2022 NHL Draft Tracker: All 32 picks of Thursday’s first round

Mike Gould
Mike Gould
2022 NHL Draft Tracker: All 32 picks of Thursday’s first round

The Montreal Canadiens have selected Slovak winger Juraj Slafkovsky with the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.

The New Jersey Devils and Arizona Coyotes respectively possess the No. 2 and 3 picks in the draft. The Canadiens (1 and 26), Coyotes (3, 27, and 32), Columbus Blue Jackets (6 and 12), Buffalo Sabres (9, 16, and 28), Anaheim Ducks (10 and 22), Winnipeg Jets (14 and 30), and Minnesota Wild (19 and 24) all currently own multiple first-round picks.

The Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, and Vegas Golden Knights do not currently possess a 2022 first-rounder, but anything could change before the first round is over.

Hours before the start of the first round, the Senators shocked the hockey world by dealing their own first-round pick (No. 7) and two other selections to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for forward Alex DeBrincat. To this point, Ottawa is the only team to have traded a first-round pick today.

We’ll be keeping this tracker updated with every pick and trade made in the first round.

1. Montreal Canadiens: Juraj Slafkovsky, LW

TPS Turku (Liiga) — 31 GP, 5 G, 5 A, 10 PTS, 33 PIM

Born Mar. 30, 2004 in Kosice, Slovakia — 6’4″, 218 pounds, shoots L

Montreal makes Slafkovsky the highest-drafted Slovak in NHL history, passing Marian Gaborik (No. 3 in 2000). Slafkovsky, Cole Caufield, and Nick Suzuki now form the Canadiens’ nucleus of skilled young forwards.

2. New Jersey Devils: Simon Nemec, RHD

HK Nitra (Slovakia) — 39 GP, 1 G, 25 A, 26 PTS, 20 PIM

Born Feb. 15, 2004 in Liptovsky Mikulas, Slovakia — 6’1″, 192 pounds, shoots R

Nemec bolsters a young crop of defensemen in New Jersey that also includes 2021 No. 4 pick Luke Hughes and 2020 No. 20 pick Shakir Mukhamadullin. Both those players shoot left — Nemec shoots right.

3. Arizona Coyotes: Logan Cooley, C

U.S. National Development Team (USHL) — 24 GP, 13 G, 23 A, 36 PTS, 55 PIM

Born May 4, 2004 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — 5’10”, 174 pounds, shoots R

Cooley immediately becomes the Coyotes’ most promising young centre. He joins Dylan Guenther, Barrett Hayton, and Josh Doan in Arizona’s pool of top forward prospects.

TRADES

Both these trades were announced immediately after the Coyotes selected Cooley:

  • The Montreal Canadiens trade defenseman Alexander Romanov and pick No. 98 to the New York Islanders in exchange for pick No. 13.
  • The Montreal Canadiens trade picks No. 13 and 66 to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for center Kirby Dach.

4. Seattle Kraken: Shane Wright, C

Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) — 63 GP, 32 G, 62 A, 94 PTS, 22 PIM

Born Jan. 5, 2004 in Burlington, Ontario — 6’0″, 191 pounds, shoots R

Matty Beniers and Wright could form an impressive 1–2 punch down the middle for the Kraken very, very soon. Wright is a two-way centre who many expected to go No. 1 overall this year.

5. Philadelphia Flyers: Cutter Gauthier, LW/C

U.S. National Development Team (USHL) — 22 GP, 19 G, 9 A, 28 PTS, 31 PIM

Born Jan. 19, 2004 in Skellefteå, Sweden — 6’3″, 201 pounds, shoots L

Gauthier is capable of playing both center and wing and is expected to play down the middle when he begins at Boston College in 2022–23.

6. Columbus Blue Jackets: David Jiricek, RHD

HC Plzen (Czech) — 29 GP, 5 G, 6 A, 11 PTS, 49 PIM

Born Nov. 28, 2003 in Klatovy, Czechia — 6’3″, 190 pounds, shoots R

Columbus adds a huge right-handed defenseman to its stable of young talent. Add Jiricek to that group on the back-end with Corson Ceulemans, Adam Boqvist, Jake Bean, and Samuel Knazko.

