Well, a lot has happened since we last dropped our prospect rankings. Things have taken a turn for the better here in Sabreland after the franchise finished the year on a hot streak which has given us all a lot of hope. Now, we’re headed into the offseason with a much different feeling than years past, and the team doesn’t have to frantically search for a player that can be a future franchise cornerstone. The Sabres can now focus on draft picks that will be great support players for the foundational pieces already in place.
Luckily, this year’s draft class is full of players who would be a great supporting cast on contending teams. Outside of the top few picks, there is not a lot of separation between players throughout the middle of the first round, and the players likely to go in the second round aren’t far behind them. The Sabres have three first-round picks to grab as many of those players as possible, and this draft should help them build a strong organizational base that can help them jump to contender status in the coming years. Let’s take a look at the top 32 players (plus some honorable mentions) in this draft class.
#1: Shane Wright, C, Kingston (OHL)
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 199 lbs
Stats:
-OHL: 63 GP, 32 G - 62 A - 94 P (Regular); 11 GP, 3 G - 11 A - 14 P (Playoffs)
-WJC: 2 GP, 0 G - 1 A - 1 P
Even though he’s the “consensus” number one pick in this draft, Shane Wright appears to be a microcosm for most players in this draft class - he started the year slow due to COVID throwing off his previous season, caught fire at the end, and ultimately left most scouts questioning what his true ceiling is. Is Wright going to be the top-end first-line center that everyone thought he’d be when he was granted exceptional status into the OHL and started challenging Connor McDavid’s scoring records? Or is he just going to be a solid two-way second-line center who needs a lot of talent surrounding him to maximize his scoring potential? The answer will remain to be seen for a few years, but Wright has regained his form and showed enough skills to indicate the answer is closer to the former.
His slow start can be chalked up to not playing last season (the OHL shut down entirely) and being tasked with carrying younger linemates early in the year. After shaking the cobwebs, Wright proved how effective he can truly be as a do-it-all center. Shooting? Check. Passing? Check. Defense? Check. Hockey IQ? Mega-check. Wright’s biggest drawback is that he’s not exactly a world-class skater, but it’s far from a weakness. Besides, Wright is so smart that he’s almost always in the right spot and making the right play anyway, so he already understands how to play to his strengths. He isn’t the type of highlight reel machine you might expect out of a player who’s drafted first overall, but he certainly knows how to thread quality plays together and facilitate dangerous chances, even if it isn’t flashy. Should Wright hit his full potential, he could become a Patrice Bergeron-type player, though it will be a tall order to be as dominant as Bergeron has been on both sides of the puck for as long as he has. Assuming Montreal selects Wright at pick number one (which they should), they should be set down the middle for years to come with him and Nick Suzuki.
#2: Simon Nemec, D, Nitra (Tipos Extraliga)
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 192 lbs
Stats:
-Tipos Extraliga: 39 GP, 1 G - 25 A - 26 P (Regular); 19 GP, 5 G - 12 A - 17 P (Playoffs)
-World U18: 1 GP, 0 G - 2 A - 2 P
-WJC: 2 GP, 0 G - 1 A - 1 P
-Olympics: 7 GP, 0 G - 1 A - 1 P
-World Championships: 7 GP, 1 G - 5 A - 6 P
Any of the next six or so players are a worthy candidate for the second overall pick, but Simon Nemec has made the best case possible for being the first of them off the board.
Nemec played a lot of hockey this year, from his league play at home in Slovakia to representing his country in various international tournaments, but at each step he’s proved he can play with the best players in the world. Nemec had one of the best scoring seasons by a draft-eligible defender in European pro league history, then upped his game in the playoffs by having the best scoring postseason by any defender in Tipos Extraliga history - regardless of age. His game is driven by his smarts more so than sheer athletic ability, which likens him to Adam Fox in some ways. Nemec is great at moving the puck up the ice and within the offensive zone, and his willingness to jump into the play has increased as he’s gotten used to playing at the next level. Nemec’s defense has also steadily improved; where it was a weakness for him as late as this season, it is now becoming a strength. While his game is predicated on smarts and positional awareness, Nemec is still physically capable enough that his game should translate to higher quality pro leagues in North America. Whoever drafts Nemec will have found a foundational piece for their defense core for the next decade.
#3: Logan Cooley, C, USNTDP (USHL)
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 174 lbs
Stats:
-USDP: 51 GP, 27 G - 48 A - 75 P
-USHL: 24 GP, 13 G - 23 A - 36 P
-WJC: 1 GP, 0 G - 1 A - 1 P
-U18: 6 GP, 3 G - 7 A - 10 P
This year’s US National Development program has a boatload of talented players that have had a lot of hype surrounding them for years. There were plenty of names vying to be the top dog on the team, but when the team was formed, no one would have guessed Logan Cooley to be among them. Fast forward two years and Cooley has taken over the top spot on the team, and was subsequently the only skater from the USNTDP to make this year’s World Junior team for Team USA. With his rise up the ranks of The Program, the inevitable rise up draft boards has finally followed. Cooley is a well-rounded center that can beat you in a variety of ways. He has a good deal of speed, great passing and vision, a sneaky accurate shot, as well as some defensive ability (although he sometimes gets lost with his positioning). He is extremely creative with the puck, and while sometimes he tries to do too much, he makes many jaw-dropping dangles and passes that the average player wouldn’t even think of making. Cooley shows all the signs of being a top-six center in the NHL, with possible first-line upside. He plays a somewhat similar game to Clayton Keller, who very well could be a future teammate of his in Arizona. Cooley is committed to playing for the University of Minnesota next year, where he’ll likely compete for a national championship for one season and then sign in the NHL. While many slept on him until this year, Cooley has now made himself all but a lock for a top-five pick.
