Comprehensive guide to the 2022 NHL Draft
- Thursday, July 7 at 7 p.m. ET (Round 1)
- Friday, July 8 at 11 a.m. ET (Rounds 2-7)
- Bell Centre in Montreal
Canada
| Date | Channel | Round(s) |
|---|---|---|
| July 7 | Sportsnet/TVA Sports | 1 |
| July 8 | Sportsnet/TVA Sports | 2-7 |
U.S.
| Date | Channel | Round(s) |
|---|---|---|
| July 7 | ESPN | 1 |
| July 8 | NHL Network | 2-7 |
For the first time since 1985, the team hosting the draft will choose first overall when the Montreal Canadiens step up to the podium. The Maple Leafs nabbed Wendel Clark with the top pick when Toronto hosted proceedings 37 years ago.
Here's the order for the first 32 selections in the 2022 draft:
| Pick | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 2 | New Jersey Devils |
| 3 | Arizona Coyotes |
| 4 | Seattle Kraken |
| 5 | Philadelphia Flyers |
| 6 | Columbus Blue Jackets (from CHI) |
| 7 | Chicago Blackhawks (from OTT) |
| 8 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 9 | Buffalo Sabres |
| 10 | Anaheim Ducks |
| 11 | San Jose Sharks |
| 12 | Blue Jackets |
| 13 | New York Islanders |
| 14 | Winnipeg Jets |
| 15 | Vancouver Canucks |
| 16 | Sabres (from VGK) |
| 17 | Nashville Predators |
| 18 | Dallas Stars |
| 19 | Minnesota Wild (from LAK) |
| 20 | Washington Capitals |
| 21 | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 22 | Ducks (from BOS) |
| 23 | St. Louis Blues |
| 24 | Wild |
| 25 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 26 | Canadiens (from CGY) |
| 27 | Coyotes (from CAR) |
| 28 | Sabres (from FLA) |
| 29 | Edmonton Oilers |
| 30 | Jets (from NYR) |
| 31 | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| 32 | Coyotes (from COL) |
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Getty Images / Photo illustration by Nick Roy / theScoreTop prospects
Chris Tanouye / Getty Images Sport / GettyShane Wright - Center, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
Wright was granted exceptional status into the CHL as a 15-year-old in 2019 after tearing up the GTHL. He became only the sixth player to receive the honor, following John Tavares, Aaron Ekblad, Connor McDavid, Sean Day, and Joe Veleno. Connor Bedard, the projected top pick in 2023, became the seventh player a year later.
To say Wright lived up to the hype in his age-15 season would be an understatement. He took home OHL Rookie of the Year honors after recording 39 goals and 66 points in 58 games. Of the five previous players to be given exceptional status, only Tavares collected more points as a rookie.
After losing his 2020-21 campaign to the pandemic - as many other junior players did - the Ontario-born forward captained Canada to the gold medal at the 2021 Under-18s, where he tallied nine goals and five assists in five games.
Despite sky-high expectations when the OHL resumed in 2021-22, Wright didn't dominate the league like many thought he would - but that isn't his game. He isn't a human highlight reel with an electrifying one-on-one ability like McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, or even Bedard. However, his compete level and ability to utilize his teammates with short-area passes should help make it a smooth transition to the pros.
Juraj Slafkovsky - Left wing, TPS Turku (Finland)
Slafkovsky didn't put up eye-popping numbers like some of his counterparts in this draft class, but he spent his draft year playing against men in one of the top leagues in the world. He also dominated against competition his own age and internationally. Slafkovsky truly made his mark at the Olympics, where he won tournament MVP with seven goals in seven games to help Slovakia to its first-ever medal in men's hockey. He followed that up with a team-leading nine points at the IIHF World Championship in May.
His recent performances on the big stage vaulted him up many draft boards from top-five candidate to possible No. 1 and helped him finish this season as the top-ranked European skater. Slafkovsky's tantalizing blend of size and skill has many experts projecting him to be a top-line, impact player in the NHL.
Logan Cooley - Center, U.S. National Team Development Program (USHL)
Cooley enters the draft as a consensus top-three pick along with Wright and Slafkovsky. He even made a push to be among the first two names called with a strong finish to his draft year.
The Pittsburgh-born forward was the No. 2 North American skater in NHL Central Scouting's midterm and final rankings. He piled up 1.5 points per game in the USHL and posted nearly the same rate with the American Under-18 squad, racking up 75 points over 51 contests.
Simon Nemec - Defenseman, Nitra (Slovakia)
Widely considered the top defenseman in the draft, Nemec more than held his own while spending the last two seasons in the top men's league in Slovakia. He's consistently shown an uncanny ability to thrive against professionals far older than his 18 years.
Nemec will likely become the first Slovakian blue-liner taken in the first round of the NHL draft since Vladimir Mihalik in 2005. The youngster was one of three Slovakian teenagers at the 2022 Olympics, and he helped his country capture the aforementioned historic bronze. Nemec then impressed at the World Championship, leading all of his team's rearguards with six points in eight games. NHL Central Scouting slotted him third among European skaters in its final rankings.
David Jiricek - Defenseman, Plzen (Czechia)
Jiricek is considered the second-best defense prospect in the draft. The biggest advantage he has over Nemec is his size. Jiricek injured his knee at the world juniors in December and underwent surgery, missing the second half of the season as a result. He returned to help Czechia claim bronze at the World Championship, notching a goal and an assist in five games.
The 18-year-old has significant experience playing against men, logging 67 career games in Czechia's top professional league.
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