Top 2022 NHL Draft prospects compared to current players

TORONTO-- Who do the top prospects eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft compare to in the NHL?

NHL Central Scouting, which is currently meeting to determine its final rankings of the top North American skaters and goaltenders for the 2022 draft at Bell Centre in Montreal on July 7-8, offered some insight on the top five North American skaters and No. 1 goalie on its midterm ranking, and the No. 1 skater on its International midterm ranking.
Defenseman
Owen Power
, selected No. 1 by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2021 NHL Draft, compared his style of game to defenseman Seth Jones of the Chicago Blackhawks. Center
Matty Beniers
, chosen No. 2 by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 draft, looks to model his game after Chicago center Jonathan Toews.
There are no right or wrong answers, but the benefit is getting an idea what type of player a prospect could resemble. Will he be a playmaking wing, shooting center, offensive-defenseman or a butterfly-style goalie?
Here are some NHL comparisons of the top five North American, the No. 1 North American goalie and the top International skater in NHL Central Scouting's midterm list. Central Scouting also provided some analysis of each player.
Players are listed in order of Central Scouting's midterm rankings in January (all statistics are regular season).

NORTH AMERICA SKATERS

1. Shane Wright (6-foot, 185 pounds), C, Kingston (OHL)
2021-22:58 games, 84 points (28 goals, 56 assists); eight power-play goals; one shorthanded goal
Best assets:Shot, hockey sense
Possible NHL comparable:Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins forward
NHL Central Scouting analysis: "Shane remains a desirable package of NHL talent and has proven he can carry the load and be the difference maker when it's needed in game situations. An excellent prospect and a guy that the scouting community has been tracking for a while now so everyone's familiar with the attributes he can bring to a team. He does what it takes all over the ice and any coach can rely on a player like that because he not only provides offense but is an all-around leader of a team."
2. Logan Cooley (5-10, 174), C, USA U-18 (NTDP)
2021-22: 43 games, 64 points (23 goals, 41 assists); six power-play goals, three shorthanded goals
Best assets:Playmaking, hockey sense
Possible NHL comparable:Mitchell Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs forward
NHL Central Scouting analysis: "Cooley is a player who can impact games. His top-end speed is off the charts and his ability to quickly process and execute on plays make him a scoring threat every time he steps on the ice. He's a dynamic skater, shifty with a great burst with the puck and plays above the pace. He has high-end compete and makes players around him better. He decommitted from Notre Dame and will attend the University of Minnesota next season. It's the big Olympic rink in Minnesota so he's going to be hard to handle for NCAA defenders with all that extra space."
3. Matt Savoie (5-9, 179), C, Winnipeg (WHL)
2021-22: 61 games, 84 points (32 goals, 52 assists); 12 power-play goals
Best assets: Speed, deceptive instincts
Possible NHL comparable:Mathew Barzal, New York Islanders forward
NHL Central Scouting analysis:"He can think of a play and then make it happen at the same pace he's thinking it ... and his hands will do the same thing. I think he just loves to play hockey. He just looks like a guy that can't wait to get out there again and then he brings that kind of compete with it as well. That kind of competitiveness just takes you to the next level. He's going to be able to do what he does every level he reaches."
4. Conor Geekie (6-3, 193), F, Winnipeg (WHL)
2021-22: 59 games, 65 points (22 goals, 43 assists); one power-play goal
Best assets: Shot, power-forward game
Possible NHL comparable:Brock Nelson, New York Islanders forward
NHL Central Scouting analysis: "Very shifty in tight quarters and is hard to contain in all facets of the game. He's got excellent vision and playmaking ability along with puck management and doesn't panic when pressured. He's hard to contain with his high compete level. He needs time, but the potential is there since he can play any style you want. He's used in every situation … at the end of a game, if shorthanded, he's out there. From a coach's perspective, he's reliable and there's not a lot of those guys around with that skill who can be out there late in the game and be reliable."
5. Pavel Mintyukov (6-1, 192), D, Saginaw (OHL)
2021-22:63 games, 56 points (17 goals, 39 assists); two power-play goals, three shorthanded goals
Best assets:Skating, competitiveness
Possible NHL comparable:Mikhail Sergachev, Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman
NHL Central Scouting analysis:"Pavel plays a mature game. He's a very polished player, coming over from Russia and playing in a new league with new teammates. You don't always know how well or how quick a player is going to adapt and he's a guy that has come in and has been an impact player immediately for Saginaw. He's a top-pairing defenseman that plays in every situation, crunches minutes, excels on the power play, plays penalty kill and is on the ice at crucial points of the game. For a draft-eligible player to really have that type of impact is impressive."

NORTH AMERICA GOALIE

1. Tyler Brennan (6-4, 180), Prince George (WHL)
2021-22: 39 games, 11-25-2, 3.58 goals-against average, .899 save percentage, four shutouts
Best assets:Poised, positionally sound, big presence, covers a lot of net, moves well, makes saves look easy
Possible NHL comparable: Jacob Markstrom, Calgary Flames goalie
NHL Central Scouting analysis:"A good pro-size goalie who plays a very calm and relaxed game. He's got strong legs for lateral crease play and has good butterfly coverage, capable of sealing the ice and the five-hole quickly. He can get back to his feet quickly, is well balanced in his stance and when moving throughout the crease. Brennan will skate out of his crease to stop dump-ins and he can move the puck properly from behind the net. He's got good pro potential."

INTERNATIONAL SKATER

1. Joakim Kemell (5-11, 171), RW, JYP (FIN)
2021-22: 39 games, 23 points (15 goals, eight assists); eight power-play goals
Best assets:Hockey sense, good under pressure
Possible NHL comparable:David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins forward
NHL Central Scouting analysis: "He had a great start to the season, leading Liiga in scoring as a 17-year-old until he hurt his shoulder in late October. When he returned in early February, JYP was struggling and they missed the playoffs. The skills are there and he'll play a big role for Finland at the IIHF World Under-18 Championship against players in his own age group. He's got the excellent speed and acceleration, quickness to his game. He's one of those skilled playmakers who sees the ice really well, can control the play. He's poised to take a look, set up the play, dish the puck off and get to the net. Down low he's very elusive; it's hard to get the puck off him in the offensive zone."
---
Listen: New episode of NHL Draft Class