Mock 2022 NHL Draft: Wright, Slafkovsky, Cooley remain top three picks

Following the conclusion of the NHL Scouting Combine on Saturday, NHL.com writers Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale make their predictions for how the first round of the 2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft could turn out.

While the 2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft is full of unpredictability, there appears to be some consensus at the top of the draft.
NHL.com writers Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale agree on how the first six picks could go, beginning with the Montreal Canadiens selecting center Shane Wright from Kingston of the Ontario Hockey League with the No. 1 pick.
But starting with the Ottawa Senators and the No. 7 selection, their opinions vary widely.
The first round of the 2022 draft will be held at Bell Centre in Montreal on July 7. Rounds 2-7 will be July 8.
RELATED: [Complete coverage of 2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft]
The 16 teams that missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs took part in the lottery drawing for the first two selections; the Canadiens won the No. 1 pick, and the New Jersey Devils won No. 2. The remaining teams were ordered based on the NHL standings.
The 12 teams that lost in the first two rounds of the playoffs were slotted into picks 17-28. Teams that did not win their division were placed in inverse order of regular-season standings points, followed by the three division winners who lost in inverse order of regular-season points.
The No. 29 pick will go to the team that loses in the conference finals with the fewest regular-season points, and No. 30 will go to the other team that loses in the conference finals. The team that loses in the Stanley Cup Final will get pick No. 31, and the Cup winner gets No. 32.
1. Montreal Canadiens
Kimelman -- Shane Wright, C, Kingston (OHL): Wright (6-foot, 191 pounds) not only is the most complete player in the 2022 draft, but he also fills a need at center for the Canadiens. General manager Kent Hughes said the goal is to find character players with skill, and it was Wright who said, "My mindset is not to win scoring titles, it's not to win MVPs, it's to win Stanley Cups. I believe that the way I play, my competitiveness and my drive to win is going to help do that." Wright is an easy choice at No. 1.
Morreale -- Wright:The most complete two-way center of this draft class is a player the scouting community has been tracking for some time. He can bring a lot to a team, including hockey sense and leadership.

2. New Jersey Devils
Kimelman -- Juraj Slafkovsky, LW, TPS (FIN): With Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer, the Devils are in good shape down the middle. As New Jersey looks to build its lineup, Slafkovsky brings elite offensive skills in a power forward body (6-4, 218). He's already shown he can excel against older competition in Liiga, the top professional league in Finland, and at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where, as the youngest player in the tournament, was named its most valuable player. Slafkovsky led all players with seven goals in seven games for Slovakia, which won the bronze medal. From a physical standpoint, he appears ready to play in the NHL next season.
Morreale -- Slafkovsky:He would be the perfect fit in New Jersey on the wing alongside one of the team's talented centers. Slafkovsky uses his size, reach and strength as an effective and active checker in the offensive and defensive zones. In addition to his success at the Olympics, he led Slovakia at the 2022 IIHF World Championship with nine points (three goals, six assists) in eight games.
3. Arizona Coyotes
Kimelman -- Logan Cooley, C, USA U-18 (NTDP): Cooley (5-10, 174) is an elite skater with high-end offensive skills and a strong work ethic. He'll play at least one season at the University of Minnesota but is confident that's all he'll need before becoming an impact NHL player.
Morreale -- Cooley: A scoring threat every time he steps on the ice, Cooley's top-end speed is off the charts and he has the ability to quickly process and execute on plays. He was second on the USA Hockey National Team Development Program with 75 points (27 goals, 48 assists) in 51 games. He also had 10 points (three goals, seven assists) and 23 shots on goal in six games to help the United States finish second at the 2022 IIHF World Under-18 Championship.
4. Seattle Kraken
Kimelman -- Simon Nemec, D, Nitra (SVK): After selecting center Matty Beniers as a foundational piece at forward last year, the Kraken find a centerpiece for their group of defensemen with Nemec (6-0, 190), a right-shot who plays an outstanding two-way game. He skates extremely well, which allows him to add to the offensive attack while still being strong in the defensive zone.