#4: Juraj Slafkovsky, C/LW, TPS (Liiga)
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 225 lbs
Stats:
-U20 SM Sarja: 11 GP, 6 G - 12 A - 18 P
-Liiga: 31 GP, 5 G - 5 A - 10 P
-WJC: 2 GP, 0 P
-Olympics: 7 GP, 7 G - 0 A - 7 P
-World Championships: 7 GP, 3 G - 6 A - 9 P
It’s rare that any nation other than Canada or the United States produces two surefire top five picks in the same draft, especially for a nation as small as Slovakia. However, Juraj Slafkovsky has done everything in his power to ensure that would be the case this year. Slafkovsky started the year in Finland's junior leagues, but he dominated to the point where it was absurd to leave him down there, and thus earned a callup to TPS’s Liiga club. He struggled to produce at first, but once he got his feet wet he was able to produce at a pretty respectable rate for a U18 player in a pro league. Where Slafkovsky truly shined this year was at international tournaments. While the World Juniors was a bit of a struggle, he burst onto the scene at the Olympics, setting a goal record for U18 players. He continued his dominance at the World Championships at the end of the season, and displayed how he improved over the course of the season. Slafkovsky has a rare blend of size and skill that entices many scouts into comparing him to Mikko Rantanen. He knows how to use his size in puck and board battles, he has smooth hands, and he has surprising speed for someone as big as he is. Slafkovsky is still a fairly raw prospect, but he has shown improvements in his skating stride and offensive decision-making in order that will help him fully utilize his talent. He still has lots of tools and a solid enough track record to warrant a top five selection at this point, and while the first overall hype may be a bit much.
#5: Matt Savoie, C/RW, Winnipeg (WHL)
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 179 lbs
Stats:
-WHL: 65 GP, 35 G - 55 A - 90 P (Regular); 10 GP, 6 G - 6 A - 12 P (Playoffs)
Matt Savoie has been regarded as a top prospect in this draft class for years now, and it’s easy to see why. Savoie is a pure offensive force that can run up the scoresheet at will in a variety of methods. He led a stacked Winnipeg Ice team in scoring, driving their dominant power play, and was a big reason why the club went on a deep playoff run. When he got injured during the playoffs, it exposed how much the team truly depended on him, as they were eliminated shortly after. Savoie has an arsenal of tools that include dynamic and agile skating, a powerful and accurate snap shot, and superb vision to create passing lanes that lead to dangerous shots for himself or his teammates. These skills should make him a power play asset in the NHL at worst, and at best he can become a high-scoring top-six forward in the show. Savoie is a smaller player, which may force him to become a full-time winger as he moves up to higher levels of hockey, but don’t mistake this as an indication he has no physical game. His tenacity makes him a great forechecker and he’s sneakily good at stealing pucks on the backcheck. While his defensive zone positioning still needs work, the same can be said for most draft-eligible forwards, so it’s not too much of a concern. However, Savoie does need to be a bit more selective with his passes, as he does have a tendency to force passes that have a small probability of being completed. Overall, if Savoie develops into a Matt Duchene-type player like he can be reasonably expected to, I think a top-five selection is definitely worth using on him.
#6: Frank Nazar, C/RW, USNTDP (USHL)
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 174 lbs
Stats:
-USDP: 56 GP, 28 G - 42 A - 70 P
-USHL: 24 GP, 15 G - 20 A - 35 P
-U18: 6 GP, 3 G - 6 A - 9 P
A lot of the scouting attention on the USNTDP this year has gone towards Logan Cooley, and their second-line center, Frank Nazar, has flown a bit under the radar as a result. Make no mistake though - the gap between the two players is a lot closer than some may realize.
Nazar was producing at a decent rate to start the year, but it wasn’t indicative of a top-five pick. Then, he exploded in the second half of the season, and by the end of the year, he had almost caught Cooley in total points. However, advanced stats show that Nazar produced quality shots for both himself and his teammates at an elite rate (with totals that ranked among the very best draft prospects in the past five years), indicating that he was just having issues with finishing plays to start the year. The eye test backs this up, as Nazar is an electric skater and playmaker that consistently drives play in the offensive zone. He is extremely creative and is always trying to find the best lane to skate or pass into in order to get the best shot possible. This does lead to some over-handling and turnovers, but more often than not a play that started on Nazar’s stick resulted in a quality scoring chance. Nazar also has a high compete level and is always hounding the puck on the forecheck, which is an underrated part of his game. Like many smaller forwards, Nazar will need to bulk up a bit before he makes the NHL, and his defensive game needs work as well. The forward almost has some Brayden Point-type qualities in the way he moves the puck and how he can be an effective forechecker while being undersized. He’s currently committed to the University of Michigan for next year, and he’ll be playing with some of the other top prospects affiliated with an NHL team. Some scouts think Nazar should be a top five pick, while others wouldn’t consider him until the second half of the first round, so it will be interesting to see where he ends up. Ultimately, I side more with the former, so any team who can snag Nazar (should he slide) will be a big winner of the draft in my opinion.
#7: David Jiricek, D, Plzen (Czech Extraliga)
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 190 lbs
Stats:
-Czech Extraliga: 29 GP, 5 G - 6 A - 11 P
-WJC: 1 GP, 0 G - 1 A - 1 P
-World Championships: 5 GP, 1 G - 1 A - 2 P
It’s pretty rare that the top two defensemen in a draft class are from smaller European nations, but David Jiricek of Czechia has made that situation unavoidable this year. Jiricek’s game is not as refined as someone like Simon Nemec, but he has a ton of abilities in his toolbox that indicate a higher upside. He’s a solid skater, but more agile than fast, and his offense is more generated through his powerful shot than his vision and passing ability.
Jiricek has an aggressive play style that sometimes works in his favor, but sometimes gets him into penalty trouble. He also has some good defensive instincts, but hasn’t figured out how to consistently use them yet. However, he has enough great pieces to his game, such as his shot and rush defending ability, that suggest Jiricek can become a very good all-around defenseman at the NHL level. Jiricek suffered a significant knee injury at the World Juniors that kept him out for a few months, and when he returned for the World Championships at the end of the season, his skating indicated that he was not back to 100%. Hopefully, this injury doesn’t hamper his development too much, and Jiricek can reach his high potential. If everything with Jiricek’s injury rehab and skill development goes right, he could become a similar sort of player to Drew Doughty, which would be a huge get for whoever drafts him.
