Scott Wheeler's final ranking of the 2022 NHL Draft's top 100 prospects (2024)

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Welcome to my 2022 NHL Draft board.

This top 100 ranking (plus its 88 honourable mentions) is my fifth and final list for this year’s draft class, after myearly top 22, September’spreseason top 32, November’s preliminary top 64, and February’s midseason top 64.

While I consult scouts, coaches, managers and agents throughout the year on most of these players, these rankings are my own, will vary widely from those of most NHL teams, and do not attempt to predict the draft (there will likely even be a small number of players on my list who aren’t picked at all). This year-end project annually includes exhaustive player evaluations for the entire top 100 prospects and quotes gathered from industry sources on many of them. It will be packaged witha look at 10 prospectswho missed the cut (out June 8),a live room Q&Asession (hosted at noon ET on June 9) and my mock draft (out June 13).For more information on how I evaluate, the things I look for and my process, check out the 2022 update of my guide to scouting.

My final ranking for the 2022 class is made up of 68 forwards, 32 defencemen and zero goalies. This is the first time in my five years doing this work atThe Athleticthat no goalies have appeared on my final list (there was one in 2018, six in 2019, four in 2020, and two in 2021). I will touch on this year’s crop of goalies in my final thoughts column before the draft.

For a better sense of the demographics of this year’s top 100, I have broken down the ranking by nationality below, including a weighted look at the strength of each country’s players across several tiers.

Though the splits look about the same as they usually do, this draft board is more diverse in terms of the total number of countries represented (10) than at any point in the nine years I’ve now done this work, a credit to a class that features worthwhile late first and/or second-round picks from each of Austria, Germany and Switzerland, as well as the best Slovak age group in a generation.

In light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — and the uncertainty it raises about NHL control over the prospects who are playing there now and into the future — I have, in an effort to reflect the way that NHL teams are thinking about Russian prospects as they finalize their own boards, made an adjustment to how I ranked Russian skaters for this list, sliding each to the bottom of their respective tiers in the ranking, in essence moving them below similarly-ranked players until a drop-off in the list presented itself. For this year’s board, those tiers were: 1-5, 6-12, 13-28, 29-66, 67-91, and 92+.

On the whole, this year’s draft class is weaker than usual at the top but has grown on me in terms of depth (in large part, I think, due to the smaller book I had on these kids coming in following lost seasons a year ago, and the longer amount of time it took me to get to know some of the B and C grade prospects). That final cliff beginning in the 90s on this year’s list is about half a dozen players past where it typically is.

Note: All listed heights, weights and positions are according to NHL Central Scouting (with heights rounded up or down according to their decimal and positions adjusted occasionally where I can confirm otherwise).

1.Shane Wright — C, Kingston Frontenacs, 6-foot

Still my top prospect in this class (though no longer in a tier of his own), Wright is an athletic kid who boasts a wide gait and boxy shoulders that balance him over pucks. Those physical tools are complemented by a lethal wrist shot release (which he can get off from several stances and pops off of his blade’s heel or toe) and quick hands in traffic that allow him to take pucks off of the wall and create scoring chances to the interior. He’s also one of the most diligent three-zone players in the draft, with a powerful stride that helps him push play up ice (though its power is more evident the length of the sheet than from a standstill into a quick foot race) when he’s done providing support low in his zone or above the puck.

While his shot is his biggest weapon inside the offensive zone (I actually think he was owed a few more goals than his 35 on 290 shots this season gave him), he played a much more creative game inside the offensive zone into the second half. He blends versatile skill with a heady, detailed game that will allow him to drive a line and be relied upon in all situations down the middle at the next level. There are times when scouts want to see him play with a little more fire and feistiness to really take over games and impose himself on the forecheck/in battles more, but his eye for detail off the puck puts him in a supportive role more often than an active chase and that’s fine.

I would have liked to see him hang onto the puck a little more this season, but he played with talented linemates where his ability to play into their strengths and execute off of give-and-go’s worked. He’s got pro tools and projects as an impactful top-six centre. He may not become a point per game player, but I see 30-goal, 70-point upside at a premium position.

More:

• What makes Shane Wright special? Everyone who knows him can explain
• Behind Shane Wright’s exceptional life as hockey’s best 15-year-old

2. Simon Nemec — RHD, HK Nitra, 6-foot

This kid turned 18 in the middle of February and he’s already registered 65 points in 112 games at a professional level as a defenceman! Nemec’s statistical profile is as strong as any draft-eligible defenceman we’ve seen in recent years — and strongerthan any player in this draft class. A poll of NHL scouts still gives Czech defenceman David Jiricek the slight edge, but I’d argue Nemec only further stamped what I believe to be the better case with his exceptional, record-setting play in Nitra’s playoff run and into the men’s world championships.This is a kid who has looked a class above his peers whenever he’s played with them, has excelled against NHLers on the senior stage, and is already a top player at his position in his top domestic league (albeit a difficult one to evaluate).

Nemec is a calculated and poised three-zone defender who is capable of organizing play from the top of the zone, executing through seams in coverage at a high level, and starting and leading his fair share of rushes.He’s got great edges and four-way mobility. And he also regularly flashes sneaky deception, which blends beautifully with his rare maturity for his age. Though I wouldn’t say he’s a dynamic, game-breaking type offensively, I see plenty of calmness and talent, he knows when and how to push (and when and how to sit back and defend), he’s already got pro size, he plays a polished game, and he’s a righty. I expect him to become the best defenceman out of Slovakia since Zdeno Chara and a true No. 2 (and maybe even No. 1) guy who plays an effective, efficient, play-driving modern game. The game just comes easy to him.

3. Logan Cooley — C, U.S. NTDP, 5-foot-10

Cooley is a beautiful, flowing skater capable of beating defenders off the mark, circling the zone to get defenders watching him with the puck, and manipulate them with his footwork and maneuverability in tight spaces. He’s got an uncanny ability to side-step and hop around oncoming players at speed. He’s got a great sixth sense for timing and spacing around the offensive zone which frees him to accept passes or jumps him onto rebounds. He regularly flashes skill to the inside, slicing to the middle and pulling pucks through or around defenders. He’s also a Swiss Army knife player who combines NHL speed and skill with a working attitude to push the pace, make plays, win races, stay involved, and get onto the ice in all situations.

I love his tempo and feel for the game out there. His touch with the puck and hands both get high grades, his skating (particularly his change of pace) and energy level are both differentiators, and those things make for a pretty compelling package. You won’t find a scout who doesn’t like him, either. The transition game into the offensive zone. The vision off the wall. He can play interior or exterior. He’s incredibly crafty in control. He can stickhandle in a phone booth. He creates problems for defencemen attacking on angles and shifting at speed. He also has a scrappiness to his game that keeps him in the fight.

Here’s outgoing NTDP head coach Adam Nightingale on Cooley: “He does a lot of things away from the puck and he’s a guy that’s keyed on by other teams and he finds a way to be great on both sides of the puck on every shift.”

More: Behind Logan Cooley, the 2022 NHL Draft’s — and Pittsburgh’s — humble star in the making

4. Matthew Savoie—C, Winnipeg Ice, 5-foot-9

There isn’t a player in this draft class whose game thrills more than Savoie’s does when he’s firing. Inside the offensive zone, he’s lethal. He’s got extremely quick side-to-side hands that help him beat defenders one-on-one off of cuts. He’s got an NHL shot (which he can place with pinpoint accuracy from a bad angle and rip by a goalie clean from a distance, but he also loves to change up and slide five-hole). He does an excellent job creating plays to the slot out of traffic. He’s a burning skater with explosiveness that allows him to win races, separate in transition, and put defenders onto their heels, or dash through holes in coverage to the net (or draw a penalty). He’s a soft small-area passer who blends deception into his movements.

And then on top of those things, he’s got a bit of a chip on his shoulder. He’s always engaged, he keeps his feet moving, he plays with a ton of energy, and he finishes all of his checks and knocks his fair share of players over despite being on the smaller side). He’s also sturdier on his feet than his frame might suggest, which helps him play between checks. I see a dynamic, high-tempo, top-six, goal-creating package. He’s an exciting talent in a draft that’s short on them, with clear PP1 upside due to his shooting-skill package and clear five-on-five upside because of his skating and motor. Even in games where the points don’t fall, he’s almost always dangerous and threatening on the ice — and he’s seldom going to leave you wanting more. After suffering a shoulder injury in the playoffs, Savoie is also now out of his sling, which is positive news for the summer ahead.

More: For 2022 NHL Draft ‘offensive dynamo’ Matt Savoie, stardom has always been inevitable

5. Juraj Slafkovsky — LW, TPS, 6-foot-4

Slafkovsky is one of the draft’s most tantalizing prospects, with a skill-size combo that scouts and coaches clamour for and he has already demonstrated against pro competition domestically and, more notably, internationally. It has been a big year for him. Nine points in five games and a historic silver medal for the Slovaks at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. An Olympic bronze medal as the tournament’s MVP. A Liiga silver medal with his club team, TPS. A team-leading nine points at the men’s worlds.

Slafkovsky is built like a power forward, with a 218-pound frame that makes him one of the draft’s heaviest players, but he plays the game with uncharacteristic finesse, regularly flashing hands you’d expect out of a smaller player one-on-one to pull pucks in tight to his feet.He’s also got a rangy, fluid stride, which makes him a surprisingly dangerous rush player — and impressive confidence with the puck on his stick, which enables him to hang onto it (sometimes to a fault) and attack off the wall into the slot (he loves taking the puck from the half wall to the home plate area to shoot from his forehand. The team that drafts him will be betting on his upside, which grades at or near the very top of this class.

I’m also a big fan of his approach. He has continued to play his style and look to attack in control (a lot of forwards his size become more deferential and fall back into give-and-go habits to fit a mould when they make the jump to the pro level) as he has played against higher and higher competition. There is, despite his makeup and success, some risk associated with his projection at his size (small players aren’t the only ones who carry size-based limitations with them!) though, and that, combined with how much I like the four players I have slotted ahead of him here, does leave me a little lower on him than where he’ll be picked, even if there’s a real chance he becomes one of the two or three best players out of this draft.

6. David Jiricek — RHD, HC Plzen, 6-foot-3

After suffering a knee injury at the world juniors, Jiricek returned in time to play with the Czechia men’s national team ahead of and into men’s worlds in their April and May international schedule, an important series of games which helped him reaffirm to NHL clubs that the layoff wouldn’t impact him. Before the injury, he was a big part of a top team in the Tipsport Extraliga, contributing at both ends and driving possession and scoring results for the second consecutive season while playing more than 18 minutes a game.

Hehas some extremely desirable attributes, marked by one of — if not the— hardest point shots in the draft (it’s a bomb, and he does a really good job keeping it on target and a few feet off the ice), a strong, athletic 6-foot-3 frame, and a more commanding on-ice presence than Nemec’s.He’s a strong and sturdy defender who plays a staunch man-to-man style, moves his feet well for his size, and thrives in transition with his ability to both close out on gaps with his length through neutral ice andlead a ton of rushes as a puck transporter. Offensively, he’s also a capable handler and distributor whose point shot is complemented by an aggressive approach.

His game isn’t as tactile as Nemec’s, but he’s more than just an athletically gifted, hard-shooting, attacking (offensively and defensively) defender. There are also some subtleties to his game (passes that are almost never off-target, a sneaky-silky first touch, etc.). But his modus operandi is that he’s a confident, active, engaged three-zone player who has all of the tools you look for in a top defender. As he continues to smooth out and polish his game, it’s hard to imagine he doesn’t become, at the very least, a top-four guy. And if he hits the right notes along his development path, his ceiling will be very high. He’s hard not to get excited about, even if I prefer Nemec’s style.

7. Joakim Kemell — RW, JYP, 5-foot-11

After exploding out of the gate to lead Liiga in scoring through the first third of the season, Kemell’s production hit a bit of a wall in the second half with JYP, a bottom-0f-the-table team. Some of that had to do with poor puck luck (his shot generation remained high), some of it was a reduction in his ice time, and some of it was just the reality that he wasn’t going to be a point-per-game producer in his draft year. He helped assuage some doubts with a six-goal, eight-point U18 worlds performance (though I thought he came and went in the middle of group play, he was excellent in the medal round).

Kemell remains one of the more gifted individual creators in this draft class. He’s a slick, play-creating winger who excels in possession, carves teams up through coverage to take the play from the flanks to the interior, and possesses quick, light hands. Those tools enable him to take advantage of his dangerous wrister, which he can get off quickly from a variety of stances and at a variety of tempos.

On the puck, he’s agile through cuts and changes of direction and plays an intentional, attacking style. Off of the puck, he also plays with a lot of energy and doesn’t shy away from the physical side of the game, which has endeared him to coaches despite his 5-foot-11 frame. I’d like to see him slow down and utilize his linemates a little better than he does as he’s actually a heady playmaker, but part of what makes him so exciting is his insistence on creating his own looks (even if that comes with some forcing it) with that shot of his. He really can sling it, with a wrister and one-timer that both pop.

8. Brad Lambert— C/RW, Pelicans, 6-foot-1

One of the top prospects in this age group for years, Lambert struggled out of the gate this season due to a combination of injury, illness, his own play, and the struggles of his team. Then, in search of a reset after flashing his skill at the short-lived world juniors, he left JYP, his team of the last two seasons, to return to the Pelicans, the team he was brought up in (and, at year’s end, an agency move as well). He was better than his numbers (the four goals on 132 shots in Liiga for a 3 percent shooting percentage reveal that much, and so does a close examination of his looks) for sure, but the inconsistency of his play and the mid-season move raised more questions than answers.

Still, Lambert is undeniably one of the most gifted players in this class. When he’s feeling good, he’s fearless with the puck, makes a ton of plays in control, and looks to dictate in possession. He also has both the hands and the skating to create (each of which grade out at the top of the draft). He’s got excellent control of his outside edges which allow him to carve up coverage on cutbacks and carries.

