So this year’s NHL season has been interesting. With yet another wave of COVID running through the league, a lot of attention has been put on prospects, the World Juniors, and the NHL Draft. The Sabres are near the bottom of the league again, but they’re likely not going to be in “first overall-bad” territory this year. The Sabres also acquired first-round picks from the Golden Knights and Panthers from the Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart trades, respectively. As the World Juniors concludes, it’s time to look ahead at this year’s draft class.
The 2022 draft is certainly going to be an interesting one. With COVID messing up many players’ seasons last year, there had not been a lot of time to get a good look at players until very recently. In addition, since many of them had a very short season last year, there is a clear lag in them regaining their mid-season form, which makes evaluation even tougher. The cancellation of the World Junior Championships certainly hasn’t helped things from that standpoint. All in all, it still looks to be a step above last year’s draft class in terms of quality and depth. There will likely be future quality NHL players throughout the mid-first round of this draft class. Let’s get a look at the current top 20 prospects in the 2022 draft class.
#1: Shane Wright, C, Kingston (OHL)
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 187 lbs
Stats: 31 GP, 15 G - 28 A - 43 P (OHL); 2 GP, 0 G - 1 A - 1 P (WJC)
Though he received Exceptional Status from the OHL two years ago, Shane Wright has not been quite that so far. His statistical output is pretty pedestrian so far for a guy that has been heralded as the best prospect since Auston Matthews. He’s producing at over a point per game, but not by much, and he hasn’t been nearly as dominant as some expected him to be. He didn’t particularly stand out in the two games Canada played at the world juniors, either. Fans should take this with a grain of salt, however; we must remember Wright is playing a full-time schedule after barely playing any hockey at all last year. Wright has picked up the pace in recent weeks since returning from the WJC, and he is still showing signs of why he is such a well-rounded player that any team would want. Wright’s best attributes are his shot, passing instincts, and defensive ability. He’s still the number one prospect in this class right now-the gap behind him has just closed a bit is all. Wright may not be an elite scorer when all is said and done, but he still has the potential to be a great NHL player.
#2: Matthew Savoie, C/RW, Winnipeg (WHL)
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 179 lbs
Stats: 38 GP, 19 G - 36 A - 55 P (WHL)
Matthew Savoie came into this season with something to prove, and boy has he proven it so far. Savoie is the top-dog on an absolute wagon of a Winnipeg Ice team, and he’s proving what a dynamic offensive player he can be. Sure, playing with a lot of other talented players might inflate point totals a bit, but Savoie is contributing to those players’ success as well. If you had to describe his game with one word, it would be intense-Savoie does everything at high speeds. He attacks the net directly and can use his passing or shooting to create a high-quality scoring chance. He is tenacious on the forecheck as well, which is an underappreciated part of his game. The scariest part is that as much as Savoie is producing, there are a lot of indications he should be scoring even more-so if he refines his finishing ability, watch out because he’ll lay the WHL to waste. His size doesn’t hinder him now, but without some more bulking up it may do so at the next level, so there are questions of whether Savoie will stay at center or transition to wing. The only other concern with Savoie is that a large percentage of his production seems to be coming on the power play, and his even-strength scoring is not as dominant in relation to everyone else as his overall scoring is. He’s gone “cold” in recent weeks, which means he’s producing at just about a point per game (instead of well above it like usual). Regardless, Savoie shows plenty of signs of a future impact NHLer and has solidified himself as a top-three prospect in this draft class.
#3: Logan Cooley, C, USNTDP (USHL)
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 174 lbs
Stats: 27 GP, 15 G - 22 A - 37 P (USDP); 1 GP, 0 G - 1 A - 1 P (WJC)
This year’s US National Development program has a lot of quality talent that had a lot of hype coming into last season. There were plenty of names vying to be the top-dog on the team, but no one would have guessed Logan Cooley to be among them. Fast forward a year, 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 solid defensive ability. If you were a fan of Matt Beniers and William Eklund from last year’s draft, you will certainly like Cooley’s game as well. Cooley shows all the signs of being a top 6 center in the NHL, with possible first-line upside. Many people slept on this kid until recently, but he’s now making it impossible to exclude him from the top 5 of any mock draft.