Morreale -- Nemec:The right-handed shot plays big minutes and uses his excellent mobility, balance, puck-handling and skating to create openings for teammates. He had 26 points (one goal, 25 assists) in 39 games in his third season with Nitra in Tipos Extraliga, the top professional league in Slovakia.
5. Philadelphia Flyers
Kimelman -- David Jiricek, D, Plzen (CZE): A knee injury sustained at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship slowed Jiricek this season, but he recovered to have a strong showing for Czechia at the World Championship with two points (one goal, one assist) in 10:28 of ice time in five games. Jiricek projects to be a high-skill, top-pair defenseman with the size (6-3, 189) to win 1-on-1 battles in the defensive zone.
Morreale -- Jiricek:Jiricek plays a mature game and can make the transition from defense to offense quickly. He returned from injury in March and had 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 29 games with Plzen in the Czech Extraliga, the Czech Republic's top professional league.
6. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Chicago Blackhawks)
Kimelman -- Cutter Gauthier, LW, USA U-18 (NTDP): His skating and shot are NHL-caliber already, and he's got a power forward build (6-2, 189) that will be even better when he gets around an NHL strength coach.
Morreale -- Gauthier: A good skater with a power forward-type game who can really shoot the puck. He had 65 points (34 goals, 31 assists) and scored five power-play goals in 54 games for the NTDP, and had nine points (three goals, six assists) in six games for the United States at the World U-18s. He'll play at Boston College next season.

7. Ottawa Senators
Kimelman -- Joakim Kemell, RW, JYP (FIN): Kemell (5-11, 171) has the potential to be a big-time goal scorer in the NHL, and right wing is an area of need for the Senators; in the past 10 seasons, Mark Stone is the only right wing to score at least 25 goals for Ottawa. Playing most of this season as a 17-year-old (he turned 18 on April 27), Kemell scored 15 goals in 39 games in Liiga, the most by an under-18 player since Kaapo Kakko scored 22 in 45 games in 2018-19.
Morreale -- Matthew Savoie, C, Winnipeg (WHL):As one of the most dynamic skaters in this draft class, Savoie (5-9, 175) was seventh in the Western Hockey League with 90 points (35 goals, 55 assists) in 65 games, and had 34 power-play points (12 goals, 22 assists).
8. Detroit Red Wings
Kimelman -- Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW, Djurgarden (SWE):Lekkerimaki (5-10, 165) has an NHL-caliber shot, with a one-timer and wrist shot he can use to pick corners. He's an excellent skater with good offensive instincts. A future top line with Lekkerimaki on one wing and Lucas Raymond on the other has the chance to be very scary for opposing teams.
Morreale -- Lekkerimaki:A pure sniper who plays a two-way game with good hands and explosiveness, he led all skaters at the U-18s with 10 assists and 15 points for first place Sweden. He had nine points (seven goals, two assists) in 26 games with Djurgarden in the Swedish Hockey League.
9. Buffalo Sabres
Kimelman -- Savoie:The Sabres can continue to add speedy, skilled forwards with Savoie. Among the fastest skaters available, NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr said Savoie is, "Maybe the most natural goal scorer in this draft class."
Morreale -- Frank Nazar, C, USA U-18 (NTDP):Nazar is a smart, skilled right-shot forward who plays with energy and pace, and is the first one on pucks. He had 70 points (28 goals, 42 assists) in 56 games with the NTDP and nine points (three goals, six assists) in six games at the U-18s. Nazar (5-10, 175) will play at the University of Michigan next season.
10. Anaheim Ducks
Kimelman -- Pavel Mintyukov, D, Saginaw (OHL): Mintyukov (6-1, 197) is an outstanding skater with high-end offensive instincts. There's a bit of risk/reward to his approach, but his skating allows him to make up for any mistakes. He was third among OHL defensemen with 62 points (17 goals, 45 assists) in 67 games and has the chance to be a left-side complement to Jamie Drysdale at 5-on-5 and on the power play.
