On July 7 ET at Centre Bell in Montréal, the next generation of top-class talent will join the ranks of the NHL.
Over the course of two days and seven rounds, 225 skaters and goaltenders will be taken from the board, but here, we’re looking at those deemed to be at the top of the class and destined for a top-five pick.
Somewhat conveniently this year, the teams picking at the very top of the order have needs that align quite well with most nods for the highest-ranking players in the draft – but there’s always room for a surprise pick.
This is the quick-take on our 2022 NHL Draft predictions, with the selections discussed further down:
1st Overall Pick: Shane Wright (MTL)
Shane Wright is the consensus first overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, and it just so happens that the biggest hole for the Montréal Canadiens is at center.
Playing for the Kingston Frontenacs as captain last season, the Burlington native put up 32 goals and 94 points in 63 regular season games.
He’s one of those highly sought-after mixes of character and skill, is a total team player, and is arguably the most complete playmaking forward in the draft.
In his first draft for the Habs, GM Kent Hughes won’t pass on Wright and has another pick in the first round to come.
If the injury blight doesn’t hit again next season, Montréal could rise up the ice hockey odds from their current standing as +10,000 to win the Stanley Cup.
2nd Overall Pick: Juraj Slafkovský (NJD)
One of the most exciting players on the board, it seems unlikely that the New Jersey Devils will pass on the powerhouse left-wing Juraj Slafkovský.
Standing 192cm and 99kg, the 18-year-old Slovakian threw his weight around in Finland’s Liiga last season and was named MVP at the 2022 Beijing Olympics for his seven goals.
That's first overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky to you all. ☝️ #NHLDraft #RepêchageLNH pic.twitter.com/6KZ2blRjHw
— NHL (@NHL) July 8, 2022
Some are describing the power-forward-built Slafkovský as a boom-or-bust project, but the Devils have proven themselves as a sound franchise for nurturing top talents in recent years.
His incredibly high ceiling could see him outmuscling defensemen and posting regular 30-goal seasons as a top-six wing in the NHL.
3rd Overall Pick: Logan Cooley (ARZ)
With a high hockey IQ and an affinity for the defensive side of the game, two-way center Logan Cooley could develop into the anchor that the Arizona Coyotes are continually scrambling to find.
The 179cm American impressed at the WJC U18 with ten points in six games, on top of consistent US National youth team showings.
For the somehow still rebuilding Yotes, they won’t be improving their odds this season, so it’s all about filling the pool with the best possible prospects, and their needs effectively span every skating position.
Cooley is the best pick at third overall – if Wright and Slafkovský go first – and then they have another two first-round picks to pad the system further.
4th Overall Pick: David Jiříček (SEA)
This is the first, most hotly debated pick in the 2022 NHL Draft predictions.
The Seattle Kraken will almost certainly go for one of the top two defensemen, but David Jiříček looks to just pip Ŝimon Nemec despite his knee injury. The right-hand shot is very strong offensively and stands 191cm and 86kg.
David Jiříček is expected to be among the top picks in the #2022NHLDraft next week.
— Czech Prospects (@CZprospects) June 30, 2022
The big RHD with a booming shot, good vision and strength would be the first Czech D-man selected in TOP 10 since Ladislav Šmíd in 2004.
Here are some of his best plays from the 2021-22 season. pic.twitter.com/UPd7iW8dZH
During the Expansion Draft last season, Seattle set out to be cost-effective, have a high-energy team, and at the very least, be tough to beat.
A 27-49-6 record doesn’t reflect “tough to beat,” but it’s a building process for the Kraken: having a potentially elite, intelligent defenseman like Jiříček munching minutes will certainly help.
5th Overall Pick: Cutter Gauthier (PHI)
Cutter Gauthier is simply a very good all-around forward, particularly when it comes to his offensive zone work.
He can play down the middle, digs into the dirty areas on the wing, and has a superb shot that looks set to catch NHL defences and goaltenders by surprise when he breaks into the starting lines.
If Nemec or Jiříček are still on the board, the Flyers could be tempted to add yet another high-potential defenseman to the system.
Still, on paper, the defence is the last skating position that needs reinforcing with such a high pick, and Philly has to wait for the third round for another. So, the versatile, well-tooled Gauthier looks to be the best choice.
There’s always a surprise or two, even in the opening picks of the NHL Draft, but those players picked above have the talent and the style to suit the first five teams to call out their new players’ names.
*Credit for all images in this article belongs to AP Photo*
FIRST PUBLISHED: 6th July 2022
