2022 NHL Draft Prospects

[Erikfromfin]

Interesting group of forwards from Finland for this draft from those that Ive seen I would categorize like this

Tier I
1. Brad Lambert
2. Joakim Kemell

Tier II
3. Otto Hokkanen
4. Jere Lassila
5. Topi Rönni

Tier III
6. Jani Nyman
7. Rasmus Ruusunen
8. Lauri Raiman
9. Iisai Pesonen
10. Santeri Sulku
11. Oskari Vuorio
12. Tommi Männistö

 

[Ryan Van Horne]

Rutger McGroarty has started the season on fire. 6 games, 8 goals, 13 assists for 21 pts. Has to be the top guy right now outside those big 3. Who knows maybe he could push some of those guys, still a lot of time before the draft. Wish he could see him at a higher level. Feel like the NTDP should have an exceptional status type system. Maybe for the the super elite prospects they can make the U17 team a year early. That's tough tho because then they'd have to accelerate for college, or go to major juniors after the second NTDP season. Probably too clunky to implement and god knows USA hockey wont want anything that may push top prospects to major junior in their draft season.

What kind of competition does the Oakland team face? How does their league stack up against others in the States?

 

[Ryan Van Horne]

Interesting group of forwards from Finland for this draft from those that Ive seen I would categorize like this

Tier I
1. Brad Lambert
2. Joakim Kemell

Tier II
3. Otto Hokkanen
4. Jere Lassila
5. Topi Rönni

Tier III
6. Jani Nyman
7. Rasmus Ruusunen
8. Lauri Raiman
9. Iisai Pesonen
10. Santeri Sulku
11. Oskari Vuorio
12. Tommi Männistö

You think Kemell is on the same level as Lambert? Wow, I heard he was good, but not that good.

 

[tealhockey]

Rutger McGroarty has started the season on fire. 6 games, 8 goals, 13 assists for 21 pts. Has to be the top guy right now outside those big 3. Who knows maybe he could push some of those guys, still a lot of time before the draft. Wish he could see him at a higher level. Feel like the NTDP should have an exceptional status type system. Maybe for the the super elite prospects they can make the U17 team a year early. That's tough tho because then they'd have to accelerate for college, or go to major juniors after the second NTDP season. Probably too clunky to implement and god knows USA hockey wont want anything that may push top prospects to major junior in their draft season.

He seems like the type that should play on a strong U18 team or at least U16. U15 is fine but his scoring numbers are going to be hilarious

 

[Ryan Van Horne]

He seems like the type that should play on a strong U18 team or at least U16. U15 is fine but his scoring numbers are going to be hilarious

How strong is the league that he's playing in?

 

[ijuka]

Interesting group of forwards from Finland for this draft from those that Ive seen I would categorize like this

Tier I
1. Brad Lambert
2. Joakim Kemell

Tier II
3. Otto Hokkanen
4. Jere Lassila
5. Topi Rönni

Tier III
6. Jani Nyman
7. Rasmus Ruusunen
8. Lauri Raiman
9. Iisai Pesonen
10. Santeri Sulku
11. Oskari Vuorio
12. Tommi Männistö

Jere Lassila should be tier 1. And also, Santeri Sulku should not be behind Iisai Pesonen(CSM, Pesonen 10gp 22p, Sulku 5gp 16p)

In fact, Sulku should easily be tier 2.

 

[tealhockey]

How strong is the league that he's playing in?

good enough. the HPHL games are usually good, the rest of u15 hockey varies wildly

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

The American 2004 crop is supposed to be our next great crop of players. I haven't watched any of these players yet myself to say whether I agree with that, but those who have seem to believe that this age group has some potential stars. These players should be playing in the NTDP a year from now, so we'll have a better idea at that point.

 

[VictorLustig]

Still some players I haven't had a chance to see yet but boy did C. Odelius stand out in TV-pucken last week. Big kid, amazing skater, excellent poise with the puck. A lot can happen in ~3 years but this could be the next great Swedish D-prospect.