#8: Brad Lambert, C/RW, Pelicans (Liiga)
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 179 lbs
Stats:
-Liiga: 49 GP, 4 G - 6 A - 10 P (Regular); 3 GP, 0 P
-WJC: 2 GP, 1 G - 4 A - 5 P
Brad Lambert is becoming the number one wild card of the 2022 NHL Draft. At the beginning of the year, he was regarded as the number two prospect in this draft class, but now some have dropped him to the late first round in their rankings. His point totals are much lower than expected for a player with this hype, with some scouts still having faith in his abilities and believing the low scoring is mostly due to luck, while others think his effort is inconsistent and is mostly responsible for his results thus far. A deeper look at advanced metrics indicates that Lambert and his teammates that receive passes from him should all have more goals than they currently have. This was true for both the start of the year when Lambert was still at JYP, and for the second half of the season when he transferred to Pelicans. In just two games at the World Juniors, Lambert found his finishing touch and had five points. The forward is still an electrifying skater and playmaker, and that talent level combined with the advanced metrics is why he’s still this high in our rankings. Lambert does have some similar tendencies to Matt Barzal, which is extremely interesting to note since his uncle Lane was just named the Islanders’ head coach. He could still use some work with his strength in shooting and in puck battles, but all in all, he’s still a great prospect who will make teams who let him slip pay.
#9: Joakim Kemell, RW, JYP (Liiga)
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 176 lbs
Stats:
-Liiga: 39 GP, 15 G - 8 A - 23 P
-World U18: 5 GP, 6 G - 2 A - 8 P
-WJC: 2 GP, 0 P
-U18: 5 GP, 6 G - 2 A - 8 P
Joakim Kemell has certainly endured a tale of two seasons, and the scouting community’s opinion of him has changed drastically as well. Kemell started the season on a tear and was outpacing some of the best scoring seasons from draft-eligible players in Liiga history. However, Kemell got injured in October, and when he returned he endured a lengthy scoring slump. Ultimately, neither of these stretches completely capture Kemell’s quality as a player. His hot streak was influenced pretty heavily by luck, while his subsequent cold streak was clearly influenced by his recent injury. Kemell is pretty easily categorized as a shoot-first winger, and his release is among the best in this draft class. He is very good at finding open areas of the ice to set up and open a passing line so he can get a clean shot off. However, Kemell often had trouble getting to high-danger areas of the ice with the puck, which he will definitely need to improve on as he comes over to North America. Many of his shots come from the perimeter of the ice, and those types of shots are not going to beat NHL goalies the way they can in Liiga. Kemell shows glimpses of an “attack-the-middle” mentality, some decent transition skills, and an underrated defensive game, but he appears to be further behind in his development as a scorer than his stats indicate. While I have him ranked ninth in these rankings, I’m not sure if I’d select him if I were the Sabres - his skill set is pretty similar to guys like Quinn and Olofsson. However, with a more careful approach to his development Kemell could certainly become a top six scoring winger for whoever drafts him.
#10: Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW, Djurgardens (SHL)
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 172 lbs
Stats:
-J20 Nationell: 26 GP, 20 G - 15 A - 35 P
-SHL: 26 GP, 7 G - 2 A - 9 P
-U18: 6 GP, 5 G - 10 A - 15 P
One of the newest members of the discussion for a top ten pick, Jonathan Lekkerimaki burst onto the scene with some good international tournaments, and proved over the course of the year (and with his dominant performance at the U18 World Championships) that he is deserving of a top selection in this year’s draft.
Throughout the year, he and linemates Liam Ohgren and Noah Ostlund (more on them later) tore up the Swedish junior circuit and whatever international tournament they went to. When they each got stints in the Swedish pro league, Lekkerimaki was the one who showed the most promise. He is a natural offensive talent that can beat you in various ways, although he is a goal scorer by trade. Lekkerimaki’s shooting skill is perhaps the best in the class, as his natural ability to pick a corner and hit it with precision and power is rivaled only by players like Kemell. He has some solid skating, playmaking, and passing skill to boot, which again would make him a similar player to Quinn and Olofsson in the Sabres’ system. However, he does share Kemell’s downsides as well, as he has a tendency to stick to the perimeter and not attack the middle as much as you’d like. His defensive game is almost nonexistent at this point as well. Lekkerimaki has a late birthday for the draft class, which may indicate he has more room to grow than most other prospects in this class. He’d be a project pick, but he ultimately has the potential to be the best pure goal scorer to come out of this draft class.
#11: Cutter Gauthier, C/LW, USNTDP (USHL)
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 194 lbs
Stats:
-USDP: 54 GP, 34 G - 31 A - 65 P
-USHL: 22 GP, 19 G - 9 A - 28 P
-U18: 6 GP, 3 G - 6 A - 9 P
It can be hard to differentiate yourself as a player when you’re on a team as stacked as the US National Development Program, but Cutter Gauthier has managed to do just that over the course of this season. Throughout the year, Gauthier made his way onto the team’s top line and became its premier finisher, while helping the team in various other ways. His shot is his best asset and he probably has the hardest shot out of any forward in this class, with it being very accurate as well. This allows him to fly a bit under the radar as a passer and skater, which he often doesn’t get credit for being pretty good at. It also appeared that Gauthier learned how to use his size effectively, as he now shows strength as a board battler and displays his gritty side more regularly. Gauthier has followed a very similar draft year arc to Mason McTavish from last year’s draft; he is a big forward that was originally regarded as a pure sniper that should be taken in the mid-to-late first round, but rose up draft boards throughout the year as he proved he was far more than a one-dimensional player. McTavish ultimately was selected third overall by the Ducks, and while Gauthier may not be selected quite that high, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him jump into the top ten on draft day. He’s committed to Boston College for next season, but will likely be a one-and-done there and sign with whichever team drafts him after that. Gauthier is the type of player that any NHL team would love to have, and will be a leading example of the new-age power forward in the years to come.
