2022 NHL Mock Draft: First Edition

Here is the first edition of my 2022 NHL Mock Draft.

1. Montreal Canadiens- Shane Wright, Center, Kingston (OHL): It's only fitting the Canadiens get the top overall pick in the year they host the draft and here they take the drafts best player in Wright. He is the most complete two-way center in this draft and he fills a huge need down the middle for the Habs.

2. New Jersey Devils- Juraf Slafkovsky, Wing, TPS (Liiga): The Devils have a need for offense and the consensus choice for the Devils in this spot is Slafkovsky. He has the size and strength to have an impact and he would fit well with the Devils talented centers.

3. Arizona Coyotes- Logan Cooley, Center, USA U-18 (NTDP): There are some people that think Cooley should go second, but here I have him landing third, which the Coyotes would gladly take. Cooley is an excellent skater and has great skills with the puck.

4. Seattle Kraken- Simon Nemec, Defenseman, Nitra (SVK): The Kraken should simply just go with the best player available with their pick. Nemec is arguably the best defenseman in the draft due to his outstanding two-way play as well as his skating.

5. Philadelphia Flyers- David Jiricek, Defenseman, Plzen (CZE): The Flyers are a little unknown on what they will actually do here, but defense is a need and Jiricek is a solid fit. A knee injury derailed him this past season, but he has potential to be a top pair defenseman.

6. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Chicago Blackhawks)- Cutter Gauthier, Wing, USA U-18 (NTDP): The Blue Jackets are in a rebuild of some sorts now and here I have them going with Gauthier. He is your classic "power forward" player with his ability to shoot the puck.

7. Ottawa Senators- Joakim Kemell, Wing, JYP (FIN): The Senators are another team that should just simply go with the best player available. Kemell has potential to be a big time scorer in the league and the Suns can use that type of player on the wing.

8. Detroit Red Wings- Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Wing, Djurgarden (SWE): The Red Wings are a team that is desperate to get back to the postseason and here I have them taking the talented winger. Lekkerimaki is a solid two-way player with good offensive instincts.

9. Buffalo Sabres- Matthew Savoie, Center, Winnipeg (WHL): The Sabres have the longest playoff drought in the league still and for them to get to where they want to be, just take the best player available. Savoie is one of the more dynamic skaters in the draft class and has a ton of speed.

10. Anaheim Ducks- Denton Mateychuk, Defenseman, Moose Jaw (WHL): The Ducks badly need defenseman after trading away Hampus Lindholm. Mateychuk is a strong skater who is good at creating chances with the puck.

11. San Jose Sharks- Pavel Mintyukov, Defenseman, Saginaw (OHL): The Sharks going defense here would be wise considering Eric Karlsson isn't the same player anymore and Brent Burns is getting older. Mintyukov is a physical player who is a defensive version of a power forward.

12. Columbus Blue Jackets- Kevin Korchinski, Defenseman, Seattle (WHL): With their second first rounder, I have the Jackets going defense. Korchinski has good playmaking skills for a defender and is one of the better ones in the draft class.

13. New York Islanders- Frank Nazar, Center, USA U-18 (NTDP): The Islanders were NHL's most disappointing team this past season and I can see them looking to move this pick for an impact player. Nazar is a super smart player that has fast pace and a ton of energy.

14. Winnipeg Jets- Conor Geekie, Center, Winnipeg (WHL): This pick would be a fun one as the Jets take the hometown kid. Geekie is a super productive player that has great speed, but has some skating concerns.

15. Vancouver Canucks- Ryan Chesley, Defenseman, USA U-18 (NTDP): Here we have the fourth player from the US under-18 team going to Vancouver. Chesley is a solid two-way defenseman and does a great job being a shut-down guy.

16. Buffalo Sabres (from Vegas Golden Knights)- Lian Bichsel, Defenseman, Leksand (SWE): With their second first rounder, I have the Sabres going defense. Bichsel is an aggressive player and he moves well for his size.