#4: Simon Nemec, D, HK Nitra (Slovakia Extraliga)
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 187 lbs
Stats: 32 GP, 1 G - 22 A - 23 P (Slovakia); 2 GP, 0 G - 1 A - 1 P (WJC); 3 GP, 0 G - 1 A - 1 P (Olympic Qualifiers)
Each year’s draft has a defenseman that seems to insert themselves into the conversation for a top 5 pick, but this year’s top candidates come from some unlikely places. Slovakia looks to have a ton of talent coming in the next two drafts, and defenseman Simon Nemec is leading the way. Nemec has a very mature game for a player as young as he is, and it’s a big reason why he’s been playing professional men’s hockey since he was 16. Nemec isn’t the flashiest defenseman you’ll see, but he’s always making the smart play to move the puck up the ice. Nemec is great at using his stick and skating ability to manipulate passing lanes, dish off the puck, and then jump up into the play. He’s also impressive defensively for a player of his age; while his defensive game isn’t perfect, it is improving rapidly and ahead of where most players are at age 17. It’s also very rare for a defenseman of his age to score at the rate Nemec is currently producing in a men’s league. He was also great at the World Juniors before it was canceled, showing why he’s such a good all-around defenseman. While Nemec may not be an elite number 1 defenseman at the NHL level, it’s a pretty safe bet that he’ll be a reliable member of a team’s defense core.
#5: Brad Lambert, C/RW, Pelicans (Liiga)
Height: 6’
Weight: 179 lbs
Stats: 29 GP, 2 G - 4 A - 6 P (Liiga); 2 GP, 1 G - 4 A - 5 P (WJC)
Brad Lambert has quickly becomethe most polarizing prospect of this draft class. His point totals are much lower than expected for a player with this hype; some scouts still have faith in his abilities and believe the low scoring is mostly due to luck, while others think his effort is inconsistent and is mostly responsible for his results thus far. Lambert was regarded as the number 2 prospect in this draft class, but now some have dropped him to the late first round in their rankings. A deeper look at advanced metrics indicate that Lambert and his teammates that receive passes from him should all have more goals than they currently have. Lambert is still an electrifying skater and playmaker, and his talent level combined with the advanced metrics are the two main reasons why he’s still this high in our rankings. 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. Lambert seemed to receive some positive luck at the World Juniors that helped highlight his strong play, which should help open some eyes to the fact that maybe he isn’t having as bad of a season as they think. Lambert recently requested a contract termination from JYP to go play for his hometown team, so it will be interesting to see if he can spark some more production there.
#6: Joakim Kemell, RW, JYP (Liiga)
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 176 lbs
Stats: 23 GP, 12 G - 6 A - 18 P (Liiga); 2 GP, 0 P (WJC)
Ironically, Joakim Kemell has seemingly had the exact opposite type of season from his (now former) teammate Lambert. Kemell started the season on an absolute tear, as he was leading the Liiga (Finnish men’s league) in scoring at one point early on, which is unheard of for draft-eligible players. He displayed his offensive creativity and lethal shot throughout the season as he rocketed up draft boards. However, just as a deeper look indicated Lambert was getting lucky, it appears there was a decent bit of luck involved in Kemell’s early-season heater. Since returning from a short-term injury, he’s cooled down considerably, and that carried over to the couple of games he played in the world juniors. Kemell’s game is all about offense and using his creativity to generate shots on net. Though he appears to be a pretty one-dimensional goal scorer right now, we shouldn’t let this overshadow his accomplishments thus far, and he certainly still has the potential to be a dynamic NHL forward.
#7: Juraj Slafkovsky, C/LW, TPS (Liiga)
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 225 lbs
Stats: 11 GP, 6 G - 12 A - 18 P (U20 SM Sarja); 21 GP, 1 G - 3 A - 4 P (Liiga); 2 GP, 0 P (WJC)
Slovakia’s second top prospect this year may not be playing in his home country, but Juraj Slafkovsky is still showing why he belongs in the top 10. 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. While his scoring stats aren’t as high as Kemell or even Lambert, Slafkovsky is still creating chances for himself and his linemates at a similar rate to those two players. Four points in limited ice time is still solid for a draft-eligible player in a men’s league. He has a rare blend of size and skill that will entice many teams picking in the top ten. He knows how to use his size in puck battles, he has smooth hands, and he has surprising speed for someone as big as he is. Slafkovsky is still a raw prospect, however; he has some work to do on his offensive decision-making in order to fully utilize his talent. He still has lots of tools and a solid enough track record to warrant a top 10 selection.
