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Height: 6'0 (183 cm)

Weight: 199 (90 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.48

Points per Game (normalized): 1.49

A/P Score: -2.16 (80^th)

Key Strength: Excellent hockey attributes in all categories

Key Question: Is the high floor enough to warrant the first overall pick?

A lot has already been written and said about Shane Wright, who started his OHL career at 15 years of age after receiving the league's approval for exceptional status. Shortly thereafter he was christened the all-but unanimous choice to be the top overall prospect for the 2022 draft, and his early results confirmed the initial adoration. Kingston named Wright an alternate captain in his rookie season and he subsequently put up 66 points in 58 games, was named to the OHL First All-Rookie team, won the Emms Family Award as the OHL's top rookie, and won CHL Rookie of the Year. Then the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the OHL, and Wright--like many others--lost his entire pre-draft season. However, in April 2021, Wright returned to hockey and captained Canada's team to a gold medal in the U18 World Championships while scoring 14 points (with nine goals and five assists) in just five games. Wright then banged out 32 goals and 62 assists in 2021-2022, for 94 total points in 63 games as captain for Kingston. However, despite finishing second on his team in scoring, Wright's 32 goals were only enough to rank him fifth in goal scoring among his Frontenac teammates, and now hockey analysts across the country are wondering if Wright is still the clear cut top prospect of the 2022 draft. 

Wright brings a complete hockey skillset onto the rink every game: size, speed, hands, determination, intelligence, physicality, a sniper's shot and as much NHL certainty as a player can carry. 

Wright's straightline skating stride mechanics are powerful, with long leg extension and a low, quick return, giving him excellent speed over distance. In addition, his leg strength and cooridination means that his first step acceleration is also top level. Strong edgework gives him maneuverability and quickness in turns, and he has a solid foundation for balance. Whatever he needs from his feet he gets, whether that means an immediate change of direction or speed to the corner for a loose puck. Wright uses his skating ability in so many facets of his game: speed on the forecheck or backcheck to close gaps to the puck carrier and pressure them into mistakes; in traffic to get to open space first; stabiity on his feet to battle at the net or along the walls, quickness to unsettle defenders. He is not the fastest in his draft class, and not the most agile, but few skaters in the class can match his combination of power, speed and dexterity. 

As good as his feet are, Wright's hands are better. He is an excellent puck distributor who holds pucks in a loaded position until defenders commit, then he fires crisp passes to his teammates' sticks. He favors a deceptive backhand pass when carrying the puck so that he appears to be attacking one lane, then--like moving a queen across the chessboard--he changes the angle of attack before the defenders can adjust. He also uses his feet and patience to buy extra time, drawing in defenders and then stepping out to create a new passing lane. Another major weapon in Wright's passing arsenal is his formidible shot, which demands attention from goaltenders and defenders and allows teammates more time and space to free themselves for scoring chances. Wright's excellent awareness and vision means that he knows exactly where he wants the play to go, and he consistently puts the puck where it needs to be to execute his plan.

Wright's shot brings his game up to a still higher level, with a wrist shot that has as much power as most prospects's slap shot, andis far more accurate. His laserbeam wrist shot regularly beats goaltenders from the top of the circles, but he does far more damage closer to the net by moving into scoring positions without the puck. The entire picture is that of a player who can dominate an offensive zone with his hands, his feet and his anticipation, creating problems for the defense that they simply cannot solve. He is a creative puck possession player that can pull apart an opposing defense brick by brick.

On the defensive side of the puck, Wright relies on his feet, work rate and intelligence. He is quick on the forecheck to smother defenders trying to break out, and fast on the backcheck with excellent lines to track down puck carriers. In his own end, he uses intelligent positioning to disrupt attacks, and although he is not a crunching hitter in open ice, along the boards he will lean into puck battles and shoulder opponents off the puck. He supports the play all over the ice, and sees ice time in all situations. He is a killer on faceoffs, consistently winning draws in his own end. His support of the play wherever he is on the ice, is without match among his peers. 

In summation, Wright is simply the best hockey player in this draft class and although some of the players ranked below him may be better at certain aspects of the game, Wright's sum-of-the-parts hockey ability is unparalleled this year.

Brian's favorite in-game note: "Dumps the puck carrier with a good, clean hit. What can this kid not do perfectly? And as I wrote that note, he blocked a shot."

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Height: 5'10 (178 cm)

Weight: 180 (81 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.15

Points per Game (normalized): 1.35

A/P Score: -1.94 (104^th)

Key Strength: Energetic speed attacking the offensive zone

Key Question: Can he play Center in the NHL and remain as dynamic in the offensive zone?

Cooley centered the top line for the US National Team Development Program this season, for which he posted 27 goals and 48 assists in 51 games and led the team in point production per game. In fact, his 1.47 points per game ranks him just outside of the USNTDP top 20 all time, ahead of fellow alumni and current NHL players Matt Tkachuk, Trevor Zegras, Matt Boldy and Joel Farabee.