He’s slippery because of his ability to spin away from his man and make a play. He’s a good passer off his backhand. Some scouts worry about Lambert’s game without the puck in terms of both his intensity off of it and his ability to make things happen offensively when he’s not getting a ton of touches. With it, though, Lambert’s a multi-faceted threat who blends impressive puck skill with good all-around skating mechanics and an attack mentality that complements a dangerous curl-and-drag shot (which also complements the short stick he uses).

He plays pucks into space beautifully, gets to the interior (against his peers, at least), splits lanes, cuts off the wall aggressively (though again, more often against his peers than pros), and has a low base to his stride that allows him to extend plays (though he does have a bit of a hunch to his posture, which can put him off balance). He’s excellent on the point and half wall on the power play because of his puck skill, dangerous wrister off the flank and playmaking instincts but he’s going to have to make plays more consistently at even strength to fulfill his top-six upside. Even after everything, I thought about ranking him a couple of spots higher than this.

9. Jonathan Lekkerimäki— RW, Djurgårdens IF, 5-foot-11

Lekkerimäki had quite the draft year, with some beautiful goals in arguably the third-best pro league in the world, a Globe Trotters feel at the J20 level with linemates Liam Öhgren and Noah Östlund (who will both also be first rounders), and a brilliant 15-point performance at U18 worlds. This included four in Sweden’s stunning gold medal win over the Americans. He’s got one of the quickest catch-and-release motions in the draft. He’s dynamic in control and threatening from anywhere in the offensive zone. He can beat you in an instant or hang onto pucks and make things happen himself. He’s got a knack for hitting holes in the net, frequently beating goalies low-blocker and five-hole. He’s got A-level hands, a deceptive release, and a slyness to his game that allows him to get to spots to score with and without the puck. With the right development and patience, he’s got clear upside as a top-six creator and finisher. His game can drift to the perimeter at times, but he’s got the skill to play that way. You want the puck in his hands. Mix in a late-July birthday, his rapid progression, and an ability to put the puck in the net with consistency from mid range and he’s one of the draft’s top forwards.

10. Isaac Howard — LW, U.S. NTDP, 5-foot-10

Howard’s a top-10 talent who will likely be available into the teens and maybe even the 20s. And while I can typically see and understand why and where the consensus diverges from my view of a player, he’s one that the more I watch, the less I understand the case against. Though he’s “short,” he’s a long way from small, with a muscular build that makes him sturdy on his feet. That stocky frame doesn’t slow him down either. He’s got some of the quicker crossover acceleration in the draft, with a hurried stride that cranks its way up ice to give him translatable speed. And after arriving at the program as an all-offence player, his effort level and tenaciousness really became hallmarks of his game, further muting any (misplaced) size concerns that might exist.

He’s one of the more dangerous players in the draft with the puck and yet he’s even more dangerous off of it, with a scorer’s sixth sense for alwaysarriving just on time in Grade-A locations (whether that’s hiding in coverage or just staying around the puck at the net). He makes a lot of plays under the triangles of defenders’ sticks, he navigates in and out of holes in traffic like few others in this class in possession, and when he’s in attack mode taking pucks from a standstill into the middle of the ice to create looks, he’s a ton of fun to watch and forces opposing players to reach in on him (which draws a lot of penalties).

He’s creative. He tries things (occasionally at the offensive zone blue line that he shouldn’t but gets away with) and usually executes. I’m a big believer in Howard. He’s lethal in the home-plate area and has some of the better hands and instincts in the draft. He’s always going to have PP utility but he’s also impactful enough offensively at five-on-five to warrant a top-six projection, even if he doesn’t have the premiums of size or position.

More: With top 2022 NHL Draft prospect Isaac Howard, they don’t ask ‘how?’ — they ask ‘how many?’

11. Frank Nazar — C, U.S. NTDP, 5-foot-10

Few dash around the ice and make plays in this draft like Nazar does. Nazar turned me into a big fan last season and he has continued to add layers to his game. He’s a threatening player from the hashmarks because of his wrister, which he pops off of his stick with power and precision thanks in large part to the balance he displays through his weight shift (he’s not a particularly strong kid). He’s got quick hands, which help him deftly adjust in traffic to get shots off under pressure.

He flashes creativity throughout his game. He plays pucks into space as well as anyone in the draft, regularly executing through tight gaps in coverage. And he’s just a hungry, driven player who consistently targets the middle lane with his greatest asset: his skating. Nazar’s one of the fastest players in the draft, not only in straight lines and winding up through his crossovers, but also adjusting tempos (a learned skill that he really developed at U.S. NTDP). This allows him to impact play both with the puck attacking in transition to turn defenders or creating breakaways, as well as without it, speeding into lanes to get open for his linemates.

He also consistently supports the play high in the offensive zone without possession when that’s his role. He can be careless with the puck and try to do too much at times but he’s also capable of going right into coverage to make something happen. He’s still got some work to do to add muscle, but he’s an extremely gifted athlete who moves and does things on the ice that few can.

More: With a quiet drive and ‘second to none’ speed, top 2022 NHL Draft prospect Frank Nazar has arrived

12. Danila Yurov — LW/RW, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, 6-foot-1

The first Russian to appear on my list, Yurov’s a player that I’m a big, big fan of — and would have likely ranked in the front half of my 6-to-12 tier sooner than the back half were it not for both the uncertainty that looms around Russian prospects and, even without that, the lack of opportunity he was given in the KHL this season. That’s a potentially dangerous combination, if his flexibility to come to North America is inhibitedandhe can’t get meaningful minutes in Russia.

He hasalready proven to be dominant player in the MHL and internationally (in part because of his December 2003 birthday but mostly because of his well-rounded skill level), driving play, chances, and results at both ends. He’s a kid who has really impressed me almost every time I’ve watched him against his peers. If you were to fill up two buckets with his tools (one for the strengths, one for the weaknesses) and place them on a scale, the bucket with his strengths in it would be overflowing and the one with his weaknesses would be near-empty.

He plays hard and fast, he pushes tempo, he’s a strong and balanced skater, he’s an excellent give-and-go player who excels at playing in and out of space without the puck, his shot comes off of his blade hard in motion (though it could use a little more versatility), he’s got pro size and skill, he’s diligent in all three zones, and he’s almost always in the right position or reading the play to get back into it (on offence or defence). Kids his age are often either advanced in the way they operate on the ice but lack the high-end skill to make the most out of it, or have the skill in spades but struggle to use it because they aren’t processing the game fast enough. Yurov doesn’t have any problems on either front.He may not become a star, but he’s got projectable top-six tools.

13. Denton Mateychuk — LHD, Moose Jaw Warriors, 5-foot-11

Mateychuk has built quite the reputation for himself in hockey circles for his ability to direct play and drive results when he’s on the ice. That style helped him work his way onto Team Canada at last year’s U18s as an underager and it made him one of the top defencemen in junior hockey this season (and my No. 1-ranked CHL defenceman for 2022). He’s already a plus-level skater, which helps him escape pressure with his feet, push up ice in control or trialing in transition, walk the line, and steer opposing players into tough spots despite not being the biggest guy. He’s the definition — or close — of the modern defenceman. Mateychuk pushes when he can and everything he does is done with poise and command. He plays a reliable and calculating game built around his mobility and sound decision-making. Plus he’s a July birthday so he’s got plenty of time to build on his strong foundation and develop his distinguishing qualities (namely his movement and control of the game). He just always seems to be involved in all three zones. I see clear top-four upside.

Here’s Moose Jaw coach Mark O’Leary on Mateychuk: “He has really taken a step this year in terms of knowing when to play offence and when to defend. He has been dangerous in all four corners of the rink. He’s a great player.”

14. Liam Öhgren— LW,Djurgårdens IF, 6-foot-1

Öhgren put together one of the most productive age-adjusted seasons in the history of Sweden’s top junior level and two strong performances internationally for Sweden (first at last year’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and then more recently at U18 worlds, where he was also the team’s captain) in his draft year. He’s a bigger, stronger player than his two contemporaries in Djurgården and while he doesn’t have Lekkerimäki’s dynamism or Östlund’s breeziness, that doesn’t make him any less interesting as the shot-and-pass, power-and-finesse combination player that he is. I love the way he shades into and away from pressure in control. His shot comes off his blade quick, hard and naturally, rocking it back into his stance and letting it go (it really pops). His offensive arsenal is multi-faceted and he’s got some really sneaky craftiness and evasiveness to his game to complement the tools of strength over the puck/through his shot that are obvious. He’ll need to pick up a step to translate his game to the pro level, but I wouldn’t call his skating an impediment (it’s better than he usually get credit for) and he’s always finding ways to get to pucks and/or get open around the home plate area inside the offensive zone, where his skill and shot take over.

15. Rutger McGroarty — LW, U.S. NTDP, 6-foot-1

McGroarty’s one of those kids who just looks like a pro hockey player. If he walked into an NHL dressing room tomorrow, he would stand stronger and broader than most in it. Then you add in the charisma which made him the natural choice for the captaincy at the program, and the light and energy that oozes out of him, and you have to be careful not to put too much stock into the off-ice pieces of the puzzle that he already appears to have figured out. But I think he’s a darn good hockey player too and the pieces of the puzzle fit together nicely on the ice.

He’s a better skater (there are some kinks he still needs to work out in his mechanics from a standstill because it doesn’t look the prettiest through his first few steps, but there’s some power when he gets going nonetheless) than he gets credit for and his spatial awareness and effort level help him avoid losing short races. He’s got raw skill that shows up in his great hands. His finishing touch around the net is there in spades, with a hard one-touch shot that he leverages his strong frame to power through from a low kick.

He has particularly mastered the net drive into a high rotation away from coverage that brings him back to around the net. And then when he gets there, he’s got the strength to shoot from bad postures/off balance. He always put his shots into good locations (along the ice, low blocker, high short side) it seems, too. He’s dexterous. I’m a big fan. The ice normally tilts in his favour out there. He just understands where to be out there and how to put himself in positions to create offence. And he’s got an impressive statistical profile, the kind that typically projects into a college scorer and beyond. If he can get a little quicker from the jump, he’s got all of the other makings of a legitimate top-nine forward who can play up and down a lineup with a variety of player types.

More: Meet Rutger McGroarty, the Nebraska kid making history on his way to the 2022 NHL Draft

16. Conor Geekie — C, Winnipeg Ice, 6-foot-4

Geekie is a big centre with clear skill as a handler and passer. I debated ranking him as high as No. 13 here as a result. But his modest production this season and a few uninspiring viewings (after an excellent rookie year) left me just a little more hesitant about him than the three names ahead of him here.He’s got impressive hands and body control for his size, which helps him control pucks inside the offensive zone and make plays while also getting the upper hand in board battles.He plays through bumps and thrives taking pucks from the cycle to dangerous areas.

He also skates well enough for his size. It’s certainly not going to be a strength but I don’t see it as thehugeissue that some do and I think he moves better than his big brother Morgan (now with the Kraken) did at the same age, and creates his fair share pushing up ice in transition as a result. I do find he forces things too much by trying to go one-on-one and create something that’s not there, and there’s a bit of a hunch to his stride that will need straightening out. He’s got some work to do in the faceoff circle, too. But it’s hard to deny the impressive size-hands combination he has considering his length. He’s got a real ability to hang onto the puck, draw players into him, and then facilitate through or around them. He makes an unusual amount of soft little plays for a player his size, and can attack into coverage because of his hands. He’s really quite comfortable in control of the puck. Geekie’s a legitimate prospect with a desirable set of skills.

Here’s Winnipeg Ice coach James Patrick on Geekie: “(Geekie) has a great shot, is a big body, his skating is good and definitely improved. He’s kind of a lanky kid still, and he has extreme confidence on the ice and can see the ice and make plays. I project him to be a 220-pound, 6-foot-5 centre who is a beast down low. You just look at him and you go ‘holy Christ when he puts 20 pounds on that frame …’ Like he is built right now. He’s lean and muscle. He’s going to be a real hard guy to play against.”

More:How Conor Geekie’s small-town farm upbringing led him to the 2022 NHL Draft

17. Kevin Korchinski — LHD, Seattle Thunderbirds, 6-foot-2

Long, smooth-skating, point-per-game defencemen never last long in the draft, and Korchinski won’t linger unpicked. I think he’s in the same tier and conversation as Mateychuk, even if he slots five spots lower. He was one of the most improved players in the draft this year as he settled into an ambitious, free-flowing game that reminded a little of Stars first-rounder Thomas Harley at the same age, and his June birthday should give him even more runway next season. He handles the puck smoothly on his hip, his impressive footwork and maneuverability help him adjust to, away, and around pressure, and then he reads and anticipates the play at a high level so that he can make something happen out of all of his movement and carries.

I like his stick and his ability to use his feet to defend the rush and disrupt play (though he’s a better transition defender than a defensive zone one). His hallmark will always be his near-perfect posture and balance over his skates. He lives and dies trying to guide play with and without the puck with his mobility, pivots and directional changes. He can take over a game with his ability to transport the puck and roam. It was nice to see him look to attack into his shot (which isn’t particularly hard) more in the playoffs. There’s still some fine-tuning that needs to happen but Korchinski’s my fourth-ranked D for a reason and a worthwhile pick as high as the fringes of the top 10.

More:Why Kevin Korchinski’s upside might be ‘unparalleled’ in the 2022 NHL Draft

Kevin Korchinski. (Luke Durda / CHL Images)

18. Cutter Gauthier — C/LW, U.S. NTDP, 6-foot-3

As the season progressed, Gauthier’s athletic build and pro-built game pushed him from projected first-rounder to top-10 consideration for some teams. And while I’m not quite there, the appeal is obvious. Gauthier has always been a net-focussed shooter but he has worked to turn himself into a net-driven one, playing a more intentional game that knows what it is. On the puck, he uses inside body positioning to get to the middle off the cycle or the rush. Off of it, he finishes his checks and looks to help his line get it back. I wouldn’t say he’s a menacing power forward type, but he has learned to play a very engaged, imposing, speed game. Gauthier’s a decently-smooth skater and despite his heavy skew toward shooting and goals, I find he sees the ice well, hits seams when they’re there, and makes a lot of short little plays as a passer off the wall (including off his backhand).