#8: Frank Nazar, C/RW, USNTDP (USHL)
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 174 lbs
Stats: 35 GP, 16 G - 26 A - 42 P (USDP)
Another member of the US National Team has cranked our top ten, and while many players on the team are close to this spot, Frank Nazar is the guy who comes out ahead of the pack. Nazar has been the team’s second line center behind Logan Cooley for the majority of the year, but has stepped up as the 1C when Cooley is out of the lineup. He may not be producing at an elite rate, but Nazar has all the tools to be an offensive force at the next level. He is an extremely crafty playmaker with speed and tenacity, as well as an underrated shot. Nazar produces chances at a fantastic rate, which is very important in translating your game to the pros. Like many forward prospects, Nazar still has some work to do on his defense, but his playmaking skill alone should earn him a spot near the top of this draft. He has been on fire as of late, so look for the rest of the hockey world to take notice and move him up their draft boards if they haven’t already.
#9: Danila Yurov, LW/RW, Magnitogorsk (KHL)
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 179 lbs
Stats: 21 GP, 0 P (KHL); 13 GP, 5 G - 12 A - 17 P (MHL); 2 GP, 1 G - 0 A - 1 P (WJC)
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 and averaged about 2 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 has absolutely tore it up in an admittedly small sample so far. 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 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.
#10: Connor Geekie, C, Winnipeg (WHL)
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 205 lbs
Stats: 38 GP, 12 G - 28 A - 40 P (WHL)
Another member of the absolute wagon that is the Winnipeg Ice, Connor Geekie is a big part of their success this year. Though his point totals aren’t as gaudy as Savoie’s, Geekie often drives the team’s second line effectively, which makes the Ice very hard to defend as a team. Geekie has that blend of size and skill that NHL teams tend to gush over. He has great offensive instincts and though he tends to lean on his passing ability, he has a solid shot as well. 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 detriment at the pro level. Geekie also tends to disappear for a few shifts at a time that he has to eliminate from his game. He’s more of a project prospect right now, but there’s a great base to build off of for Geekie.
#11: Seamus Casey, D, USNTDP (USHL)
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 161 lbs
Stats: 33 GP, 5 G - 16 A - 21 P (USDP)
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 to watch. He’s constantly jumping into the play, dancing and dangling around opposing players and sending pucks to high danger areas. 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 a little better. Overall, Casey has a ton of skill and it should not be surprising if he is one of the first defensemen off the board in July.
#12: David Jiricek, D, HC Plzen (Czech Extraliga)
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 190 lbs
Stats: 29 GP, 5 G - 6 A - 11 P (Czech Extraliga); 1 GP, 0 G - 1 A - 1 P (WJC)
Oh, look, another right-handed defenseman with offensive upside! David Jiricek is yet another player of this general archetype, but he has a slightly different set of skills than other players thrown in this group. 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 he hasn’t figured out how to consistently use them yet. However, he has enough great pieces to his game, such as his shot and rushes defending ability, that suggest Jiricek can become a very good all-around defenseman at the NHL level. Jiricek suffered a knee injury at the World Juniors that will keep him out long term, so depending on how his recovery goes, he may end up sliding a bit on draft day. Hopefully, this injury doesn’t hamper his development too much, and Jiricek can reach his high potential.
#13: Rutger McGroarty, C/LW, USNTDP (USHL)
Height: 6’
Weight: 205 lbs
Stats: 29 GP, 16 G - 17 A - 33 P (USDP)
Another member of this year’s US National Development Team, Rutger McGroarty brings a slightly different skill set to the table that boosts the roster’s versatility. 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 is currently playing 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). He was also named captain of the team, showing that he has great leadership ability as well. The main concern with McGroarty is his skating; like Geekie, it is not currently a negative but could be a problem in the NHL if he doesn’t improve upon it. Overall, McGroarty should be a good power winger in the NHL and could be useful on any team.
#14: Ivan Miroshnichenko, LW/RW, Omskie (VHL)
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 185 lbs
Stats: 31 GP, 10 G - 6 A - 16 P (VHL); 1 GP, 0 P (MHL)
While a lot of attention has gone to Brad Lambert’s scoring struggles this year, Ivan Miroshnichenko’s struggles have flown relatively under the radar. Miroshnichenko has played mostly in the VHL, Russia’s second-tier pro league, and has struggled to put up points. However, unlike Lambert, Miroshnichenko hasn’t been effective at generating high-quality chances for himself and his teammates. His talent is still evident, he just isn’t finding ways to use it right now. Miroshnichenko has a great shot, decent skating ability, and a physical edge that still make him valuable to his team, but he needs to prove that what he’s shown this year isn’t his best hockey. Some have already dropped him out of their first-round while others are still firm believers that he’s a top ten talent. I decided somewhere in between was a good place to leave him for now. Whatever the case, Miroshnichenko is certainly a player to keep a close eye on for the remainder of the year and on draft day.