Cooley plays fast, with an insatiable drive to create offense, and he seems to impact the game on every shift. His non-stop effort is fun to watch because he can seem to be everywhere at once while creating havoc in the offensive zone. With his speed and work rate, Cooley can control the game pace by himself though he is not at all a selfish player. Opposing teams often struggle to defend against a Cooley shift because he never stops moving, so he is constantly forcing defenders to read and react, and with his speed, Cooley often renders defensive adjustments obsolete as soon as they are made. Cooley shoots when the opportunities arise, and he has the hands that allow him to snap off a quick and accurate shot on the move. His best asset other than his never-resting feet is his gift for seeing a play as it unfolds and make the appropriate pass to capitalize on the opening. Cooley is an outstanding offensive player who should have no problem translating his game to the NHL level.

Brian's favorite in-game note: "Swipes the puck from a defender, steps in on goal, and beats the netminder five hole. Great individual effort."

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Height: 6’3 (191cm)

Weight: 176 (80 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.59

Points per Game (normalized): 1.02

A/P Score: -2.43 (30^th)

Key Strength: Dominating play at both ends of the ice

Key Question: Can he develop into an All-Star #1 defenseman?

In a draft that has so many talented, smaller transition defenders at the top end of the class, Jiricek stands above the rest. At 6'3 and 190 pounds, Jiricek has an imposing, solid, NHL defenseman's frame that will continue to improve as he ages into his size and builds even more strength. Having played for the last two seasons in the Czechia top men's league, he has already proved that he can defend against professional forwards, and his 0.38 points per game is the best-ever production for a draft-year defender in that league. He also gained valuable experience at this year's IIFH World Championships playing for the Czech national team. 

Jiricek's lateral quickness at his size is a major attribute that allows him to cut off an attacker's drive to the net and force them to the outside by stepping into their attacking lane. He makes a difficult obstacle for even speedy forwards to try to get around, and on the rare occasions when he gets caught wrongfooted, his long reach allows him to close off widened gaps quickly. Furthermore, his game awareness is such that he can read an opposing player's intentions and take up position accordingly. Jiricek is also adept at reading the opponent's attempt at a long headman pass, and often steps up in the neutral zone to intercept or to stymy an oncoming forward's attack. In puck battles, he again uses his size to his advantage by leaning hard into opposing players, making it nearly impossible for them to get any leverage advantage to escape with the puck. 

Jiricek is definitely a first pass defender who does not often carry the puck out of his zone, but his first passes are made with patience and purpose. He rarely sends the puck up ice just because he is under pressure, but instead is able to use his feet to avoid forecheckers until the good option appears. Once the puck is out of his zone, he attacks the neutral zone and drives to join the rush while maintaining defensive responsibility if he is on the weak side of the breakout. Once into the offensize zone, Jiricek has a good shot that he keeps low to the ice, and he is willing to drive the net when the option is there. He moves the puck well from the point on the power play, and over time should become a reliable powerplay quarterback.

As he continues his development, Jiricek should become a top pair defenseman in the NHL, and likely even better than that. He has the tools to be a cornerstone blueliner for a championship-caliber team and a perennial All-Star.

Brian's favorite in-game note: "Anticipates the opposing players' intentions so well. He's reading minds out there."

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Height: 6'4 (193 cm)

Weight: 225 (102 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.25

Points per Game (normalized): 1.25

A/P Score: -1.60 (163^rd)

Key Strength: Unstoppable power forward

Key Question: Is his international play this season indicative of long-term potential?

Juraj Slafkovsky had an amazing run in his draft year, primarily on the international level where he represented Slovakia in the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup for U18s (silver), the U20 World Junior Championships, the Olympics (bronze) and the IIFH World Championships. Not to mention his 31 games for TPS in Finland's top men's league. All totaled, Slafkovsky scored 28 goals in 75 games at all levels of competition, with another 38 assists added in for good measure. His seven goals in seven Olympic games earned him the MVP of the tournament, and his nine points were the most by a U20 player at the World Championships (he was also named one of Slovakia's top three players in that tournament). 

Slafkovsky is a dominating offensive presence on the ice, who moves well, has excellent acceleration considering his 6'4, 225-pound chasis, and has a constant drive for the net. He is a puck possession player with a booming shot who looks equally comfortable in front of the net as he does at the top of the circle. His soft hands and lively stickhandling allow him to skate the puck through neutral zone traffic, and in tight spaces he uses his body as a wall to ward off defenders and potential puck thieves. Once he is in a scoring position, he knows how to convert chances, whether with a quick snap shot or the aforementioned rocket slap shot. What makes Slafkovsky more than just a straight-ahead power forward trying to bull his way to the net, however, is his hockey intelligence and ice awareness. It is one thing to have to try to slow down the freight train, but another thing entirely when the train suddenly transforms into a deft-passing playmaker that slips a puck to the far side hashmarks for a wide-open teammate one-touch goal. 

Unfortunately, Slafkovsky has not yet shown himself to put the same kind of energy on the defensive side of the puck. He is a capable defender, but he most often appears to be monitoring the game in his own end, waiting for a turnover or takeaway so that he can once again rev up the offensive attack. He will block shots and go low into his corners to battle for loose pucks, but at times he just seems to be conserving energy when he is below his own blue line. It does not at all seem to be a deficiency that will linger and derail him from a NHL career, though. In fact, of all of the players in the 2022 draft class, Slafkovsky seems to be the one prime candidate to step straight onto an NHL roster and make an impact throughout an entire first season.  

