The NHL offseason officially begins with the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal, starting with the first round on Thursday (6 p.m. CT, ESPN).
The 17th-ranked Nashville Predators should be able to select a quality prospect in a divisive draft. Even the No. 1 pick hasn’t enjoyed public consensus, although Shane Wright has been the presumed first choice in most fictional drafts until recently.
Thursday is Round 1, with Rounds 2-7 taking place on Friday.
Follow our live draft tracker, with picks, trades and analysis below, from Thursday’s draft in Montreal: (Vital Stats and Prospect Stats via Elite Prospects)
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2022 NHL Draft Picks Tracker
1st round
1. Montreal Canadiens | Juraj Slafkovsky, LW, TPS (Liiga in Finland)
Vitals: 6-4, 218 pounds; From Kosice, Slovakia
Age: 18 (Born March 30, 2004)
In 2021-22: 5 goals, 5 assists in 31 games with TPS; 6 goals and 12 assists in 11 games with the TPS U20 team; 7 Olympics goals for Slovakia (won Tournament MVP)
2. New Jersey Devils | Simon Nemec, D, HK Nitra (Slovakia)
Vitals: 6 feet 1 inch, 192 pounds; From Liptovsky Mikulas, Slovakia
Age: 18 (Born Feb. 15, 2004)
In 2021-22: 1 goal, 25 assists with Nitra in 39 regular season games, 5 goals and 12 assists in 19 playoff games with Nitra
3. Arizona Coyotes | Logan Cooley, C, USA U18
Vitals: 5-10, 181 pounds; From Pittsburgh
Age: 18 (Born May 4, 2004)
In 2021-22: 27 goals, 48 assists in 52 games with the U18 development program; 10 points in six games at World Juniors; committed to the University of Minnesota
4. Seattle Kraken | Shane Wright, C, Kingston (OHL)
Vitals: 6-0. 198 pounds; From Burlington, Ontario
Age: 18 (Born January 5, 2004)
In 2021-22: 32 goals, 62 assists in 63 games with Kingston; 14 points in 11 OHL playoff games with Kingston
5. Philadelphia Circulars | Cutter Gauthier, F, US U18
Vitals: 6-3, 201 pounds; From Skelleftea, Sweden
Age: 18 (Born Jan. 19, 2004)
In 2021-22: 34 goals, 31 assists in 54 games with the U18 development program; 9 points in six games at World Juniors; committed to Boston College
6. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Chicago) | David Jiricek, RHD, Plzen (Czech Extraliga)
Vitals: 6-3, 190 pounds; From Klatovy, Czech Republic
Age: 18 (Born Nov. 28, 2003)
In 2021-22: 5 goals, 6 assists in 29 games with Plzen
7. Chicago Blackhawks (from Ottawa) | Kevin Korchinski, D, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
Vitals: 6-2, 185 pounds; From Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Age: 18 (Born June 21, 2004)
In 2021-22: 4 goals, 61 assists, +36 in 67 regular season games with the Thunderbirds; 6 goals and 13 assists in 25 WHL playoff games
DAY EXCHANGE PROJECT: Chicago traded RW Alex DeBrincat to Ottawa for the No. 7 overall pick, No. 39 overall pick and a third-round pick in 2024.
8. Detroit Red Wings | Marco Kasper, C, Rogle (Sweden)
Vitals: 6-2, 185 pounds; From Innsbruck, Austria
Age: 18 (Born April 8, 2004)
In 2021-22: 7 goals, 4 assists in 46 games in the Swedish professional league; six points in 13 playoff games with Rogle
9. Bison sabers | Matthew Savoie, C, Winnipeg Ice (WHL)
Vitals: 5-9, 179 pounds; From St. Albert, Alberta
Age: 18 (Born January 1, 2004)
In 2021-22: 35 goals, 55 assists in 65 regular season games; 6 goals and 6 assists in 10 WHL playoff games
10. Anaheim Ducks | Pavel Mintyukov, D, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Vitals: 6-2, 194 pounds; From Moskva, Russia
Age: 18 (Born Nov. 25, 2003)
In 2021-22: 17 goals, 45 assists in 67 regular season games
11. Arizona Coyotes (from San Jose) | Conor Geekie, C, Winnipeg Ice (WHL)
Vitals: 6-4, 205 pounds; From Strathclair, Manitoba
Age: 18 (Born May 5, 2004)
In 2021-22: 24 goals, 46 assists in 63 regular season games; 3 goals and 8 assists in 15 WHL playoff games
DAY EXCHANGE PROJECT: Arizona acquired the No. 11 overall pick from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for the No. 27, 34 and 45 overall picks.