#12: Danila Yurov, LW/RW, Magnitogorsk (KHL)
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 179 lbs
Stats:
-MHL: 23 GP, 13 G - 23 A - 36 P (Regular); 2 GP, 1 G - 0 A - 1 P (Playoffs)
-KHL: 21 GP, 0 P (Regular); 19 GP, 0 P (Playoffs)
-WJC: 2 GP, 1 G - 0 A - 1 P
Danila Yurov has solidified himself as the top Russian prospect in this year’s draft, while also becoming the poster boy for the difficulty when evaluating European prospects. After a great year in the Russian junior system last year, Yurov made his KHL team out of camp this year. However, he got stuck far down on the depth chart, averaged about two minutes of ice time per game, and could never generate enough offensive momentum to score in such little time. He was then sent down to the MHL, Russia’s junior league, and absolutely tore it up. He was clearly too good for juniors, but not good enough for the pros just yet, which wasn’t great for his overall development. It’s tough to gauge exactly where Yurov stands in his development given that he hasn’t played a ton this year, but we can evaluate his current skills, of which he has many. He is a very well-rounded winger, and while he’s not spectacular in any given area, he can skate, pass, shoot, and forecheck at a relatively high level. Being this versatile at such a young age should help Yurov acclimate well to the pro level, whenever he gets a real chance. Due to the war in Ukraine, any Russian player is a wild card heading into the draft, so it’s even harder than usual to predict where exactly Yurov will go on draft day. Talent-wise, he is a top 15 pick without a doubt, but if teams take a hesitant approach to drafting Russian players, Yurov could slide pretty far and become the steal of the draft. There are rumors that the Sabres are picking him at pick 16, and while it would be a gamble, the talent Yurov has would be smart to take a chance on.
#13: Marco Kasper, C, Rogle (SHL)
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 187 lbs
Stats:
-J20 Nationell: 12 GP, 6 G - 7 A - 13 P (Regular); 1 GP, 1 G - 2 A - 3 P (Playoffs)
-SHL: 46 GP, 7 G - 4 A - 11 P (Regular); 13 GP, 3 G - 3 A - 6 P (Playoffs)
-WJC: 2 GP, 0 P
-World Championships: 7 GP, 0 G - 2 A - 2 P
Sometimes there are players that are late risers in the draft process because of performances at international tournaments, even when they’ve been playing at a high level all year long. Marco Kasper seems to be that guy this season, as he’s now generally regarded as a top 15 pick. A native Austrian playing in Sweden for the year, he quickly proved himself at the junior level and earned a promotion to Rogle’s big league club. While he didn’t rack up gaudy point totals, Kasper proved over the course of the year that he can hang with the big dogs, and why he’s generally regarded to have one of the highest floors of any player in the draft.
Kasper isn’t the biggest player out there, but he’s extremely tenacious and has a high hockey IQ. He’s always hounding the puck, working to retrieve it, and then scanning the ice to make the right play. Kasper is a great skater as well, as he uses it not only for forechecking but to carry the puck in transition as well. He has a bit of a feisty side as well, as he showed while captaining Team Austria at the shortened World Juniors. Kasper still has to work on his strength and shooting, but overall he has shown that he should at least be a capable checking line center at the NHL level.
#14: Denton Mateychuk, D, Moose Jaw (WHL)
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 194 lbs
Stats:
-WHL: 65 GP, 13 G - 51 A - 64 P (Regular); 10 GP, 1 G - 9 A - 10 P (Playoffs)
The next three players in the rankings are all similarly skilled, left-shot defensemen that could go in any order on draft night; you could make a strong argument for any of them to be the best or worst of the group. It was a tough decision, but I ultimately decided to put Denton Mateychuk up first. Mateychuk was the leader of a young core that took his junior team from a rebuild to a playoff contender, which showed a lot about his playing ability and influence in their locker room. Mateychuk’s game is largely based around his skating, as he loves to generate and sustain his offense by using his legs and making smart reads to keep plays moving. He has good vision to find passes and is great at setting up his teammates while moving with the puck. Mateychuk defends decently enough at the junior level, but some question whether his size will limit him with that at the next level - hopefully Mateychuk can figure out how to use his great skating ability to be an effective pro defender. He is still somewhat of a physical presence as well, and while he doesn’t lay anyone out his aggressiveness helps him win some puck battles that he otherwise wouldn’t. Mateychuk is still just 17 as well, so he has a longer development track before reaching his full potential, and he has the chance to become a really good NHL defenseman.
#15: Kevin Korchinski, D, Seattle (WHL)
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 185 lbs
Stats:
-WHL: 67 GP, 4 G - 61 A - 65 P (Regular); 23 GP, 6 G - 13 A - 19 P (Playoffs)
The second player in this group of defensemen is Kevin Korchinski, and while his game is similar to Mateychuk, he goes about making plays in a slightly different way. Korchinski is not quite an aggressive skater; rather his game is predicated on hitting crazy passes. There are some passing seams he hits that leave everyone in awe at how he was able to get the puck from A to B, and he routinely terrorizes opponents with ridiculous passes in the offensive zone. It’s very hard to average an assist per game as a defenseman, but Korchinski was extremely close to doing it. However, as enticing as that skill is, Korchinski is still a very raw prospect and has a lot to work on. For starters, he does have a tendency to try and make a crazy pass every time he has the puck, and while sometimes he has the poise to wait for that opening, there are other times he makes bad giveaways as a result. His skating is solid, but he does fumble a bit under heavy pressure. Korchinski also has a lot of cleaning up to do in his defensive game, as he can be exposed in the defensive zone and needs some work on his gap control. The raw talent is there, and he had a great playoff run while Seattle went to the WHL Finals, so he’ll likely go higher than 15. If Korchinski can put it all together and clean up his game, he can be a very good NHL defenseman as well.
#16: Pavel Mintyukov, D, Saginaw (OHL)
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 192 lbs
Stats:
-OHL: 67 GP, 17 G - 45 A - 62 P
The last player in this grouping of defensemen is Pavel Mintyukov, but there is certainly a chance he could go before the other two. However, Mintyukov has a few different factors working against him that make evaluating him more difficult. First, he is a native Russian who chose to play in North America this year, which means the risk of him going back home is not as high, but he is likely still getting used to being stateside. Secondly, he played on a pretty poor team this year in Saginaw, so his lack of talented teammates may have hurt his ability to string plays together and thus limited his scoring output. Third, he is a relatively old prospect for his draft class, indicating his ceiling may not be as high relative to the other players in this prospect tier. Like Mateychuk and Korchinski, Mintyukov would be classified as an offensive defenseman. He likes to skate the puck up the ice to make plays, and while he isn’t a blazing fast straight line skater, he is pretty agile and has good hands to help him maintain possession. Mintyukov has a good shot that he uses effectively for goal scoring, but what he gains on his peers in this group in shooting, he trades it back in playmaking ability.