His greatest strength is his catch-and-release. He can sling it. I do think he shoots a bit too much (a lot of his shots miss the net or are taken from low-percentage areas), but you can live with that and that should drop out as he gets even strong over his NHL frame. He’s a favourite among scouts for the readymade projectability of his tools and his ability to put the puck in the net.

Though Gauthier played mostly the wing at the national program, he’s set to play centre at Boston College next season and several NHL clubs that interviewed him at the scouting combine believe that’s where he’s best suited.

NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr believes Gauthier isn’t far off the consensus top three in this draft of Wright, Slafkovsky and Cooley, and that’s not an uncommon belief, so this ranking puts me in the minority (I’d consider him in the fringes of the top 10 but not top five). Here’s Marr on Gauthier’s fit as a centre:

“I don’t see why not. I think it’s just an asset to him that he does have that versatility. The U18 team this year, they might be the fastest, quickest team I’ve seen. Those guys play at top speed all the time. And when he really has to gear down and he has that time and space, he’s a really smart player. But he’s also one of those players that can make those decisions at quick speed and make the plays that score goals. He’s got one of the better games to the net at top speed.”

19. Lane Hutson — LHD, U.S. NTDP, 5-foot-8

The reality is there aren’t many defencemen Hutson’s size who play in the NHL, even as the game changes. And those guys have never been selected in the first round. But there aren’t many players who play like Hutson in hockey either. I often get asked just how high he’d go if he were 6-foot-3 and the reality is that he wouldn’t able to do a lot of what makes him so interesting at that size.He’s a unique player who uses a light (though not powerful) stride to create entries and exits, weave past coverage, escape pressure, and find or create seams.

He sees the ice as well as anyone in the draft, regularly identifying plays a step ahead of the opposition. He’s got an uncanny knack for executing long east-to-west plays, whether that’s feathering high, leading saucer passes with perfect weight cross-ice or flinging a hard pass to a streaking teammate’s tape. He makes a ton of plays under pressure when other players would panic (though sometimes he could actually use some hurry-up to his game haha). Inside the offensive zone, though his shot lacks power, he acts as a fourth forward with his ability to slide off the line and create.

He’s got shakes and shimmies to spare, routinely making opposing defenders miss one-on-one in all three zones. He’s one of the most clever players in the draft. And while his size will continue to make evaluators pause, I actually quite like the way he defends. He gets back to so many loose pucks that he doesn’t have to rely all that much on engaging in battles and even when he does, his positioning and active stick help him disrupt opposing carriers and break up plays. But above all else, he’s the kind of player where when you think you’ve put him in a difficult spot or you’ve got him cornered, he’ll show you that he isn’t with a spin (or a spin into a spin!), a fake (with his eyes, or head, or shoulders, or hands, or feet, or each) or his sublime vision through layers. He just looks right past what’s in front of him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he becomes a sly No. 4 defenceman in time. I’m fascinated to see where he’s picked, because I wouldn’t shy away from taking him in the late first and if he’s around on Day 2 it’d be a no-brainer for me.

More:Who is Lane Hutson, the 2022 NHL Draft’s ‘unicorn’ 5-foot-8 defenseman?

20. David Goyette — C/LW, Sudbury Wolves, 5-foot-10

If you’ve followed my work this season, you’ll know that Goyette has been maybe my favourite prospect in the draft since blowing me away in Calgary at Hockey Canada’s summer showcase. He’s an impressive athlete. He’s a beautiful, effortless skater with a flowing stride who catches and handles pucks with ease at speed. He tries (and executes) difficult plays offensively with his hands by finessing pucks under sticks, through feet and into space for himself. He stays on pucks inside the offensive zone by keeping his feet moving to get to 50/50 pucks first or get up and under sticks and push through board battles to extend sequences.

He can beat defenders one-on-one to create for himself by pulling them to the inside and beating them with a cut back out wide, or just by going right into coverage. He can draw them in so that he can feed pucks into soft spots in coverage for his linemates. There’s just a breeziness to his game that is hard to find. I suspect he’ll be a value pick in the late first round or early second round after his meteoric second-half rise was stunted by an up-and-down U18 worlds (a tournament I’d argue he was under-utilized in). Look for him to follow a similar path to that of recent post-draft breakout junior stars like Philip Tomasino and Connor McMichael (he actually reminds a little of the former).

More:How David Goyette blazed his way to the top of the 2022 NHL Draft

21. Filip Mesar — LW/RW, HK Poprad, 5-foot-10

Mesar slipped a little on draft boards (in the public and private spheres) down the stretch and I wonder if it’s an exposure thing. He played his final game of the year on April 2. So while the next two players on this list were helping their draft stock at U18 worlds, and the player after them was having a strong SHL playoff showing, Mesar wasn’t front of mind for scouts.

He’s an A-level skater (or close) who thrives with the puck on his stick, can play on the perimeter or knife to the inside, and can use space to feed pucks into it or take it to use his versatile and deceptive shot. He’s also a highly involved player who works to use his speed to push tempo and chase down loose pucks.I’ve seen him make NHL skill plays on one shift and win a series of 50/50 battles to make something happen on the next. The fear is that he doesn’t have a game-breaking offensive dimension (despite being highly skilled in a variety of areas), nor the size, to turn his enticing package into a high-end NHL player. But that’s a common challenge for players in this range, I like the skill-skating combo, he processes the game at a high level, and he’s got one of the stronger statistical profiles in the draft to support his case as a first rounder.

Of note: I know he’s strongly considering making the move to the OHL next season. The Kitchener Rangers have his rights after selecting him with the ninth pick in the 2021 CHL Import Draft. I think that would be a prudent move for him if the NHL club that drafts him is on board.

22. Jiri Kulich— C/LW/RW, HC Energie Karlovy Vary, six-feet

Kulich’s MVP performance at U18 worlds answered (emphatically) questions about whether he was a first- or second-rounder, impressing scouts with his like-clockwork one-timer on the power play. Kulich is a sturdy, driven player who can morph his game to his role and function as the detail-oriented, above-puck defender who makes quick plays and stays on pucks, can play off of talented linemates to free his dangerous shooting arsenal up, or can carry the puck and function as the primary handler on a line. I like his positioning off the puck. I like his the balance and control of his skating stride. I like how quickly and hard shots come off of his stick (not just with his one-timer but through a deceptive early release point). He’s got quick hands and flashes skill one-on-one. He’s got good feel around the net. He plays hard. He can play all three forward positions. There’s a lot to like about his makeup.

23. Noah Östlund — C, Djurgårdens IF, 5-foot-10

Östlund’s calling card is his airy, agile skating stride, excellent hands, cleverness, and two-way ability. The skating and defensive aptitude (including on faceoffs) make him an able penalty killer and the rest give him clear tools of creation at five-on-five and on the power play. He wins a ton of short races, creates quickly as soon as he’s in possession, and darts around the ice in control to get into scoring areas or facilitate from the perimeter. His lack of size and strength are definitely going to be impediments as he progresses up levels, but he’s got the benefit of time, his skating, and the fondness coaches have for him to fall back on.

He’s silky smooth in possession (grades out at the very top of the draft in that regard), which makes him one of the very best puck transporters through neutral ice in the draft. There’s some risk that comes with selecting him but he’s got a slippery quality that few players in this range have, the puck just sticks to him in tight coverage, and he is a catalyst on his line in a variety of ways. He’s a nifty little player. Some scouts worry about whether he’ll be able to get to the inside/hold his own physically along the wall against pros (he didn’t score a ton even against his peers this year, given his talent level and linemates) but his approach and skating should help mitigate against that. I like him a lot.

Ostlund’s got two years left on his contract with Djurgården, but the second year has an out built in if they aren’t promoted back to the SHL from HockeyAllsvenskan.

24. Marco Kasper— C/LW, Rögle BK, 6-foot-1

You won’t find anyone in the SHL, with the Austrian hockey federation, or working for an NHL club in amateur scouting who doesn’t like Kasper’s game and approach to it. He really impressed scouts all year with the way he managed one of the world’s top pro levels, but especially in the playoffs, where he was really good by any measure for a player his age (before holding his own at men’s worlds).

I love his patience with the puck. He doesn’t shy away from trying to beat or out-wait guys (whether through changes of directions out of stop-ups or curls) and he’s got a really low panic threshold. He’s also a good skater who never lacks in effort and always stops on pucks. He’s an advanced 200-foot forward (it’s worth pointing out that while he’s listed as a centre by NHL Central Scouting and often discussed as one, he actually played exclusively the wing this year) who was able to progress up levels because of his rounded game. And while he looks a little skinny out there, he’s feisty and he fights off his fair share of checks to stay on pucks. There’s also a bit of a hunch to his stride but he leverages his edges well, building speed through the neutral zone to push pace with the puck. I don’t see game-breaking skill or finishing, per se, but he plays with pro pace, he’s a good passer, he plays on the interior, and makes plays all over the ice. He projects as a contributing NHL player.

Here’s Rögle GM Chris Abbott on Kasper: “Marco Kasper is one of those rare young players that combines a many-years-older maturity with a youthful tenacity to work at getting better at his craft each day. He has a very high degree of hockey intelligence, both at the tight area one-on-one level but all the big picture, team structure perspective.

“Marco’s body continues to fill out and become stronger, allowing him to compete effectively as a regular in the SHL at only 17 years old — often a good indication of a player’s NHL potential. Super mature. Super disciplined. Takes information and makes adjustments. Doesn’t make the same mistake again. Very cerebral. Kid taught himself Swedish the summer before he came here so that he could do his full high school here at the Swedish high school. Character off the charts.”

25. Pavel Mintyukov — LHD, Saginaw Spirit, 6-foot-1

Mintyukov, who was a top prospect in Russia growing up, was supposed to make the jump from to the OHL last season before it was shut down. It took me some time this year to warm up to him as a result, but he eventually made a fan of me and of the scouting community at large with his play in Saginaw (though I remain a little lower than the consensus).Mintyukov is an adept three-zone player whose game tilts towards offensive through his eagerness to engage in transition and off the offensive zone blue line. When he’s looking to be active, he can involve himself in all areas of the game. He’s also talented as both a handler and shooter (though I think a couple of highlight-reel plays have exaggerated that a little). Add in an athletic 6-foot-1 frame and there’s a lot to like. I do think he can play a little too much on instinct at times (both on offence and on defence) though and that, in concert with the fact that he’s a late birthday and should be further along in that regard, leaves me lower on him than the draft’s other two top D out of the CHL. The hope is that he’ll be able to develop the decision-making aspect a little and that when he does, he’ll be able to contribute at both ends at five-on-five and potentially on both special teams as a top-four guy long term.

26. Jimmy Snuggerud— RW, U.S. NTDP, 6-foot-2

Over the course of every season, I poll U.S. NTDP players for their most underrated teammate. When the answers are scattered, I tend not to read too much into them. But when they’re close to unanimous, it’s hard not to read into what they see in practices and the rest that we maybe haven’t given enough shine to. This year, the answers were unflinching for two players: Snuggerud and Marek Hejduk. The latter is driven by his in-and-out-of-the-lineup year and the respect they all have for the way he handled it and the way he elevated everyone else with his work ethic. But Snuggerud, I know, is because they think he’s a darn good player and he doesn’t get the love he deserves playing on a line with Cooley and Gauthier, and a team that featured them plus Nazar, Howard and McGroarty up front.

Snuggerud is a well-rounded three-zone player with a versatile offensive game who works harder than anyone out there. His head is always up and on a swivel, even in congested areas. He’s good below the goal line and makes a lot of low-to-high plays into the slot to find cutting teammates for chances. He sticks with the play and follows shots to the net to get to rebounds, playing a determined forechecking game.

He’s got a dangerous one-timer and catch-and-release wrister but he doesn’t tunnel vision for his shot, he sees the ice well, and he can make plays back against the grain. He’s got good hands, which help him make outside-in plays to beat defenders one-on-one more than he gets credit for. He uses space well and makes a lot of plays off of his backhand. His skating is a work in progress but I know he’s committed to it and spends a lot of time on it in the offseason. He’s also got a pro frame to build upon and a June birthday that gives him good runway.

27. Seamus Casey — RHD, U.S. NTDP, 5-foot-10

Casey had a bit of an up-and-down season, with a strong start and finish briefly overcast by some struggles in the middle which prompted some scouts to question his first-round merits and his decision-making. I really like a lot of his tools in isolation. When he’s on, there’s an unmistakable flow to his game where the puck just moves through him to its next destination within the pace of play, whether that’s a heady outlet out of a D-to-D pass or a quick carry into a cross-ice pass to allow his teammates to get open for him. Inside the offensive zone, he can make things happen with his blend of mobility and handling (he walks the line effortlessly but he also handles the puck like a forward one on one). Inside the defensive zone, he thrives escaping past pressure.

He looks effortless out there, weaving in and out of coverage, and mixing in delays and fakes with the puck to create space for himself or take it from others. He’s a fabulous puck transporter through neutral ice and a tactile player inside the offensive zone, where his footwork shines through.He’s undersized and will need to get stronger in college, but his feet and stick help compensate and really began to show up in the more consistent stops he began making down the stretches. He can also comfortably play his off side (the left side), providing added versatility.

And when there are openings in coverage to expose (whether with his feet attacking into space or through a seam as a passer), he’ll take them. I thought he showed improved problem-solving and instincts down the stretch as well. Scouts tend to be lower on him than public sphere evaluators and that may mean he’s available in the second round, but his talent, handedness and position keep him here for me (and may still make him a first-rounder when it’s all said and done).