Brian's favorite in-game note: "Accelerates better than you'd expect for someone that big, and it's disarming for defenders. It's like a mountain leaps at you."

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Height: 5'9 (175 cm)

Weight: 175 (79 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.49

Points per Game (normalized): 1.38

A/P Score: -1.84 (113^th)

Key Strength: Intelligent playmaker 

Key Question: Can he carry the same confidence up the professional hockey ladder? 

Matthew Savoie might not have the physical stature of Wright or Slavkovsky, but the 5'9 forward has amazing playmaking abilities and can execute even the most difficult passes while on the move. No matter that Savoie might be off balance, on a turn or at full speed, his vision and hards are such that he can send darting passes perfectly on target to a teammate in scoring postion, often before defenders realize such a passing play is a possibility. 

Savoie is also an exceptional skater who can change speeds with ease. He can blow past defenders on the rush, or use a slower pace until his opponent commits to a line, then change speed to take advantage of the mistake. Further, with his skilled passing on the move, his feet become yet another facet of his overall playmaking skillset. Changing his speed or angle of attack often creates additional passing lanes as defenders are caught between committing to the skating line or adjusting to the potential pass. 

As with his skating, Savoie's shot is also a key to his playmaking. Goaltenders have to respect Savoie's shot, and as such, even when the pass is coming, netminders must stay in place instead of cheating to the passing play. Many times Savoie seems to freeze defenders and goaltenders in place, and then like a character in a time-stopping movie, he looks as though he is moving among manakins, dropping the puck in the right spot before releasing the game into action again. 

On defense, Savioe's quickness is a weapon that he uses to steal pucks and take away avenues of attack. His intelligence on ice is not restricted to seeing passing plays he wants to make, but he also anticipates his opponents' attacking options just as well. Savoie is a remarkable player whose only drawback is his size. Not many sub-5'10 players line up at center in the NHL, so Savoie will likely shift to the wing as he moves up through professional hockey. If NHL teams believe that to be the case, he may slip down a bit lower in the draft. However, his skills and smarts will get Savoie into the NHL in a top-six capacity, and someone in an NHL front office will grumble about passing on him when they had the chance.

Brian's favorite in-game note: "Puck bounces off the end boards. Savoie closes to the goal line and one-times the bounce down the goal line and into the net. Wow!" 

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Height: 6’1 (185 cm)

Weight: 192 (87 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.37

Points per Game (normalized): 0.65

A/P Score: -1.01 (220^th)

Key Strength: Highly skilled two-way defenseman

Key Question: Will he eventually be the best defenseman in the 2022 draft class?

There is plenty of room to make an argument that Simon Nemec is the best defenseman in the 2022 draft class. At 6'1 and 192 pounds, he has excellent professional hockey size and his tremendous skating mechanics and four-way mobility make him a force on the ice. Nemec is the complete NHL blueliner who can carry the puck through transition, make superior passing reads while starting a breakout or moving through the neutral zone, and he is equally capable of quarterbacking a powerplay as he is anchoring a penalty kill. Like his countryman and international teammate Juraj Slavkovksy, Nemec played heavy minutes for Slovakia's national team this season. He was named MVP of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, was named an alternate captain for the COVID-shortened World Junior Championships, and registered six points in eight games at the men's World Championships. 

Nemec's skating makes up the foundation of his hockey skillset. He skates without noticeable effort, with fantastic stride mechanics and smooth edgework. He is balanced and swift both forwards and backwards, and that gives him ample opportunity to both close up gaps against attacking forwards and to skate away from forecheckers. In addition, he plays hard all of the time with a determination to make an impact at both ends of the ice. He has a quality slapshot and a hard wrist shot that he is able to get on net through traffic. 

With his intelligent play both on defense and offense, and his effectiveness in transition, Nemec is easily the best offensive defenseman in the draft, and perhaps the best blueliner, full stop.

Brian's favorite in-game note: "Pure skater, excellent mechanics straight line, brilliant edges, effortless." 

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Height: 5'9 (175 cm)

Weight: 185 (84 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.18

Points per Game (normalized): 1.28

A/P Score: -1.71 (148^th)

Key Strength: Arsenal of hard, accurate shots

Key Question: Can he create shooting opportunities in the NHL?

Joakim Kemell scores goals in volume. There are only four other U18 players in Liiiga history who scored more goals than Kemell: Kaapo Kakko (drafted 2nd overall), Aleksander Barkov (2nd), Joel Armia (16th) and Patrik Laine (2nd). Kemell's rocket slapshot may be the best of the draft class, and his wrist shot is nearly as good. He can score from anywhere in the offensive zone, and because he shoots well on the move, goaltenders must always be on the lookout, aware of Kemell's position at all times. 