7. Chicago Blackhawks: Kevin Korchinski, LHD

Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) — 67 GP, 4 G, 61 A, 65 PTS, 40 PIM

Born June 21, 2004 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan — 6’2″, 185 pounds, shoots L

Korchinski follows Nolan Allan (No. 32 in 2021) into Chicago’s pool of defensive prospects. After the Kirby Dach trade, Chicago will be back on the clock at pick No. 13.

8. Detroit Red Wings: Marco Kasper, C

Rögle BK (SHL) — 46 GP, 7 G, 4 A, 11 PTS, 17 PIM

Born Apr. 8, 2004 in Innsbruck, Austria — 6’2″, 187 pounds, shoots L

Kasper spent the majority of the 2021–22 season playing in the top-tier Swedish Hockey League. Detroit has now made top-10 picks in six consecutive drafts: Michael Rasmussen (No. 9 in 2017), Filip Zadina (No. 6 in 2018), Moritz Seider (No. 6 in 2019), Lucas Raymond (No. 4 in 2020), Simon Edvinsson (No. 6 in 2021), and now Kasper.

9. Buffalo Sabres: Matthew Savoie, C

Winnipeg Ice (WHL) — 65 GP, 35 G, 55 A, 90 PTS, 32 PIM

Born Jan. 1, 2004 in St. Albert, Alberta — 5’9″, 179 pounds, shoots R

Savoie is a small, skilled center who joins a stacked group of highly-drafted forwards in Buffalo. Dylan Cozens, Jack Quinn, Isak Rosen, J.J. Peterka, and Peyton Krebs could all be around to welcome Savoie to the Sabres.

10. Anaheim Ducks: Pavel Mintyukov, LHD

Saginaw Spirit (OHL) — 67 GP, 17 G, 45 A, 62 PTS, 28 PIM

Born Nov. 25, 2003 in Moscow, Russia — 6’1″, 192 pounds, shoots L

Mintyukov is a high-scoring Russian defenseman who already plays in North America. The Ducks have more than a few strong defense prospects — Olen Zellweger and Jamie Drysdale come to mind — but Mintyukov is the first left-handed defender Anaheim has taken in the first round since 2015 (Jacob Larsson).

TRADE

This trade was announced after the Ducks selected Mintyukov:

  • The San Jose Sharks trade pick No. 11 to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for pick No. 27, 34, and 45.

11. Arizona Coyotes: Conor Geekie, C

Winnipeg Ice (WHL) — 63 GP, 24 G, 46 A, 70 PTS, 49 PIM

Born May 5, 2004 in Strathclair, Manitoba — 6’4″, 205 pounds, shoots L

The Coyotes traded up to make Geekie their second first-round pick of the draft. Even after making this deal, the Coyotes still own pick No. 32 in the first round.

12. Columbus Blue Jackets: Denton Mateychuk, LHD

Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) — 65 GP, 13 G, 51 A, 64 PTS, 15 PIM

Born July 12, 2004 in Winnipeg, Manitoba — 5’11”, 194 pounds, shoots L

Columbus picks another defenseman, although Mateychuk is only 5’11”, shoots left, and plays in the Western Hockey League.

13. Chicago Blackhawks: Frank Nazar, C

U.S. National Development Team (USHL) — 24 GP, 15 G, 20 A, 35 PTS, 8 PIM

Born Jan. 14, 2004 in Mt. Clemens, Michigan — 5’10”, 181 pounds, shoots R

Chicago adds an undersized scoring forward in Nazar, who is committed to begin attending the University of Michigan in 2022–23.

14. Winnipeg Jets: Rutger McGroarty, C

U.S. National Development Team (USHL) — 25 GP, 15 G, 18 A, 33 PTS, 26 PIM

Born Mar. 30, 2004 in Lincoln, Nebraska — 6’1″, 205 pounds, shoots L

McGroarty is also committed to the University of Michigan for the 2022–23 season. The Jets have now selected forwards in the first round of three consecutive drafts: Cole Perfetti (No. 10 in 2020), Chaz Lucius (No. 18 in 2021), and now McGroarty.

