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ESPN staff
The 2022 NHL draft is finally here! From the first round (Thursday, ESPN), all the way to pick No. 225, this page will be your home for tracking every selection, including notes on team fit for the 32 players taken in the first round from Kristen Shilton and Greg Wyshynski.
The first night of the draft got off to an exciting start, as the Ottawa Senators acquired winger Alex DeBrincat from the Chicago Blackhawks for the No. 7 pick, No. 39 pick and a third-round pick in 2024.
Follow along as the draft unfolds:
More: Final mock draft
Prospect rankings
Biggest draft questions
Team: TPS (FINLAND) | Rank: INTS1
DOB: 3/30/2004 | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 218 | Shot: L
Stats: GP: 31 | G: 5 | A: 5
How he fits: Shane Wright was the de facto No. 1 pick for years leading up to this draft. Fans of teams looking to tank tweeted #PainForShane. But in the end, it’s the Slovakian winger who goes first overall. The 6-3 winger made a spectacular impression in international play at the Beijing Winter Olympics and the world championships. He’s not going to run over anybody despite his size; it’s his speed that makes him exceptional. This is a pick about what Juraj Slafkovsky can become, not for what he is. As one draft observer told me recently, he has “all the tools without the toolbox” at the moment. But his ceiling is high — high enough, it seems, for the Canadiens to opt not to do the Wright thing. — Wyshynski
Team: Nitra (SLOVAKIA) | Rank: INTS3
DOB: 2/15/2004 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 190 | Shot: R
Stats: GP: 39 | G: 1 | A: 25
How he fits: With Slafkovsky off the board, the Devils passed over centers Shane Wright and Logan Cooley to select puck-moving defenseman Nemec. That’s back-to-back Slovaks in the top two picks, and they were 2022 Olympic teammates. Nemec is a right-handed defenseman who was considered one of the “plug-and-play” options in the top 10 for his NHL-readiness. He had six points in eight games at the world championship, and played three seasons as a pro in Slovakia. This is the fourth time in the past five years the Devils have drafted a defenseman in the first round after Luke Hughes (2021), Shakir Mukhamadullin (2020) and Ty Smith (2018). With Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer, the Devils may have believed they were set at center. With Nemec joining those young defensemen and star Dougie Hamilton, they’re solidifying the back end. — Wyshynski
Team: US U-18 (NTDP) | Rank: NAS2
DOB: 5/4/2004 | Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 174 | Shot: L
Stats: GP: 51 | G: 27 | A: 48
How he fits: The Coyotes had their pick of centers Shane Wright and Logan Cooley. They opted for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program product in Cooley, as Wright’s plummet continued. In the past, Cooley’s 5-10 frame might have been a hindrance. Not in today’s NHL. The strong two-way center cites Patrick Kane as an inspiration for his play, but admits he needs some work on his long-range shooting to hit that level of goal-scorer. The Coyotes need … well, everything. In Cooley, they get a player who has more offensive upside than Wright, according to many scouts. He had 75 points in 51 games this season. — Wyshynski
Team: Kingston (OHL) | Rank: NAS1
DOB: 1/5/2004 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 191 | Shot: R
Stats: GP: 63 | G: 32 | A: 62
How he fits: Wright’s slide to No. 4 had to feel excruciating. For years, the Kingston Frontenacs center was projected to be this draft’s top prospect. He was just the sixth player to ever be granted exceptional status in the OHL and put up 39 goals and 66 points in 58 games as a 15-year-old freshman en route to winning rookie of the year.
After the COVID-19 pandemic cost him all of the 2020-21 season, he returned in 2021-22 with an underwhelming start that produced only 22 points in 19 games. He finished strong with 94 points in 63 games but many scouts (rightly) began predicting Wright had opened the door for others to unseat him as the consensus No. 1. That’s exactly what happened. New Jersey had the No. 2 and didn’t need another center; Arizona went with a different center at No. 3.
The Kraken finally pulled Wright off the board. While not a generational talent, Wright has the potential to develop into a No. 1 center. At 6-0 and 191 pounds, Wright possesses good size and is a strong skater who’s impressively elusive with quickness to beat defenders to pucks. Add to that excellent hockey sense, outstanding playmaking ability and finish around the net.
