2022 NHL Mock Draft: Final Edition

Here is the sixth and final 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- David Jiricek, Defenseman, Plzen (CZE): The Kraken should simply just go with the best player available with their pick. A knee injury derailed him this past season, but he has potential to be a top pair defenseman.

5. Philadelphia Flyers- Simon Nemec, Defenseman, Nitra (SVK): The Flyers are a little unknown on what they will actually do here, but defense is a need and Nemec is a solid fit. Nemec is arguably the best defenseman in the draft due to his outstanding two-way play as well as his skating.

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- Marco Kasper, Center, Rogle (SWE): The Red Wings are a team that is desperate to get back to the postseason and here I have them taking the talented center. Kasper is a super versatile player who has solid work ethic.

9. Buffalo Sabres- Kevin Korchinski, Defenseman, Seattle (WHL): Korchinski is a super fast riser heading into the draft. Korchinski has good playmaking skills for a defender and is one of the better ones in the draft class.

10. Anaheim Ducks- Matthew Savoie, Center, Winnipeg (WHL): With their first of two first rounders, I have the Ducks going with the talented center. Savoie is one of the more dynamic skaters in the draft class and has a ton of speed.

11. San Jose Sharks- Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Wing, Djurgarden (SWE): In my final mock I have the Sharks going off the consensus and taking the talented winger. Lekkerimaki is a solid two-way player with good offensive instincts.

12. Columbus Blue Jackets- Denton Mateychuk, Defenseman, Moose Jaw (WHL): With their second of two first rounders, I have the Jackets going defense. Mateychuk is a strong skater who is good at creating chances with the puck.

13. New York Islanders- Pavel Mintyukov, Defenseman, Saginaw (OHL): The Islanders I feel are a safe pick to trade away their pick for immediate help. Mintyukov is a physical player who is a defensive version of a power forward.

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, which may have teams alarmed.

15. Vancouver Canucks- Noah Ostlund, Center, Djurgardens-J20 (SWE): The Canucks take an upside play here with Ostlund. He really broke out in the Under-18 tournament and really showed great processing ability and if he adds some strength, you can have yourself a top six guy.

16. Buffalo Sabres (from Vegas Golden Knights)- Danila Yurov, Wing, Magnitogorsk (RUS): Yurov is someone who is a bit of a wild card come draft night in terms of where he may me picked. His lack of production in the KHL could have some teams cautious in terms of drafting him this high.

17. Nashville Predators- Brad Lambert, Center, Pelicans (FIN): Lambert going this high could be a reach, but I won't be surprised if this is a trade down situation. Lambert is a very skilled forward that has great work ethic and brings a lot to the table.

18. Dallas Stars- Ivan Miroshnichenko, Wing, Omskie (MHL): Miroshnichenko is a fast riser as the draft approaches. He is a little bit of a wild card considering he had Hodgkin's lymphoma, which set his development back.

19. Minnesota Wild (from Los Angeles Kings)- Liam Ohgren, Wing, Djurgarden Jr (SWE): The Wild with their first of two picks take the talented wing. Ohgren is an explosive player with a ton of speed and plays with a ton of energy.

20. Washington Capitals- Nathan Gaucher, Center, Quebec (QMJHL): Gaucher is a prospect who's stock is rising with the draft coming this week. Gaucher is somebody who is a pro ready player with his ability to shut down the opposition and is a physical player.

21. Pittsburgh Penguins- Frank Nazar, Center, USA U-18 (NTDP): This would be a steal for the Penguins if he were to fall this far in the draft. Nazar is a super smart player that has fast pace and a ton of energy.

22. Anaheim Ducks (from Boston Bruins)- Lian Bichsel, Defenseman, Leksand (SWE): With their second first rounder, I have the Ducks going defense. Bichsel could be a steal here as he is an aggressive player and he moves well for his size.

23. St. Louis Blues- Ryan Chesley, Defenseman, USA U-18 (NTDP): This would be a great selection for the Blues at this spot. Chesley is a solid two-way defenseman and does a great job being a shut-down guy and he would be a steal with this pick too.

24. Minnesota Wild-  Isaac Howard, Wing, USA U-18 (NTDP): The USA's U-18 is going to produce a ton of talent from this draft. Howard was apart of that loaded USA under-18 team so his skills were overshadowed, but is a very talented scorer and skater.

25. Toronto Maple Leafs- Luca Del Bel Belluz, Center, Mississauga (WHL): This would be an interesting selection for the Maple Leafs. Del Bel Belluz is a solid two-way center, but is not that great of a skater.

26. Montreal Canadiens (from Calgary Flames)- Tristian Luneau, Defenseman, Gatineau (QMJHL): With their second first rounder, I have the Canadiens 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)- Owen Pickering, Defenseman, Swift Current (WHL): This would be a steal for the Coyotes here with their second first rounder. Pickering is a strong skater that has potential to become a solid two-way defenseman.

28. Buffalo Sabres (from Florida Panthers)- Jiri Kulich, Center, HC Energie (CZE): With their third first rounder, I have the Sabres going with the talented center. Kulich is someone who's stock rose after a good U-18 tournament and he is a super physical player.

29. Edmonton Oilers- Jagger Firkus, Wing, Moose Jaw (WHL): The Oilers are a team that should do what the new champion Avalanche did to help them get over the top- trade the pick for a goalie that puts you over the top. Firkus dropping this far could be a steal as he is super talented offensively and has great creativity.

30. Winnipeg Jets (from New York Rangers)- Jimmy Snuggerd, Center/Wing, USA U-18 (NTDP): With their second first rounder, I have the Jets grabbing the 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.

31. Tampa Bay Lightning- Filip Mesar, Center/Wing, HK Poprad (Slovakia): The Lightning really do a great job rebooting their farm on the fly after trading away pieces or letting people go in free agency. Mesar is high skilled and a creative winger that has a good rate off the puck.

32. Arizona Coyotes (from Colorado Avalanche)-  Sam Rinzel, Defenseman, Chaska (USHL): With their third first rounder, I have the Coyotes going defense. Rinzel is a fast riser come draft day and is a terrific offensive defenseman with some potential on the back end too.