Mock 2022 NHL Draft

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The 2022 NHL Draft is officially less than one month away, with the First Round streaming on July 7th. That means that the public scouting world is making the exciting shift from focusing on rankings to now looking at what Draft day could actually look like. As I do every year, I’m taking my own stab at trying to most accurately predict the 32 selections to come on day one, after a year of gathering as much intel as I can. Let’s get into it!

1. Montreal Canadiens: Shane Wright, C, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)

As far as I’m concerned, first overall is locked in. There’s been a lot of buzz about the Canadiens’ appreciation of bustling-Slovak Juraj Slafkovský but Montreal understands that they can’t overlook Wright’s talent. I don’t think there’s any uncertainty here.

2. New Jersey Devils: Juraj Slafkovský, LW, TPS (Liiga)

Juraj Slafkovský has exploded onto the scene after a historic performance at the Olympics, where he scored 7 goals in 7 games on pace to a bronze medal. He was named MVP of the Olympics, named to the All-Star team, and tied for the lead in points… all at the age of 18.

That’s incredibly impressive and Slafkovský fits the exact need of a rapidly growing New Jersey prospect pool. But they may look defense here too. If they do, I’d expect Šimon Nemec to take the bill. New Jersey has enough blue-line projects with star potential; I’m sure they’d be quicker to jump on Nemec’s confident floor rather than Jiříček’s high ceiling.

3. Arizona Coyotes: Logan Cooley, C, USNTDP U18 (NTDP)

The “Cooley to Arizona” connection has existed all year long, with some buzz saying that they were taking a heavy peek at him when considering the possibility of having the First Overall pick. This isn’t any shock coming from new GM Bill Armstrong and a general scouting team that has tended to favor NTDP prospects.

Cooley seems like a lock at 3, wrapping up what’s seen as a consensus top-three.

4. Seattle Kraken: Šimon Nemec, RD, HK Nitra (Tipsport Extraliga)

There is not a consensus on who the #1 defenseman in this draft class should be, with many in the public and private world continuing to argue the case for David Jiříček. But there’s heavy thought that Seattle is eyeing Nemec, a feeling only bolstered by the Kraken’s signing of Samuel Buček, a close friend of Nemec’s (who had a dazzling Tipsport Extraliga season that deserves way more attention).

Sources within Slovakia are extremely confident that Nemec is the pick for a Seattle team in need of their cornerstone defenseman of the future. But the conversation around the #1 D in this class could sway things. Keep an eye on Jiříček here as well.

5. Philadelphia Flyers: David Jiříček, RD, HC Plzeň (Czechia Extraliga)

How close is this “#1 D” debate I keep bringing up? If Nemec goes first, I don’t think there’s any chance Jiříček falls more than one or two spots later. Especially since Philadelphia, and Chuck Fletcher, pick at 5. Jiříček is, stylistically, a player that Fletcher has shown interest in bringing into Philly (ala Risto? No… no, better than that…) and, during his time in Minnesota, Fletcher selected a defenseman first in 5 of his 9 drafts, picks that included Matt Dumba and Nick Leddy.

But Philadelphia’s selection is entirely up in the air. Some public scouts say Matthew Savoie could be a good fit and recent buzz also slots Cutter Gauthier as a potential surprise-name in the Top 5. All three — and more — are options for a Flyers pool needing a boost.

6. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Chicago Blackhawks): Joakim Kemell, LW, JYP (Liiga)

Cutter Gauthier’s name has burst onto the scene, following his strong performances when Logan Cooley was not with the NTDP and an even stronger NHL combine. He’s the talk of the town right now, with many scouts clamoring about the NHL readiness his size brings. But, with all of that said, it’s impossible to ignore Jarmo Kekäläinen’s connection to Scandinavian hockey. Columbus has taken 6 Scandinavians in the last four drafts alone (but oddly none last year?), setting in stone a clear track record.

Kemell is the favorite Finn in this class and we can be confident he’ll hear his name called in this 5th-8th overall range. Sometimes proven patterns and vibes have to be enough when putting together a mock draft. Kemell to Columbus… but Gauthier, Savoie, and Nazar will all fight for this spot as well.

7. Ottawa Senators: Cutter Gauthier, C/RW, USNTDP U18 (NTDP)

If Joakim Kemell isn’t available at 7, I fully expect Ottawa to take the Gauthier-bait. If Gauthier isn’t available, I’m sure they’d love another shot-first winger in Kemell. The two certainly seem interlocked.

But, again looking at vibes, Gauthier feels like a great fit in Ottawa. The team has previously spent high on players like Tyler Bocuher, Zack Ostapchuk, Ridley Greig, Roby Jarventie, and Shane Pinto. All of these players share one commonality in that pace doesn’t define their game. They’re bigger-framed forwards who use strength and methodical attacking to get their points. Cutter Gauthier is the pinnacle of this mentality, with a mature style giving him a great floor.

Of note, Gauthier is fully expected to play center at Boston College and was asked if he’d be willing to in the NHL by many teams at the Combine. But he can perform well at right wing as well. Which position does Ottawa need from pick #7?

8. Detroit Red Wings: Frank Nazar III, C, USNTDP U18 (NTDP)

Frankie Nazar has very quickly become one of the most divisive players among private sector scouts. Some I’ve spoken with hesitate to mention his name in the Top 20. Some have him as a clear Top 10. And I’ve been apart of multiple conversations where scouts argued his worthiness as a top prospect against Logan Cooley’s.

That’s… major acclaim. And a major divide. There’s entirely a world where Nazar falls in the draft but his Larkin-esque play and high pace will likely be really attractive to Steve Yzerman and Detroit.

Of note, Detroit is apparently not scared to continue bolstering their defense more either, following the tremendous year of Moritz Seider. If they do go D, they’ll need to snag a left defenseman to compliment Seider. Don’t be surprised if we see another Yzerman surprise and Detroit picks a player like Pavel Mintyukov or Kevin Korchinski.

9. Buffalo Sabres: Jonathan Lekkerimäki, LW/RW, Djurgårdens IF J20 (J20 Nationell)

The Buffalo Sabres are a hard team to draft for. Nearly every single one of their scouts, and their GM, have only experienced one draft with the team and their prospect pool has a lot of ambiguous need. But if the 2021 Draft is any indication, the Sabres scouting team is not scared to spend high on a talented and highly-discussed Swede. Lekkerimäki is that Swede this year.

The winger entered the year looking like a bit of a shoot-first scoring talent but showed a totally new, gritty layer to his game in the SHL minutes he was given. He’s a confident, impressive, workhorse of a talent that some scouts — though certainly the minority — think may go even higher than 9. I don’t see it but think he fits right at home with Buffalo’s first pick of the day.

10. Anaheim Ducks: Kevin Korchinski, LD, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)

Anaheim’s pick is another one that could go a variety of different ways. Cutter Gauthier feels like a player that’d perform beautifully on a team with Mason McTavish but his newfound hype pulls him out of Anaheim’s grasp. I anticipate Matthew Savoie also still being available: a speedy forward with a physical touch that might compliment Trevor Zegras and Sonny Milano.

But given Anaheim’s crowded forward pool, I’m much more confident they lean defenseman at 10th overall. Of the remaining defenseman, Kevin Korchinski’s name is the one being yelled from the rooftops. Korchinski just scored 6 goals and 19 points in 25 playoff games, showing a great ability to make plays happen all on his own and force the opponent’s hand. He’s a creative, high-potential defenseman and while Anaheim isn’t typically a team for large-scale risks at the Draft, his ceiling might be too high to pass up. Mintyukov is another risky defenseman in this range.

11. San Jose Sharks: Matthew Savoie, C/LW, Winnipeg Ice (WHL)

Matthew Savoie was being lauded as a clear, undeniable Top 5 talent coming out of his 2020-21 season in the USHL. Scouts were impressed by the grit he added to his skillful game and his ability to blend with linemates that may not perfectly match his style. But as the 2021-22 season went on, both his performances and his hype has slowed down. With how buzz-driven many of the aforementioned picks have been, the quieted conversation around Savoie might be the dagger that pulls him out of the Top 10.

But if he does fall, it won’t be far. His style seems well-meshed with San Jose’s ever-increasing focus on speed and skill. He feels like a comfortable Sharks pick. It’s worth noting, though, that the high-end floor of Marco Kasper is something NHL teams are going nuts over. He’s an option here, if not sooner.

12. Columbus Blue Jackets: Marco Kasper, C/RW, Rögle BK (SHL)

Getting back to hype-based picks, Marco Kasper has been a very popular name ever since the Champions League last fall. And that’s shot up even more after a strong World Championships, where Kasper played no less than 15 — and upwards of 20 — minutes each night. Teams are convinced of Kasper’s ability to fit into a top-six as a hard-nosed, two-way center.

But I’m not convinced of the Top 10 love that some scouts have tied to this praise. I think Kasper likely still exists in the 12-20 range that many public sector scouts have slotted him into. But who loves hot-topic Europeans more than anyone? That’s right, Jarmo Kekäläinen. Kasper would be a big boost to a center depth that features a similar style in Jack Roslovic and his ability to potentially serve as a winger, which he did intermittently throughout the year, should be attractive as well.

13. New York Islanders: Brad Lambert, LW, Lahti Pelicans (Liiga)

The New York Islanders must be feeling pretty cocky right now, following the amazing season of Aatu Räty, who scored 4 points in 6 AHL playoff games after a tremendous season in Finland. Räty was incredibly undervalued by the public sector world last season, with claims that his lack of growth in his draft year would stunt his move to North America. He fell in the draft as a result and is already paying dividends.

Well, much of the same conversation is happening with Brad Lambert this year: a Finn who was once a Top 5-lock now being undervalued due to a lack of growth in his draft year. They say lightning doesn’t strike twice but it’s hard to imagine New York isn’t willing to bet. Lambert addresses many different needs the team has and could end up looking like steal.

Oh… and he’s the nephew of new head coach Lane Lambert. If Räty’s success isn’t on Lou Lamoriello’s mind when he makes this pick, making his head coach’s family happy almost certainly will be. Classic Lou.

14. Winnipeg Jets: Rutger McGroarty, LW/RW, USNTDP U18 (NTDP)

From a private sector view, McGroarty might be the toughest pick to make in this round. He has been on a roller coaster of attention throughout the year. This wasn’t helped by the fact that he reportedly fought through various injury and setback in the first half of the year, before exploding in the second half. But other factors may be at play and holding back McGroarty’s stock.

But no matter what scouts are and aren’t considering as they think about drafting McGroarty, it seems everyone agrees on one thing: the end of his season was damn impressive. McGroarty finally got back to the one-man-show ability that made him so highly acclaimed in recent years and many think it might be here to stay. I’m not 100% confident that McGroarty goes in the Top 15, the Top 20, or even the First Round. But if anyone is going to take him, it’s likely the team that drafted Chaz Lucius, who went through a similar evolution of ‘injury-battle turned red-hot Spring’ and experienced similar skepticism.

15. Vancouver Canucks: Pavel Mintyukov, LD, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

It’s expected that anyone carrying the Russian flag will experience some sort of knock to their draft stock next month. But OHL defenseman Pavel Mintyukov should evade most of the doubt tied to Russian players. And that’s great news because Mintyukov to Vanoucver makes almost too much sense. The team’s defensive pool is absolutely desolate, with Quinn Hughes and Jack Rathbone being nearly the only blue-liners in the Canucks system to get excited over. Mintyukov has, seemingly undoubtedly, a top 3 ceiling of defensemen in this draft. He has some maturing to do but could be a fun project for the same team that’s turned Hughes into a star.

Vancouver has also been tied to Conor Geekie and rumor is Czechia’s Jiří Kulich is receiving a lot of buzz, so if the team decides to go forward both of these players could fit the ask. But Mintyukov seems like a much-needed boost.

16. Buffalo Sabres (from Vegas Golden Knights): Conor Geekie, F, Winnipeg Ice (WHL)

Success breeds success. That’s the motto of the mid-10’s. And it continues, and probably peaks, with the Sabres second pick of the day. Buffalo is coming off of a season where they watched Tage Thompson, who was being prematurely labeled as a bust by some, turn into one of the most proficient scorers in the NHL.

The Sabres overcame a ton of hurdles to get Thompson to this success. They patched up his rocky, slow skating and taught him how to make things work without having to make large movements. They moved him to center, where he played before pros, and taught him to use space dynamically in the middle lane. They embraced his shot and built around him to prioritize it.

That’s all in an effort to say that in a one-year span, the Sabres have built Tage Thompson from the ground up. And everything they did for Thompson are things that Conor Geekie will need. He faces nearly all of the same question marks as Thompson. Many of the picks in this mock are based on what I genuinely feel will happen but this one is based on what needs to happen. The Sabres are probably the best team to help Geekie reach his high ceiling, if they’re willing to step outside of their comfort zone and swing on the falling WHL forward.

Other options include Danila Yurov or Jiří Kulich if Buffalo wants a more bona fide forward.

17. Nashville Predators: Danila Yurov, C, Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)

As aforementioned, Russians aren’t going to have the best day on July 7th. There is a devout group of private sector scouts who see Yurov as a top-five talent, well in the conversation with Logan Cooley. But his Russian status and placement in the MHL, as well as the limited minutes he’s been given, certainly hurt his stock.

Many expect Yurov to fall into the 20s. But Nashville is one of the few teams who might have an easier task with Russian talents, given their close relationship to the country in previous drafts. They need a dynamic forward prospect to be excited about and Yurov is certainly fits that ask.

18. Dallas Stars: Jiří Kulich, C, HC Energie Karlovy Vary (Czechia Extraliga)

Jiří Kulich is a big-bodied center that makes a lot of things happen in the corners and low-slot. His physical prowess has shined through in every game he’s played this year and helped him pull together 9 goals and 11 points in 6 games at the World U18s. That is a dazzling stat-line and one that, apparently, has NHL teams all hot-and-bothered. Kulich looks physically-mature and ready to move into North American pros. He could very well go before 18 but, if he stays available, I don’t envision a Dallas team who is short on both center depth and large-bodies passing up on him.

If the Stars want help on defense — which might not be a bad idea — there is a slew of strong talent available in Denton Mateychuk, Owen Pickering, or Ryan Chesley.

19. Los Angeles Kings: Denton Mateychuk, LD, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)

Denton Mateychuk is an incredibly divisive player in the public scouting world. I personally have him locked-in at 12th overall, thinking his two-way prowess will develop nicely in the next steps, but many think his lack of any one dominant area confines him more to the 20s. That same skepticism, and those same debates, are also being had at the NHL-level. I’ve heard a variety of things from the private world surrounding Denton Mateychuk. Some say that he has a bid at the top-17 while others say he could be one of the bigger fallers, especially when compared to his other WHL counterparts.

If any other team was picking at 19, I’d be quick to follow the pessimistic projections and put Mateychuk in my 20s. But the L.A. Kings have a long track record of taking over-discussed and undervalued defensemen and turning them into something dangerous. They continued the trend with Brandt Clarke last year and Mateychuk is the prime candidate this year.

The emergence of Jordan Spence as a legitimate NHL option on the left-side might muddy this pick. But it’s tough to envision a team that’s spent four of their last nine Top 50 picks on defenseman passing up on Mateychuk’s sky-high ceiling.

20. Washington Capitals: Jagger Firkus, RW, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)

I’ve spoken with multiple people on both the public and private side who are adamant that Jagger Firkus will both go above Moose Jaw teammate Denton Mateychuk and go in the Top 20. I also heard frmo one of the more renowned names in scouting who said to expect Firkus to fall on draft day. Since all of these conversations, Firkus has put together a popular combine and solid postseason, meaning the former group may be winning out.

But as mentioned, Mateychuk is stylistically very in-tune with what L.A. is trying to build. In the same vein, Firkus fits a lot of molds for the Capitals. He’s a feisty winger who builds momentum through his skating and unleashes it in the corners. He has a scoring knack and brings an added layer of energy to any line he’s on. If the Capitals are willing to forgo the size-priority they’ve been stuck on, Firkus could be a perfect compliment to the McMichael/Lapierre-led future they’re embarking on.

21. Pittsburgh Penguins: Nathan Gaucher, C, Québec Remparts (QMJHL)

Your draft stock goes up tenfold if you’re a big centerman who can stand in the slot. Nathan Gaucher is bonafide proof of exactly that. There’s a lot to like about Gaucher’s game, though. He’s agile enough for his 6’3″ frame and he plays the puck well in tight-areas. It makes him a phenomenal driver through the middle lane, where the heart of his game undoubtedly lies. But reservations about his upward mobility have confined his consensus to the high-second round in the public sphere.

But, again, size rules all in the NHL and teams are much more likely to spend high on a big-bodied center with a high floor than a smaller, boom-or-bust forward. That’s especially true of the Penguins, who have made their living off of big-bodied slot-dominators and have the hots for QMJHL talent.

Gaucher is a hotly-discussed option for this range and won’t fall much further. I could also see the Penguins opting for the QMJHL’s best defenseman — per the public sphere — in Tristan Luneau.

22. Anaheim Ducks (from Boston Bruins): Ryan Chesley, RD, USNTDP U18 (NTDP)

I have Anaheim spending their second pick of the day on yet another defenseman, really rounding out what is a kinda-bleh defensive pool as it stands. But whereas Korchinski is one of the more uncertain players in this class, Chesley’s floor seems like one of the highest among defensemen. He is what he is: a defensively-minded blue-liner whose ability on the breakout pairs really well with his speedy forwards. Americans who play that style have been very popular in Anaheim over the last few years, thinking back to Henry Thrun and Ian Moore.

Chesley’s defensive performance at the U18s is being highly-praised and should be enough to pull him into the high-20s. If he sits in that range, he’s a golden name for a Ducks team in need of some defensive consistency to round out the likes of Jamie Drysdale, Olen Zellweger, and (potentially) Kevin Korchinski.

23. St. Louis Blues: Filip Bystedt, C/LW, Linköping HC J20 (J20 Nationell)

The St. Louis Blues will be throwing a tantrum after pick 21. I have full confidence that they’re among the frontrunners in the Nathan Gaucher-race. He fits Craig Berube’s old-school, dump-and-chase style and has the size that St. Louis has ogled over for years now.

In an attempt to pull in any size they can, it’s hard to think they’ll look much further than Sweden’s Filip Bystedt, who many would argue is actually a better player than Gaucher. Bystedt plays a menotinous-but-productive style and possesses nifty hands and a hard shot: not far off from Blues 2021 First Rounder Zachary Bolduc. It’s clearly a style the Blues want to build around, even if the breakouts of Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou fight against the big-boy mentality. Nevertheless, Bystedt to St. Louis feels like one of the more ‘sure things’ if Gaucher isn’t available.

If the Blues are feeling particularly whacky on Draft day, I could see them also opting for Jimmy Snuggerud, who is stylistically similar to Jake Neighbours but plays the opposite wing.

24. Minnesota Wild: Ivan Miroshnichenko, LW/RW, Omskie Krylya (VHL)

One thing has been made extremely clear for me as I’ve dug through information for this article: the Minnesota Wild do not feel any pressure with this pick. They are willing to risk it for the biscuit, if you will, and will be eyeing boom-or-bust talents. Well, there’s no bigger uncertainty in this class than Ivan Miroshnichenko. He was being heavily debated even before his diagnosis with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, on account of the absolute minimal opportunity he was receiving in the VHL. Of course, a hefty cancer diagnosis didn’t add to any optimism. But Miroshnichenko has reportedly recovered and is cleared to begin training for next season. Not only is that great news but it’s rekindled optimism around a player who was considered a Top 5-lock only a year ago.

The Wild don’t need any one piece in particular, so a shoot-first winger with limitless upside could be an enticing choice. Not only that, Miroshnichenko shares the same agent as players like the Svechnikov brothers, Daniil Guschin, Aleksander Barkov, and Pavel Buchnevich. In fact, Miroshnichenko was actually slated to join the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL this past season but struggled with getting a visa due to Covid.

That’s all to say that the worry around a Russian player’s ability to get over to the United States is fairly minimalized for Miroshnicenko. Reports have claimed that NHL teams are still eyeing him as a First Round pick but are hesitant to pull the trigger given all of his sporadic factors. But if any team was going to look past them, it’d be the kicked-up Wild.

25. Toronto Maple Leafs: Noah Östlund, C, Djurgårdens IF J20 (J20 Nationell)

The Toronto Maple Leafs are another team that are incredibly tough to draft for. There’s never any telling where Kyle Dubas and his galaxy-brained staff will go. And while Östlund doesn’t scream Toronto for any particular reason, he is a flashy, playmaking center with promising upside. That’s certainly something the Leafs would love to add to their ranks, in an effort to cut through the fog that’s joined around other center prospects like Rodion Amirov, Alex Steeves, Nick Abruzzesse, Semyon Der-Arguchintsev… I could go on. Finding a sure-thing up the middle is going to be important for the Leafs prospect pool and Östlund’s ceiling feels like it could fit the bill.

I could also see the Leafs opting for Gleb Trikozov’s unpredictable ceiling or, if they want to go defense, Owen Pickering for his similarities to current Leafs (for now) like Jake Muzzin.

26. Montreal Canadiens (from Calgary Flames): Isaac Howard, C/LW, USNTDP U18 (NTDP)

The Montreal Canadiens under Marc Bergevin were all about perimeter-driving Americans like Sean Farrell and Blake Biondi. Now, under Kent Hughes and Marty St. Louis, they’re showing a great ability to put tenacious, undersized forwards on a pedestal. Isaac Howard is the perfect medium between these two worlds. He drives the boards hard on zone entries and creates chances well with the puck on his stick, but can also dominate off-puck through hard battles in the corners and clever movements into space.

Howard is the combination of work ethic, speed, and grit that should thrive under St. Louis. His flexibility as either a center or a winger is the icing on the cake. Many have Howard slated as a late-First and Montreal seems like the perfect fit.

27. Arizona Coyotes (from Carolina Hurricanes): Jimmy Snuggerud, LW/RW, USNTDP U18 (NTDP)

As aforementioned, Jimmy Snuggerud plays a very similar game to Jake Neighbours. He’s tenacious and physical but can also be reserved and poised in the offensive zone, where his heavy shot reigns supreme. He’s an exciting player and one that could seemingly fit anywhere in an NHL lineup. New Arizona GM Bill Armstrong has historically loved NTDP-talent and Snuggerud’s mix between grinder and sniper should be a fun compliment to the Coyotes rebuild. Snuggerud also has tremendous chemistry with Logan Cooley, the Coyotes’ first pick of this mock, adding to his fit in the desert. Again, this pick just feels right.

28. Buffalo Sabres (from Florida Panthers) Liam Öhgren, LW/RW, Djurgårdens IF J20 (J20 Nationell)

Many project that Öhgren will be the second of the Djurgårdens trio off the board and will likely hit before pick 25. That’s largely thanks to his mature physique and shot-first talent, which projects him as a nice middle-six winger at the next level. But I don’t buy into the high-end Öhgren conversation. However, I do buy into the popular idea that Buffalo will be eyeing the Djurgårdens trio heavily. They’re already mocked to take the hot-topic Lekkerimäki early and, expecting Öhgren to fall, will be dipping back in with their final pick of Day One.