Mintyukov does have a physical edge that is not very common in offensive defensemen anymore, making him a bit more versatile of a player. Like most prospects, he does need some work on defensive positioning, but he does have the tools to become a decent defensive player in the pros. He might be better than Mateychuk and Korchinski, he might be worse, but I do think it's fair to expect all of them to become quality NHL players.
#17: Rutger McGroarty, C/LW, USNTDP (USHL)
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 205 lbs
Stats:
-USDP: 54 GP, 35 G - 34 A - 69 P
-USHL: 25 GP, 15 G - 18 A - 33 P
-U18: 6 GP, 8 G - 1 A - 9 P
Each draft has a designated King of Vibes, and this year’s frontrunner appears to be Rutger McGroarty. The captain of this year’s US National Development Team, McGroarty is a charismatic dude who brings a slightly different skill set to the table that brings versatility to the lineup. While many players we’ve already discussed exhibit a speed and skill game, McGroarty brings just as much skill while exchanging some speed for power. He can play center but was mostly deployed as Team USA’s top-line left winger. McGroarty possesses a great shot and good passing ability that he uses to generate offense, but his strength helps him do this more off of in-zone play rather than off the rush (though he can do both well). McGroarty has a solid presence both net-front and along the boards, which helps him win a lot of puck battles. This feeds directly into his ability to generate and score on shots both from range and in tight. The main concern with McGroarty is his skating. It isn’t a detriment compared to other junior players but it could be a problem in the NHL if he doesn’t improve upon his stride. He’s headed to the University of Michigan next year, where he’ll be playing with another star-studded cast of players. Overall, McGroarty should be a good power winger and locker room glue guy in the NHL, which is useful on any team
#18: Connor Geekie, C, Winnipeg (WHL)
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 205 lbs
Stats:
-WHL: 63 GP, 24 G - 46 A - 70 P (Regular); 15 GP, 3 G - 8 A - 11 P (Playoffs)
The biggest problem any team has to solve at the draft is how to evaluate a player while balancing what they are currently with what they could be. The leading prospect of this polarizing debate this year is Connor Geekie. Another member of the absolute wagon that is the Winnipeg Ice, Geekie is thought of as having one of the highest upsides in the draft due to his rare combination of size and skill that NHL teams tend to gush over. However, Geekie’s point totals weren’t anything special, and while part of that may be due to being stuck on the team’s second line, both the stats and the eye test tend to leave you wanting more. He has great offensive instincts and though he tends to lean on his passing ability, he has a solid shot as well. He is a pretty creative player as well, as he has the ability to make multiple highlight-reel plays. Like many other players in this draft, he has yet to figure out the balance between creativity and over-handling the puck into a turnover. However, the biggest concerns with Geekie are his speed and consistency. He isn’t the slowest skater in the world, but it is certainly not a strength and without some work could be a weakness at the pro level.
Geekie also has a tendency to disappear for a few shifts at a time (or a few games at a time) which he has to eliminate from his game, and that happened multiple times down the stretch of the season while the Ice were trying to go on a playoff run. You’d also like to see a player of Geekie’s size use his body considerably more than he does. Geekie is definitely more of a project prospect right now, but he has a great physical base to build off of, and some team will likely take a swing on his upside long before pick 18. If he develops into what some scouts think he could be, he could make me look very dumb for having him this low, but for now this ranking is a good balance between what Geekie is and what he eventually could be.
#19: Liam Ohgren, LW, Djurgardens (SHL)
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 201 lbs
Stats:
-J20 Nationell: 30 GP, 33 G - 25 A - 58 P (Regular); 6 GP, 2 G - 4 A - 6 P (Playoffs)
-SHL: 25 GP, 1 G - 1 A - 2 P
-U18: 6 GP, 3 G - 6 A - 9 P
The second member of the Djurgardens Trio on these rankings, Liam Ohgren is arguably the most well-rounded and NHL-ready of the three. Ohgren’s size and overall physical maturity are what made him a force at the junior level, averaging over a goal per game while serving as a perfect compliment to Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Noah Ostlund. He did struggle when he was promoted to the SHL, but he finished the year quite strong, captaining Team Sweden to a gold medal at the U18 World Championships.
Ohgren’s game is centered around making the smart, quality play, and he usually has the skill to pull it off. He is a great puck battler near the boards and possesses good stickhandling, good vision, and a hard shot to keep the play moving. His skating is pretty average; not elite by any means, but not a hindrance either. Ohgren is one of the easiest players in this draft to project to the NHL due to his combination of skill, smarts, and effort, and he has the potential versatility to play up and down the lineup wherever his team needs him to be. Will he be a star? Most likely not, but any team would be happy to have just a solid NHLer out of the draft, and that’s what Ohgren will likely be.
#20: Seamus Casey, D, USNTDP (USHL)
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 161 lbs
Stats:
-USDP: 48 GP, 10 G - 23 A - 33 P
-USHL: 17 GP, 3 G - 10 A - 13 P
-U18: 6 GP, 3 G - 3 A - 6 P
The USA has produced a lot of electrifying offensive defensemen over the past decade or so, and Seamus Casey looks to be the next player to join that crop. Casey is always involved in the play, and he plays a rover-like style similar to fellow Florida native Quinn Hughes. Casey’s skating and passing are what allow him to drive so much offense and what makes him such a dynamic player. He’s constantly jumping into the play, dancing and dangling around opposing players, and sending pucks to high-danger areas. Casey has mastered the toe drag release of a wrist shot, and his ability to pinch in the offensive zone and curl back to find a passing lane is remarkable to watch. Naturally, this comes at the cost of him getting caught out of position more often than most players, which he will have to fix as he makes his way to the pros. Casey could use some strength as well to help withstand forecheckers (and bigger opposing forwards in general) significantly better. He is headed to the University of Michigan next year, where he’ll have the chance to show off his offensive flair with the other skill players on their roster. Overall, Casey has loads of skill, and if he can round out his game and maximize his offensive potential, he could become a high-quality offensive defenseman in the NHL.