12. Columbus Blue Jackets | Denton Mateychuk, GM, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Vitals: 5-11, 194 pounds; From Winnipeg
Age: 17 (Born July 12, 2004)
In 2021-22: 13 goals, 51 assists in 65 regular season games; 1 goal and 9 assists in 10 WHL playoff games
13. Chicago Blackhawks (New York Islanders via Montreal) | Frank Nazar, C, USA U18
Vitals: 5-10, 181 pounds; From Mt. Clemens, Michigan
Age: 18 (Born January 14, 2004)
In 2021-22: 28 goals, 42 assists in 56 games with the U18 development program; 9 points in six games at World Juniors; michigan clerk
PROJECT DAY EXCHANGE(S): Montreal acquired the No. 13 overall pick from the New York Islanders in exchange for defenseman Alexander Romanov and the No. 98 overall pick. Montreal then sent the No. 13 overall pick and the No. 66 overall pick to Chicago for center Kirby Dach.
14. Winnipeg Jets | Rutger McGroarty, RW, US U18
Vitals: 6-1, 205 pounds; From Lincoln, Nebraska
Age: 18 (Born March 30, 2004)
In 2021-22: 35 goals, 34 assists in 54 games with the U18 development program; 9 points in six games at World Juniors; michigan clerk
15. Vancouver Canucks | Jonathan Lekkerimäki, RW, Djurgårdens (Sweden)
Vitals: 5-11, 172 pounds; From Huddinge, Sweden
Age: 17 (Born July 24, 2004)
In 2021-22: Time split between the junior and professional teams of Djurgårdens; 7 goals and 2 assists in 26 games with the professional team, 20 goals and 15 assists in 26 games with the U20 team
16. Buffalo Sabers (from Vegas) | Noah Ostlund, C, Djurgårdens (Sweden)
Vitals: 5-11, 163 pounds; From Nykvarn, Sweden
Age: 18 (Born March 11, 2004)
In 2021-22: Didn’t record a point in 11 games with professional team Djurgårdens; 9 goals, 33 assists in 32 games with the U20 team
17. Nashville Predators | Joakim Kemell, AD, JYP (Finland)
Vitals: 5-9, 176 pounds; From Jyvaskyla, Finland
Age: 18 (Born April 27, 2004)
In 2021-22: 15 goals and 8 assists in 39 games in the Finnish first division professional league
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18. Dallas Stars | Lian Bischel, D, Leksand (Sweden)
Vitals: 6-6. 225; from Olten, Switzerland
Age: 18 (Born May 18, 2004)
In 2021-22: 1 goal, 2 assists in 29 games with Leksand pro team
19. Los Angeles Kings | Liam Ohgren, AG, Djurgårdens juniors (Sweden)
Vitals: 6-1, 201; from Stockholm, Sweden
Age: 18 (Born January 28, 2004)
In 2021-22: 1 goal, 1 assist in 25 games with professional team Djurgårdens; 33 goals and 25 assists in 30 games for Djurgårdens U20 team
20. Washington Capitals | Ivan Miroshnichenko, AG, Omsk Krylia (Russia/VHL)
Vitals: 6-1, 194 pounds; From Ussurisk. Russia
Age: 18 (Born February 4, 2004)
In 2021-22: 10 goals, 6 assists in 31 games in VHL; diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma earlier this year
21. Pittsburgh Penguins | Owen Pickering, D, Swift Current (WHL)
Vitals: 6-4. 181 pounds; From St. Adolphe, Manitoba
Age: 18 (Born January 27, 2004)
In 2021-22: 9 goals, 24 assists in 62 WHL games; 2 assists in 4 games at World Juniors
22. Anaheim Ducks (from Boston) | Nathan Gaucher, C, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