Morreale -- Denton Mateychuk, D, Moose Jaw (WHL): Mateychuk (5-11, 188) was third on Moose Jaw with 64 points (13 goals, 51 assists) in 65 games and had 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in 10 WHL playoff games. He's considered a strong skater who can lead or join the rush for scoring opportunities, and create chances with his ability to anticipate plays.
11. San Jose Sharks
Kimelman -- Danila Yurov, RW, Magnitogorsk (RUS):The Sharks could take a chance with the highly skilled Yurov (6-1, 178), who didn't have a point in 21 games in the Kontinental Hockey League; however, he averaged1.57 points per game (36 points in 23 games), fifth among players with at least 20 games in the MHL, Russia's junior league. One scout compared his game to Hockey Hall of Famer Marian Hossa.
Morreale -- Mintyukov:Mintyukov can play physical and is strong on his skates, capable of creating a seamless transition and pushing the pace into the opposing end. He was the only OHL defenseman to lead his team in scoring during the regular season.
12. Columbus Blue Jackets
Kimelman -- Kevin Korchinski, D, Seattle (WHL): After taking a forward with their first selection, the Blue Jackets could look to add a top defenseman in Korchinski (6-2, 185). He led WHL rookie defensemen with 65 points (four goals, 61 assists) in 67 games and his playmaking ability ranks among the best at his position in this year's draft.
Morreale -- Kemell: A shoulder injury sidelined him twice, totaling more than two months, but he still led Liiga rookies with 15 goals and was second with 23 points in 39 games. Kemell is a good skater with acceleration and speed who is considered a highly skilled playmaker that sees the ice well. He led Finland with six goals in five games at the U-18s.
13. New York Islanders
Kimelman -- Mateychuk: Getting more dynamic on defense could be an area of focus for the Islanders, who had one defenseman score more than five goals this season (Noah Dobson, 13) and lack a game-breaking blue line prospect. Mateychuk can use his outstanding skating as an impact offensive player but also uses to defend smartly. And while he doesn't have towering size, he's not afraid to play physically when needed.
Morreale -- Marco Kasper, C, Rogle (SWE):Kasper (6-1, 183), who has good hockey sense, a high compete level and great work ethic, is a leader and can play center or wing. He had six points (three goals, three assists) in 13 playoff games to help Rogle to its first Champions Hockey League title with a 2-1 win against Tappara of Liiga on March 1.
14. Winnipeg Jets
Kimelman -- Jimmy Snuggerud, RW, USA U-18 (NTDP): Snuggerud (6-1, 186) was called the most improved player during his two seasons at the NTDP by his coach. He upgraded his skating which allows him to get into more dangerous areas to use his shot, considered by scouts to be one of the best among players in this draft class. He's a straight-line player with a power forward game that should translate well to the pro level.
Morreale -- Conor Geekie, C, Winnipeg (WHL):Geekie (6-3, 196) is hard to contain with his high-end compete and deceptive speed, and he's shifty in tight quarters. He had 70 points (24 goals, 46 assists) in 63 games.
15. Vancouver Canucks
Kimelman -- Ryan Chesley, D, USA U-18 (NTDP):The Canucks need to add youth to their group of defensemen to go along with Quinn Hughes, and Chesley (6-0, 195) adds a bit of everything. A right-shot who played primarily on the left side, he was in more of a shut-down role for the NTDP this season but showcased a high-end offensive game with the U-17 team last season. He'll likely be able to showcase more of those offensive skills next season at the University of Minnesota.
Morreale -- Korchinski: Korchinski is a high-end offensive-minded defenseman who can generate scoring chances in all situations. He was second among WHL defensemen with 61 assists and was the first WHL defenseman since Darryl Sydor in 1989-90 (Kamloops, 66 assists) to have 60 or more assists in his first year of NHL draft eligibility.