Calle Odelius at eliteprospects.com

J. Lekkerimäki was the other standout player I saw. His hands and shot was on a different level from the rest and he lead the tournament in scoring. The game comes very easy to him. He's unfortunately not a very good skater and he lacks some pace in his game, still a very intriguing player who could become a top prospect if things go right.

Another interesting kid is Alexander Suzdalev, son of a Russian bandy player who moved to Sweden 8 years ago. He's already played some games with the Russian U16 team and looked pretty good to me. Seems like he will likely choose to play for Russia but he has dual citizenship.

Saw some other interesting players as well. Can't really tell how good this age group is before they start playing U16 NT games which happens around Christmas.

Some of the guys I thought would look good beforehand failed to impress me. Gothenburg with Stahre in particular.

 

[Outofbodyinhungary]

Anyone have a top 20 or 30 for this draft. I know it’s early but there’s been a decent amount of guys marking a name for themselves.

 

[PepeBostones]

Some of these players/prospects could make Canada and US Youth Olympic team 2020 respectively. Of course there are many others too. I hope Canada can regain the role as leaders in the hockey world developing talent. Watching Canada games last year and came away impressed with a new generation Shane Wright, Matthew Savoie and Tristan Luneau etc.

TEAM CANADA 2004 BORN PLAYERS/PROSPECTS
Liam Sztuska (G), Toronto Titans (GTMMHL)
Charles-Edward Gravel (G), Mississauga Senators (GTMMHL)
Michael D'Orazio (G), Shattuck St Mary’s (Midget)
Tristan Luneau (D) Trois-Rivières Estacades | QMAAA
Ty Nelson (D)| Toronto Jr. Canadi. Mn Mdgt AAA | GTMMHL
Keaton Dowhaniuk (D) OHA Edmonton Prep | CSSHL
Jake Furlong (D) Mount St. Charles Academy U15 | Midget
Mats Lindgren (D) Kamloops Blazers |WHL
Isiah George (D) Toronto Marlboros Mn Mdgt AAA | GTMMHL
Noah Warren (D) CCL Rivierains |QMAAA
Emanuell Charbonneau (D) CCL Rivierains |QMAAA
Shane Wright (F) Kingston Frontenacs | OHL
Matthew Savoie (F) Winnipeg Ice | WHL
Michael Lastarza (F) Shattuck St. Mary's U16|Midget
Conor Geekie (F) Yellowhead Chiefs Midget AAA | MMHL
Cedrick Guindon (F) Rockland Nationals Midget AAA | HEOMAAA
Justin Côté (F) Châteauguay Grenadiers | QMAAA
Jonathan Melee (F) Toronto Titans Minor Midget AAA | GTMMHL
Kocha Delic (F) Toronto Titans Minor Midget AAA | GTMMHL
Markus Vidicek (F) Lac St-Louis Lions | QMAAA
Joey Vetrano (F) Lac St-Louis Lions | QMAAA
Owen Mehlenbacher (F) Buffalo Jr Sabres U16|
Brody Crane (F) Buffalo Jr Sabres U16 |
Owen Baker (F) Honeybaked U15 | HPHL U15
Nicholas Moldenhauer (F) Toronto Titans Minor Midget AAA | GTMMHL
Adam Fantilli (F) Kimbal Union | USHS Midget

TEAM USA 2004 born players/prospects
Nick Erickson (G) Compuware U16 |HPHL U16
Christian Manz (G) Shattuck St Mary’s U16 |Midget
Arthur Smith (G) Selects Hockey Academy U15 |Midget
Tyler Duke (D) Compuware U16 | HPHL U16
Seamus Casey (D) Florida Alliance U16 | NAPHL 16U
Lane Hutson (D North Jersey Avalanche 16U | AYHL 16U
Lukas Klemm (D) North Jersey Avalanche 16U | AYHL 16U
Ryan Chesley (D) Shattuck St. Mary's U16 | Midget
Charlie Leddy (D) Mid-Fairfield Rangers U16 | EHF 16U Elite
Aiden Dubinsky (D) Florida Alliance U16 | NAPHL 16U
Ryan Healey (D) Boston Adavantage U16 |ECEL U16
Maddox Fleming (F) Shattuck St. Mary's Midget Prep | USHS-Prep
Zach Filak (F) Compuware U16 | HPHL U16
Isaac Howard (F) Shattuck St. Mary's U16 | Midget
Devin Kaplan (F) North Jersey Avalanche 16U | AYHL 16U
Cruz Lucius (F) Gentry Academy 16U | NAPHL 16U
Jaksen Panzer (F) True North AAA 16U | Midget
Rutger McGroarty (F) Oakland Jr. Grizzlies U16| Midget
Nick Pierre (F) Team Southeast | UMHSEHL
Cole Spicer (F) Honeybaked U15 | HPHL U15
Anthony Yu (F) Shattuck St. Mary's U15 | Midget
Frank Nazar (F) Honeybaked U15 | HPHL U15
Chase LaPinta (F) Dallas Stars U16 / T1EHL U16
Michael Stenberg (F) Cape Cop Whalers U16 |EHF 16U
Camron VanSickle (F) Honeybaked U15 | HPHL U16
Gavin Hayes (F) Compuware U16 |HPHL U16

 

[AJ Thelen]

Is Lambert projected to be #1?

 

[ijuka]

Depends on who is projecting. But generally speaking, no.

Lambert now has 17 points in 16 games at Finnish Nuorten SM-Liiga. And 11 points in his last 5 games.

 

[Daximus]

Is Lambert projected to be #1?

At this rate he is definitely in the conversation for #1. Shane Wright (OHL) and Matthew Savoie (WHL) are also in that conversation. Then you have Maddox Flemming, Jack Devine and Rutger McGroarty out of the US who ave some potential to challenge. There is also Ludwig Persson out of Sweden, Ivan Mirosnichenko out of Russia, Tristen Luneau a Quebec kid committed to the University of Wisconsin and Juraj Slafkovsky a Slovakian kid playing in the Finnish systems. Plus a whole slew of kids who are still in midget all over the place.

So far there is a noticeable top 3, Lambert has the inside track due to playing up a few levels but we won't really know who the true challengers are until all of these kids start playing their first seasons of Major Junior and equivalents around the world.

 

[VictorLustig]

At this rate he is definitely in the conversation for #1. Shane Wright (OHL) and Matthew Savoie (WHL) are also in that conversation. Then you have Maddox Flemming, Jack Devine and Rutger McGroarty out of the US who ave some potential to challenge. There is also Ludwig Persson out of Sweden, Ivan Mirosnichenko out of Russia, Tristen Luneau a Quebec kid committed to the University of Wisconsin and Juraj Slafkovsky a Slovakian kid playing in the Finnish systems. Plus a whole slew of kids who are still in midget all over the place.

So far there is a noticeable top 3, Lambert has the inside track due to playing up a few levels but we won't really know who the true challengers are until all of these kids start playing their first seasons of Major Junior and equivalents around the world.

Persson is a fine player but he's not a top guy from Sweden in this draft.

 

[BKarchitect]

Persson is a fine player but he's not a top guy from Sweden in this draft.

I would assume since Persson is a late ‘03 part of his name being listed in multiple places as a top Swede might be partially due to him having more exposure than the ‘04 group? His production thus far does look on track with the likes of Lysell, Dower Nilsson, Almquist and other top ‘03 players most of whom are 2021 eligible.

Is Helmer Styf (2004) one to watch? His J18 Elit production is right up there with the top ‘03’s in the league. Looks like he has a solid frame for a young kid.

I see you mentioned Odelius and a couple others above - any more names you can mention as impressing you or getting some attention yet?

 

[tealhockey]

At this rate he is definitely in the conversation for #1. Shane Wright (OHL) and Matthew Savoie (WHL) are also in that conversation. Then you have Maddox Flemming, Jack Devine and Rutger McGroarty out of the US who ave some potential to challenge. There is also Ludwig Persson out of Sweden, Ivan Mirosnichenko out of Russia, Tristen Luneau a Quebec kid committed to the University of Wisconsin and Juraj Slafkovsky a Slovakian kid playing in the Finnish systems. Plus a whole slew of kids who are still in midget all over the place.

So far there is a noticeable top 3, Lambert has the inside track due to playing up a few levels but we won't really know who the true challengers are until all of these kids start playing their first seasons of Major Junior and equivalents around the world.

This is no shot at the elite American 04s but they are all still a ways away, and if we are going to be talking about them as having potential to challenge, you have to include Devin Kaplan IMO. Not saying he will (or any of them will) but he has just as much chance to as it stands today.

 

[Outofbodyinhungary]

Slafkovsky looks really good, definitely exceeding my expectations so far

 

[Lepardi]

Depends on who is projecting. But generally speaking, no.

Lambert now has 17 points in 16 games at Finnish Nuorten SM-Liiga. And 11 points in his last 5 games.

How many games do you expect him to play in Liiga this season?

 

[james12]

Hi Folks, I tried to arrange very early top 50 for 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

Notes: 1. I don't dispose of accurate analysis on every player below (app.50% of them i've seen at least once); it's all constructed based on my opinions, others' reports and obviously overall awareness of such players
2. Let's approach this ranking soberly, more or less as an illustration
3. Don't hesitate to add your thoughts, personal favorites (thats why i'm doing that)
4. As for #5,#25,#44 and #50, don't kill me for my homerism (these are goddamn good)

1. Matthew Savoie
2. Shane Wright
3. Brad Lambert
4. Rutger McGroarty
5. Juraj Slafkovský
6. Seamus Casey (D)
7. Maddox Fleming
8. Devin Kaplan
9. Tristan Luneau (D)
10. Frank Nazar
11. Jack Devine
12. Ivan Miroshnichenko
13. Lane Hutson (D)
14. Cutter Gauthier
15. Charlie Leddy (D)
16. Isaac Howard
17. Jack Hughes
18. Liam Arnsby
19. Ludwig Persson
20. Conor Greekie
21. Cruz Lucius
22. Simon Forsmark (D)
23. Camron VanSickle
24. Landon McCallum
25. Šimon Nemec (D)
26. Keaton Dowhaniuk (D)
27. Alexander Suzdalev
28. Zach Filak
29. Dylan James
30. Rasmus Ruusunen
31. Tyler Duke (D)
32. Danny Zhilkin

33. Gavin Hayes
34. Nick Pierre
35. Gleb Trikozov
36. Otto Stahre
37. Kasper Kulonunmi
38. Ryan Greene
39. Mattias Hävelid (D)
40. Oasiz Wiesblatt
41. Elmeri Laakso (D)
42. Joakim Kemmel
43. Jaksen Panzer
44. Tomáš Hamara (D)
45. Tyler Brennan (G)
46. Trey Ausmus (D)
47. Chris Able (D)
48. Ruslan Gazizov
49. Nathan Gaucher
50. Filip Mešár

I'd continue with many other players..whether from Russia, Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia...vast package of talent in the world..

This is going to be unreal draft.