28. Ivan Miroshnichenko — LW/RW, Omskie Krylia, 6-foot-1

Miroshnichenko is the hardest player in this year’s draft class to rank because of his health following a Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis in early 2022. The latest update is that he has completed his treatment in Germany and has been cleared to resume training under a full load in Russia, so that’s a big positive. Teams are all having the same conversations about where their threshold would be in the draft to take him. I’ve settled here, after the core group of 27 players that I believe strongest in. For context, Miroshnichenko was widely regarded as Russia’s best prospect in this draft before the diagnosis, even after a so-so start to his season had pushed him from the top three conversation into more of a top-10 projection (before I learned of the diagnosis, he slotted 11th on my list, which was a smidge lower than most).

As a player, Miroshnichenko has an illustrious international track record as a captain and first-line player in his age group (often alongside 2023 sensation Matvei Michkov) and a good though less inspiring domestic track record.

There are some exciting attributes to his game and it’s well rounded, so it’s never been hard to understand the appeal. He’s got an athletic pro frame. He shoots it hard (both his wrister and his one-timer/off one-touch shots) from mid range, giving him clear power-play upside. He’s a powerful skater through his edges and crossovers. He’s got good playmaking instincts. He’s a dexterous player who catches bad passes, manages to keep control when the play breaks down or the ice is choppy, and gets his stick on tips, etc. And he’s noticeably engaged shift to shift without the puck. My big hiccup with him is that I don’t find him to be a great problem-solver. While he can make the first play he sees on instinct, he doesn’t do a good job breaking down the play to think it through. No matter where he lands on draft day, it’ll be a testament to his status as a prospect and the pro style that he played before the diagnosis. Worth noting: Though he’s ranked 28th here, not all of the players I have in front of him will be drafted in the first round, which means I probably wouldn’t be prepared to take the gamble on Miroshnichenko until somewhere in the middle of the second round when the above players are gone.

29. JackHughes — C, Northeastern University, six-feet

The youngest player in college hockey this season, Hughes’ Nov. 2003 birthday allowed him to play two years at the U.S. NTDP ahead of his draft class and jump right in with the Huskies in Hockey East, where he posted 16 points in 39 games to finish fourth among the 14 under-19 forwards who played in the NCAA this year (behind the 19 points all scored by Jets first-rounder Chaz Lucius, fellow 2022 draft eligible Jack Devine, and Lightning fourth-rounder Dylan Duke).

Hughes is a prospect I’ve liked whenever I’ve watched him play over the last three seasons. He makes his linemates better and does a great job manufacturing shots and chances for himself (which I’d insist he has always done even when his production skewed toward the assist column at the program). I see a diligent two-way centre who skates well enough (this quality is underrated by some, I’d argue), possesses excellent hands, has a great deal of poise and vision under pressure, and thrives as a distributor (especially finding backdoor options). He doesn’t have star power, but I won’t be surprised if he becomes a heady, playmaking pivot who knows where to be and how to use the ice in order to reach his middle-six upside in the NHL. I expect him to take a step and produce more as a sophom*ore. The skill is there.

30. Ryan Chesley — RHD, U.S. NTDP, six-feet

Chesley, one of the more universally well-liked prospects in this draft among NHL folks, has been a top prospect in this age group for years and has developed into a well-rounded, hard-shooting two-way defender. After a slow start to his year, he really came on late and played his best hockey when all eyes were on him down the stretch into U18 worlds. I like him in neutral ice on both sides of the puck. He’s got a great stick. He can really rip it when he takes the five-to-eight feet available off of the line and looks for his own shot. Balanced skating mechanics, good posture, and an ability and willingness to defend with the body and stick help him defend at a very high level man-to-man. And while his production doesn’t leap off the page at you, that’s largely because Hutson and Casey were the go-to power-play defencemen at the program. He looks and plays a lot like a pro already and was counted upon to play alongside Hutson on Team USA’s top pairing in the program (a trust that was also reflected in the ‘A’ on his jersey). His game lacks the creativity of Hutson and Casey, but I’ve learned not to confuse his “what-you-see-is-what-you-get” game for being ordinary. He’s extremely effective and there’s still some aggressiveness and skill to his package, even if it’s more predictable.

Chesley and Howard have known each other since they were 10, so I asked Howard about his team’s assistant captain. Here’s what he said: “He’s a really good, two-way, physical, big defenceman who thinks the game at a high level. I think my favourite part about his game is his gap control. It’s super elite in his gaps and that’s huge for a defenceman. He’s really hard to get around.”

31. Tristan Luneau — RHD, Gatineau Olympiques, 6-foot-2

Luneau was the first pick in the 2020 QMJHL draft and looked like a surefire first-rounder through the Youth Olympics (where he was an alternate captain) and into his strong rookie season in the QMJHL (where he won the league’s defensive rookie of the year award). And while it took him some time to get back to that status after a knee procedure cost him his summer, his preseason, and the first three games of the regular season, he hit his stride in the second half and into Gatineau’s two-round playoff run, logging hugeall situations minutes and contributing offensively while playing a matchup role against the opposition’s best. Luneau’sgame isn’t dynamic, but he’s a smooth-skating (without being explosive, something some scouts worry about) right-shot defenceman who can competently run a power play, is a plus-level passer, has developed his shot into more of a weapon, and reads the play at as high a level as just about any defenceman in the draft (with and without the puck at both ends). He plays a cerebral two-way game that lends itself to driving play. And while he’s a high-floor, low-ceiling type, hissize, maturity, roundedness and discreet offensive game and skating (both of which I expect will show themselves more next season with full health and a summer of steady training) should make him anefficient, all-purpose guy.

More: How 2022 NHL Draft prospect Tristan Luneau has used family influences to fuel his drive

32. Ty Nelson — RHD, North Bay Battalion,5-foot-10

A No. 1 pick into the OHL himself, Nelson has always been a draw for his offensive skill. But he’s also a stocky, athletic kid who is the most physically well-built prospect I’ve come across in this draft class. There’s some risk-taking that comes with his game but as he learns to simplify a bit, he’s got the makings of both a modern and throwback D (he does not shy away physically despite his size). His head is always up, his shot pops and he’s not afraid to use it. He’s eager to activate up ice and join the rush or lead a transition sequence, he side-steps pressure with ease, and while I wouldn’t say he’s fast, his stride is compact and balanced through forward and backwards pushes and aggressive and almost choppy through his crossovers (in part because of how darn big and strong he is for his size). He more than held his own defensively this season, too, which bodes well for his ability to translate the rest of his game up levels. There were times this season where I actually wanted him to play a little looser and attacking because I think he’s capable of even more offensively than his 61 points in 79 games already reveal, but some of that is the system they play in North Bay.

Here’s how Nelson describes himself: “I’m a two-way defenceman. I love to play in the offensive zone and control the pace of the game. I’m the power-play quarterback but I can also be the shutdown defenceman and block a shot when needed and take a hit to make a play. I love bringing the physical aspect as well.”

33. Jordan Dumais— RW, Halifax Mooseheads, 5-foot-8

In my nine classes scouting the NHL Draft now, no first-year-eligible Q prospect has posted more points than the 109 Dumais did this season. And yet he wasn’t invited to the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game and NHL Central Scouting slotted him 73rd among North American skaters on their final list. Dumais is small and his extensions through his stride need some cleaning up (they can look stunted and drag at the toe caps), but he’s a tremendously hardworking player who has produced at the top of his age group for years, with a wide-ranging offensive game that allows him to create offence in a variety of ways. He’ll beat you with a quick give-and-go on one shift, a standstill pass on the next, a dance to the high slot on the next, and quick hands and determination around the net on the next.

Here’s Mooseheads head coach Sylvain Favreau on Dumais: “He was a kid that was a little bit off the radar but he’s ‘Mr. Consistent.’ He just works hard every night. He’s a natural goal scorer, he’s got a knack to finish, and at 17 he leads our team in takeaways. He hunts pucks and most of the time when we’re showing forecheck videos to our team, he’s the star of those. He’s smaller-sized but he’s actually a pretty fast skater even if maybe he’s not the smoothest looking. And the way that he plays, with the urgency and relentlessness that he has in every one of his shifts, he’s definitely on the radar now.”

And here’s general manager Cam Russell: “Tremendous hockey skill, maybe the best vision on our team (he’ll make passes that we don’t even see when we’re sitting in the stands), he’s probably our best guy on the wall breaking pucks out of the defensive zone under pressure, and if you watch him play he’s the first guy back on the backcheck every time. He’s a smaller guy and he looks like a bit of a choppy skater but his skating is great, he’ll win every race to the puck, and he’s just a player. He has been great this year. He has definitely garnered the attention of NHL scouts. He just makes everybody on a line better. When you’re skilled and then you throw in the fact that he’s your best backchecker and your best guy along the wall, it’s hard not to blike the kid.”

34. Jagger Firkus— RW, Moose Jaw Warriors, 5-foot-10

Firkus is one of those little guys who just always seems to be around it. He plays the game with pace, energy, and skill so that you can’t help but notice him shift-to-shift as he dashes around the ice making plays offensively. With the puck, defenders struggle to stick with him off of cuts and when they do he’s got the craftiness to beat them in other ways. Without the puck, he races in and out of pockets to get open. The result is a magnetic game that pulls you (and opposing players) in and then beats them with aggression and intention. Where scouts often ask questions about drafting a kid who is as light as he is in and around the first round (he’s listed at 153 pounds), the way he plays the game has really endeared himself to just about everyone.

He does not lack confidence in his abilities either. Here’s Firkus on the constant size questions and his message to NHL teams: “I don’t care and that’s the truth. I honestly don’t care. I’ve been small my whole life and it’s not like I’m just going to magically be 6-foot-1.”

35. Simon Forsmark— LHD, Örebro HK, 6-foot-2

Forsmark is a mobile, pro-built, offensively-inclined defender who plays an active, engaged style that involves himself in all three zones. He’s eager to join and lead rushes in transition with his long stride (though there is some work to do on his footwork and timing). He gaps well back the other way. He’s physical and uses his size to win battles and leverage pucks away from opposing carriers. And he has learned to manage the game and the puck with more poise and efficiency. His October 2003 birthday makes him one of the older players in the draft, but he’s also further down his pro trajectory in the SHL to reflect that. He’s got some work to do on his shot (which is a little stilted). I like the components of his game and frame a lot, though. If Örebro use him in a more offensive role next season, I think he’s capable of making a statement in them.

36. Mats Lindgren— LHD, Kamloops Blazers, 5-foot-11

Lindgren plays the game the way it’s meant to be played. He uses movement to shape play in all three zones. In the defensive zone that looks like subtle little close-outs, an active stick, and the footwork and headiness required to absorb pressure and play past it (whether with a quick escape into a simple headman or something that appears as simple as a five-foot bump pass that he never screws up). In neutral ice, that looks like perfect timing and accuracy on his passes and carries (whether switching sides with an east-west pass or a carry through the guts of the ice and a pass on entry). In the offensive zone, it looks like clever puck management across the line and through seams as he manipulates structure with his feet. Lindgren plays thecalm, cool, collected and mobile but notnecessarilyflashygame that we’re seeing more and more of out of the defenders his size who are breaking in (see: Scott Perunovich, Rasmus Sandin, Jordan Spence, etc.).

More:How NHL Draft prospect Mats Lindgren Jr. built a unique playing style

37. Jack Devine — RW,University of Denver, 5-foot-11

Devine, like Hughes, parlayed a 2003 birthday into an early move to college out of the U.S. NTDP. And like Hughes, I’ve been fond of what Devine brings to the table since his U17 year. His skill level doesn’t pop like some of USA Hockey’s other 2003s and 2004s, but he’s a better player than his numbers the last two years (the first of which was influenced in part by injury, and the second of which was influenced in part by playing lower in a deep Pioneers roster that would win the national championship). He uses a tenacious playmaking style to drive play, keep sequences alive, and help out in the little battles and areas of the ice that tilt it in the right direction. I’ve also seen his skill really flash in possession, hanging onto pucks and playing between checks to blend effort with above-average talent. He’s not going to be a star but I expect him to become a very productive NCAA player sooner rather than later here and eventually make a strong case for a middle-six role as a contributing NHL forward. When he starts to hang onto pucks and looks to attack people as a passer or carrier with more confidence, he’s going to be really good.

Here’s Pioneers head coach David Carle on Devine: “I’m a fan and I think he’s just going to continue to get better as we go here. He’s a big part of our future and we’ve got a good forward group, so he’s maybe not getting all of the opportunity that he maybe normally would but that doesn’t mean that he’s not going to … We had a really good conversation with him and his family coming in. We loved Jack’s hockey sense and skill level and we thought this would be a great team for him to grow with. He’s ready to take the reins of that and come his sophom*ore and junior years here. It has been a great year of development for him. He’s a player who wants to learn and wants to get better and we’ve been really happy with him and not surprised, I should say.”

38. Nathan Gaucher— C, Quebec Remparts, 6-foot-3

Gaucher is a big, strong kid who can really build a head of steam (his feet can look heavy early in his acceleration patterns but when they even out and he gets going, he’s fast) and push through the middle of the ice in transition or attack off the wall inside the offensive zone. At the junior level, there are games where he really imposes himself and just looks bigger and stronger than everyone else, combining his ability to drive with and without the puck to wreak havoc. But he has some touch and finishing ability too. So he’ll play to the middle lane and jump defenders to the inside, but he’ll also make his share of soft little plays to the middle off the wall as a passer, or rip a puck in from midrange. I see all of the pro tools that scouts love in him, but I just haven’t been able to level them against his sub-point-per-game production as a third-year junior player, and I wonder if some of his strengths will be muted up levels. I understand while he’ll probably go in the first round, and I think he’s got a real chance to be an NHLer, but I’d be reluctant to take him there. I think too often players like Gaucher are viewed as the safer pick versus, say, a smaller kid like a Firkus, because of their size, and I think the reverse is often the case.

