2022 NHL Mock Draft: First round predictions and pick projections

Now that the excitement of the Stanley Cup is over, hockey fans are looking forward to the NHL Draft. Although the 2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft is unpredictable, there are some players whose names stand out as top draft picks.

Montreal Canadiens likely to select Shane Wright

The Montreal Canadiens won the draft lottery, so they will get to select the first pick this year. They are expected to choose Shane Wright, the best forward in the Ontario Hockey League and widely considered this year’s No. 1 draft pick. Wright is an elite overall player and also exhibits strong leadership.

The New Jersey Devils go second, and are likely to pick up Juraj Slafkovsky, a Slovak forward for TPS of the Finnish Liga, and one of the top-tier players from Europe. Slafkovsky was the youngest player at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics ice hockey tournament, and was named its most valuable player.

Logan Cooley: Top American pick

The Arizona Coyotes may be setting their eyes on Logan Cooley, the top prospect from the U.S. Cooley has high-powered offensive skills, a great ability to score, and plays an efficient game.

The Seattle Kraken could possibly sign another outstanding Slovak to strengthen their defense, Simon Nemec of HK Nitra of the Slovak Extraliga. The defenseman plays an excellent two-way game, and could also be a valuable asset in Seattle’s offense.

The options become wider when talking about the Philadelphia Flyers, who will go fifth. They may look to beef up their defense, and pick up Nemec in case the Kraken go with another player. They may also go with David Jiricek, a Czech defenseman for HC Skoda Pizen of the Czech Extraliga. Jiricek is a defensive whiz, but is also seen as having the capability to shift to a strong offensive role.

The 2022 NHL Draft First Round Prospects

If you’re wondering about the details of the first round picks in this year’s NHL Draft, then don’t worry we’ve got you covered. Who are they? Where are they from? Where are they likely to go? Just take a look below to find out: