It’s now 2022 and while the draft is still a bit of a ways away I decided I’d try to predict it and look like a genius in the process, so I ran my own lotto and used my (lack of) big brain powers to accurately depict the draft.

 

#1 – Minnesota: Shane Wright

For the second year in a row the Wild win the lotto, Steve’s team is crawling with good young d-men along with having a future starter in Knight. What this team lacks is a true star forward and Shane Wright fills that need. One of the SHL’s scarier looking rebuilds with this pick.

#2 – Pittsburgh: Matthew Savoie

First off, Jules, clean that prospect list up. I know that was more Matt than you, but pitter patter get at er. Anyways Jules has a lot of well rounded forwards on her squad. I think a pure point producer like Savoie could be just what her squad needs. Tkachuk and Norris are both producing at pretty damn good clips this year, but I’d say Savoie’s point ceiling tops theirs.

#3 – Ottawa: Joakim Kemell

For me this is the interesting part of the draft, as is I think Wright and Savoie have earned the #1 and #2 spots. At this point there is a wide selection of players that could go in any order. In Ottawa’s case I think swinging for the fences is the best strategy. Kemell has the chance to be a pure point producing forward, has an excellent shot and has showcased it well in the Liiga with 12 goals in 21 games, along with 8 assists. Could form a dynamic wing duo with Raymond in a couple of seasons.

#4 – Seattle: Logan Cooley

Seattle will likely pick the best all-around player available to start their franchise and at this point it looks like Cooley. A great two-way player with excellent vision and good motor. Might not have the superstar upside of the players picked ahead of him but he would be a solid top 6 option for Seattle.

#5 – Washington: Danila Yurov

After a lot of deliberation, I think the Caps would go with Yurov at this spot over the 2 d-men available, with Heiskanen already a stud there and other specs like Broberg and Lambos there (probably more but sooooo many prospects on that list) . Yurov is a solid two-way wing who plays a physical game, but also shows promising offensive upside, which is showcased in his 13 points in 7 MHL games. Has played in 21 KHL games with no points. A good motor and good brain for the game. Could be a nice duo with Nico in a few years

#6 – New Jersey: Simon Nemec

New Jersey just needs to add young talent, and I think Nemec would be a welcomed addition. Even after drating Power last year, I think New Jersey should go with the best player left on the board, even if it is a d-man. Nemec is a two-way d-man who shows great poise and intelligence for a d-man so young.

#7 – St.Louis: Juraj Slafkovsky

The Kakko over Hughes decision will likely haunt the Blues for a bit, Pete will try to right to get the ship back on course and I think drafting Slafkovsky is a great start. A big winger who is mobile with offensive upside, Slafkovsky has big potential. He has struggles in the Liiga this year with only 4 points in 20 games, but in the U20 SM-sarja he has 18 points in 11 games. Likely a project but one that could pay off big time.

#8 – Edmonton: David Jiricek

Jaime could go in many different directions with this pick as he has some good young forwards and d-men alreay, I think he decides on Jiricek though. Jiricek has some high upside with good offensive instincts, a big shot, and loves to make big hits. In my opinion he’s not nearly as a safe bet as Nemec, but has the higher upside. For the sim at least.

#9 – Vancouver: Ivan Miroshnichenko

One of the more polarizing prospects, some rankings have him as high as 2 and as low as 30. One thing is certain, this kid has some high upside. The tools are there. Size, speed, a great shot, he could be a steal at this point in the draft. The big thing with Miroshnichenko is consistency and effort level. He has been solid in VHL with 6 goals and 6 assists. A big boom or bust type of guy really. I could see him being drafted anywhere from 3-10. Philippe starts his rebuild with a potential star talent. There is only 1 other player I think in the top 10 which could be a bigger boom or bust potentially..

#10 – Tampa Bay: Brad Lambert

This kid is really confusing. Was pretty good in the Liiga last year as a 16/17 year old with 15 points in 46 games. This year has only 6 points in 24 games, falls down the rankings, then tears up in 2 games at the WJC and shoots up some draft boards again. So, who’s the real Brad Lambert? Lambert has been accused of being a player who plays on the perimeter too much, but at the WJC showed glimpses of the opposite, mind you in a very small sample size. I think this is a solid gamble for Ryan. Far better than Brunner at 2nd overall ;).

#11 – San Jose: Frank Nazar III

Tough to say what Luc will do with this pick as the Sharks have a ton of young talent, but I think Nazar would be a great pick. Nazar  has great speed to go with offensive skill and a high effort game. Nazar might not be a top liner, but he could be a great 2nd liner for the Sharks in the future.

#12 – Vegas: Conor Geekie

Vegas has plenty of young d-men, so a forward makes sense here. Geekie is a prospect whos shows a lot of promise with good size with high end offensive tools. There is a glaring issue with him though, which is his skating. With the NHL becoming a much faster league there is the question of can Geekie improve his skating enough to be able to keep up? Time will tell. If it does improve, than Vegas gets a great player.

#13 – Detroit: Issac Howard

Rough year for Rich and his wings, but getting Howard is a nice prize. Howard has been described as an “offensive dynamo” with great vision, shot, hands, and great skating ability. Defensive effort is questionable at times and he needs to get stronger, but overall a prospect with a lot of promise.

#14 – Montreal: Marco Kasper

50/50 shot that Rod leaves this pick to the auto gods, I think Kasper would be a good fit. Solid two-way forward. Might not have elite 1C upside but a player who can be a good 2C.

#15 – Winnipeg: Filip Mesar

Dear God Spencer, please clean that prospect list up. Anyways with an aging forward core I think a guy like Mesar would be ideal for the Jets, a solid potential top 6 forward. Some flaws playing through traffic but otherwise a ton of upside if he can put it all together.

#16 – Islanders: Seamus Casey

Islanders have some decent rfa forward and d-men, but I think Casey is a good pick here. A good puck moving two-way d-man, Casey has excellent IQ and some impressive tools to be an NHLer, but he needs to bulk up on his slender frame in order to maximize his potential.

Flame away.