#15: Filip Mesar, C/RW, HK Poprad (Slovakia Extraliga)
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 172 lbs
Stats: 26 GP, 7 G - 5 A - 12 P (Slovakia), 2 GP, 0 P (WJC)
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. 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 of his shot or passing ability. He is good at knowing when to use his teammates and when to cut to the net himself, which is always important. 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.
#16: Ty Nelson, D, North Bay (OHL)
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 196 lbs
Stats: 40 GP, 6 G - 24 A - 30 P (OHL
Ty Nelson continues the trend of offensively gifted right-shot defensemen in this class. The former first overall pick in the OHL draft, Nelson didn’t get a chance to play in the league until this season, but he is showing why he’s one of the best OHL players in this class. He is extremely mobile in all directions, and he is always eager to join the rush to generate offense. Nelson is good at evading pressure and moving the puck up the ice, and he has a powerful shot as well (he even went viral for breaking the puck in half with a shot recently). Nelson may not be big, but he has a strong build to help his physical endurance. He isn’t fantastic at defense yet, but most small defensemen aren’t at his age. Nelson should be able to provide a good deal of offense at the NHL level and should be more than serviceable if he improves his defensive game.
#17: Isaac Howard, LW, USNTDP (USHL)
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 183 lbs
Stats: 35 GP, 16 G - 24 A - 40 P (USNTDP)
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 good speed, crafty puck skills, and a deadly shot. He has the ability to get to open ice and to the net to generate scoring chances. He’s put up plenty of points on the USNTDP’s second line this year. The issues that some scouts have with his off-puck play and strength. While most forwards at this level aren’t great at those things yet, some scouts believe Howard is poor enough in these areas that it could drastically impact his chance of being a regular NHL player. The offensive skill is there though, so for now he still warrants a first-round selection.
#18-20: Liam Ohgren, Noah Ostlund, and Jonathan Lekkerimaki - LW-C-RW
Djurgarden (J20 Nationell)
Height/Weight:
Ohgren: 6’1”/187 lbs
Ostlund: 5’11”/163 lbs
Lekkerimaki: 5’11”/172 lbs
Stats:
Ohgren: 19 GP, 19 G - 15 A - 34 P (J20 Nationell); 23 GP, 1 G - 1 A - 2 P (SHL)
Ostlund: 22 GP, 6 G - 22 A - 28 P (J20 Nationell); 10 GP, 0 P (SHL)
Lekkerimaki: 26 GP, 20 G - 15 A - 35 P (J20 Nationell); 14 GP, 4 G - 2 A - 6 P (SHL)
There are some programs in sub-pro leagues that have generated boatloads of NHL talent throughout a singular draft year or over the span of multiple draft years. Doing both can solidify these as legendary in scouting circles, such as the successful past of the OHL’s London Knights, the US National Development Team, or more recent runs of success such as the USHL’s Chicago Steel. However, Sweden’s Djurgardens IF is looking to be one of these programs after producing top ten picks in consecutive drafts, and they may have a few first-rounders drafted this year. Currently, the top line of their junior program is slotted with three players who are looking to make that happen in Liam Ohgren, Noah Ostlund, and Jonathan Lekkerimaki. All three of these players have some skills in common such as their skating and vision, but they complement each other nicely. Ohgren has a well-rounded game where he utilizes his size and instincts to work the puck to the net, Ostlund has a high-speed two-way game based on his transition ability, and Lekkerimaki uses his high-level puck skills and shooting ability to finish plays. Ohgren is more pro-ready than the other two, but all three of these players would be great picks at this point in the draft.
Honorable Mentions:
Gleb Trikozov, C/RW, Omskie (VHL)
Ryan Chesley, D, USNTDP (USHL)
Denton Mateychuk, D, Moose Jaw (WHL)
Calle Odelius, D, Djurgardens (J20 Nationell)
Marco Kasper, C, Rogle (SHL)
Jiri Kulich, C, HC Karlovy Vary (Czech Extraliga)
Pavel Mintyukov, D, Saginaw (OHL)
Cutter Gauthier, LW, USNTDP (USHL)
This season is clearly getting tougher as the Sabres battle injuries, but hopefully with the current prospect group along with three more first round picks this year, the team can finally turn a corner. Thanks for reading, and Go Sabres.
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