16. Buffalo Sabres (from Vegas Golden Knights)
Kimelman -- Isaac Howard, LW, USA U-18 (NTDP): Howard (5-10, 182) led the NTDP in scoring during the regular season with 82 points (33 goals, 49 assists) in 60 games and at the World U-18s with 11 points (six goals, five assists) in six games, but was overshadowed by some of his teammates. Howard's skating and strength down low in the offensive zone are keys to his success.
Morreale -- Lian Bichsel, D, Leksand (SWE): The Switzerland-born defenseman moves well for his size (6-5, 216), makes a good first pass out of his zone, and is aggressive in battles around the net. He had three points (one goal, two assists) in 29 games in his first season in the Swedish Hockey League, was fifth on Leksand with 28 hits and averaged 11:48 of ice time.
17. Nashville Predators
Kimelman -- Owen Pickering, D, Swift Current (WHL):The Predators haven't selected a defenseman in the first two rounds of the draft since 2016 (Dante Fabbro, Samuel Girard) and Pickering (6-4, 178) is the right player to end that run. At 18 years old he was the top defenseman on a Swift Current team that struggled this season, but scouts liked how he responded to the adversity. He's a strong skater who is solid in his end, handled his minutes well in all situations, and showed some offensive ability with 33 points (nine goals, 24 assists) in 62 games.
Morreale -- Brad Lambert, C, Pelicans (FIN):A skilled forward with playmaking skills, Lambert (6-0, 175) combines speed, agility and balance, and has a solid work ethic. He had 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 49 games in Liiga with JYP and Pelicans.
18. Dallas Stars
Kimelman -- Lane Hutson, D, USA U-18 (NTDP):Hutson has a dynamic offensive game that stands out among players in his draft class. His 63 points (10 goals, 53 assists) in 60 games were the second-most ever by an NTDP defenseman (Cam York, 65, 2018-19). Fears about his size (5-8, 148) could be moot; he said an endocrinologist informed him his bone age is younger than his chronological age, and there's a good chance he could grow as tall as 5-11 over the course of a season or two at Boston University.
Morreale -- Rutger McGroarty, RW, USA U-18 (NTDP):A versatile player with great leadership skills, McGroarty (6-1, 200) thinks the game at a high level and makes plays all over the ice. He led the NTDP with 35 goals in 54 games this season.
19. Los Angeles Kings
Kimelman -- Kasper:Kasper's athleticism, skating and offensive ability stood out against older competition in the Swedish Hockey League. The possibility of adding him to a forward group that includes Quinton Byfield and Alex Turcotte would set the Kings up nicely down the middle for their post-Anze Kopitar era.
Morreale -- Snuggerud:The Kings could use a few top-tier wings in the pipeline and Snuggerud fits the profile. Committed to the University of Minnesota next season, he was second on the NTDP with seven power-play goals and had a goal and a game-high seven shots on net at the 2022 BioSteel All-American Game. His ceiling is high because he has all the elements for a long, successful NHL career.
20. Washington Capitals
Kimelman -- Nazar: Nazar is an explosive skater, and his speed allows him to pull away from defensemen, or to use it as a weapon to create space for himself. With Nicklas Backstrom's future uncertain, adding depth at center could be a direction the Capitals look.
Morreale -- Owen Beck, C, Mississauga (OHL):The Capitals could use some shut-down centers and Beck fits the bill. He tied for fifth among OHL rookies with 51 points (21 goals, 30 assists) in 68 games, and was first in voting for best on face-offs in a poll of OHL Eastern Conference coaches after he finished second in the league in face-off winning percentage (60.6 percent; minimum 400 face-offs). He might be one of the most consistent players in this year's draft class.
21. Pittsburgh Penguins
Kimelman -- Lambert:Lambert's skating and speed drive his offensive game. He can use it to back off defenders and his strong edge work allows him to quickly create room for himself to get his shot off. He has played center and wing, and has top-level experience after playing in Liiga the past three seasons.