15. Vancouver Canucks: Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW

Djurgårdens IF (SHL) — 26 GP, 7 G, 2 A, 9 PTS, 0 PIM

Born July 24, 2004 in Huddinge, Sweden — 5’11”, 172 pounds, shoots R

Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin made Lekkerimaki, one of his Swedish countrymen, the first draft pick of Vancouver’s new regime.

16. Buffalo Sabres: Noah Ostlund, C

Djurgårdens IF (SHL) — 11 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PTS, 0 PIM

Born Mar. 11, 2004 in Nykvarn, Sweden — 5’11”, 163 pounds, shoots L

When you have Owen Power and Rasmus Dahlin on defense, you can afford to use a lot of high draft picks on forwards. Buffalo has now added Savoie and Ostlund, a pair of centers, to its group.

17. Nashville Predators: Joakim Kemell, RW

JYP (Liiga) — 39 GP, 15 G, 8 A, 23 PTS, 2 PIM

Born Apr. 27, 2004 in Jyväskylän mlk, Finland — 5’9″, 176 pounds, shoots R

The Predators took a pair of forwards in the 2021 first round: Fedor Svechkov (No. 19) and Zachary L’Heureux (No. 27). Many onlookers expected Kemell to go in the top 10.

18. Dallas Stars: Lian Bichsel, LHD

Leksands IF (SHL) — 29 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PTS, 16 PIM

Born May 18, 2004 in Olten, Switzerland — 6’5″, 225 pounds, shoots L

Bischel is the first Swiss defenseman to go in the first round since Mirco Mueller, who the San Jose Sharks selected with the No. 18 pick in 2013. Nine years later, Bischel has been taken by Dallas in the same spot.

19. Minnesota Wild: Liam Ohgren, LW

Djurgårdens IF (SHL) — 25 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 2 PTS, 6 PIM

Born Jan. 28, 2004 in Stockholm, Sweden — 6’1″, 201 pounds, shoots L

Last year, the Wild selected Swedish goaltender Jesper Wallstedt with the No. 20 pick. This year, one pick earlier (using the selection they acquired from Los Angeles in the Kevin Fiala deal), the Wild have taken another Swede — this one, a winger who impressed at the 2022 IIHF U-18 World Championship.

20. Washington Capitals: Ivan Miroshnichenko, LW

Omskie Krylia (VHL) — 31 GP, 10 G, 6 A, 16 PTS, 6 PIM

Born Feb. 4, 2004 in Ussuriysk, Russia — 6’1″, 185 pounds, shoots R

Miroshnichenko was diagonsed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in March, but he was present at the draft in Montreal and was very productive at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and in Russia’s lower-level leagues.

21. Pittsburgh Penguins: Owen Pickering, LHD

Swift Current Broncos (WHL) — 62 GP, 9 G, 24 A, 33 PTS, 39 PIM

Born Jan. 27, 2004 in St. Adolphe, Manitoba — 6’5″, 179 pounds, shoots L

Pickering is a wiry left-handed defenseman with plenty of room to add to his frame. He’s the first D-man the Penguins have taken in the first round since 2012, when they snagged Derrick Pouliot (No. 8) and Olli Maatta (No. 22).

22. Anaheim Ducks: Nathan Gaucher, C

Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) — 66 GP, 31 G, 26 A, 57 PTS, 74 PIM

Born Nov. 6, 2003 in Longueuil, Quebec — 6’3″, 207 pounds, shoots R

The Ducks used the 2022 first-round pick they acquired from the Boston Bruins in the Hampus Lindholm trade to make Gaucher the first QMJHL player off the board in this year’s draft.

23. St. Louis Blues: Jimmy Snuggerud, RW

U.S. National Development Team (USHL) — 26 GP, 6 G, 20 A, 26 PTS, 22 PIM

Born June 1, 2004 in Chaska, Minnesota — 6’2″, 185 pounds, shoots R

The son of former Buffalo Sabres forward Dave Snuggerud, Jimmy is the fifth U.S. National Development Team player off the board in the first round of this draft.