39. Elias Salomonsson — RHD, Skellefteå AIK, six-feet

Scouts were expecting more out of Salomonsson this season than what he gave them (both domestically and internationally) after he impressed as a 16-year-old at the J20 level a year ago. As a result, I think many have found it difficult to get excited about him, as one fine but not noteworthy performance spilled into another. He just didn’t progress like most of the other kids who were “names” coming into this year. I think it’s easy to forget that, because we’ve been keeping watchful eye on him for a little longer than most, he’s also one of the youngest players in the draft, with an August 31 birthday that puts him two weeks away from eligibility for 2023.

He’s got work to do to tighten up his positioning and his reads/decision-making but the things he needs to work on tend mostly to be about reps and maturity. I like his comfort level under pressure and confidence for a player as young as he is. He moves well in all four directions, he involves himself in a lot of plays offensively, he’s got room and runway to fill out his frame, and most of his finer skills (like his shot and his handling) get plus grades. It doesn’t hurt that he’s a 6-foot-1 righty either.His problem is that his actual tools are better than the way he utilizes them. That’s something I’m comfortable betting on. He’s going to need the right team and the right development to reach his full potential, but if he gets it, he’s capable of becoming a productive top-six NHL defenceman. There’s some risk in drafting him, for sure, but there is in every player in this range.

40. Nicholas Moldenhauer— C/RW, Chicago Steel, 5-foot-10

After the start to his draft year went about as badly as it possibly could, Moldenhauer overcame serious illness and grave injury to emerge as one of the best forwards in the USHL in the second half, reaffirming the top prospect status it was always believed he had in minor hockey. He’s a high-energy worker who combines an engine that is always revved with an offensive toolbox that lacks dynamism but also get B grades across the board. He’s a Swiss Army knife who sees the ice at a high level, reads and anticipates play quickly, and makes his linemates better with his ability to go get pucks, be in the right place at the right time, and facilitate with his solid vision and playmaking instincts. I expect him to put up big point totals in the USHL next season, before making an immediate jump into impact college player as a freshman. He’s just a really good hockey player.

More: After facing down ‘devastation’, 2022 NHL Draft prospect Nick Moldenhauer is making up for lost time

41. Mattias Hävelid— RHD, Linkoping HC, 5-foot-9

Hävelid’s a small defender whose defensive game doesn’t come with the deficiencies that you might expect it would. He’s proficient at everything, the kind of player who knows who he is, plays within himself, and always looks like the game is being played in front of him. He plays tight gaps, he’s confident in control, he’s got great poise on both sides of the puck, and everything is executed cleanly and decisively. He knows when to pick his spots to attack and then has the tools (including a great wrister) to make things happen. He never looks like he’s scrambling or having to think out there. He’s a well-rounded, effective and ultimately impactful defenceman. I don’t think he’s a defenceman that coaches are going to see as small.

42. Rieger Lorenz— LW, Okotoks Oilers, 6-foot-2

The top NHL prospect at Canada’s Jr. A level this year, Lorenz, who posted 96 points in a 74 combined regular season and playoff games in the AJHL and impressed as one of Team Canada’s lone bright spots at U18 worlds (where they outscored the opposition 6-0 with him on the ice at five-on-five). He’s a driven, puck-protection player who wins lanes in possession, forechecks to get it back when he doesn’t have it, gets to high-danger areas (either in control with his soft hands or off the puck to play to the front of the net), and then can finish plays when he’s there with a hard and accurate shot. But he can also play to the perimeter and facilitate (he does a good job identifying and then finding second and third options). He’s not mean, but he already takes what is given (and sometimes what isn’t), plays hard, elevates his linemates, and will continue to fill out his frame. He was also one of the best penalty killers in the AJHL this year and led the league in short-handed goals with five. Lorenz projects as a middle-six winger.

Here’s one AJHL source on Lorenz:“He’s a big rig that’s skilled and can play.”

43. Jordan Gustafson —C, Seattle Thunderbirds, 5-foot-11

Gustafson is a versatile, all-purpose forward who has impressed me this year with his defensive aptitude on the penalty kill and at even strength, where he’s always above the puck and breaks up a lot of passes with his ability to read and anticipate the play. He was a top offensive player in minor hockey and those skills are still evident in his heads-up passing game and his extremely soft hands, as well as his sneaky ability to protect the puck below the goal line and work off the cycle for a player his size. The combination of his work ethic, his skill, his pace of play (he’s usually one of the faster and quicker players on the sheet but he also plays like it), and his attention to detail should help him maximize his ceiling. I expect his production (about point per game this year) to take a leap forward when Thunderbirds veterans like Henrik Rybinsk and Lukas Svejkovsky move on next year.

44. Markus Vidicek —C,HalifaxMooseheads, 5-foot-9

Vidicek’s a slick playmaker with a good acceleration gear who plays a gifted offensive game built upon a filthy set of hands and a sixth sense for placing pucks with the perfect weight through layers. He is, for my money, one of the most underrated players in this draft class (along with his Halifax teammate, Dumais). Not only does he have the kind of statistical track record that typically lands a prospect in the second or third round, but he alsolookslike that kind of talent on the ice. Mix in a sound game without the puck and a competitive fire that involves him in the game more than players his size sometimes do, and he’s a bet I wouldn’t hesitate to make in the mid-to-late rounds. Don’t be surprised if he rattles off 90 points next year, puts himself in the world juniors conversation in two years’ time, and we’re talking about him as one of the better late-round selections.

45. Jani Nyman — LW/RW, Ilves/KOOVEE, 6-foot-3

Nyman’s a big, strong, heavy kid with uncharacteristic playmaking feel. The more I watched him this year (which he spent playing primarily to a point-per-game clip in Finland’s second-tier Mestis pro level), the fonder I grew of the advanced development path he’s on. Then you contextualize it against his July 30 birthday and there’s a lot to be excited about. He stands out on the ice for more than just how big and strong he is (and how hard he shoots the puck out of his curl and drag). He’s also got good playmaking feel, the right instincts off the puck, great hands in tight. And while he’s already over 200 pounds, he carries a lot of weight around — and he’ll have to be careful not to get too heavy — he moves well for his size (he can really get going and regularly puts defenders on their heels in transition, even if he’s not quick in short bursts/races).

46. Owen Beck —C, Mississauga Steelheads, six-feet

Beck is a strong, athletic kid who has endeared himself to scouts for his middle-lane, driven, pro-style game and plus-level speed. He didn’t produce enough, for me, this year to earn the first-round rating that some in the public and private spheres have given him, but he’s a noticeable shift-to-shift player who excels at getting to the inside, pushing tempo, and winning battles. And there is skill to his game (he’s got good hands and enough talent to make things happen when he’s around the puck all the time) even if it fits within more of a hurry-up style than a slow-the-game-down-and-problem-solve one. He can play in all situations with a variety of linemate types and projects as a third-line player who can play up and down a lineup where needed.

47. Luca Del Bel Belluz —C, Mississauga Steelheads, 6-foot-1

Del Bel Belluz is a player I’ve struggled to wrap my head around this year. When I’ve watched him, I haven’t been able to counterbalance what I’ve seen against his strong production and No. 8 ranking among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. He’s got some good tools in isolation, which reveal themselves a few times a game, whether that’s a slight pre-pre-shot deception in his release that can fool goalies, his quick hands, or his soft skills in execution when there’s a play to be made. And while I think his skating is a little better than he gets credit for, slowish feet combine with a game that too often doesn’t fit together in the whole, and his Nov. 2003 birthday, to leave me unconvinced about what exactly he’ll be at the next level. Or whether he’s capable of taking the steps forward that most of his peers will in junior to reach beyond where he’s presently at (concerns which were reinforced in a disappointing playoffs).

48. Adam Ingram —C, Youngstown Phantoms, 6-foot-2

After racing out of the gate to 38 points in his first 28 games of the year in the USHL, Ingram generated some fringe first-round consideration before coming back down to earth to finish with 18 points in his final 28 games. The end result was still a respectable year and 56 points in 56 games. Maybe more notably, those 56 points were also 17 more than the next-closest forward on the team (who also played in five fewer games). So Ingram was doing the bulk of his team’s scoring on his own. He’s an older player (Oct. 14, 2003) so some of that is to be expected, but it’s still a strong indicator of his ability.

Ingram is a multi-dimension offensive player who can beat junior-level defenders with his ability to handle the puck at speed, and snap it off of his stick in motion. He was dangerous both around the offensive zone and in transition this year, regularly manufacturing offence with the puck on his stick. He also plays the game with intellect and does a good job processing the play in front of him so that he doesn’t have to rely on any one habit/skill to create. He needs to fill out his wiry frame, but if he can get stronger and pick up half a step (his skating is better than it gets credit for) he’ll be a top college player and give himself a shot.

49. Ludwig Persson — LW, Frölunda HC, six-feet

One of the most productive junior-level players in Sweden this year, Persson is expected to play forBIK Karlskoga in the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan next year in order to play in the offensive role he needs to play in (and can’t yet be afforded with Frölunda). He’s one of the older players in the draft, but he was productive at junior, third-rung pro, and international levels even last year. Persson is a highly-talented player in possession and at his best when he’s getting touches and asked to be the primary offensive creator on his line. Against his peers, he navigates in and out of traffic with ease, uses pressure as a tool to facilitate through, and blends fakes and delays with subtle passing touch and a very quick release. There’s a little bit of a boom or bust element to his projection, but there’s no denying he’s a top player in his age group in Sweden (I expect him to play on their world junior team this winter) and he’s got some legitimate tools to work with.

50. Calle Odelius — LHD, Djurgårdens IF, 5-foot-11

Odelius is a steadying, calculating two-way defenceman who plays a head-on-a-swivel game built upon snuffing plays out defensively and advancing play back the other direction. He’s not a dynamic on-puck carrier or creator in the offensive zone, but he’s prolific at moving the puck from A to B either with precision first passes or comfortable north-south carrying. He’s also got a strong, strong athletic foundation and a balanced skating posture (he’s one of the better backwards skaters in the draft for me) that allows him to manage the rush, quickly move from accepting a pass into sending one while on the heels of his skates, and leverage his strong frame to its fullest in engagements. He doesn’t project as a top-end player but his game’s impressive control and efficiency could well make him an everyday NHL defenceman.

51.Lian Bichsel — LHD, Leksands IF, 6-foot-5

Bichsel is a towering defenceman who moves well and showed well in the SHL this season before he suffered a concussion on a hit from behind in March which derailed the final stretch of his year and kept him out of U18 worlds (where he was expected to captain the Swiss). He’s heaviest players in this draft, and because he doesn’t lumber around and he’s fairly comfortable carrying the puck (both in transition and across the line), there are teams that are prepared to bet on his upside in the first round. Bichsel defends the rush, the cycle and the net well, and that will always be his calling card. Some sloppiness can develop in his game when play caves in on him and pace ramps up though, and I worry about just how big he already is (225 pounds) and some of the challenges he might face if he ends up playing closer to 240 pounds (which isn’t at all out of the question).

52. Sam Rinzel — RHD, Waterloo Black Hawks/Chaska High, 6-foot-4

Rinzel’s appeal is all about the potential because it feels like he’s just scratching the surface. He’s a long, right-shot defender who thrives in transition, is relatively inexperienced (he split his season between Minnesota’s high school circuit and the USHL, impressing in both, and will return to junior next year for one season before heading off to the University of Minnesota), has room to fill out his frame, has already quickly played catch-up with his peers along a steep progression, and has time (thanks to a late-June birthday) to do more of that. He’s a fluid skater with an active stick and an eager approach to playing offence and defence that keeps him involved in all three zones.

53. Owen Pickering — LHD, Swift Current Broncos, 6-foot-4

Pickering’s offensive production doesn’t jump out at you, but his long, effortless skating does. He’s one of the smoothest gliders in the draft and through his pivots and backwards crossovers, effortlessly moving from forwards to backwards for a player his size. He’s still really lean and has struggled to add muscle to his frame, but his north-south game is really impressive. There’s some work to do to add elements to a smooth but unremarkable game inside the offensive zone but he was productive on a low-scoring team, his point shot is hard, and there are a growing number of folks (myself included) who think his skating will carry him to the NHL. I wouldn’t balk at taking him in the 30s, but his ceiling as more of a complementary defenceman at the next level leaves me a little lower on him than some.

54. Julian Lutz — LW/RW, EHC München, 6-foot-2

A back injury cost Lutz most of the season and kept him from training for much of his layoff, but he’s athletic, and his pro-frame matches a readymade pro game to give him real upside as a potential top-nine winger. I suspect, had he played a full campaign, that I would have ranked him in the 30s or 40s. But I’m just more comfortable with the names ahead of him due to his lost time, even after a strong showing for the Germans at U18 worlds. There’s a lot to like about Lutz’s makeup. He already looks the part, with a strong, athletic build. He’s a smooth, balanced skater through his outside edges, leaning through a linear line over his blades to twist, turn, maneuver and weave his way up ice. He plays the game with energy and a strong middle-lane drive, keeps his feet moving, and involves himself physically. He’s got a pro shot through his wrister and one-timer. There’s a lot that’s projectable about his game. It’s not hard to imagine him becoming a top-nine winger.

55. Cruz Lucius — RW, U.S. NTDP, six-feet

After battling a wrist injury this year, Lucius came on strong down the stretch with 12 points in his final 10 games at the program on a dominant third line with captain Rutger McGroarty. Lucius is a patient playmaker who slows the game down and uses delays, lightly-weighted passes, and the attention he pulls into himself to create through layers for his linemates. Like his older brother Chaz, his skating (which pitchforks) is the primary concern with his projection. But he plays within the pace of play so well, problem solves really effectively, and has a sneaky quick and accurate release that I think is going to produce greater goal totals than we’ve seen to date. He will ultimately be defined, though, by his ability to continue to wait for plays to develop and stay cerebral as the speed of the level around him ramps up. If he can, he’ll be a complementary playmaking winger.