#21: Noah Ostlund, C, Djurgardens (SHL)
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 161 lbs
Stats:
-J20 Nationell: 32 GP, 9 G - 33 A - 42 P (Regular); 5 GP, 5 G - 2 A - 7 P (Playoffs)
-SHL: 11 GP, 0 P
-U18: 6 GP, 4 G - 6 A - 10 P
The last member of the Djurgardens Trio, Noah Ostlund may have the highest ceiling as a player, but also has the farthest to go in terms of development before he’s NHL-ready.
Ostlund’s bread and butter is his skating, and he uses that to drive play on both offense and defense. He has both speed and agility that help him weave in and out of lanes effortlessly. Ostlund is a beast in transition, whether it be through his skating or slick passing. He has good vision and hands that help him stickhandle through pressure or thread the needle on passing lines. Ostlund isn't much of a goal scorer (as he usually left that to his line-mates who were both extremely good in that area), but he’s a fantastic playmaker that can rack up assists. However, the biggest weakness for Ostlund is certainly his strength; as quick and agile as he is, he still gets knocked off the puck much more than you’d like, and it kills many plays before he can make them. If Ostlund can get to a level where he can withstand heavy pressure and work his magic, he could be an extremely exciting player to watch in the NHL as he develops.
#22: Isaac Howard, LW, USNTDP (USHL)
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 181 lbs
Stats:
-USDP: 60 GP, 33 G - 49 A - 82 P
-USHL: 27 GP, 11 G - 26 A - 37 P
-U18: 6 GP, 6 G - 5 A - 11 P
Isaac Howard is another player who is starting to become pretty divisive among scouts. They mostly all agree he is a very talented player; some just claim he leaves them wanting more from him as a player. Howard can generally be described as an offensive winger with decent speed, crafty puck skills, and a deadly shot. His most prominent skill is the ability to get to open ice and to the net to generate scoring chances. He led the NTDP in total scoring this year, which is certainly a feat considering the talent level on that team. The issues that some scouts have are with his defensive play and strength. While most forwards at this level aren’t great at those things yet, Howard’s strength level especially may limit his ability to get separation from defenders and get open to score. He’s likely a complimentary scoring winger at the NHL level, so he may be more enticing to teams picking late in the first round who have established play drivers on their team. Howard will be playing at Minnesota-Duluth next year, which has proven to be a good school for helping its players round into a pro-style game. Howard has proven he has the skill and can play with other good players, so he should develop into a good scoring winger in the NHL.
#23: Ivan Miroshnichenko, LW/RW, Omskie (VHL)
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 185 lbs
Stats:
-VHL: 31 GP, 10 G - 6 A - 16 P
-MHL: 1 GP, 0 P
Ivan Miroshnichenko is the single hardest prospect in this draft class to get a read on, both in terms of his true talent and potential and where he’ll be selected-and almost none of it is his own fault. For starters, he already has the heightened Russian factor working against him with the war in Ukraine. Miroshnichenko entered the season being hyped as a future top-five pick, but then his performance fell off early in the season, and his game lacked the intensity that many scouts adored heading into the year. Late in the season, we found out why this happened: Miroshnichenko was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the immune system. Thankfully and most importantly, Miroshnichenko has completed treatments and has been cleared to resume practicing as he continues to recover. He has a ton of skills that can help him beat you in a variety of ways. He is a big winger who skates well, has a cannon of a shot, and isn’t afraid to lay the body. He’s always focused on getting the puck to the net, which is a good thing because he is incredibly determined but can also turn into tunnel vision where he misses out on better passing options. The promising health news will certainly help Miroshnichenko’s draft stock, but he would likely still be considered a risky pick because he hasn’t quite figured out how to use all his talents effectively yet, and with the Russian factor lurking larger than ever. Hopefully, Miroshnichenko can get back to full strength and health and continue working towards maximizing his sky-high potential.
#24: Lane Hutson, D, USNTDP (USHL)
Height: 5’8”
Weight: 159 lbs
Stats:
-USDP: 60 GP, 10 G - 53 A - 63 P
-USHL: 27 GP, 6 G - 26 A - 32 P
-U18: 6 GP, 0 G - 8 A - 8 P
Lane Hutson is becoming one of the more polarizing players in this draft class, and one look at his size and stats will help you understand why. Hutson is an extremely smart and dynamic offensive defenseman who ran the US National Team’s blue line this year while scoring over a point per game, but he stands at just 5’ 8”, which brings up concerns for many scouts. It’s not uncommon to be watching the USDP and see a small player buzzing around the offensive zone, making tons of high-quality passes or shots, and assume that it’s a forward doing all this work just to realize it’s Hutson. His creativity, intelligence, and mobility on the attack are the skills that make him so enticing as a player. However, the people who doubt him do have some legitimate concerns that hold water. There are plenty of small offensive defensemen who have found success in the NHL, but there are very few that are quite this small. Hutson’s relative lack of reach will always somewhat hinder him on defense. In addition, while his edges and mobility are great, Hutson’s top-end straight line speed isn’t quite as fast as you’d want it to be for a player who needs all the skill he can get to make up for his stature. Luckily, Hutson is an extremely smart player who’s usually in a position to make up for his physical deficiencies. He also reportedly brought medical evidence to the combine that proved he should grow at least a couple more inches before he’s done growing entirely, which should give teams some more ease with drafting him. If Hutson can overcome his limitations, he can easily be the steal of this draft.
