Here is my annual 2022 NHL Mock Draft:
1. Shane Wright
Yes, Shane Wright will be the first-overall selection during the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 2004-born centermen is one of just six players to receive "Exceptional Status" in the CHL.
Wright has lived up to his headlines from minor hockey. This season he has 94 points in 63 games; keep in mind that Wright missed the entire 2020-2021 season due to the pandemic.
2. Juraj Slafkovsky
Juraj Slafkovsky is a two-way center and the most NHL-ready prospect in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Slafkovsky, who hails from Slovakia, is playing with TPS Turku of the Finnish Liiga this season. Starting with the U20 team (18 points in 11 games), the Slovak would be promoted (to the Liiga team). He finished his draft-year season with 10 points in 31 games, playing in a top-tier league against men.
Slafkovsky also has a resume for playing international hockey; for his homeland of Slovakia. This season he has played in the World Juniors, Olympic Games Qualifiers, and Olympics. Previously, he has also played in the U-18, U17, and U16 IIHF tournaments.
3. Logan Cooley
Logan Cooley is the top-rated American player in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Cooley reigns from Pittsburgh, in which he played his minor hockey for the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite.
This season he has split time playing in the USHL and the USDP; with the USNTDP Juniors' program. In the USHL, Cooley has 36 points in 24 games. He plays a fine defensive game, winning the majority of faceoffs.
Cooley is committed to playing for the University of Minnesota of the NCAA during the 2022-2023 season. In conclusion, Cooley possess talented offensive ability and great defensive reads.
4. Matthew Savoie
Matthew Savoie is described as a smooth skater; with tremendous shooting accuracy. Playing for the Winnipeg Ice of the WHL, Savoie has 90 points in 65 games. The forward is seventh in the WHL in points and tied for eighth in assists.
Savoie is from St. Albert, Alberta, and has always been a top-rated NHL prospect. He has previously played for the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the AJHL and the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL.
The forward has dynamic puck handling and play-making skills along with a deadly versitile shot.
5. Simon Nemec
Simon Nemec is a defenseman from Slovakia he possesses offensive reads, along with a steady defensive game.
Nemec plays for HK Nitra of the first-tier Slovakian League and has played 39 games this season. He has one lone goal and twenty-five games, for a total of twenty-six points.
Nemec is another player who played in the 2022 Olympic Games as an underage player. He played a total of seven games, although had one assist.
Nemec is 6'1'' and weighs 192 pounds; he has always been a top player in Slovakia playing in every international event for the Slovaks.
6. Joakim Kemell
Who will be the top Finnish player drafted at the 2022 NHL Entry Draft? Probably, Joakim Kemell a right-winger playing on JYP Jyväskylä of the Finnish Liiga.
Kemell often makes creative plays to beat defenders while utilizing his lethal shot. This season with JYP, in 39 games, the forward has 23 points, including 15 goals.
In comparison, former teammate Brad Lambert has just 10 points playing in 49 games with JYP and Pelicans (another Liiga team). Who will go higher, Kemell or Lambert?
1. Shane Wright
Yes, Shane Wright will be the first-overall selection during the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 2004-born centermen is one of just six players to receive "Exceptional Status" in the CHL.
Wright has lived up to his headlines from minor hockey. This season he has 94 points in 63 games; keep in mind that Wright missed the entire 2020-2021 season due to the pandemic.
2. Juraj Slafkovsky
Juraj Slafkovsky is a two-way center and the most NHL-ready prospect in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Slafkovsky, who hails from Slovakia, is playing with TPS Turku of the Finnish Liiga this season. Starting with the U20 team (18 points in 11 games), the Slovak would be promoted (to the Liiga team). He finished his draft-year season with 10 points in 31 games, playing in a top-tier league against men.
Slafkovsky also has a resume for playing international hockey; for his homeland of Slovakia. This season he has played in the World Juniors, Olympic Games Qualifiers, and Olympics. Previously, he has also played in the U-18, U17, and U16 IIHF tournaments.
3. Logan Cooley
Logan Cooley is the top-rated American player in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Cooley reigns from Pittsburgh, in which he played his minor hockey for the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite.
This season he has split time playing in the USHL and the USDP; with the USNTDP Juniors' program. In the USHL, Cooley has 36 points in 24 games. He plays a fine defensive game, winning the majority of faceoffs.
Cooley is committed to playing for the University of Minnesota of the NCAA during the 2022-2023 season. In conclusion, Cooley possess talented offensive ability and great defensive reads.
4. Matthew Savoie
Matthew Savoie is described as a smooth skater; with tremendous shooting accuracy. Playing for the Winnipeg Ice of the WHL, Savoie has 90 points in 65 games. The forward is seventh in the WHL in points and tied for eighth in assists.
Savoie is from St. Albert, Alberta, and has always been a top-rated NHL prospect. He has previously played for the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the AJHL and the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL.
The forward has dynamic puck handling and play-making skills along with a deadly versitile shot.
5. Simon Nemec
Simon Nemec is a defenseman from Slovakia he possesses offensive reads, along with a steady defensive game.
Nemec plays for HK Nitra of the first-tier Slovakian League and has played 39 games this season. He has one lone goal and twenty-five games, for a total of twenty-six points.
Nemec is another player who played in the 2022 Olympic Games as an underage player. He played a total of seven games, although had one assist.
Nemec is 6'1'' and weighs 192 pounds; he has always been a top player in Slovakia playing in every international event for the Slovaks.