The rest of Kemell's game may not be at the level of his shot, but he is still a very good hockey player. He lacks size (5'9, 185 pounds) but he is a quick and efficient skater who shows good acceleration to jump to loose pucks or change direction with the puck and step around defenders. He handles the puck well and can carry through traffic, but more often than not he is playing off the puck finding space to create a shooting opportunity and scoring chance. He is more than just a perimeter shooter, though. He will go to the high danger areas and look for rebounds and dirty goals, as well. Off the puck he shows an aptitude for physical play despite his size, and a willingness to engage in defensive play to recover pucks. He is a good all around hockey player with a standout NHL-level shot.

Brian's favorite in-game note: "His puckhandling hard reverse just made me gasp." 

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Height: 6'1 (185 cm)

Weight: 194 (88 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.59

Points per Game (normalized): 0.93

A/P Score: -2.02 (62^nd)

Key Strength: Hard-edged two-way defenseman

Key Question: Will having played in the CHL counteract the current Russian situation?

There are few holes in Mintyukov's game at either end of the ice and he plays with a kind of diligent exuberence that makes him fun to watch. He has good size at 6'1, 194 pounds, and he has long legs with very good mechanics in his skating that gives him great straight-line speed. He also has excellent balance and agility, seen his is tight turn radius despite his length and his ability to make seamless pivots and lateral movements. He uses positioning and an active stick to take away offensive chances, and plays with some physicality, too. He reads the game well, making him a quality penalty killer who anticipates passes and skating lines, allowing him get clean interceptions or turn his man to the corner. Once he gets the puck, he makes good passes to lead the breakout, and is also a quite capable of skating the puck out of his own zone.

He shines, however, when moving up ice. With his speed, Mintyukov can move swiftly through the neutral zone and push the defense back onto their heels. He often takes advantage of the speed disparity by passing off to a teammate and continuing on the rush, maneuvering past opponents and creating give-and-go opportunities. He is also capable a deking through coverages and generating chances on his own, but typically he works more as a well-integrated segment of a four-man attack. He has soft hands and a good release both in close and from the point. 

The one main concern about Mintyukov--despite having already been playing in North America--is how the current Russia-Ukraine situation will play out among NHL teams, and whether or not he will get similar opportunities moving forward as his non-Russian contemporaries. 

Brian's favorite in-game note: "Ends the game by blocking a shot to kill the 6-on-4 advantage in a one-goal game." 

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Height: 5'10 (178 cm)

Weight: 194 (88 kg)

Age At Draft: 17.95

Points per Game (normalized): 0.98

A/P Score: -2.63 (20^th)

Key Strength: High intensity scoring drive

Key Question: Can his physical play match his intensity against NHL players?

Denton Mateychuk finished his draft year ranked among the top scoring defenders in the WHL--one point behind Kevin Korchinski in two fewer games--and he easily led the way in U18 goalscoring among blueliners (13 goals).

Mateychuk plays an intense, two-way, transitional game with a tremdous drive to force the play into the offensive zone. Where other tranisitional defenders move the puck to a forward and join the rush, Mateychuk pushes the puck through the zone and creates clean, fast zone entries leading the attack. He skates fast while puckhandling and will use his speed to carry through the zone until defenders commit, then he will lay off a pass and push harder. His passes while on the move are clean and easy to receive, and he has a knack for finding the right option at the right time. 

Because of his versatility and quality play at both ends of the ice, Mateychuk sees a lot of ice time, playing heavy minutes in all game situations. On the penalty kill, he uses his quickness to get into lanes and block shots, and his sturdy frame to wedge players away from the high danger areas. When caught up ice, he hustles back to his end, taking excellent lines backchecking when necessary, and regains position quickly. More often than not, however, he ends his shifts in the offensive zone, and will be a creative fourth man in the attack in any hockey game he plays at any level.

Brian's favorite in-game note: "Gets in front of shots, and has gone limping off a couple of times. But he keeps blocking them." 

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Height: 6’2 (188 cm)

Weight: 185 (84 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.02

Points per Game (normalized): 0.97

A/P Score: -2.55 (24^th)

Key Strength: Composure and intelligence

Key Question: Can he develop goal scoring to complement his passing?

It is practically impossible to overstate how good Korchinski's passing can be. No other U18 WHL defenseman had more assists than Korchinski's 61 since two-time Stanley Cup champion Darryl Sydor posted 66 assists in the 1989-1990 season. Korchinski passes on the move as well as he does at a standstill. He can make long breakout headman passes that are perfectly placed and weighted to hit forwards in stride at full speed. He uses the boards to make bounce passes to clear forecheckers. He can find forwards on diagonals through a crowded offensive zone. 

Korchinski is a powerful skater both forward and backward and can carry the puck with speed in transition. At 6'2, 185, his mobility helps him recover from positioning errors or get back quickly after rushing with the puck as the fourth forward. 

The biggest hole in Korchinski's game is his scoring. Despite taking 143 shots for Seattle this season, Korchinski scored only four goals, following on zero goals on 37 shots the previous year. His 2.2% shooting percentage must be improved upon if he is going to reach NHL success. His passing and defensive awareness will take him a long way, but he will have to improve his shooting accuracy and shot selection in order to be a threat on the powerplay and keep NHL defenders honest.

Brian's favorite in-game note: "Haven't seen him make a bad pass all game." 