#25: Jiri Kulich, C, Karlovy Vary (Czech Extraliga)
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 172 lbs
Stats:
-Czechia U20: 2 GP, 2 G - 2 A - 4 P (Regular); 4 GP, 4 G - 1 A - 5 P (Playoffs)
-Czech Extraliga: 49 GP, 9 G - 5 A - 14 P (Regular); 3 GP, 0 G - 1 A - 1 P (Playoffs)
-U18: 6 GP, 9 G - 2 A - 11 P
One of this year’s biggest late-season risers, Jiri Kulich played his best hockey when it mattered most and ended his season on a high note. Kulich dominated the Czech junior circuit to start the year before being promoted to the Czech pro league. He didn’t quite light it up there, but he performed respectfully for an 18-year-old in a men’s league, and was generally regarded as a second-round pick by most scouts throughout much of the year.
However, Kulich’s true emergence was at the World U18 Championships, where he put up nine goals in just six games on a relatively weak team, thus earning him tournament MVP honors as Czechia’s captain. Kulich is a defensively capable center with a good deal of skating ability, offensive creativity, and a hard and accurate shot. He reportedly interviewed with all 32 NHL teams at the combine, meaning they all took notice of what we all saw at U18s and throughout the season. Kulich is the type of well-rounded player that NHL teams love to have as a contributor in their middle six, and has the potential to be that as well as a weapon on the power play.
#26: Filip Mesar, C/RW, Poprad (Tipos Extraliga)
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 174 lbs
Stats:
-Tipos Extraliga: 37 GP, 8 G - 8 A - 16 P (Regular), 6 GP, 3 G - 1 A - 4 P (Playoffs)
-WJC: 2 GP, 0 P
After not having produced a first round pick since 2013, the nation of Slovakia is looking to have three players selected in the first round this year, and Filip Mesar is going to be the player that makes that happen. Mesar shows a lot of dynamic traits that NHL teams covet and align with where the game as a whole is headed. Skating and speed are his best assets, and he uses that to feed the rest of his game. Mesar is a versatile attacker who can beat you from the outside or inside of the ice, and with either his shot or passing ability. He has a good intuition of when to use his teammates and when to cut to the net himself, and continuing to refine that skill will be important to his development into an NHL player. Mesar definitely does have to get stronger in order to withstand contact and pressure from pro players and be an effective offensive player. He said at the combine that his longest interview was with the Sabres and that they showed interest in him, so he could be a guy to watch for pick 28. Mesar should eventually become a dynamic scoring forward at the NHL level, and will be a good find for whoever picks him up this year.
#27: Lian Bichsel, D, Leksands (SHL)
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 225 lbs
Stats:
-J20 Nationell: 11 GP, 3 G - 4 A - 7 P (Regular); 1 GP, 0 P (Playoffs)
-SHL: 29 GP, 1 G - 2 A - 3 P
-U18: 4 GP, 0 G - 1 A - 1 P
Sometimes there are players that unite the old school fans that enjoy tough, physical play and the new school fans that enjoy speed and skill. Lian Bichsel will look to become one of those players after he’s selected in this year’s draft. A Swiss native who played in Sweden this year, Bichsel is a hulking defender who makes his living with good positioning and forcing attackers outside until he closes them out along the boards. His reach definitely helps with this, as he plays sort of like Owen Power in how he doesn’t overly rely on his body to make plays as much as using his stick to force lanes before engaging. Bichsel is also a very solid skater for his size, and that helped him drive very good on-ice results in a pro league this year. He has the potential to be a competent offensive player as well, but while he shows some flashes of great puck-moving and shooting skills, it is currently inconsistent and far from refined. Even if that side of his game doesn’t improve a ton, Bichsel will likely still be a solid defensive defenseman in the pros, but if he does develop as a puck mover he could become a two-way force.
#28: Jimmy Snuggerud, RW, USNTDP (USHL)
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 185 lbs
Stats:
-USDP: 59 GP, 24 G - 39 A - 63 P
-USHL: 26 GP, 6 G - 20 A - 26 P
-U18: 6 GP, 3 G - 4 A - 7 P
We finally have a Sabres connection in these rankings! Jimmy Snuggerud sneaks into the first round in our rankings, and his father, Dave, was a depth player on the Sabres from 1989-1992. Jimmy will likely have an opportunity to be at least a role player in the NHL, and he certainly has the potential to be something more. Snuggerud was stapled on the NTDP’s top line next to Logan Cooley this year, and they certainly maximized each other’s skills. While Cooley was the flashy playmaker, Snuggerud was the grounded, more physical player with a booming shot that finished off plays. His best asset is certainly his shot, but Snuggerud is also one of the better defensive forwards in the draft, using his big frame and competitiveness to shut down plays. Snuggerud isn’t a fantastic skater, which may hold him back, and his passing isn’t the best, but he currently has enough skills to work with to be a quality NHL prospect. He will look to develop his skills at the University of Minnesota next year, so he will certainly have a chance to improve himself as a player. Assuming he hits his potential, Snuggerud will be a solid middle-of-the-lineup winger for whoever chooses him
#29: Ryan Chesley, D, USNTDP (USHL)
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 201 lbs
Stats:
-USDP: 59 GP, 12 G - 17 A - 29 P
-USHL: 26 GP, 5 G - 10 A - 15 P
-U18: 6 GP, 2 G - 3 A - 5 P
Another member of the star-studded US National Team, Ryan Chesley was often the anchor that held them steady while the more skilled players went to work. Chesley is a strong defender that can use either his skating or physicality to attack opposing forwards and eliminate their space-and he isn’t afraid to do either. He would often do this to help regain possession, then hand the puck off to Lane Hutson (his defense partner) or one of the team’s many skilled forwards and defer to them to create offense.
Chesley does have the skill to jump into the play more often and make things happen in the offensive zone; he just chooses not to for the sake of staying in a safe position. With the way the NHL is headed, he will need to learn how to activate more often while being able to recover if things go wrong. Chesley is headed to the University of Minnesota, who will certainly be looking to win a national championship with all of the talent coming in and all the great players that chose to stay another year. If all nine of the USNTDP players in these rankings are actually selected in the first round, it will break the record of eight players set in 2019 (also by the NTDP) for most players from one team selected in the first round-a true testament to how talented this year’s crop of Americans is.
