With the 2022 NHL Draft right around the corner, it’s now time for Montreal Hockey Now’s Final 2022 NHL Mock Draft.
With a little luck from the 2022 NHL Draft Lottery, the Montreal Canadiens won the first overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, while the New Jersey Devils jumped up to get the second overall pick. With the order of every selection in the draft now confirmed, Montreal Hockey Now’s Marco D’Amico has prepared a mock draft simulation for the first 65 picks (the first two rounds). The top of the draft is dominated by the three forwards of Shane Wright, Juraj Slafkovsky and Logan Cooley, after which it becomes all-out chaos as to whom each team could decide to select when it comes to their turn at the podium.
Using the Montreal Hockey Now NHL Draft Rankings, the following mock draft was created based on the players available at each position. Organizational needs factored into the decision for some selections, but only if the feeling was that two or more prospects had similar potential. Due to the volatility expected in this draft and the lack of overall consensus, there is some serious potential for some surprising picks throughout the first two rounds of the draft; something this mock draft took well into account.
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* Unlike most years, the 2nd round of this draft will have 33 selections (from 33rd overall to 65th overall). This change for the usual 32-pick rounds is due to a compensatory 2nd-round pick awarded to the Minnesota Wild for failing to sign 2018 1st rounder Filip Johansson to an entry-level contract. The addition of a 33rd selection in the 2nd round of the 2022 NHL Draft, specifically at the 56th overall rank, has caused every pick to drop a peg from the late 2nd round all the way through the end of the draft.
Marc has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for Journal Metro, The Athletic, The … More about Marc Dumont