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Height: 6’1 (185 cm)

Weight: 172 (78 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.52

Points per Game (normalized): 1.26

A/P Score: -1.46 (203^rd)

Key Strength: Understated strength and powerful puck possessor

Key Question: Does he lack the intensity necessary to power into the NHL?

Danila Yurov is an intriguing power forward. Having dominated the MHL at the start of the season (36 points in 23 games), Metallurg Magnitogorsk brought Yurov up to the KHL, where he played an additional 21 games. Unfortunately, as happens often with young players in the KHL, Yurov barely played, averaging just four and half minutes of ice time. In many games he played only a handful of shifts. He finished the season with no points in his 21 games, and only 10 shots on goal. With that in mind, it becomes important to look at his time in the MHL and in international competition, where  he fared much better. At the U18 World Championships in 2021, Yurov scored four goals and seven assists in seven games and he scored a goal in his two games at the aborted WJCs last winter.

Yurov is a prototypical possession power forward, a player who moves well and uses his strength to hold position despite heavy contact from opponents. He is almost impossible to dislodge from the front of the net, and while he is there, he is a highly capable deflector of shots and rebound depositor. He leaps on loose pucks and has shown many times the ability to get hard, clean one-time slapshots on loose pucks at the circles. His possession game, though, will be his trademark at the professional level. He consistently makes smart, safe passes, is expert in the cycling game, and can extend shifts in the offensive zone well beyond expectation. He has great balance on his skates, so in board battles or scrums at the crease, he always seems to have superior leverage and muscles opponents off of the puck. Yurov is an quiet skater, the type who moves across space without any difficulty, but who also looks like they are not moving nearly as fast as they actually are. He has a kind of understated grace that belies the power in his legs. 

As mentioned with Mintyukov above, a key question for Yurov will be how he is treated as a Russian player in this time of geopolitical difficulties. 

Brian's favorite in-game note: "Accelerates to a loose puck, then backhands across the top of the crease. Should have resulted in a goal. Excellent play from Yurov."

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Height: 5'1 (180 cm)

Weight: 172 (78 kg)

Age At Draft: 17.93

Points per Game (normalized): 1.06

A/P Score: -1.21 (286^th)

Key Strength: Dangerous shot

Key Question: Will his chop and glide skating be suitable in the NHL?

Jonahthan Lekkerimaki generates offense. He plays hockey with a single-minded focus on getting the puck into the net, and he defintely looks like a player who wants to shoot instead of doing almost anything else. He has a fast release on his powerful wrist shot, and he uses it often. His slap shot is good as well, as is a quick, one-time snap shot, but the wrist shot is his weapon of choice. Typically his passing and play off of the puck is centered around getting himself ready for a shooting opportunity. On the power play, Lekkerimaki is more likely to be hovering around the left circle waiting for a puck to shoot. He does not appear to be a selfish player, however, only one who knows his strength is firing rockets at the net, and he plays to his strength. 

Lekkerimaki moves around the ice well, with graceful gliding edgework and agility. However, he often relies on his edges instead of digging in on extended strides, and he employs choppy little cross steps to create forward momentum in order to begin his glide. He is not slow, because he can maneuver so well, but he rarely drives forward, either. His chopping first steps also limits his burst considerably. It would be reasonable to assume that this aspect of his skating will improve with concentrated power skating coaching. 

Brian's favorite in-game note: "One-times a snap shot on a loose puck. He does not need encouragement to shoot."

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Height: 5'10 (178 cm)

Weight: 180 (81 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.45

Points per Game (normalized): 1.15

A/P Score: -1.19 (299^th)

Key Strength: High-energy speedster

Key Question: Can he clean up some of his decision-making mistakes?

Frank Nazar may be overshadowed by Logan Cooley on the current iteration of the US team development program, but that should be seen more as a tribute to Cooley than as a slight to Nazar. Make no mistake, Nazar is a very good offensive hockey player. In his 55 games with the USNTDP, Nazar has scored 35 goals, which puts him ahead of players like Jack Hughes (33 in 51), Jack Eichel (33 in 59), Oliver Wahlstrom (31 in 55) and Matt Boldy (29 in 62). 

Nazar plays hockey at a high tempo thanks to his excellent skating ability and speed.  He is a fluid skater both in power mechanics and when he is using his edges. He has a great first step, too, which he uses to his advantage to step quickly around defenders and gain position, or beat them to a loose puck. As seen in his counting statistics, he knows how to score, as well, and he has amazing puck handling and protection skills. His shot is good, even from distance, but his goal scoring tends to derive more from beating defenders with speed and then fooling goaltenders with fast hands and deking them out of position before finishing the chance. 

At times, Nazar makes some questionable choices in puck management, either forcing passes or skating himself into congestion when it would have been wiser to lay off a pass and try again. Still, given his hand skills and ability to break games with his feet, any mistakes that Nazar makes can be mostly forgiven, because odds are good he will make up for them soon enough. 

Brian's favorite in-game note: "Follows the defender behind the net, gains position, lifts and steals." 

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Height: 6'0 (183 cm)

Weight: 201 (91 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.42

Points per Game (normalized): 1.48

A/P Score: -2.16 (79^th)

Key Strength: Hard working winger with good hands

Key Question: Can he limit careless mistakes and solidify his all-around game to NHL level?

