The 2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft will be held July 7-8 at Bell Centre in Montreal. The first round will be July 7 (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, ESPN+, SN, TVAS) and rounds 2-7 are July 8 (11 a.m. ET; NHLN, ESPN+, SN, TVAS). NHL.com is counting down to the draft with in-depth profiles on top prospects, podcasts and other features.
Today, a look at players passed over in the 2021 NHL Draft who could be selected this year. NHL.com's full draft coverage can be found here
King, Zhigalov among 2022 NHL Draft prospects passed over in 2021
20-year-old center led WHL in goals, 19-year-old No. 2 on Central Scouting's final ranking of North American goaltenders
It wouldn't be surprising if there were a greater number of players chosen in the 2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft who were passed over last season because of limited viewings due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.
"I definitely think there's a chance of that since the Ontario Hockey League had no season (in 2020-21), so those second-year eligible players were able to play and showcase their talent," NHL Central Scouting senior manager David Gregory said. "The development curve has been pushed back and now super concentrated, so we're trying to evaluate ... what would this player be with a whole year of hockey last year. And this goes for players on teams that played in other leagues, since there were condensed schedules."
NHL Central Scouting identified 41 players in their ranking of North American skaters and goalies who were passed over at the 2021 NHL Draft and could be chosen this year.
"You would anticipate there would be an increase in 19-year-olds who have been through the draft once, getting picked up since they're getting a longer runway for viewings ... a runway to give them some development time," director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr said.
Here are eight players passed over in 2021 who could be drafted in 2022 (listed alphabetically):
David Gucciardi, D, Michigan State (NCAA):The 19-year-old freshman from Toronto scored 11 points (five goals, six assists), two power-play goals and ranked fifth on the Spartans with 44 blocked shots in 36 games. Gucciardi (6-foot-1, 185 pounds), No. 57 on Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters, had 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) for Youngstown and Waterloo of the United States Hockey League in 2020-21. He was No. 69 on Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters in 2021.
"He's a good skater with fine mobility and quickness; nice power stride and shiftiness with the puck," said Greg Rajanen of NHL Central Scouting. "He moves the puck well and can change the angle on his shot from the point. He gets the pucks through, too. In my viewings of him, he used his partner well, showed quick outlets and exhibited good shot-blocking ability."
Ben King, C, Red Deer (WHL): The 20-year-old right-handed center (6-2, 205) ranked first in the Western Hockey League with 52 goals and 24 power-play goals and second with 105 points (53 assists) in 68 regular-season games. He was passed over the two previous NHL drafts but is No. 96 on Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters this year. He wasn't ranked in 2021 and was No. 121 prior to the 2020 NHL Draft.
"King has size, can skate and has skill," said John Williams of NHL Central Scouting. "In the past, he has not been a real consistent player in his efforts and that area improved this year."
Amadeus Lombardi, C, Flint (OHL): Lombardi (5-10, 165) was second on Flint with 59 points (18 goals, 41 assists), second with 153 shots on goal, and third in face-off winning percentage (53.6; 464-for-866) in 67 games. He was not ranked on Central Scouting's final list of North American skaters for the 2021 draft but is a projected third- or fourth-round choice in 2022 (No. 94).
"Amadeus is an exciting offensive player that loves to attack," Joey Tenute of NHL Central Scouting said. "He is a high-pace puck carrier that can make moves and plays on the fly. He sees the ice well and knows where his teammates are and finds them. He's got strong hockey sense and is a very good playmaker who puts his teammates in good scoring positions."
Tucker Robertson, C, Peterborough (OHL):After scoring eight goals in 2018-19 and sitting out 2019-20 when the OHL was canceled because of COVID-19, Robertson (5-10, 190) finished tied for 10th in the league with 41 goals and 17th with 81 points. The right-hand shot, who turns 19 on June 22, is No. 162 on Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters. He went 873-for-1,538 on face-offs (56.8 percent) and scored nine power-play goals. Ranked No. 183 by Central Scouting in 2021, Robertson is a playmaking forward with good compete who is sometimes compared to Seattle Kraken forward Yanni Gourde.
David Spacek, D, Sherbrooke (QMJHL):Ranked No. 55 on Central Scouting's final list of North American skaters, he's the son of former NHL defenseman Yaroslav Spacek. The 19-year-old right-handed shot was first among Sherbrooke defensemen with 50 points (12 goals, 38 assists) and 28 power-play points (eight goals, 20 assists) in 57 regular-season games. Spacek (5-11, 174) was No. 79 on Central Scouting's final ranking of International skaters last year when he played for Plzen in Czech Republic's junior league.
"He manages the puck well, can play the game really good defensively and also generates a ton of offense 5-on-5 and the power play," Central Scouting's Jean-Francois Damphousse said. "He's got a hard shot and recognizes the options in front of him. He knows when to jump into play and when to stay back. I thought he was one of the most valuable players in the Quebec league this year."
Graham Sward, D, Spokane (WHL):Sward (6-2, 180), who turns 19 on Sept. 12, scored 43 points (10 goals, 33 assists) and 24 power-play points (five goals, 19 assists) in 57 regular-season games. He is No. 93 on Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters. Ranked No. 117 on Central Scouting's final ranking for the 2021 draft, Sward has scored 62 points (14 goals, 48 assists) in 122 WHL games.
"Sward was one of the youngest draft eligible players last year, and his game has really grown," said Williams. "Spokane was a much better team with him in the lineup. He's got size, skates well, and has a heavy shot from the point."
Cameron Whitehead, G, Lincoln (USHL):Whitehead (6-3, 172), who will attend Northeastern University in 2023-24, is No. 7 in Central Scouting's final ranking of North American goalies; he was No. 30 on the final ranking in 2021. He gained the attention of NHL scouts this season after finishing tied for eighth among USHL goalies in wins (16-8-4) and a 3.19 goals-against average, .892 save percentage and one shutout in 31 games. The 19-year-old was one of three goalies invited to the 2022 NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo.
"He has very good compete to keep the puck out of the net, is confident in tight situations and has good coverage in the butterfly," said Al Jensen of NHL Central Scouting. "Cameron has good positional play and crease movements and has a good pro presence."
Ivan Zhigalov, G, Sherbrooke (QMJHL):The 19-year-old (6-3, 167) is No. 2 on Central Scouting's final ranking of North American goalies after he wasn't ranked in 2021. He was 26-9-3 with a 2.84 GAA and .892 save percentage in 42 games in his first season with Sherbrooke of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Born in Minsk, Belarus, Zhigalov played three games for Dynamo Moscow in Russia's minor hockey league and eight games with the Belarus Under-18 Team before joining Sherbrooke this season. He made a big impression at the 2022 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Kitchener on March 23, when allowed three goals on 13 shots.
"He's got a very calm confidence and doesn't waste movements in his game," Jensen said. "An excellent butterfly with quick feet and pads and is a good competitor in his crease. He covers post-to-post very well; has good pro potential."
Photos: Vincent L-Rousseau, Sherbrooke (QMJHL)
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