Here’s Nightingale on Lucius: “He’s a special player. He’s a team guy, for one. He’s very cerebral to a unique level. I know it was a challenging year for him injury-wise but it’s a testament to his character that he stayed with it. Because it took him some time and he hasn’t played a ton of games, but he’s confident in his ability and he should be. We’re excited that he’s playing his best hockey now.”

Here’s Lucius after returning: “Part of my game is holding onto the puck and trying to find my teammates, whether I’m getting rid of it faster or holding on. That’s what I’ve got to keep doing — (creating) openings for my teammates.”

And here’s Lucius from a conversation before the injury troubles: “I would describe my game as definitely a playmaking sniper, a shooting playmaker. I think that I can make the right plays and I know where guys are. Even if people may think that they’re not open, I can find them. But I can also finish.”

And here’s Chaz on his little brother: “He’s more of a pass-first guy but he’s just so smart and I think people will realize that too. I feel like he’s just a wizard with the puck. He always knows where to place it and spots to put it in and I feel like he’s just growing into his body now so I think he’s got another two inches to grow. He’s coming along fast and he’s just a wonderful passer.”

56. Danny Zhilkin — C, Guelph Storm, 6-foot-1

There’s a lot to like about Zhilkin. The physical makeup is already there. His speed and quick hands both get really high grades and can catch your eye. His defensive game has become a real strength (including in the faceoff circle) and even resulted in him playing defence for a game and a half this season. But he’s also a December 2003 and I would have liked to see him make finishing plays a little more consistently (whether that’s by putting the puck in himself more consistently on the chances he gets, or making that final pass that sets up a goal more regularly) this year knowing that and his athletic advantages. I seriously debated him as high as the late 30s/early 40s here though.

More: How 2022 NHL Draft prospect Danny Zhilkin, with some help, made a dream happen

57. Bryce McConnell-Barker — C, SooGreyhounds, 6-foot-1

McConnell-Barker looked better whenever I watched the Soo this year than his 54 points in 78 combined regular season and playoff games might suggest at a glance. He was a top prospect in the 2004 age group growing up and he often looks the part, with a dangerous, natural wrist shot (that he was owed a few more goals out of), above-average hands and processing, and the right instincts all over the ice. He’s also a June birthday. I expect him to break out in a more prominent role next season after the Soo lose much of their core. He feels to me like a better prospect than where I have him slotted, as weird as that is to say.

58. Filip Bystedt — C, Linköping HC, 6-foot-3

Bystedt is a big boy who moves well (especially when he builds a head of steam through the neutral zone) and thrives in puck control, with the skills of protection out wide to his body that you expect in a player his size, but also the propensity to pull and drag pucks through his feet. Those tools make him noticeable and intriguing by default. When he’s carrying pucks and looking to attack, he’s a lot to handle. There’s more than meets the eye with his game offensively. I do wonder, though, if he knows exactly what he is, because I think he played a different style in each of J20, the SHL, and U18 worlds, and I often found myself wondering whether I was going to get a player who wanted to be a physical driver and net-front guy, or the finesse guy who wants to hang onto the puck and create with skill. That he can show well at being both is a positive, but there’s a bit of an identity crisis happening and I’m not sure he really fits the mould of the former (which is what NHL coaches will likely want out of him).

59. Tomas Hamara — LHD, Tappara, six-feet

Hamara is a subtly impactful three-zone defenceman who can play the offensive defenceman role when that’s what’s needed or settle things down and play a simpler game where required. His game is all about execution. He executes his outlet and neutral-zone passes at a really reliable rate. He executes little exits with his feet, pushing through sticks into a short skate. He’s patient under pressure. I love his ability in distribution at the top of the umbrella on the power play. When he’s at his best, he looks like a general directing play back there, even if he’s not flying around the ice looking dynamic. He was Czechia’s No. 1 D at U18 worlds and also played on a top Liiga team this year, a testament to the respect he has garnered across levels. He can get beat one-on-one against really talented players, where it can almost look like he’s too comfortable with who he is and not ready, but that’s really my only nitpick. If Hamara stays on the path he’s on, I think he’s capable of becoming a solid third-pairing D.

Here’s Czechia head coach Jakub Petr on Hamara: “He’s (an) all-way defenceman. He can handle the puck. He’s the kind of defenceman I like. I talked to him and I’m so proud of him so far. He’s a good prospect.”

60. Matyas Sapovaliv — C/LW, Saginaw Spirit, 6-foot-3

Sapovaliv’s really noticeable on the puck because of his poise in possession and length. He’s never in a rush to get rid of the puck and commonly hangs onto it to make a slow play with a player on his hip, whether spinning off inside the offensive zone, or just holding it off his own hip with his long stick long enough for the player to move off of him so that he can make his play. He shields the puck as well as anyone in the draft and understands how to hold positioning and use his body (even in his upright skating stance) and soft hands to create advantages. He can play on the perimeter a little too much though, always trying to slow the game down and wait for a seam to open up for his standout passing game, and he’s not a dynamic finisher or skater, which makes him less productive than he is attention-grabbing.

61. Aleksanteri Kaskimäki — C/LW, HIFK, six-feet

All else equal, Kaskimäki probably ranks a few slots higher here. He was one of the top forwards in Finland’s junior league this year, getting whatever looks he wanted and often racking up double-digit single-game shot totals. He played on Finland’s top line (though he was definitely its third fiddle) at U18 worlds and looked comfortable with the puck in a pair of brief Liiga stints as well. His hands can really flash. When he gets an opportunity (whether that’s being left alone in the slot or a defender making a mistake), he’s got the skill to make plays. He’s strong for his size and works hard to be at the centre of the action. But he’s also one of those classic case studies where he’s really going to have to hit a lot of checkpoints to become an offensive case-use player and he’s probably not going to be a role player (even though he has been used in defensive/penalty killing minutes at times at lower levels).

62. Vinzenz Rohrer — C/RW, Ottawa 67’s, 5-foot-10

The more I watched Rohrer this season, and the more I learned about him, the more I liked him. He’s a righty, airy skater who can weave through neutral ice to gain the zone, or win a race for a flipped breakaway puck. He creates from outside in, evading checks and sliding passes through seams but will also drive the net or try a wraparound. His feet and hands move out of sync, sending mixed messages and deceiving defenders with his pathing. He’s got a natural curl-and-drag shot that he uses to change angles on goalies and pick corners out of a pre-shot kick in his blade. He’ll mix in delays and pull-ups to control tempo. His puck skill can really flash, especially handling the puck at the toe of his blade. And though his 52 points in 68 games don’t scream NHL upside, his birthday (just days away from eligibility) and the contextualization of that production within a low-scoring 67’s team as a first-year player in North America hint at it. He’s exactly the kind of player I’d bet on in the middle of the draft.

More:Why the 2022 NHL Draft’s diamond in the rough might be Austria’s Vinzenz Rohrer

63. Paul Ludwinski — C, Kingston Frontenacs, 5-foot-11

Ludwinski’s one of those players whose engine is always running so hot, that he looks like he’s doing a lot out there when in many cases he isn’t. I think how often your eye goes to him, with his energized up-tempo skating and the way he tries to will plays into existence, can mask some of the inefficiency that exists in his game. A strong playoffs helped his case and there are scouts that are really fond of him, but I’m not sure he has the problem-solving to be an offensive player at the next level, and I’m not sure his skating-work ethic mix will be enough at his size to work his way into a checking/energy role. There’s a lot to like about his game and there’s an outcome where he becomes a beloved up-and-down the lineup, plug-and-play guy, but there are questions about whether he has the high-end skill typically needed to maximize the rest of what he has.

Here’s Fronts assistant Chris Longo on Ludwinski: “He’s just an energy ball that doesn’t stop. There’s a lot to his game that’s really appealing. I think the biggest part is his compete and his willingness to just not stop working. He just goes. And there are some parts of his game that need to be polished but for his first year coming in, he has been very impressive. He’s a guy at 17 years old that we’re sending over the boards whether it’s late in the game, whether we need a goal, whether it’s the power play, or whether we need a draw and we need him to be responsible defensively. We’re excited to see his growth. And I know there has been a lot of buzz around his name. For me, I think he’s going to be a special player. He just brings a lot of energy. He gets very excited with the puck sometimes so I think once he settles that down and is not as erratic with the puck, he’s going to create a lot of chances for himself and start finishing.”

64. Matthew Poitras — C, Guelph Storm, 5-foot-11

There’s a lot to like about Poitras the kid, the athlete, and the player. He’s got a brother who plays Division I lacrosse at Loyola and he played it at a high level himself until he was 15 and had to choose hockey. He plays a tenacious skill game that puts him on the puck all the time and endeared itself to his head coach and general manager in Guelph, George Burnett (a staple of junior hockey). He’s one of those players who finds a way onto the scoresheet without necessarily looking like the most dangerous or dynamic player on the ice. He’s a crafty playmaker who can play with the puck on his stick or play the give-and-go in and out of space. He does a good job supporting play and then pushing tempo back in the other direction. His tools get mostly Bs across the board, though, and that probably means that if he makes it he’s just a player (though I think he’ll get the most out of himself and that might be enough to get there).

Here’s Poitras on his game: “I’m a skilled forward. I pride myself on combining a skill game and a hard-working game to win battles in the corner but also protect the puck and make a play. The name of my game is having the puck on my stick, so that’s what I like to do is go get it and then hold it.”

And here’s his teammate, Michael Buchinger: “I’ve known him for a couple of years now and he’s a great guy and a great player. He does all of the little things right, he’s a very hard worker, I think he’s a good skater, he’s got great hands, he’s got good vision, and he’s really creative on the ice. He’s a great guy to have on your team not just as a player but also as a person in the dressing room as well.”

65. Gleb Trikozov — LW/RW, Omskie Yastreby, 6-foot-1

Trikozov’s probably the player here whose ranking is hurt the most by the approach I’ve taken to slotting the Russians, because he’d slot at the front end of my 29-66 tier on strictly his own merits, but it’s also the widest tier and he’s not so clearly a cut above the kids in the 50s that I’d be rushing to take him ahead of them given the current uncertainty about what comes next for players in Russia. Where he goes will depend, as a result, more on the NHL club that’s picking and the info they’ve gathered about his plans/hopes, with most teams likely opting to steer clear. If I’m at the table, I’m likely playing it a smidge safe with Trikozov until this point in the draft (though I’d definitely still consider taking him over the few names directly in front of him here, where a divide does start to emerge a little more).

Trikozov, an August birthday, was dominant offensively for much of this season in the MHL, really peaked in the playoffs, and spends a lotof time with the puck on his stick when he’s clicking. He can get his shot off in a split second out of catch-and-releases or carries and does so after attacking on angles and looking to beat defenders to openings in the offensive zone. He’s a veryentertaining player who threatens with his skill and maneuverability off the rush, often creating good looks for himself or his linemates out of a quick dash immediately after entry. While his defensive commitment leaves a lot to be desired, Trikozov’s a boom-or-bust bet that could pay dividends if he can get over to North America and make the most of the extra year (or half year) of development he has in front of him relative to this draft class.

66. Alexander Perevalov — LW/RW, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, six-feet

Perevalov’s a player who, a little like Ingram in the USHL, got off to a hot start in the MHL before cooling off as the year progressed. He’s a talented winger who can manufacture offence off of the flank with his ability to facilitate and create out wide or work his way (or the puck’s) through traffic. Without the puck, he also works to get it back and engage in battles, using his strong build to finish checks and fight for positioning so that he can go back on offence as quickly as possible. I like that he can be the driver on a line as the go-getter or the skill guy. Now it’s just about proving it up levels and doing it more consistently.

67. Adam Sykora — LW, HK Nitra, 5-foot-10

Sykora turned Slovakia’s big three into a big four for the 2022 class with his play this season, grabbing some of Nemec’s light when scouts would watch Nitra and scoring an impressive 12 goals and 22 points in 65 regular-season and playoff games at Slovakia’s top pro level before making his men’s team debut at worlds (where he didn’t look out of place and scored another couple of goals). His year is particularly impressive because Nitra was one of the league’s best teams and he’s just days away from 2023 eligibility.

Sykora plays determined with a knack for getting to loose pucks and making the most of his opportunities. I’ve seen him cut into a couple of his own looks on one shift, and work to play catch-up off the puck to get to a hole in coverage or pounce on a rebound on the next. Despite being smallish (he’s actually well-built and strong for his size) and not particularly physical, his sticktoitiveness and overall skill level allowed him to play as a complementary winger against men this season. I suspect his small-area game will fit in even better on North American ice, too, so I’d love to see a CHL team take him in the import draft and an NHL club encourage him down that path (even if it feels to him like a step back from the pro game).

68. Hunter Haight — C, Barrie Colts, 5-foot-11

Haight has breakout season written all over him for next year. Things just didn’t really come together in Barrie this season and the individual seasons of their players all suffered as a result. But Haight’s talent as an individual creator and finisher is real and it feels like it’s only a matter of time until he’s filling the net in junior. His vision and playmaking ability through layers can flash. He’s a very clever little player. And then’s he’s a natural scorer when he’s left alone in high-danger areas. He’s not confusing anyone as a projectable fourth-liner or checker, but Haight’s a responsible off-puck player who worked to become a reliable 200-foot player this year. If he makes it, though, it’ll be as a hungry creator who takes off in the right development program (though I suspect he’s more likely a winger than centre at the next level).