Ohgren spent a lot of time switching jerseys this season, moving back and forth between the Djurgardens U20 team and their SHL-level squad. He played 25 games in the men's league, with just a goal and an assist there, but at the junior level, he dominated. His 33 goals and 25 assists in 30 games played earned him a long list of accolades, including most goals, most points, best plus/minus and he was named the league's top forward. In addition, he captained Sweden's squad to a gold medal at the U18 world championships where he scored three goals and six assists in the team's six tournament games. 

Ohgren can be a difficult offensive player for defenders to handle. At 6'1 and 201 pounds, he brings a sturdy frame up the left wing at good speed and he shows an graceful fluidity that allows him to move very well around the ice. His hands, however, are the tools he uses to batter opponents. Given a chance to use his wrist shot, slap shot or just muck around the crease for rebounds or tap ins, Ohgren is going to find a way to get the puck on net. He looks hungry to win and works hard to appease his appetite, either with or without the puck. If it means blocking a shot late, diving for loose pucks, taking a hit to get the puck up ice, he does it all. Sometimes it appears that he tries to do too much with the puck to try to make a play appear when one does not exist, but it is hard to find fault in that unless it becomes a trend. Given his desire to win, one would expect that part of his game will dissapate over time and with maturity. In the meantime, Ohgren will still make opposing teams suffer.

Brian's favorite in-game note: "Puck in his skates, pirouettes to find it, keeping momentum, and regains control on the move." 

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Height: 6’3 (191 cm)

Weight: 196 (89 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.15

Points per Game (normalized): 1.11

A/P Score: -1.25 (274^th)

Key Strength: Big, professional-style centerman

Key Question: Will he be able to generate enough offense to elevate him above a middle-to-bottom-six role?

Conor Geekie plays an intelligent, pro-style game and has the size to be a dominant force down the middle of an NHL roster. He uses his size to his advantage in boxing out opponents at the front of the net, and to shield the puck from would-be thieves. Furthermore, Geekie is very consistent in the offensive zone, where he makes good choices with the puck in deciding whether to pass off, shoot or drive the lane. He carries that intelligence into the defensive zone, as well, where he using positioning and his long reach to break up plays. Geekie also uses his size and strength as a weapon, playing a hard physical game and at times making big, clean hits along that boards that easily separate the carrier from the puck. In total, Geekie plays much like his older brother, Seattle Kraken forward Morgan Geekie. One main difference, however, is that Conor appears to have better, quicker hands and scoring ability, especially around the crease.

On the down side, Geekie's acceleration and top speed are maybe average at best. He is strong, no question, and hard to move off the puck, but he lacks the speed necessary to be a threat through transition in the neutral zone or in turning defenseman and beating them to the net. However, he works hard despite his skating deficiencies, and that effort helps to make up for some of his lack of footspeed. He makes good passes and has high-level vision and game awareness, which also helps him to compensate for lack of speed. He takes up a lot of space, so he rarely needs to actually move that much in the offensive or defensive zones because he can affect play in a wide diameter. 

Brian's favorite in-game note: "Drives the goal line, slides a puck into the goalie's pads, then gathers the rebound and roofs it backhand from in close. Nice goal." 

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Height: 6’2 (188 cm)

Weight: 200 (90 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.44

Points per Game (normalized): 1.11

A/P Score: -1.08 (354^th)

Key Strength: Scoring power forward 

Key Question: Does he retain his physical advantage against the world's top players?

Gauthier appears to be a prototypical NHL power forward with a good amount of offensive upside. He has excellent size at 6'2, 200 pounds, and he uses every bit of that size to play a strong, physical game at both ends of the ice. He hits, battles in the corners, fights for space at the front of the crease, buries opposing puck carriers along the boards, and generally wrecks havoc all around the rink. He generates a lot of power through his legs, which gives him good speed and balance, but also gives him a solid base that makes him incredibly difficult to dislodge from any position he wants to take up. Gauthier can generate offense either by driving the puck to the net, or by cycling the puck and maintaining possession through puck protection. 

The biggest question about Gauthier's potential as an NHLer is whether or not the physical advantages he enjoys as an 18-year-old power forward in the juniors will develop proportionately and continue to be an advantage as he progresses into play against NHL men. He certainly has seen bigger stronger competition while playing against college players with the USNTDP, but the 21- and 22-year-olds he has played against are not to the level of NHL defenders. 

Brian's favorite in-game note: "Converts the pass from Cooley with a tap-in goal."

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Height: 5'9 (175 cm)

Weight: 174 (79 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.48

Points per Game (normalized): 1.16

A/P Score: -1.19 (291^st)

Key Strength: Nimble playmaker

Key Question: Will he be as effective sliding in and out of space on a more crowded NHL rink?

On a Slovakian national junior team with the likes of Juraj Slavkovsky (4th), Simon Nemec (6th) and Dalibor Dvorsky (a likely top-five prospect for the 2023 NHL draft), hockey watchers can be forgiven for overlooking Filip Mesar, even if the smooth play-making forward was consistently one of the best players on the ice. Mesar spent his entire draft season playing for HK Poprad in the Slovakian top men's league, where he registered eight goals and eight assists in 37 games, and was second only to Simon Nemec in U18 production in the league (Adam Sykora had more points at 17 than did Mesar, but in 9 more games played). 