Alternatives exist… Seamus Casey is a fun offensive-defenseman from the NTDP that they might like. But something about Öhgren and the general Swedish class this year seems fitting for Buffalo.

29. Edmonton Oilers: Luca Del Bel Belluz, RW, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)

The Oilers are always such a sporadic drafting team, especially under Ken Holland. It’s tough to say who they might go with because there’s no telling where they’re looking. Seamus Casey and Owen Pickering are two defensemen that would certainly fit in with the Oilers. Tristan Luneau is another blue-liner with a bit more risk to his name but nevertheless a boost to the Oilers blue-line depth. And yet, I think back to the selections of Dylan Holloway and Raphael Lavoie. Luca Del Bel Belluz seems to fit into the vibe of these two forwards. He’s certainly more of a reach than either Holloway or Lavoie were in their respective drafts but still seems feasible. Del Bel Belluz is also a right winger, poised to fill the gap in the depth chart left by the inevitable departure of Jesse Puljujärvi. There’s no guessing where the Oilers go with this pick but if Del Bel Belluz is going to go high, he’s going to go to the Oilers.

30. Winnipeg Jets (from New York Rangers): Reid Schaefer, LW, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)

Reid Schaefer is undoubtedly the shocker of this mock draft. But there’s always one on draft day. And there are serious rumblings that teams love Schaefer’s size and ability to fit into a scheme seamlessly. The Jets don’t have much in the way of a precedent with their picks — not helped by the fact that this is their first draft with two First round picks since 2016 — but Schaefer’s ‘coach’s-favorite’ style should compliment the middle-six they’re building.

Owen Pickering is another player I could see them snagging, opting for size on the blue-line.

31. Tampa Bay Lightning: Filip Mešár, C, HK Poprad (Tipsport Extraliga)

After a slurry of picks based on little more than vibes, we finally get back to bona fide rumors. The Lightning like Mešár, according to a handful of sources out of Slovakia. It seems they aren’t certain he’ll fall but, if he does, they’ll be jumping on him quickly. These reports came before the NHL Combine as well, where Mešár was undoubtedly one of, if not thee, most impressive players. He’s a built center with the tenacity to play anywhere in an NHL lineup. There are some questions about his offensive upside at the NHL level but those should be easily ironed out by the team that turned Yanni Gourde into what he is today. This is a match made in heaven and Tampa knows it.

32. Arizona Coyotes (from Colorado Avalanche): Seamus Casey, LD, USNTDP U18 (NTDP)

It’s a bit meta to have Arizona picking three players from the NTDP in the first round. Sure Bill Armstrong loves his NTDP but definitely not enough to take three players from the same team, right? And yet, the vibe (oh no we’re back to it) feels so right. Cooley is a name they’ve been locked to all year long, Snuggerud’s gritty offense matches the pace of their rebuild, and now Seamus Casey’s boundless offense but questionable next steps line up well with previous Coyotes defensemen. They’ve never been the type of team to sacrifice ceiling for floor at the defensive position, pulling in high-potential but low-certainty names like Victor Soderstrom and Jakob Chychrun. Casey fits into that ‘ambiguous offensive defenseman’ setting well and just so happens to be from the NTDP.

If the Coyotes want to prioritize a floor, Owen Pickering may be the better choice. Or maybe they go for the risky Luneau instead. But Casey’s flashy offense feels like something they’d love to include.

That concludes my 2022 Mock NHL Draft! Thank you for reading, make sure to follow me on Twitter (@NHLFoley) for future content!

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By Gabriel Foley

Gabriel Foley is Recruit Scouting's Head of North American scouting and has over four years of experience intimately covering the USHL and the NHL Draft. He was previously a veteran NHL and MLB beat writer, having worked closely with both leagues since 2014. For more of Gabe's work, check him out on Twitter: @NHLFoley.