 

[tealhockey]

Hi Folks, I tried to arrange very early top 50 for 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

Notes: 1. I don't dispose of accurate analysis on every player below (app.50% of them i've seen at least once); it's all constructed based on my opinions, others' reports and obviously overall awareness of such players
2. Let's approach this ranking soberly, more or less as an illustration
3. Don't hesitate to add your thoughts, personal favorites (thats why i'm doing that)
4. As for #5,#25,#44 and #50, don't kill me for my homerism (these are goddamn good)

1. Matthew Savoie
2. Shane Wright
3. Brad Lambert
4. Rutger McGroarty
5. Juraj Slafkovský
6. Seamus Casey (D)
7. Maddox Fleming
8. Devin Kaplan
9. Tristan Luneau
10. Frank Nazar
11. Jack Devine
12. Ivan Miroshnichenko
13. Lane Hutson (D)
14. Cutter Gauthier
15. Charlie Leddy (D)
16. Isaac Howard
17. Jack Hughes
18. Liam Arnsby
19. Ludwig Persson
20. Conor Greekie
21. Cruz Lucius
22. Simon Forsmark (D)
23. Camron VanSickle
24. Landon McCallum
25. Šimon Nemec (D)
26. Keaton Dowhaniuk (D)
27. Alexander Suzdalev
28. Zach Filak
29. Dylan James
30. Rasmus Ruusunen
31. Tyler Duke (D)
32. Danny Zhilkin

33. Gavin Hayes
34. Nick Pierre
35. Gleb Trikozov
36. Otto Stahre
37. Kasper Kulonunmi
38. Ryan Greene
39. Mattias Hävelid (D)
40. Oasiz Wiesblatt
41. Elmeri Laakso (D)
42. Joakim Kemmel
43. Jaksen Panzer
44. Tomáš Hamara (D)
45. Tyler Brennan (G)
46. Trey Ausmus (D)
47. Chris Able (D)
48. Ruslan Gazizov
49. Nathan Gaucher
50. Filip Mešár

I'd continue with many other players..whether from Russia, Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia...vast package of talent in the world..

This is going to be unreal draft.

It's an interesting exercise, could play out something like this, but obviously a lot will change. Rather than talk about where I think some of the players should be moved down, I'd just note that Ryan Greene is a player I am as excited about as any of these top Americans. Like up there with Frank Nazar

 

[Vandalay Industries]

From Denmark I'd like to add D-man Anton Stenbakken, currently playing in Sweden. He is a big, strong two-way defenseman with a nice shot, brilliant skating and a very firm defensive game. He is not a high flying Erik Karlsson type of player, but does all the right things with the puck and takes all possible responsibility defensively. I have high expectations for this kid. Perhaps he could be a second round pick or something like that.

 

[VictorLustig]

Still some players I haven't had a chance to see yet but boy did C. Odelius stand out in TV-pucken last week. Big kid, amazing skater, excellent poise with the puck. A lot can happen in ~3 years but this could be the next great Swedish D-prospect.

Calle Odelius at eliteprospects.com

J. Lekkerimäki was the other standout player I saw. His hands and shot was on a different level from the rest and he lead the tournament in scoring. The game comes very easy to him. He's unfortunately not a very good skater and he lacks some pace in his game, still a very intriguing player who could become a top prospect if things go right.

Another interesting kid is Alexander Suzdalev, son of a Russian bandy player who moved to Sweden 8 years ago. He's already played some games with the Russian U16 team and looked pretty good to me. Seems like he will likely choose to play for Russia but he has dual citizenship.

Saw some other interesting players as well. Can't really tell how good this age group is before they start playing U16 NT games which happens around Christmas.

Some of the guys I thought would look good beforehand failed to impress me. Gothenburg with Stahre in particular.

Playoff rounds were played this weekend and sure enough, Odelius was named best D. Lekkerimäki best forward. Those two with Suzdalev are my top 3 from Sweden. Very high upside on all three, especially Lekkerimäki.

 

[buzzer beater]

The list has 6 Canadians only out of 50. Got to be serious here its missing 10-12 top Canadians. And Shane is the absolute number 1.

 

[Dominance]

Only 6 Canadians in the first round isn’t a thing, much less the top-50.