Morreale -- Pickering:The best available player at this point in the draft also might come at a position of need for Pittsburgh. Pickering is a good skater who defends well with his feet and reach, taking time away from opponents.
22. Anaheim Ducks (from Boston Bruins)
Kimelman -- Geekie:Geekie's skating has concerned some scouts, while others believe that, as he fills out physically and develops his lower body, it will improve. The Ducks selected center Mason McTavish with the No. 3 pick of the 2021 draft, and adding Geekie here could give Anaheim some high-end center depth as it moves into a future without the retired Ryan Getzlaf.
Morreale -- Howard: After selecting their high-end defenseman prospect at No. 10, the Ducks can turn their attention to a pure goal-scorer with a deceptive release. Howard was the top scorer for the NTDP during the season and at the U-18s and will play at the University of Minnesota Duluth next season.
23. St. Louis Blues
Kimelman -- Seamus Casey, D, USA U-18 (NTDP):Injuries during the Stanley Cup Playoffs shined a light on the Blues' depth issues on the blue line, so selecting a defenseman in the first round for the first time since 2012 (Jordan Schmaltz) could be the direction they take. Casey's skating and hockey sense are top-end, and while he's not big (5-9, 162), he's able to get low enough to move bigger players from in front of the net and win battles along the boards.
Morreale -- Nathan Gaucher, C, Quebec (QMJHL):A strong right-shot center who is used in all situations, he scored five shorthanded goals and five power-play goals this season. Gaucher (6-3, 207) can play physical and is a solid presence in front of the opposing net. He had 57 points (31 goals, 26 assists) in 66 games.
24. Minnesota Wild
Kimelman -- Luca Del Bel Belluz, C, Mississauga:Del Bel Belluz (6-0, 175) is a good skater with strong puck control skills and quick hands that make him effective in tight spaces. He's also a committed 200-foot player, and after taking centers Marco Rossi and Marat Khusnutdinov with their first two picks in the 2020 NHL Draft, the Wild could continue to enhance their skill at the position.
Morreale -- Rieger Lorenz, LW, Okotoks (AJHL): Lorenz (6-2, 184) dominated the Alberta Junior Hockey League, winning rookie of the year after leading first-year players in the league with 38 goals. He had a 16-game point streak from Dec. 4 to Jan. 25, and led the AJHL with five shorthanded goals. Lorenz is a power forward with impressive skill.
25. Toronto Maple Leafs
Kimelman -- Mattias Havelid, D, Linkoping Jr. (SWE-JR): Havelid (5-9, 165) is an outstanding skater with a big shot from the blue line. He was second among all players at the U-18s with 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in six games to help Sweden win the tournament. Adding strength is a necessity, especially when it comes to playing in his own end, but Havelid has all the qualities of a future NHL power-play quarterback.
Morreale -- Hutson:An elusive skater who can quarterback a power play, Hutson has great speed and tremendous work ethic, and has been compared to St. Louis Blues defenseman Torey Krug. He was named top defenseman at the U-18s after tying for first among defensemen with eight assists.
26. Montreal Canadiens (from Calgary Flames)
Kimelman -- David Goyette, C, Sudbury (OHL): After selecting Wright at No. 1, the Canadiens could continue to add depth at the position with Goyette (5-10, 172), who is among the best skaters in this year's draft. He can execute at top speed, and finished the season strong with 57 points (29 goals, 28 assists) in his final 45 games.
Morreale -- Tristan Luneau, D, Gatineau (QMJHL):Luneau (6-2, 188) is smart and effective at both ends of the ice. He transitions well, is good at supporting the rush and has exhibited solid defensive positioning. Luneau, who was named the QMJHL defensive rookie of the year in 2020-21, had 43 points (12 goals, 31 assists) and a Gatineau-best 17 power-play assists in 63 games.
