The 2022 NHL Entry Draft is in the books.
The Bell Center was rocked Thursday for the Montreal Canadiens’ long-awaited first-round pick. Day 2 gave a little bit of everything. Some teams traded draft picks. Others made list trades. Finally, the announcement that Duncan Keith has decided to retire after a storied career also made waves on the floor.
In my opinion, no other professional league does better than the NHL when it comes to the entry draft. It never gets old to see the excitement on the faces of prospects and their family members when their names are called.
Congratulations to the city of Montreal. One of my favorite scouting destinations in the world delivered what we expected: A fantastic event hosted by one of the classiest hockey cities in hockey.
Here’s a look at some intriguing picks from each round:
ROUND 1
#1: Juraj Slafkowski, Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens did whatever it took and settled on Slafkowski over the likes of Shane Wright, Logan Cooley and Simon Nemec. The management group in Montreal eliminated any outside noise and pressure and went with the player they felt would help the most in taking the organization to another level.
This selection told me something about Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes: that they have their own vision of how they want to build their team. There have been drafts in the past where teams have given up and taken the consensus No. 1. This was not one of those times.
Observation: Watching Slafkowski parade around the Bell Center for media interviews and fans clamoring for a photo, a fist pump or an autograph was something to behold. He is now a rock star in Montreal.
ROUND 2
#62: Lane Hutson, Montreal Canadiens
I absolutely love this choice. Hutson is a highly skilled passing ‘D’ who makes plays off the rush and quarterbacks on the power play. There was a time, not so long ago, when players like this were passed over by NHL clubs due to their lack of size and physicality. Hutson told teams at the Buffalo combine that he hasn’t stopped growing and has a chance to reach around 5-foot-10. His height doesn’t bother me, but he’ll need to add weight as he matures.
Hutson makes a difference. He is super competitive and wants the puck on his stick in key situations.
ROUND 3
#88: Michael Buchinger, St. Louis Blues
It was a sensible pickup for the Blues. Buchinger is a “liaison guy” for the Guelph Storm in the OHL. The two-way defenseman is a strong skater who sees the ice and distributes very well. He scored 44 points (five goals, 39 assists) last season and was used in all situations. There’s a real chance the Blues could land a second NHL defenseman with Buchinger’s selection.
ROUND 4
#122: Dennis Hildeby, Toronto Maple Leafs
Hildeby is an interesting fourth-round pick and worth the gamble. He is a 20-year-old European who had a breakout year in 2021-22. At the SHL level, playing for Farjestad, he had a 1.93 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage. He is an absolute behemoth in net, standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 236 lbs.
Goalies take longer to develop than skaters and that’s why I believe in the strategy of this selection. Hildeby will be in Sweden for at least one more season before possibly coming to North America. When NHL teams draft players from Europe, they hold their rights for four years of development time compared to two years for major junior players in North America. By the time his four years are up, Hildeby will be 24 and potentially entering his developmental phase in the NHL.
ROUND 5
#136: Jorian Donovan, Ottawa Senators
The son of Senators director of player development Sean Donovan, Jorian is a solid fifth-round addition. He scored 22 points (three goals, 19 assists) in his OHL debut season with Hamilton this year. What I like most about this selection is that Donovan can be used in a variety of roles. I foresee him scoring more as he matures at the OHL level. He skates very well, throws responsibly, has good size (6-foot-1, 183 pounds) and is only going to get stronger. He’ll probably get some power play time as a junior, but I don’t see him fitting that role as a pro.
Sometimes nepotism can creep into some decisions that organizations make. This is not an example of that. Donovan has the chance to be more than a bottom pair of ‘D’ as a pro. I’m sure he’ll get the job done. This pick has Senators scout Don Boyd written all over it, and it’s a good one.
ROUND 6
#179: Matt Seminow, Dallas Stars
It’s not often that teams find a player at this stage of the draft with the kind of offensive impact that Seminoff had last year with Kamloops in the WHL. He recorded 26 goals and 31 assists, with six of his goals coming on the power play. Seminoff also carries more than offense. He is a responsible player who is on top of the game when opponents have the puck and reliably defends his zone. His small court game is also very strong. He has the creativity to spin checks in tight quarters and bring the play to the net or spread. His speed will need to improve, but it’s a good find for Stars director of scouting Joe McDonnell.
ROUND 7
#225: Ivan Zhigalov, Colorado Avalanche
Tall (6’3), lean (167lbs), athletic goaltender who plays for Sherbrooke in the QMJHL. He was the last pick of the draft and could have literally gone under the radar as a bit of an afterthought, but I actually like the upside of this selection. Zhigalov has quick feet and pads, is capable of making reaction saves in battle mode and is a southpaw who catches with his right hand, giving opponents different looks when driving pucks to the net.
Former NHL goaltender Jocelyn Thibault owns the team in Sherbrooke, so I’m sure the Avalanche are checking with him to get more information on Zhigalov.
–
This concludes the scouting cycle for the 2021-2022 season.
There was a time when employees took time off after recruiting to enjoy what summer had to offer. This is no longer the case.
Prospects from around the world will attend development camps that begin Sunday, July 10 and Monday, July 11 for all NHL clubs.
The 2022-23 scouting calendar begins July 31 in Red Deer, Alberta at the annual Hlinka/Gretzky Cup.
Add Comment