17. Nashville Predators- Brad Lambert, Center, Pelicans (FIN): It was tempting to go with Owen Pickering here, but instead the choice here is Lambert. He is a very skilled forward that has great work ethic and brings a lot to the table.

18. Dallas Stars- Rutger McGroarty, Wing, USA U-18 (NTDP): Make it five USA under-18 guys going in the first round. McGroarty is a super versaitile player that is a great scorer and he has great leadership skills.

19. Los Angeles Kings- Marco Kasper, Center, Rogle (SWE): The Kings overachieved this past season and they look to add to the collection of young talent they have. Kasper is a versatile player that has a ton of speed and work ethic.

20. Washington Capitals- Isaac Howard, Wing, USA U-18 (NTDP): The Capitals area team that needs some more young talent in their farm. Howard was apart of the loaded USA under-18 team so his skills were overshadowed, but is a very talented scorer and skater.

21. Pittsburgh Penguins- Owen Pickering, Defenseman, Swift Current (WHL): The Penguins are another team that needs more youth in their farm and here I have taking someone who could be a steal here. Pickering is a strong skater that has potential to become a solid two-way defenseman.

22. Anaheim Ducks (from Boston Bruins)- Jimmy Snuggerd, Center/Wing, USA U-18 (NTDP): With their second first rounder, the Ducks grab a talented forward. Snuggerd is one of the more improved players heading into the draft as he skates well and has the skills of a power forward.

23. St. Louis Blues- Seamus Casey, Defenseman, USA U-18 (NTDP): The second defenseman from the USA under-18 team goes here to St. Louis. Casey is someone that moves the puck well and has high end skating and hockey sense.

24. Minnesota Wild- Noah Ostlund, Center, Djurgarden Jr (SWE): The Wild I think are a candidate to trade their pick to help their team get closer to Cup contention. Ostlund is one of the fast risers of late with advanced playmaking, speed, work ethic.

25. Toronto Maple Leafs- Lane Hutson, Defenseman, USA U-18 (NTDP): Here we have yet another USA under-18 player and this time we have a great team and need match. Hutson has a dynamic offensive game that stands out among defenseman in the draft.

26. Montreal Canadiens (from Calgary Flames)- Tristian Luneau, Defenseman, Gatineau (QMJHL): With their second first rounder, I have the Habs going defense. Luneau is smart and efficient both ways and is great in the transition game.

27. Arizona Coyotes (from Montreal Canadiens via Carolina Hurricanes)- Jagger Firkus, Wing, Moose Jaw (WHL): The Coyotes get this pick in result of the Christian Dvorak trade and I have them going defense here. Firkus dropping this far could be a steal as he is super talented offensively and has great creativity.

28. Buffalo Sabres (from Florida Panthers)- Luca Del Bel Belluz, Center, Mississauga (WHL): With their third first rounder, I have the Sabres taking another center. Del Bel Belluz is a solid two-way center, but is not that great of a skater.

29. Edmonton Oilers- Danila Yurov, Wing, Magnitogorsk (RUS): Yurov dropping this far would be a major steal for the Oilers. He in theory would drop down to here due to lack of production in the KHL.

30. Winnipeg Jets (from New York Rangers)- Owen Beck, Center, Mississauga (WHL): With their second first, I have the Jets taking another center. Beck dropping this far would be a steal and is a great shutdown center who wins face offs.

31. Tampa Bay Lightning- Rieger Lorenz, Wing, Okotoks (AJHL): The Lightning really do a great job rebooting their farm on the fly after trading away pieces or letting people go in free agency. Lorenz is a solid power forward with impressive skill.

32. Arizona Coyotes (from Colorado Avalanche)- Liam Ohgren, Wing, Djurgarden Jr (SWE): With their third first, I have the Coyotes taking another wing player. Ohgren is an explosive player with a ton of speed and plays with a ton of energy.