As mentioned, Mesar is a playmaker who slips in and out of traffic to find the space he needs. He is a very good skater who changes speeds to adjust to the pace of play, but is capable of excellent straightline speed when he needs it. He can also carry the puck at speed, showing good handling abilities even during lateral movement or sharp change of direction. Perhaps even better than his speed is his high energy output and work rate at both ends of the ice. He backchecks hard, defends hard, is a viable penalty killer when needed, and competes all of the time. He is the kind of player that a coach can lean on when his team is down a goal, or trying to defend a one-goal lead. 

On offense, Mesar is more of a distributor and chance creator than he is a shooter, though his shot shows solid technique. He will need to improve on finishing chances in order to increase his danger quotient as he moves into NHL-level hockey, but there is no doubt that his passing and vision are NHL quality already. 

Brian's favorite in-game note: "Big effort on the backcheck. Really battling out there trying to claw the team back into the game."

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Height: 5'9 (175 cm)

Weight: 180 (81 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.25

Points per Game (normalized): 1.26

A/P Score: -1.61 (158^th)

Key Strength: Lightning playmaking

Key Question: Can he learn to increase his effort off the puck?

Ranking Isaac Howard among this year's forwards has been a tortuous prospect, mainly because he can be so hot and cold on and off the puck. At times, he looks every bit of the player who led the USNTDP team in scoring this year. Excellent speed and acceleration, with a first step that gains him a lot of ice and easily gets him first to loose pucks. He will play with his eyes up scanning the ice for pass options as he approaches a puck, ready to launch the play with his laser passing. When he is on his game as he was at the U18 World Championships, he can look unstoppable, altering his shot angle, rifling wrist shots into corners, setting up teammates with impossible-looking passes.

At other times, he looks almost disinterested in playing when he does not have the puck, losing that urgency in that he shows when in possession. He will float around the high slot area in the offensive zone, take slow, gliding approaches back to his own end when the puck goes the other way, and be quick to cheat out of his zone when he thinks his team might take possession of the puck.  

Howard has committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth, and he will have a lot of opportunity to work on his game under Coach Sandelin and his staff. If he can improve his off-the-puck work rate and add a sense of urgency to his game that he often seems to be missing, Howard could easily become one of the top twenty players in the 2022 draft class. If he does not, he may ultimately be one of the draft's biggest misses. 

Brian's favorite in-game note: "Big effort on the backcheck. Really battling out there trying to claw the team back into the game." 

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Height: 6'0 (183 cm)

Weight: 187 (85 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.22

Points per Game (normalized): 0.71

A/P Score: -0.40 (834^th)

Key Strength: Intense two-way play driver

Key Question: Does he have the skill to become a top-line NHL center?

Marco Kasper looks poised to join Thomas Vanek (5th overall 2003), Michael Grabner (14th overall 2006) and Marco Rossi (9th overall 2020) as the only Austrian players to be selected in the first round of the NHL entry draft. There are several good reasons why Kasper should join that group of his countrymen, but by far the main contributing factor will be Kasper's skilled tenacity. 

Kasper might be the best puck possession player in this year's draft class. He is a highly efficient skater with excellent mechanics in his stride and edges, and a quiet upper body when he skates. His true value comes through his capacity for keeping the puck out of the reach of defenders, holding the puck at distance while shielding with his body, even while skating at speed. He puckhandles in turns, and when he is unable to beat a defender, he combines his protection skills with neat and crisp passing. He can beat defenders with passes through the triangle, behind their feet or by getting them to commit to one direction and then passing past them on their other side. 

Kasper has an okay shot, but his rare scoring opportunities while playing limited minutes with Rogle in the SHL never afforded him a lot good looks at the net. Still, he was top five on Rogle in goals per 60 minutes of ice time, and 7th in shots per 60. He works hard down low and can beat goaltenders with his wrist shot from the circle, but he is unlikely to score at distance in the NHL unless he improves his shooting power and accuracy. Instead, he will be more likely to score in the high danger areas by working his way into shooting position and converting.

Brian's favorite in-game note: "Such a battler. He'll dig and dig on the wall, hustles all of the time." 

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Height: 5'8 (173 cm)

Weight: 158 (71 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.37

Points per Game (normalized): 0.97

A/P Score: -2.33 (38^th)

Key Strength: High-skill, high-intelligence, high-energy defender

Key Question: Can he manage NHL power forwards when they try to muscle him out of the play?

In the last twenty years, there have been only ten sub-5'10 defenseman who have played more than 20 games in the NHL, so Hutson's biggest obstacle undoubtedly will be his size. At 5'8, and currently about 160 pounds, Hutson is small, even by small defenseman standards. He will, of course, add more weight and muscle over the next couple of years, but he is unlikely to get much taller. The main question, therefore, is whether or not Hutson will be able to compete in the NHL against opposing forwards who are much larger and stronger. The key to being a small blueliner, based on similar players who have thrived in the hardest league in the world, appear to be skating (agility and balance in particular), intelligence and the will to outwork opponents. Hutson excels in all three areas.