6. Joakim Kemell
Who will be the top Finnish player drafted at the 2022 NHL Entry Draft? Probably, Joakim Kemell a right-winger playing on JYP Jyväskylä of the Finnish Liiga.
Kemell often makes creative plays to beat defenders while utilizing his lethal shot. This season with JYP, in 39 games, the forward has 23 points, including 15 goals.
In comparison, former teammate Brad Lambert has just 10 points playing in 49 games with JYP and Pelicans (another Liiga team). Who will go higher, Kemell or Lambert?
7. Danila Yurov
Danila Yurov is a projected top-10 prospect in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. Yurov, who plays for Metallurg Magnitogorsk, has spent time playing in the KHL and MHL (Russian Junior League); this season.
Yurov possesses a strong skating stride, a great hockey IQ, and a solid shot. This season in the MHL, Yurov scored 36 points in 23 games. Although, when playing in the KHL, in 21 games, he was held pointless.
The Russian forward is under contract with Magnitogorsk for 2022-23, meaning he would not be able to sign an NHL contract till the end of the season. With the recent, incident surrounding Russia, could we see Yurov drop in the draft?
8. Brad Lambert
Brad Lambert is one of the most high-risk, high-reward prospects from the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Lambert has ranked anywhere from second overall to twenty-seventh overall by Craig Button.
The Finnish-born player has dropped off this season playing for JYP of the Finnish Liiga. In 24 games, he recorded two goals and just four assists. Lambert would request a transfer and end up with Pelicans (another Liiga team). With Pelicans, Lambert wouldn't do better, but worse! He would play in 25 games and score two goals and two assists; with a playoff-bound team.
Lambert can be described as a very intriguing player. Lambert has constantly shown elite-offensive ability in the U-21 leagues in Finland and every IIHF tournament. This past World Juniors, Lambert had five points in just two games. Although, he has yet to translate his results into top-tier professional leagues.
9. Frank Nazar
Frank Nazar has always been a highly productive point-scorer throughout his hockey career. Nazar's records go back to his minor hockey career with the HoneyBaked organization. During the 2019-20 season, Nazar recorded 127 points, including 78 assists.
Nazar is currently playing for the USNTDP Juniors team of the USHL and the U.S. National U18 Team of the USDP. In 24 USHL games (Top-American Junior League), the forward has 15 goals and 20 assists.
Nazar is described as a hard-working, shifty, offensive-minded forward by many scouts. Nazar is also committed to the University of Michigan for the upcoming 2022-23 season.
10. David Jiricek
David Jiricek is one of the top-rated defensive prospects; in the upcoming 2022 NHL Draft. Jiricek plays for HC Škoda Plzeň of the Czech League; he played 29 games this season. In the 29 games, Jiricek recorded five goals and six assists.
Scouts often describe the Czech-born defensemen as a fluid skater. He often walks the blueline and changes views; this leads to point-shots and scoring chances. He uses his edges and clean stride to jump into plays and activate from the blueline.
Jiricek weighs 190 pounds and is 6'3''. He plays a consistent two-way mobile game.
Danila Yurov is a projected top-10 prospect in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. Yurov, who plays for Metallurg Magnitogorsk, has spent time playing in the KHL and MHL (Russian Junior League); this season.
Yurov possesses a strong skating stride, a great hockey IQ, and a solid shot. This season in the MHL, Yurov scored 36 points in 23 games. Although, when playing in the KHL, in 21 games, he was held pointless.
The Russian forward is under contract with Magnitogorsk for 2022-23, meaning he would not be able to sign an NHL contract till the end of the season. With the recent, incident surrounding Russia, could we see Yurov drop in the draft?
8. Brad Lambert
Brad Lambert is one of the most high-risk, high-reward prospects from the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Lambert has ranked anywhere from second overall to twenty-seventh overall by Craig Button.
The Finnish-born player has dropped off this season playing for JYP of the Finnish Liiga. In 24 games, he recorded two goals and just four assists. Lambert would request a transfer and end up with Pelicans (another Liiga team). With Pelicans, Lambert wouldn't do better, but worse! He would play in 25 games and score two goals and two assists; with a playoff-bound team.
Lambert can be described as a very intriguing player. Lambert has constantly shown elite-offensive ability in the U-21 leagues in Finland and every IIHF tournament. This past World Juniors, Lambert had five points in just two games. Although, he has yet to translate his results into top-tier professional leagues.
9. Frank Nazar
Frank Nazar has always been a highly productive point-scorer throughout his hockey career. Nazar's records go back to his minor hockey career with the HoneyBaked organization. During the 2019-20 season, Nazar recorded 127 points, including 78 assists.
Nazar is currently playing for the USNTDP Juniors team of the USHL and the U.S. National U18 Team of the USDP. In 24 USHL games (Top-American Junior League), the forward has 15 goals and 20 assists.
Nazar is described as a hard-working, shifty, offensive-minded forward by many scouts. Nazar is also committed to the University of Michigan for the upcoming 2022-23 season.
10. David Jiricek
David Jiricek is one of the top-rated defensive prospects; in the upcoming 2022 NHL Draft. Jiricek plays for HC Škoda Plzeň of the Czech League; he played 29 games this season. In the 29 games, Jiricek recorded five goals and six assists.
Scouts often describe the Czech-born defensemen as a fluid skater. He often walks the blueline and changes views; this leads to point-shots and scoring chances. He uses his edges and clean stride to jump into plays and activate from the blueline.
Jiricek weighs 190 pounds and is 6'3''. He plays a consistent two-way mobile game.