69. Christian Kyrou — RHD, Erie Otters, 5-foot-10

One of the biggest risers of the draft, Kyrou (who was just days from being eligible for last year’s draft and probably wouldn’t have been picked if he was) is a smooth-skating, hard-shooting, attacking offensive defenceman who nearly led the Otters in scoring (and did in assists). He plays an ambitious game. With the puck, the result is a lot of carrying and movement off the line — and the risk that comes with those two things. Without it, he plays to close gaps early through tight gaps and doesn’t shy away from the physical side of the game despite being on the smaller side. If he can defend at a passable level, he may have utility as a bottom-pairing, PP2-type long term.

70. Kasper Kulonummi— RHD, Jokerit, six-feet

A minute-eating defenceman for Jokerit’s junior club and the Finnish U18 team, where he logged nearly 24 minutes a night for both according to InStat, Kulonummi is a good-at-everything two-way defenceman. I like him on exits and entries (both carrying and passing going north and also defending back the other way). He’s got solid four-way mobility which allows him to beat the first layer and move the puck (which he does cleanly and intelligently). He’s a strong positional player who rarely gets exposed losing his man in coverage or beat one-on-one. And while he’s not dynamic with the puck and won’t likely be a power-play guy at the NHL level, I believe he’s got strong enough five-on-five merits to potentially become a regular-shift third-pairing option, and that makes him a worthwhile mid-to-late round pick.

71. Ryan Greene — C, Green Bay Gamblers, 6-foot-1

A top prospect out of Eastern Canada growing up, Greene, a Newfoundland native, committed at a young age to Boston University and has followed through with it, passing up the opportunity to be a top pick into the QMJHL and playing instead first for South Kent School’s Selects Academy (where he won the 16U national championship) and then Green Bay in the USHL after they drafted him with the No. 3 pick in the 2019 futures draft. Greene’s 51 points in 59 games led the Gamblers in scoring this year to follow up on a strong season a year ago with a steady — though not steep — progression.

He’s got a pro frame, a lean build to fill out, a smooth (though not explosive) skating stride, and a well-rounded, always-in-the-mix game that made him an all-situations player in the USHL. The strength of his game offensively rests in his ability to handle to the interior and then use crowds to make soft little plays to teammates, or to draft to the perimeter and feed pucks into space. He was also one of the USHL’s most proficient players on the power play, with 28 of his 51 points coming on the man advantage. I’d like to see him look to attack into his own looks a little more (he actually has a very accurate wrister), but that will come with some muscle. I debated ranking Greene in the mid-60s and expect Greene to have an immediate impact at BU, where he should get a top-nine role from the jump as a freshman.

72. Antonin Verreault — LW, Gatineau Olympiques, 5-foot-8

Verreault’s a tricky one. He was a No. 2 pick into the QMJHL and followed up his talked-about minor hockey career by winning the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year Award as a point-per-game player entirely as a 16-year-old because of his late-July birthday. But then he never grew, it began to feel like he’d hit a bit of a ceiling and he fell from a ‘B’ rating (indicating him as a second or third round pick) in NHL Central Scouting’s first players to watch list to 89th at midseason and now 140th at year’s end. The reality is that at his size, he’s going to have to put up big numbers next season to give himself a shot, because he’s got to play in an offensive role to succeed. The bad news is that that doesn’t make him a worthwhile gamble in Rounds 2-4 (where the 66 players ranked ahead of him here will go). The good news is that I think he’s talented enough that he’s going to become a top producer in the Q before he moves on (he’s already a top offensive player for Gatineau and impressed me in their playoff run) and there’s no rush because of his size and birthdate. He’s got some of the better feel with the puck in the draft, he’s quick, and the playmaking sense is there. I’d be comfortable taking a late-round flier on him and look to build with him towards the trajectory that AAAA 5-foot-8 Stockton Heat forward Matthew Phillips did out of the WHL.

73. Oskar Asplund — LHD, Almtuna IS, 5-foot-11

Asplund’s a player I never hear about in conversations with scouts (which makes me wonder if he’ll be picked at all), but have developed a real fondness for. When his HockeyAllsvenskan club needed depth defencemen last year and the J20 level shut down, he all but leapt past it from J18, sticking around for 32 games and holding his own. This year, that progressed a step further and he posted 14 points in 48 games at the second-tier pro level and absolutely dominated offensively at the junior level (to the tune of 28 points in 20 games). That’s the kind of production that typically lands a defenceman his age (even as an older player in the draft) in the second or third round.

Asplund is an offensively-inclined distributor who loves to skate and pass the puck, and uses light edges to elude pressure, walk the line, and pivot into outlets. He identifies passing options early and does a fabulous job playing pucks quickly through seams or delaying until one opens up. Defensively, though he’s not particularly physical, he does a good enough job gapping up and/or breaking up plays with his stick to hold his own against pros and has clearly demonstrated an ability to control play against his peers.

74. Devin Kaplan — RW, U.S. NTDP, 6-foot-2

There’s always one depth forward at the NTDP who flies under the radar and reveals himself to be better than the ice time he was afforded (or lack thereof). And Kaplan feels like that guy in this group. There were games this year where he was playing on USA’s fourth line and he was one of their best players. He’s a big, strong kid with a bit of a pitchfork in his stride who works hard to compensate for some of the heaviness in that stride. He spent a lot of time with the puck on his stick along the cycle in the lower third of the offensive zone this year, where he’s sturdy over pucks and opposing players struggle to keep him from pushing to the front of the net. But I’ve seen him flash both a quick and accurate shot and some quiet playmaking instincts. He was one of the program’s more well-rounded 2004-born players and there are a few of them in this group.

75. Otto Salin — RHD, HIFK, 5-foot-11

Salin missed all of October, November and much of December due to injury, leaving him with a smaller sample size than most of his peers. He was as good in his 11 junior games as any player at Finland’s top U20 level though, dominating offensively while playing huge minutes to strong defensive results. There’s a perception in the hockey world that he’s an all-offence player, but I think he’s more than that. Salin’s physically mature for his size and he uses it to play a physical, tight gapping style (which can burn when he makes mistakes on reads but has proven to be quite successful stripping and knocking pucks loose so that he can get back on offence). With the puck, he takes space off the line and looks to attack into his shot (which he takes a lot), but also has the ingenuity to surprise opposing structures with knifing passes. He’s fun to watch when he’s getting a lot of touches, leading the charge from the back end, and his timing on close-outs is dialled in. He’s the kind of player you take a chance on in the mid-to-late rounds.

76.Miko Matikka — RW, Jokerit, 6-foot-3

The latest in a growing list of Denver-recruited Finns, Matikka and Jokerit teammate/Devils prospect Samu Salminen will stay together when they join the Pioneers. Matikka’s a long, talented goal-scoring winger with quick hands, a hard shot (from a standstill one-timer, a moving wrister, or a catch and release), and a knack for getting off the wall to score (or create a good look for himself) from the edges of the middle third just outside the home-plate area by using his puck protection skill to shade or outright attack inward. He missed about a third of the season due to injury, but was dominant for extended stretches of the year. Even in games I watched this season where he didn’t register a point, Matikka was evidently one of the more threatening players on the ice. That included a four-game pointless streak to end the season in which he registered 26 shots (6.5 per game). College will be good for him and he’s got an opportunity to become a complementary scoring winger at the next level if he hits.

77.Noah Warren — RHD, Gatineau Olympiques, 6-foot-5

Warren’s size, strength, power, skating combination and rapid progression this season made him a talked-about player as the year went on and caught my eye in trips to Gatineau for an Olympiques game and Kitchener for the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. He plays within himself and skates quite well (as evidenced by his strong combine results in Kitchener and the impact his mobility had to funnel play to the exterior in Gatineau). He defends at a very high level and has started to come out of his shell with the puck, even if the latter is never going to be a hallmark of his game. After spending more time watching him on tape than most as I put the finishing touches on this piece, I was also impressed by his stick and the job he does reiterating with opposing carriers. He can step up and play the body but there’s also a quiet calm to the way he matches and keeps opposing players to the outside. If he can develop a little more confidence carrying the puck (which came as the year progressed) in transition and atop the point, the rest of his game should translate.

Here’s Olympiques head coach and general manager Louis Robitaille on Warren: “He’s outstanding. He’s on the rise and the credit goes to him. The priority was to really establish who he was going to be at the next level and where he could be used. And it’s quality over quantity. He became a physical, steady-Eddie defenceman on a daily basis. And that’s why his stock is on the rise. Because now his assets are so strong and powerful that now you see the strength of the athlete instead of the weaknesses.”

78. Cameron Lund — C, Green Bay Gamblers, 6-foot-2

There were more than a few nights this season where Lund looked like the better hockey player than his teammate, Greene, even though he was a rookie and Greene had parts of two seasons under his belt already. Lund tends to be pretty well-liked around the sport for his pro-style game. He’s a pass-and-shot threat who will take what’s available for himself but simplify and play off of his teammates where needed, too. He pushes tempo, plays with a purpose, works to get pucks back, and then has enough skill to make things happen between checks and races. Considering his summer birthday and relative inexperience before this season, he had a pretty impressive year all told too.

79. Fraser Minten — C, Kamloops Blazers, 6-foot-1

The second of three Blazers on this list, Minten impressed on a contending Kamloops team this season, playing an important role in their run to a Game 7 defeat in the conference final. He’s a heady three-zone player who makes smart, calculated choices with the puck and can flash skill through his hands and playmaking when opportunities present themselves. He’s got great spatial awareness and understands how to use the sheet and opposing coverage to his advantage both on and off the puck.

Here’s one anonymous WHL source on Minten:

“His hockey sense is through the roof. He’s a very responsible 200-foot centre. I believe he’s going to play and he’s going to carve out a role. At 19, he’s going to be a very good junior player and I could see him pushing to get onto a world junior team. I think his game is just steadily growing. He’s a guy to keep an eye on.”

80.Topi Rönni — C, Tappara, 6-foot-2

Rönni’s going to be a mid-round pick on the back of his decent showings in Liiga and briefly Mestis this year, his size, and his ability to execute difficult passes that blend surprising vision with good touch. Off the puck, he plays a competitive game that wins puck battles. On it, he’s capable of waiting for plays to develop for a pass or playing more of an up-tempo give-and-go style (I’d like to see him add in more of an attacking shooting disposition). Rönni’s game doesn’t excite me though and neither does his statistical profile. He’s probably going to top out as a depth/fourth-line guy if he makes it.

81.Tyler Duke — LHD, U.S. NTDP, 5-foot-8

We typically expect small defencemen to be offensive dynamos who produce their way into this kind of ranking, so it’s easy to see Duke’s listed height and modest production and question this ranking. But the strength of Duke’s game is actually defensively. He’s the king of the tape-to-tape pass, making the right play, going about his business, driving results, and tilting the ice. The result is usually the little 10-foot pass that starts a breakout or the five-foot D-to-D play that slows down a hectic offensive zone sequence in advance of a goal 15 seconds and a few plays later. He’s also the king of calmly staying with offensive players until they fire a shot into his shin pads or make a bad pass. And despite his listed height, he’s a staunch, physical and sturdy defender who more than holds his own in engagements. At year’s end, it was his plus-60 rating that led USA Hockey’s U18 team this year. I’m not sure whether it’ll all work at the NHL level someday, or whether he’ll end up in an organization with an eventual head coach that will see past his height to all of the value he provides on the ice, but I suspect he’ll be a very effective college defender and I don’t think I saw him play a bad game all year.

82. Mathew Ward — C, Swift Current Broncos, 5-foot-8

Ward’s an agile, feisty little player who plays bigger than he is and uses extremely quick hands to create most of his offence. He can overhandle pucks and be too cute at times trying to will plays into existence (though I think some of that is bad habits learned playing on a Swift Current team where he didn’t have much help this season and led in scoring by 10 points doing a lot on his own). I wouldn’t be surprised if his scrappy skill game turns him into an endearing AAAA type in time.

83. Reid Schaefer — LW, Seattle Thunderbirds, 6-foot-3

Schaefer has always struck me as a straight-line, what-you-see-is-what-you-get, net-driven shooting winger, but the more I watched him this season, the greater my appreciation grew for his ability to make plays. He has been one of the steepest risers in the draft, moving from a “C” rating indicating him as a late-round selection in NHL Central Scouting’s initial players to watch list, to fringe first-round consideration and certainly a second-round selection. He has been outstanding in Seattle’s playoff run, scored 32 goals this year, weighs over 200 pounds, plays like his size and high penalty-minute totals suggest, and scouts like his pro traits and approach. He was nearly eligible for last year’s draft, his data starts to soften you when you consider his age though, and I’d bet he tops out as a role player, which would probably mean I’d steer clear in the range where he’ll now be picked. He’s a decent prospect but there’s a little bit of shiny new toy syndrome happening, I think.

84. Pano Fimis — C, Niagara IceDogs, 5-foot-10

If Schaefer won some shine this year, Fimis lost his. And while he didn’t look like the No. 2 OHL draft pick, GTHL Player of the Year that he was highly touted as coming in, I think the pendulum of disappointment actually swung too far back the other way when scouts showed up and he lacked a star quality. Then he was a healthy scratch for Canada at U18s, to make things worse. I think the result could be some value if he’s around in the draft’s final rounds though.

Fimis is a June birthday who produced on a low-talent IceDogs (with underlying numbers that align with players who will be picked in rounds in front of him). He’s a mature, detailed, aware, lead-by-example player who uses quick reflexes, excellent positioning, and an understanding of how to use spacing to create advantageous situations for his line when he’s on the ice. There were moments this year where he attacked the middle and you could see the talent that made him a 100-point player on a top minor hockey team. I think he’s going to become a dominant junior player at 18 and 19 and give himself a chance.