Vitals: 6-3, 207 pounds; From Longueuil, Quebec
Age: 18 (Born Nov. 6, 2003)
In 2021-22: 31 goals and 26 assists in 66 games with the Rempa
23. St. Louis Blues | Jimmy Snuggerud, RW, US U18
Vitals: 6-2, 185 pounds; From Chaska, MN
Age: 18 (Born June 1, 2004)
In 2021-22: 24 goals, 39 assists in 59 games with the U18 development program; 7 points in six games at World Juniors; clerk in minnesota
24. Minnesota Wild | Danila Yurov, RW, Magnitogorsk (KHL)
Vitals: 6 feet 1 inch, 178 pounds; from Chelyabinsk, Russia
Age: 18 (Born Dec. 22, 2003)
In 2021-22: Hasn’t scored in 21 KHL games; 13 goals and 23 assists in 23 MHL games
25. Chicago Blackhawks (from Toronto) | Sam Rinzel, D, Chaska (Minnesota) HS
Vitals: 6-3, 181 pounds; From Chanhassen, Minnesota
Age: 18 (Born June 25, 2004)
In 2021-22: 9 goals, 29 assists in 27 games with Chaska High School; 2 goals and 8 assists in 21 games with Waterloo of the USHL; clerk in minnesota
DAY EXCHANGE PROJECT: Chicago acquires the No. 25 overall pick and goaltender Petr Mrazek from Toronto for the No. 38 overall pick.
26. Montreal Canadiens (from Calgary) | Filip Mesar, RA, Poprad (Slovakia)
Vitals: 5-10, 174 pounds; From Kezmarok, Slovakia
Age: 18 (Born January 3, 2004)
In 2021-22: 8 goals, 8 assists in 37 games with Poprad
27. San Jose Sharks (from Carolina via Montreal and Arizona) | Filip Bystedt, C, Linköping (Sweden)
Vitals: 6-4, 205 pounds; From Linkoping, Sweden
Age: 18 (Born February 4, 2004)
In 2021-22: 1 goal, 1 assist in 15 games with the Linköping pro team; 16 goals, 33 assists in 40 games for the Linköping U20 team; 3 points in 6 games at World Juniors
28. Buffalo Sabers (from Florida) | Jiri Kulich, C, Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic)
Vitals: 6-0, 172 pounds
Age: 18 (Born April 14, 2004)
In 2021-22: 9 goals, 5 assists in 49 games with Karlovy Vary; 11 points in 6 games at World Juniors
29. Arizona Coyotes (from Edmonton) | Maveric Lamoureux, D, Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
Vitals: 6-7, 198 pounds; From Hawkesbury, Ontario
Age: 18 (Born January 13, 2004)
In 2021-22: 4 goals, 20 assists in 54 games with the Voltigeurs
DAY EXCHANGE PROJECT: Arizona acquired the No. 29 overall pick, a 2025 second-round pick, a 2024 third-round pick and forward Zach Kassian from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for the No. 32 overall pick.
30. Winnipeg Jets (from NY Rangers) | Brad Lambert, F, Pelicans (Finland)
Vitals: 6-0, 183 pounds; From Lahti, Finland
Age: 18 (Born Dec. 19, 2003)
In 2021-22: 4 combined goals, 6 assists in 49 games for two teams in Finland’s top professional league
31. Tampa Bay Lightning | Isaac Howard, LW, USA U18
Vitals: 5-10, 181 pounds; From Hudson. Wisconsin
Age: 18 (Born March 30, 2004)
In 2021-22: 33 goals, 49 assists in 60 games with the U18 development program; 11 points in six games at World Juniors; clerk in Minnesota-Duluth
32. Edmonton Oilers (from Colorado via Arizona) | Reid Schaefer, LW, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
Vitals: 6-3, 214 pounds; From Spruce Grove, AB
Age: 18 (Born September 21, 2003)
In 2021-22: 32 goals, 26 assists in 66 games for the Thunderbirds