#30: Elias Salomonsson, D, Skelleftea (SHL)
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 183 lbs
Stats:
-J20 Nationell: 35 GP, 11 G - 11 A - 22 P (Regular); 2 GP, 0 G - 1 A - 1 P (Playoffs)
-SHL: 10 GP, 0 P
-U18: 5 GP, 0 G - 1 A - 1 P
Elias Salomonsson is a great example of a prospect where it can be tough to balance a player’s potential with their actual career track record up to the point when they are drafted.
Heading into the year, Salomonsson was thought of as a potential top ten pick. Fast forward to the end of the year, and he’s considered a fringe 1st-2nd round prospect. Unfortunately, Salomonsson didn’t quite dominate the Swedish junior ranks like he was expected to, and he didn’t produce much of anything once he got called up to the pros. He was largely inconsistent throughout the year, but his talent is still evident and his late birthday indicates he has more room and time to grow as a player. Salomonsson is a good skater who can move the puck well, and he has an absolute bomb of a shot from the point. He has good skills with defending as well but isn’t always in the right position to execute the play. He also sometimes has issues with picking and choosing when to jump into the play and when to stay back. Overall, Salomonsson has a lot of skills that need a good deal of refinement, but if he can figure out how to maximize his skills, he’ll be a great pickup.
#31: Gleb Trikozov, C/RW, Omskie (MHL)
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 185 lbs
Stats:
-MHL: 35 GP, 23 G - 22 A - 45 P (Regular); 13 GP, 10 G - 8 A - 18 P (Playoffs)
-VHL: 11 GP, 1 G - 1 A - 2 P
Russians and high octane offense go together like bread and butter, and no one in this draft represents that quite like Gleb Trikozov. Another player who’s extremely young for this draft, Trikozov was a one-man machine in the Russian junior circuit this year. He’s a monster in transition, combining speed with a solid frame to carry pucks through the neutral zone and anyone who dares to get in his way. This doesn’t change once he enters the offensive zone, as he’ll find anyway, whether it be through skating, shooting, puck handling, or passing, to get the puck to the net. Trikozov is extremely skilled, but it will be interesting to see if this style is able to translate to higher levels of hockey. He doesn’t have a defensive game to speak of, and he does tend to get tunnel vision and run headfirst into a turnover at times, so if his transition and offense doesn’t translate he may not make the NHL at all. But if a team can reign in Trikozov’s skill and help him pick his spots, he could be an absolute steal this late in the draft.
#32: Jagger Firkus, RW, Moose Jaw (WHL)
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 154 lbs
Stats:
-WHL: 66 GP, 36 G - 44 A - 80 P (Regular); 10 GP, 6 G - 6 A - 12 P (Playoffs)
The last player in our rankings might be the most fun player in the entire draft, for various reasons. For starters, Jagger Firkus might have the single best name in the entire draft, and his red flow and mustache combo gives even Cody Eakin a run for his money. It’s not just the vibes with Firkus though, as his play style is extremely fun as well. He is a fearless attacker that combines great stick handling, a deadly shot, and explosive creativity to generate all kinds of offense. Firkus isn’t afraid to drive the middle of the ice even with his slight frame, and he doesn’t let it deter his confidence in himself to make plays. He’ll certainly need to bulk up some more as he faces stronger opponents, but he already shows the mindset needed to be a quality scoring winger in the NHL. Firkus should fit right in with the way the NHL is headed with creativity taking over, and he’ll almost certainly be a fan favorite for whichever team he goes to.
Honorable Mentions:
Owen Pickering, D, Swift Current (WHL): A tall, rangy defenseman who has a lot of raw skill in defending and transition, but requires a lot of refinement and may have limited offensive upside.
Nathan Gaucher, C, Quebec (QMJHL): A big two-way center who can shut down opposition, but again doesn’t seem to have as much offensive upside as many scouts around the league imply they think he does.
Jack Hughes, C, Northeastern (NCAA): No, not that Jack Hughes - this one is more of a defensive center, but was pretty impressive as one of the youngest players in college hockey this year. His dad, Kent, is the Montreal Canadiens General Manager.
Sam Rinzel, D, Chaska (Minnesota High School): The yin to Pickering’s yang - he’s also a tall, rangy defenseman with tons of raw skill, but his main contribution will be the offensive side of the game, while his defense leaves something to be desired.
Calle Odelius, D, Djurgardens (SHL): Another Djurgarden player, he is a smaller defenseman who is extremely smart and moves the puck well, and isn’t a liability in the defensive end either.
Adam Sykora, LW, Nitra (Tipos Extraliga): One of the youngest players in the draft, he’s a small, quick winger with defensive skill that caught fire scoring at the end of the year, so his upside may be higher than anyone realizes.
Tristan Luneau, D, Gatineau (QMJHL): A rock-solid defensive defenseman who has a little offensive upside, but it's hard to gauge since he dealt with a knee injury this year.
Luca Del Bel Belluz, C, Mississauga (OHL): A solid offensive center with some two-way capability, but needs to drastically improve his skating before he moves up into pro levels of hockey.
Ty Nelson, D, North Bay (OHL): A short but supremely talented defenseman who skates well, shoots hard and hits like a truck, but his decision-making is very inconsistent and will have to be refined if he wants to be a good NHLer.
Jordan Dumais, RW, Halifax (QMJHL): He is a great playmaker who lit up the Q this year, but is lacking in size and skating, so it’s questionable whether he can translate to the next level without some significant improvements.
Mattias Havelid, D, Linkoping (SHL): Another smaller offensive defenseman, who has a great offensive tool kit, but needs to improve his defense and decision making.
Julian Lutz, LW, Munchen (DEL): An intense, hardworking forward who missed a lot of time this year due to injury, but has some offensive skill and upside as well.
Noah Warren, D, Gatineau (QMJHL): A big, extremely physical defenseman that brings an intensity that isn’t common anymore, but doesn’t seem to have much offensive upside (if at all).
As we head into the offseason with hope and clarity on the direction the Sabres are taking, let’s hope that whoever the Sabres choose in this year’s draft can help finally push this team to the top in a few years’ time.
Thanks for reading, and as always, Go Sabres.
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