27. Arizona Coyotes (from Carolina Hurricanes via Montreal Canadiens)
Kimelman -- Ty Nelson, D, North Bay (OHL):Nelson's skating is outstanding going forward or backward. He can skate pucks out of his zone and lead the rush, and his ability to track back and keep a tight gap allows him to break up plays before they become dangerous and trigger transition offense. A right-handed shot, Nelson (5-10, 196) had 51 points (nine goals, 42 assists) in 66 games this season.
Morreale -- Sam Rinzel, D, Chaska (HIGH-MN):Rinzel (6-4, 177) is a right-hand shot who plays a two-way game and is capable of escaping pressure with a good first pass and high-end mobility. He had 38 points (nine goals, 29 assists) in 27 high school games and 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 21 games with Waterloo of the United States Hockey League. He'll play for Waterloo next season and then at the University of Minnesota in 2023-24.
28. Buffalo Sabres (from Florida Panthers)
Kimelman -- Luneau:The Sabres could use some depth on the right side of their defense and Luneau would be a good option here. He's a good skater with a strong, accurate shot that he's able to get through traffic.
Morreale -- Yurov: A smart, hard-working two-way forward with good vision and high compete level in all three zones, taking a chance on Yurov with their third pick in the first round might be a smart move by the Sabres, especially since he's under contract in Russia for at least one more season.
29. Edmonton Oilers
Kimelman -- Jagger Firkus, RW, Moose Jaw (WHL):One scout said among Firkus' best traits is his ability to hide in plain sight, almost appearing out of nowhere before finding the back of the net with a quick, hard and accurate shot. With left-shot centers in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, giving them a scoring option on the right wing like Firkus (5-10, 153), who led Moose Jaw with 80 points (36 goals, 44 assists) in 66 games, could add some needed youth and versatility to the Oilers offense.
Morreale -- Chesley:A good skater who defends well, can play physical and has a big shot, Chesley led NTDP defensemen with 12 goals this season. He transports pucks well and his offensive game improved this season. He'll play at the University of Minnesota next season.
30. Tampa Bay Lightning
Kimelman -- Lorenz: Lorenz's work ethic and physicality drive his highly-skilled offensive game. He patterns his game after Lightning forward Alex Killorn, so adding a similar type of skilled, gritty player could be intriguing for Tampa Bay.
Morreale -- Del Bel Belluz: A responsible, high-end center used in all situations with good speed and skating ability, Del Bel Belluz has excellent hands and puck skills. He was second on Mississauga with 76 points (30 goals, 46 assists), including 27 power-play points (12 goals, 15 assists), in 68 games.
31. Winnipeg Jets (from New York Rangers)
Kimelman -- McGroarty: McGroarty was the captain of the NTDP U-18 team, which speaks to his leadership ability. His shot and hockey sense are NHL caliber, and his coach compared him to New York Islanders forward Anders Lee. McGroarty's skating also got better from last season to this season, and projects to improve as he continues to develop physically.
Morreale -- Jiri Kulich, C, Karlovy Vary (CZE): Kulich (6-0, 172) was named the most valuable player at the U-18s after leading the tournament with nine goals. Kulich, who interviewed with all 32 teams, is smart and always on the move, looking to make things happen.
32. Arizona Coyotes (from Colorado Avalanche)
Kimelman -- Ivan Miroshnichenko, LW, Omsk Krylia (RUS-2): Miroshnichenko (6-1, 185) has all the tools to be a power forward in the NHL and was expected to be a top-10 pick in the draft, but it was announced in March he had been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. He has been cleared to start training as his condition allows, but there's no word on when he might play again. The Coyotes, with seven picks in the first two rounds, might be best situated to take a chance here.
Morreale -- Liam Ohgren, LW, Djurgarden Jr. (SWE-JR): An explosive skater with speed, acceleration and balance, Ohgren (6-0, 187) could be a steal at this point in the draft. He plays with a lot of energy, is strong on the forecheck and has a great work ethic. He had 58 points (33 goals, 25 assists) in 30 games in Sweden's junior league.
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