24. Minnesota Wild: Danila Yurov, RW

Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL) — 21 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PTS, 2 PIM

Born June 1, 2004 in Chelyabinsk, Russia — 6’1″, 179 pounds, shoots L

Yurov was in attendance at the draft in Montreal. Don’t be alarmed at his lack of his production in the KHL — very few 18-year-old players can play in that league.

TRADE

This trade was announced after the Wild selected Yurov:

  • The Toronto Maple Leafs trade goaltender Petr Mrazek and pick No. 25 to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for pick No. 38.

25. Chicago Blackhawks: Sam Rinzel, RHD

Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) — 21 GP, 2 G, 8 A, 10 PTS, 8 PIM

Born June 25, 2004 in Chanhassen, Minnesota — 6’3″, 181 pounds, shoots R

The Blackhawks picked up a third first-round pick to select Rinzel, a right-handed defenseman who also played high-school hockey in Minnesota last year. He’ll begin attending the University of Minnesota in 2023–24.

26. Montreal Canadiens: Filip Mesar, RW

HK Poprad (Slovakia) — 37 GP, 8 G, 8 A, 16 PTS, 8 PIM

Born Jan. 3, 2004 in Spišská Belá, Slovakia — 5’10”, 174 pounds, shoots R

The Canadiens elected to take a second Slovak with pick No. 26. Mesar, unlike his countryman Juraj Slafkovsky, isn’t exactly a pillar on the wing, but he scored at a strong rate in the Slovak men’s league.

27. San Jose Sharks: Filip Bystedt, C

Linköping HC (SHL) — 15 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 2 PTS, 0 PIM

Born Feb. 4, 2004 in Linköping, Sweden — 6’4″, 205 pounds, shoots L

The Sharks acquired this pick from the Coyotes earlier in the evening. Bystedt’s SHL numbers are likely skewed by the quality of the players he faced, but he projects as a big bottom-six center.

28. Buffalo Sabres: Jiri Kulich, C

HC Energie Karlovy Vary (Czechia) — 49 GP, 9 G, 5 A, 14 PTS, 4 PIM

Born Apr. 14, 2004 in Kadan, Czechia — 6’0″, 172 pounds, shoots L

Kulich became the third center selected by the Sabres in the first round. He scored at an impressive rate against men in the top-tier Czech league.

TRADE

This pick was announced after the Sabres selected Kulich:

  • The Edmonton Oilers trade forward Zack Kassian, pick No. 29, a 2024 third-round pick, and a 2025 second-round pick to the Arizona Coyotes for pick No. 32.

29. Arizona Coyotes: Maveric Lamoureux, RHD

Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) — 54 GP, 4 G, 20 A, 24 PTS, 69 PIM

Born Jan. 13, 2004 in Hawkesbury, Ontario — 6’7″, 198 pounds, shoots R

Lamoureux is an absolute giant. He’s the first right-handed defenseman Arizona has selected in the first round since Victor Soderstrom at No. 11 in 2019.

30. Winnipeg Jets: Brad Lambert, C

JYP/Pelicans (Liiga) — 49 GP, 4 G, 6 A, 10 PTS, 43 PIM

Born Dec. 19, 2003 in Lahti, Finland — 6’0″, 183 pounds, shoots R

Lambert had a very difficult draft year in Finland but showed signs of future top-five potential in the 2020–21 Liiga season. This is a big swing by Winnipeg.

31. Tampa Bay Lightning: Isaac Howard, LW

U.S. National Development Team (USHL) — 27 GP, 11 G, 26 A, 37 PTS, 43 PIM

Born Mar. 30, 2004 in Hudson, Wisconsin — 5’10”, 181 pounds, shoots L

A lot of USNTDP prospects with similar numbers as Howard went way ahead of him in the first round. Howard is an undersized winger — Tampa has had a lot of those have big-time success.

32. Edmonton Oilers: Reid Schaefer, LW

Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) — 66 GP, 32 G, 26 A, 58 PTS, 88 PIM

Born Sep. 21, 2003 in Spruce Grove, Alberta — 6’3″, 214 pounds, shoots L

The Oilers picked a hometown boy with the final pick of the first round. Schaefer is the oldest player selected in the top 32 and is a big winger who scored at a fine rate in the WHL.

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