No doubt his slide down the draft board will motivate Wright when he does reach the NHL. And he’s likely closer to being NHL-ready than most No. 4 picks. That’s good news for the expansion Kraken, who can mold Wright into a franchise centerpiece. — Shilton
Team: US U-18 (NTDP) | Rank: NAS3
DOB: 1/19/2004 | Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 189 | Shot: L
Stats: GP: 54 | G: 34 | A: 31
How he fits: Finally, some predictability! Gauthier was tabbed for the Flyers here in most mock drafts. He’s a 6-2 forward with an incredible shot release who played with Logan Cooley on the development team. He drives the net well. He’s no slouch defensively, and knows how to use his frame to win puck battles along the boards. Also his name is Cutter and he’s a member of the Philadelphia Flyers, which just seems perfect for some reason. — Wyshynski
Team: Plzen (CZREP) | Rank: INTS4
DOB: 11/28/2003 | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 189 | Shot: R
Stats: GP: 29 | G: 5 | A: 6
How he fits: The Blue Jackets have to be happy Jiricek fell to them at No. 6. Some scouts considered him the best defender in this draft class, even over Nemec. Jiricek is another big, right-shot defender with a heavy shot and physical edge. The 18-year-old has offensive potential too, with five goals and 11 points in 29 games with Plzen HC last season. The Blue Jackets’ back end has needed a face-lift since losing Seth Jones in a trade prior to last year’s draft — and ironically, Columbus used one of the picks acquired in that move to bring in Jiriceck, who could become a blue-line cornerstone. — Shilton
Team: Seattle (WHL) | Rank: NAS7
DOB: 6/21/2004 | Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 185 | Shot: L
Stats: GP: 67 | G: 4 | A: 61
How he fits: The first big mover on the draft board. Many felt that Korchinski would fall just outside the top 10, but his name was getting mentioned with frequency by draft insiders as someone who could rocket up the board. The Blackhawks acquired this pick from the Senators in the Alex DeBrincat trade, and used it on Korchinski, a 6-2 left-handed defenseman. He’s got a ton of offensive upside, as shown in his 65-point season in 67 games. The Blackhawks are in a teardown. Korchinski can be an important piece in building back up. — Wyshynski
Team: Rogle (SWEDEN) | Rank: INTS5
DOB: 4/8/2004 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 183 | Shot: L
Stats: GP: 46 | G: 7 | A: 4
How he fits: Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman got his man in Austrian skater Kasper, who was considered the top European center in this year’s draft class. Kasper, 18, cut his teeth last season in the SHL, and produced seven goals and 11 points against tough competition. He’s a high-motor guy who can excel in the cycle game, and protects the puck well. Kasper’s offensive numbers may not jump off the page but what he lacks in flash he makes up for with good decision-making, defensive edge and competitiveness. Feels like a good fit for the Motor City — Shilton
Team: Winnipeg (WHL) | Rank: NAS4
DOB: 1/1/2004 | Ht: 5-9 | Wt: 175 | Shot: R
Stats: GP: 65 | G: 35 | A: 55
How he fits: One of the most talented offensive players in the draft. He’s got a great combination of speed and skill, and had 90 points in 65 games last season for the Winnipeg Ice. A terrific passer with a solid wrist shot while in stride. Savoie joins a growing collection of talented forwards to go along with potential franchise defenseman Owen Power on the back end. — Wyshynski
Team: Saginaw (OHL) | Rank: NAS6
DOB: 11/25/2003 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 197 | Shot: L
Stats: GP: 67 | G: 17 | A: 45
How he fits: There was a lot of speculation that the Ducks would end up with Kevin Korchinski here. The Blackhawks took him at No. 7, so Anaheim went with the next highest left-side defenseman in Mintyukov. He’s a solid offensive defenseman, with terrific passing skills through traffic. His 62 points in 67 games for Saginaw last season included 45 assists. — Wyshynski
Team: Winnipeg (WHL) | Rank: NAS5
DOB: 5/5/2004 | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 196 | Shot: L
Stats: GP: 63 | G: 24 | A: 46