85.Maveric Lamoureux — RHD, Drummondville Voltigeurs, 6-foot-7

Scouts have been fascinated by Lamoureux’s towering frame for years and the combination of that name value and familiarity will combine with his raw package to see him selected much higher than where I have him here (some teams like him as a first-rounder and a larger number like him in the second round). When you watch him in isolation in a practice setting, it’s not hard to see why. He’s got a short, compact stride for how big he is, he moves well, his shot explodes off his stick from the point, and he’s got a good first touch. But the more I watch him in games, the less I think those tools translate. I’ve regularly found him to be sloppy and stilted in his man-to-man defence and too slow to make his decisions with the puck, resulting in rushed plays when things cave in on him. If he can be properly moulded, he’ll have a real chance to become an NHL defenceman. But the warts and the risk are real and I’d wager him hitting is proportionally much less likely than him struggling with the next level. So I’ll live with my caution here, regardless of the outcome.

86. Dylan James — LW, Sioux City Musketeers, six-feet

James won the USHL’s Rookie of the Year award this season after making the move from the AJHL to score 33 goals and 69 points in 72 combined regular-season and playoff games as an October 2003. He’s a North Dakota commit who plays the kind of honest, plug-and-play-on-any-line game that the Fighting Hawks staff love in their players. He’s a bit of a Swiss Army knife who can play a variety of roles on the power play, can penalty kill, and plays the same shift to shift and game to game regardless of his linemates. There isn’t a ton of flair or style to his game, but he’s got skill, he plays hard, and he sees the ice well. I see contributing bottom-six upside.

87. Jake Furlong — LHD, Halifax Mooseheads, 6-foot-1

One of the top prospects in Eastern Canada growing up, Furlong for a long time considered going the college route before being pulled to Halifax. This year, his second with Halifax, he played huge minutes (which finished with an astounding 48-minute night in Halifax’s triple overtime loss in Game 4 of their first-round series against Acadie-Bathurst) as the team’s top defenceman, playing ahead of already-drafted Flames third-rounder Cameron Whynot.

Furlong is a steady, rock solid, all-situations two-way defender who makes a clean first pass and plays the game with the maturity and intention players typically find later in their career. He knows what he is and he plays his game to be effective and consistent. He’s not going to walk through traffic or pull you out of your seat but he manages the blue line competently, he can beat the first forechecker (whether that’s to side-step pressure and headman the puck in his own zone, or beat the first guy off the line into a shot or seam pass), and his head is always on a swivel. There’s something about the three Mooseheads kids on this list not getting enough love that I can’t wrap my head around.

88. Matthew Seminoff — RW, Kamloops Blazers, 5-foot-11

Seminoff’s a 2003 who has the advantage of playing three seasons in the WHL and has progressed steadily from depth player to important player and then top-of-the-lineup player. Some scouts question his upside given his age and good but not standout production, as well as the time he spent playing with WHL star and Stars prospect Logan Stankoven this season, but there’s also something to be said about a player who can play alongside a Stankoven. There’s a lot to like about Seminoff’s versatile game though, and I expect him to go from top-of-the-lineup player to upper-echelon WHL player for next year’s Memorial Cup hosts. He’s never going to be the 100-point guy who gets automatic NHL looks, but I think he’s capable of becoming the 90-point one who works his way through the AHL into a depth role if everything breaks right.

Here’s one source on him:“His work ethic is outstanding. He’s an honest player. Nothing’s the most high-end but he plays a complete game.”

89. Artem Duda — LHD, Krasnaya Armiya Moskva, 6-foot-1

Duda will be an interesting study moving forward because we don’t often see defenders who get almost no time above the junior level in their draft year progress into NHLers, but he was also one of the junior level MHL’s more prolific defencemen this season as a 17-year-old for most of it. I’ll start to be concerned about his path next year if the opportunities still don’t come, but he’s got game regardless and he’s a part of a huge program so sometimes the promotions just come a little slower.

Duda’s got a little bit of everything in his game. He’s got the frame. He loves to carry and shoot the puck and does both at a high level, activating off the line to create his own looks or get open into the high slot, or comfortably leading rushes, running a power play, and creating exits and entries with his feet. He’s also got a pro frame, strong posture and core control, and one of the better sticks defensively in the draft. Though he can be a little passive defensively and doesn’t defend particularly hard man-to-man, I think we can confuse that as needing correcting when, at least in his case, it’s actually quite effective at keeping play to the outside and staying out of the box. I’ll be keeping a close eye on him next year.

90. Viktor Neuchev — LW,Avto Yekaterinburg, 6-foot-2

Neuchev reminds me a lot of 2021 Sabres second-round pick Alexander Kisakov. He’s got four inches on him, but they look and play a lot alike, with slight builds and individual skill that manifests itself into impressive finishing sequences. Neuchev’s a mid-range marksman with one of the slickest, most effortlessly quick releases in the draft. But the finesse required to shoot like he does (from anywhere on his body, with the ability to let it go off toe-to-heel or heel-to-toe) is layered throughout his catches, carries and handles, too. He’s the kind of player who projects as a power-play shot threat up levels and could really pop with the right linemates/usage.

91. Vladimir Grudinin — LHD,Krasnaya Armiya Moskva,5-foot-10

Grudinin, a favourite of the Russian national team, was part of a KHL championship this season (even though he hardly touched the ice for CSKA in it) and has long been a top player in his age group. He’s a tactile and poised operator who manages the play in front of him from the back end beautifully and defends through his adjustable east-west skating mechanics. He’s comfortable in possession and picks apart coverage as a passer and while I wouldn’t call him dynamic for his size on the puck, he plays a modern game at a high enough level to potentially envision a career as a contributing five-on-five defender who can chip in special teams. There are shades of Kings prospect Brock Faber in his ability to defend with his feet and advance play in the right direction.

92. Elmeri Laakso — LHD, SaiPa, 6-foot-1

Despite having not played at Finland’s U20 level last season, Laakso played a surprising amount of pro hockey this year after he quickly demonstrated he could be an impactful two-way presence at his new junior level. His results in Liiga were more mixed, with some growing paints mixed in between some really promising performances. When it was done, I think the sum of his season across the three levels absolutely warranted getting selected and his makeup does, too. Laakso plays the game with a subtle care and smoothness from the back end both offensively and defensively. He’s a smart player who reads and processes the game at pace and then makes light, intuitive plays — and occasionally more ambitious, attacking ones — within it. He does a really good job getting his point shots through by changing angles across and off of the line, too. His challenge is that I’m not sure he’s an offensive guy or a defensive one at the next level, so he’s going to have to round out his game to become more of a useful depth piece.

93. Ludvig Jansson — RHD, Södertälje SK, six-feet

Jansson’s one of those defenders who just does everything at an above-average level. On one hand, that can make finding a specific NHL role a bit of a challenge. On the other, more and more guys who are just ordinarily effective are working their way into NHL D groups as coaches move away from the classic pairing of a hulking defensive-oriented guy with an offensively-inclined partner in favour of duos that can just quietly drive results and move in unison up ice. His good-at-everything game has helped him play 69 pro games in HockeyAllsvenskan across the last two seasons and now he’s just got to continue to elevate each of the pieces of his game ever so slightly without developing holes as he tries to take on greater responsibility and make the most out of what he has.

94. Zam Plante — C/LW, Hermantown High School/Chicago Steel, 5-foot-9

One of the top forwards in the Minnesota high school circuit the last two years, Plante, who doesn’t turn 18 until the end of August, is a highly-talented, cerebral forward who stepped right into a deep Steel team and continued to play his game. He and his younger brother Max (who has been selected to play for the national development program 2006 age group) were a ton of fun to watch at Hermantown, with Plante’s intelligent game complementing his brother’s pure skilled one. They’re both committed to Minnesota-Duluth, but Plante will return to the Steel and look to be a top producer in the USHL next season first. He’s behind his peers in some ways physically and developmentally, but there’s a real belief that he’s going to play catch-up and it’s not hard to see why when you watch him navigate around the ice and problem solve. A worthy late-round flier.

95. Michael Buchinger — LHD, Guelph Storm, six-feet

Buchinger is a smooth-skating, smooth-passing two-way defenceman who adeptly breaks pucks out with a consistent first pass on outlets but also loves to jump into the rush to create offence with his feet as a trailer. He’s also got a harder shot than his six goals this season suggest. Defensively, he’s got a good stick that he leads with to disrupt carriers, and a physical edge that he’s comfortable falling back on as a backup to close out. He surprised scouts with his vision inside the offensive zone and overall defensive polish as a rookie. I’m not settled on an NHL projection, but he’s the kind of player who feels like he’ll be solid AHL depth at minimum.

96. Cedrick Guindon — C/LW, Owen Sound Attack, 5-foot-10

Guindon scored 30 goals and had really strong underlying numbers as a clear driver of on-ice results in Owen Sound this season. He’s got speed to burn with a quick acceleration gear that propels him in and out of holes and puts defenders on their heels both off the rush and out quick cuts. He can also make plays out of those bursts, whether that’s beating a defender one-0n-one or slicing through coverage into his dangerous curl-and-drag shot. He’s not super dynamic for his size, but he’s got enough speed and skill to turn a breakout season into a greater name recognition next year.

97. Gavin Hayes — RW/LW, Flint Firebirds, 6-foot-2

After going scoreless in his first 11 OHL games, Hayes worked his way onto this list with a strong second half (which included registering 49 points in his 54 games the rest of the way after he finally broke the spell). He’s a versatile player who plays on both special teams in Flint, has east-west and north-south attributes, and can play on or off the puck on his line. With it, he’s capable of taking defenders one-on-one and I’ve seen him make high-skill plays through feet, under sticks and around defenders. Without it, he’ll use his long skating stride to push in straight lines to get open in transition or apply pressure on the forecheck (though I’d like to see him engage physically and look to impose himself more). There is at times a little too much deference to his game offensively and he falls back into a passing reflex when I’d like to see him take charge and attack into his shot, but as Hayes gets more confident at the OHL level I expect that some of that will come and he’ll become a top player in the league. He can also play both wings, which should help him find a role as a complementary winger if all goes well.

98. Brandon Lisowsky — LW, Saskatoon Blades, 5-foot-8

Lisowsky’s a small but stocky individual creator with quick hands, a physical disposition, a strong skating stride and legitimate power-play tools. The puck seems to follow him and when it’s not, he’s normally chasing it. In possession, there’s some cleverness to his game with the puck. Off of the puck, he’s a scoring threat off of passes because of his shot (which can really rattle off of his blade). There are times when he can force it offensively and defensively, but he’s a push-and-pop winger who may do enough of both of those things to be one of the late-round selections who makes it out of this draft. I had him several spots higher here over the course of this process.

99. Cole Spicer — C, U.S. NTDP, 5-foot-10

Spicer’s a talented player who, though he was a regular on the NTDP power play, never worked his way up the line chart because of his smallish frame and lack of a dynamic quality/speed. He can stand out in brief moments in games, where the skill that made him — and not Frank Nazar or Max Namestnikov — the top forward on the 15U Detroit Honeybaked in minor hockey shines through in a quick forehand-to-backhand move at the top of the crease, or a subtle little leading pass to a linemate into space to free them for a scoring chance. There’s some craftiness to his game. I expect him to produce at Minnesota-Duluth by the time he’s a junior or senior and he’s slotted into an offensive role. He’s also a June birthday. But he’s going to have to pick up a step to become an NHLer.

100. Alexander Suzdalev — LW, HV71, 6-foot-2

Suzdalev was a top player in Sweden’s junior ranks this year before a quiet U18s made some pause about his mid-round merits. This is me trying to not get too carried away with just how inconsequential he looked on the international stage. Suzdalev is a talented, pass-first winger who can play with speed or slow the game down and pick coverage apart. He’s got quick hands, room to fill out an already-athletic build, and just an overall feel for the way the play develops in front (and to the side) of him. But for a player with his tools (size, skill, skating), he spends too much time playing the game on the outside and pulling himself out of shifts. I think there might be something there and that’s why he’s still ranked but next year will be pivotal for him to re-establish himself as one of Sweden’s top 2004s after his little bump at the end of this year.

The top 100

Here’s the full list, including the tiers and the movement up or down in each player’s ranking since my last release.

Honourable mentions (88): Jere Lassila, Michael Fisher, Jeremy Wilmer, Isaiah George, Jake Karabella,GraydenSiepmann, Kirill Kudryavtsev, Liam Steele, Josh Nadeau, Kocha Delic, Jake Livanavage, Logan McCutcheon, Michael La Starza, Daniil Orlov, Alex Bump, Logan Morrisson, QuinnFinley, Charlie Leddy, Oskar Pettersson, Elias Pettersson, Adam Engström, Ben MacDonald, Seamus Powell, Fabian Wagner, RasmusRudslätt, Hugo Hävelid, Josh Davies, Brayden Schuurman, Connor Hvidston, Michael Mastrodomenico, Cole Knuble, Matthew Morden, Dominik Rymon, Luca Hauf, Simon Wolf, Veit Oswald, David Moravec, Sandis Vilmanis,Servác Petrovsky, Dans Locmelis, Kirill Dolzhenkov, Arseni Koromyslov, Ilya Kvochko, George Fegaras, Samuel Savoie, Beau Jelsma, Liam Arnsby, Marek Hejduk,Luke Mittelstadt, Luke Devlin, Connor Kurth, Max Namestnikov, Tyler Brennan, Tucker Robertson, Mikey Milne, James Hardie, Justin Cote, Evan Konyen, Luke Woodworth, Ryan Abraham, Tim Almgren, Zakary Lavoie, Kasper Lundell, Raul Yakupov, Ruslan Gazizov, Valdemar Johansson, Brody Crane, Filip Nordberg,Jace Weir, Tyler Haskins, Tristan Sarsland, Petr Hauser, Alex Sotek, Braedan Bowman, Aidan Castle, Jacob Guevin,Boston Buckberger, Rodwin Dionicio, Michal Gut, Michael Abgrall, Miguel Tourigny, Layton Feist, Sergei Ivanov, Brett Brochu, Dylan Silverstein, Topias Leinonen, Michael Schnattinger, Maxim Arfeyev.

(Illustration: Wes McCabe / The Athletic; Photos: Chris Tanouye, Mike Mulholland / Getty Images)