pittsburgh still has star talent, but they're aging fast. The antidote? Draft the top goal-scorer out of the NTDP, Rutger McGroarty, who buried 35 goals in 54 games last season. He's also known to possess strong leadership traits, which is always an intangible trait that teams desire.
22. DUCKS: JIRI KULICH, LW/C, KARLOVY VARY (CZE)
Jiri Kurlich offers Anaheim the ability to set different attack lines. Kurlich has the skill, experience, and versatility to step into a contributing role during his first year with the Ducks.
23. BLUES: SEAMUS CASEY, D, USA U-18 (NTDP)
Another undersized defenseman, Seamus Casey, has elite skating and vision, which will create plenty of scoring opportunities for the Blues' defense in 2022. Casey is deceptively strong and can hold his own, making him an asset on a roster in win-now mode.
24. WILD: DENTON MATEYCHUK, D, MOOSE JAW (WHL)
Minnesota will add another defenseman to its roster, but Denton Mateychuk is a play-maker with a high upside. He will fall on draft night due to his smaller size, but Mateychuk should pair nicely with Jared Spurgeon or Mathew Dumba.
25. MAPLE LEAFS: MATTIAS HAVELID, D, LINKOPING JR. (SWE)
Toronto needs tougher defensemen to pair with their high-octane offense. However, Mattias Havelid offers a steady dose of offense while protecting the defensive zone, generating 12 points (four goals, eight assists) to rank second in total points to help Sweden win the U-18 tournament.
26. CANADIENS: TRISTAN LUNEAU, D, GATINEAU (QMJHL)
A big run on defense happens in the latter half of the 2022 draft, as Montreal takes defenseman Tristan Luneau. After being named defensive rookie of the year back in 2020-21, Luneau scored double-digit goals (12) and chipped in over 30 assists for his former team, Gatineau, which will come in handy elevating Montreal's scoring output in 2022.
27. COYOTES: TY NELSON, D, NORTH BAY (OHL)
Arizona will use their second of three first-round picks on defenseman Ty Nelson. He's not the most prone goal-scoring defenseman amongst this crop of draft prospects, but Nelson makes up for it with an elite ability to seal off counter-attacks via top-tier transitioning skills.
28. SABRES: LUCA DEL BEL BELLUZ, C, MISSISSAUGA (OHL)
Adding scorers is never a bad investment. Luca Del Bel Bulliz has an innate vision and understanding of the game, which will allow him to be a secondary contributor during his first season with the Sabres.
29. OILERS: JAGGER FIRKUS, RW, MOOSE JAW (WHL)
Outside of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton needs a surplus of offensive firepower on their lower lines. Insert Jagger Firkus. Scouts rave over his quick, accurate shots on goal, which manifested into 36 goals and 44 assists for the Moose Jaw this past season. Firkus' 5-10, 153-pound frame could result in him dropping to Edmonton at the bottom of the first round.
30. JETS: JULIAN LUTZ, LW, MUNCHEN (DEL)
Julian Lutz was a late-bloomer during his tenure with Munchen last season. However, his size and stick handling in the offensive zone will be an asset for the Jets in 2022.
31. LIGHTNING: ISAAC HOWARD, LW, US U-18 (NTDP)
While Tampa is currently climbing out of a deficit in the NHL Stanley Cup Finals, adding a talented scorer to their depth chart will continue their dynasty. Howard has a more petite build, which allows him to fall right into the Lightning's hands.
32. COYOTES: LIAM OHGREN, LW, DJURGARDEN JR. (SWE)
Arizona wraps up the first round with a huge value pick in Liam Ohgren. He's a grinder with a high motor, scoring 33 goals and 25 assists across 30 games for the junior league in Sweden. This will revolutionize Arizona's inept offense with a burst of speed and scoring from Ohgren.
Looking for the best sportsbook offers? Check out the free bets page
Matt is an avid writer, editor, and researcher. He enjoys analyzing the game within the game which is fantasy sports and sports betting. Music is another constant in his daily life. Matt loves spending time with his wife and three pets. He likes to read, listen to podcasts, and is constantly motivated to create the most accurate and engaging content in the sports betting industry.