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2022 NHL Mock Draft: First round predictions and pick projections

The NHL Draft takes place later this week and bottom-dwelling teams are poised to improve their lineups. Montreal gets first crack at the top prospects.

Update:
2022 NHL Mock Draft: First round predictions and pick projections
Dave SandfordGetty

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:

PickTeamPlayerPositionOrigin
1Montreal CanadiensShane WrightCOHL
2New Jersey DevilsJuraj SlafkovskyLWFinland
3Arizon CoyotesLogan CooleyCUSA U-18
4Seattle KrakenCutter GauthierCUSA U-18
5Philadelphia FlyersDavid JiricekDCzech Republic
6Colombus Blue JacketsSimon NemecDNitra -Slovakia
7Ottawa SenatorsJoakim KemellRWJyp (Finland)
8Detroit Red WingsMarco KasperCRogle (Sweden)
9Buffalo SabresJonathan LekkerimakiRWDjugarden (Sweden)
10Anaheim DucksMatthew SavoieCWinnipeg (WHL)
11San Jose SharksKevin KorchinskiDSeattle (WHL)
12Colombus Blue JacketsConor GeekieCWinnipeg (WHL)
13New York IslandersPavel MintyukovDSaginaw (OHL)
14Winnipeg JetsNoah OstlundCDjurgarden (Sweden)
15Vancouver CanucksNathan GaucherCQuebec (QMJHL)
16Buffalo SabresDanila YurovRWMagnitogorsk (Russia)
17Nashville PredatorsLian BischelDLeksand (Sweden)
18Dallas StarsOwen PickeringDSwift Current (WHL)
19Minnesota Wild Jiri KulichCKarlovy Vary (Czech Republic)
20Washington CapitalsDenton MateychukDMoose Jaw (WHL)
21Pittsburgh PenguinsIssac HowardLWUSA U-18
22Anaheim DucksJimmy SnuggerudRWUSA U-18
23St. Louis BluesFrank NazarCUSA U-18
24Minnesota WildRutger McGroartyRWUSA U-18
25Toronto Maple LeafsRyan ChelseyDUSA U-18
26Montreal CanadiensBrad LambertCPelicans (Finland)
27Arizona CoyotesReid SchaeferLWSeattle (WHL)
28Buffalo SabresLiam OhgrenLWDjurgarden (Sweden)
29Edmonton OilersIvan MiroshnichenkoLWOmsk Krylia (Russia)
30Winnipeg JetsSam RinzelDChaska (Minnesota)
31Tampa Bay LightningFilip BystedtCLinkoping (Sweden)
32Arizona CoyotesTristan LuneauDGatineau (QMJHL)