How he fits: Arizona would not be denied drafting Conor Geekie. The Coyotes traded for San Jose’s No. 11 overall pick in exchange for picks No. 27, No. 34 and No. 45. Why not? Geekie is a great choice. The 6-3 center had 24 goals and 70 points in 63 games with the WHL’s Winnipeg Ice last season. He’s still a raw talent, but with great potential, possessing a unique skill set that has mixed size and speed to excellent returns in his junior hockey career. He’ll have a great sounding board in older brother Morgan, a center for the Kraken, when the time comes for his own transition to the pros. — Shilton
Team: Moose Jaw (WHL) | Rank: NAS14
DOB: 7/12/2004 | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 188 | Shot: L
Stats: GP: 65 | G: 13 | A: 51
How he fits: Interesting pick here for the Blue Jackets. Mateychuk wasn’t projected to go quite this high. But with Korchinski and Mintyukov off the board — and Columbus’ desire to go defense — Mateychuk was the choice. He loves to get involved in the play, sometimes so much so that it becomes a detriment in overcommitting. The key will be to figure out when to lead the rush and when to be more conservative. But that’s correctable. His defensive game is good and he has a high hockey IQ. The Columbus back end was gutted when the team traded Seth Jones and David Savard away in recent years. It looks a lot better now with David Jiricek and Denton Mateychuk ready to join Zach Werenski and Adam Boqvist. — Wyshynski
Team: US U-18 (NTDP) | Rank: NAS21
DOB: 1/14/2004 | Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 175 | Shot: R
Stats: GP: 56 | G: 28 | A: 42
How he fits: Chicago plucked another U.S. national team development program player in Nazar. What the Detroit native lacks in size, he makes up for in tenacity, speed and agility. Nazar showed off his explosive potential popping in 28 goals and 70 points in 56 games, and was reliably relentless in every facet of his game. Nazar’s instincts stand out too, in the way he can feel and elude pressure from defensemen to create space. Nazar could develop into an impactful top-six skater for the Blackhawks as he continues adding strength and honing the skills in his repertoire. He’s similar in ways to the player Chicago traded away earlier in the day, Alex DeBrincat. The Blackhawks would be lucky to see Nazar grow into a similar kind of difference-maker. — Shilton
Team: US U-18 (NTDP) | Rank: NAS22
DOB: 3/30/2004 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 200 | Shot: L
Stats: GP: 54 | G: 35 | A: 34
How he fits: The Jets selected McGroarty surprisingly high at No. 14. But there’s a lot to like about the Lincoln, Nebraska native. On the ice, he plays a rugged power forward game that draws comparisons to Matthew Tkachuk. McGroarty brings leadership potential as well from captaining the USNTDP program. He pocketed 35 goals and 69 points in 54 games last season, which represented a significant jump in his development (19 points in 30 games) from the previous campaign. McGroarty’s combination of size, physicality and skill fits Winnipeg’s style. — Shilton
Team: Djurgarden (SWEDEN) | Rank: INTS6
DOB: 7/24/2004 | Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 165 | Shot: R
Stats: GP: 26 | G: 7 | A: 2
How he fits: Lekkerimaki could have easily been a top-10 pick in this draft. He had 15 points in eight games to lead the under-18 world championship, including five goals. His shot is his greatest asset, and uses it well on special teams, but he can also move the puck well. He had just 26 games of pro experience in his first SHL season, so he needs a little more time to cook. But his offensive ceiling his high. Huh, a Swedish prospect drafted by a front office that features Patrick Allvin and the Sedins? Go figure. — Wyshynski
Team: Djurgarden Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) | Rank: INTS18
DOB: 3/11/2004 | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 163 | Shot: L
Stats: GP: 32 | G: 9 | A: 33
How he fits: Buffalo used the pick it acquired trading Jack Eichel to Vegas on center Noah Ostlund. The 18-year-old lit it up with Djurgardens of the Swedish Jr. Hockey League last season, posting nine goals and 42 points in 32 games. He didn’t have the same success in a stint with Djurgarden’s top team, adding zero points in 11 games, a disparity that contributed to Ostlund being a somewhat polarizing prospect. He’s got great speed, agility and creative playmaking ability, but has gaps to fill in his consistency and reliability before making a jump to the pros. The skill is there though, which has to excite the Sabres. — Shilton
Team: JYP (FINLAND) | Rank: INTS2
DOB: 4/27/2004 | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 171 | Shot: R
Stats: GP: 39 | G: 15 | A: 8