Hutson skates with efficiency, with excellent maneuverability and smooth direction changes that allow him to move quickly out of tight spaces and danger. When he has the puck, particularly in his own end or in transition, opposing teams struggle to nail him down or hem him in. He can easily skate the puck out the defensive zone and past the red line, often leaving forecheckers reaching and stretching at nothing. Hutson keeps his eyes up on the ice around and ahead of him, allowing him to easily see mutliple options, and his game awareness is such that he processes the information and makes fast, accurate decisions. Even at top speed, he looks patient with the puck, and in fact he seems far more comfortable playing with the puck than without it. 

In his own end, Hutson seems well aware that he must win defensive battles with positioning and quickness. He does not often get into physical battles that he cannot win, so instead relies on an active stick and gap awareness to create turnover opportunities or to funnel attackers toward less-dangerous areas. As small as he is, Hutson rarely appears to get outmuscled or punished by bigger players. Instead, he beats them to the puck and ducks away before hits come. 

Hutson will never be a physical, stay at home defender who locks down the top NHL forwards in the league, but he can become a dangerous transition defender who beats those same forwards up ice on counterattacks. He will be used heavily on power plays and offensive zone starts, unless he simply does not develop an appetite for the contact necessary to play in the NHL.

Brian's favorite in-game note: "Hustles back for a puck, protects and turns from the forechecker until he finds an long outlet pass." 

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Height: 6’1 (185 cm)

Weight: 204 (85 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.25

Points per Game (normalized): 1.17

A/P Score: -1.38 (237^th)

Key Strength: Tank power foward

Key Question: Can he make a big enough offensive impact to warrant his first-round selection?

McGroarty plays hockey like he wants to break things in order to get the puck to the net. Not that he is a runaway train--he actually plays with much more awareness than that--but with his chunky skating stride and his hulking frame, he just smashes his way to the front of the net and invites people to try to stop him. His wide skating stride and weak recovery needs to be refined, and doing so will help him with his straightline speed. His stability and center of balance on his feet has improved over the last year, and he (impossibly) seems to have gotten stronger both in lower and upper body. McGroarty will not dazzle or flash around the rink, but he will force defenders to account for him while he is on the ice, and he plays adequate defense. With that, he has a good floor of at least a bottom-six NHL forward. If he improves his skating mechanics and continues to develop his already good shot and pass, he could climb to a second-line center role or a very good two-way third liner who no one wants to play against.

Brian's favorite in-game note: "If you ever want to find McGroarty on the ice, just look to the crease." 

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Height: 5'10 (178 cm)

Weight: 151 (68 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.22

Points per Game (normalized): 1.21

A/P Score: -1.50 (198^th)

Key Strength: Works harder than anyone on the ice

Key Question: Can he elevate his game to push the pace in the NHL?

Jagger Firkus led the Warriors in scoring this past season with 36 goals and 44 assists, a point total that was good enough to have him finish second overall among WHLers in this year's draft. Firkus started the season well down the rankings on a lot of lists, but his incessant attacking style and quality all-around play forced many draft watchers to keep pushing him higher and higher up their lists as the season wore on. 

Firkus seems always to be involved in the play when he is on the ice. He touches the puck on nearly every shift, driving play towards and into the offensive zone, pushing tempo and using his speed to unbalance the defense. He plays fast, with excellent skating mechanics that help him build up an excellent top speed in addition to being light and dexterous on his feet. He routinely changes angles on his shot, sometimes rifling a straight-on wrist shot, sometimes deking forehard-backhand, and other times shooting while somewhere in between. His skill at disguising his release point and keeping power and accuracy makes him one of the best shooters of this draft class. At just barely 150 pounds, he will definitely need to add weight and strength, but his excellent shot, hands and energy, combined with his pace, will make him an exciting scoring winger at any level of hockey.

Brian's favorite in-game note: "He's been everywhere in this game. High work rate player with speed and tenacity up and down the ice." 

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Height: 6'1 (185 cm)

Weight: 188 (85 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.07

Points per Game (normalized): 0.98

A/P Score: -0.92 (467^th)

Key Strength: Grinder with high-level puck skills

Key Question: Can his hard work overcome his average skating?

Jimmy Snuggerud is the son of a former NHLer and long-time Minnesota high-school hockey coach Dave Snuggerud (265 NHL games played), and he plays like someone who has been learning the fundamentals of the game since toddlerhood. The future University of Minnesota player impacts the game in so many positive ways by battling in the corners and grinding out shifts to wear down opponents or using his great vision and ice awareness to beat a defender with a no-look pass to create a scoring chance. His determination to affect the game when he is on the ice is noticeable on every shift. He plays hard all the time, which mostly compensates for his underdeveloped skating. He lacks a strong first step, and despite having okay skating form, he just struggles to quickly cycle his feet through an entire stride sequence. However, continued powerskating training and sheer will to improve his speed will enhance his effectiveness at the NHL level and as his skating approaches his mental and physical strength, his upside increases. If he can take full advantage of his time with the Golden Gophers and their world class coaching staff, he could become a top-six winger and perennial fan favorite at the NHL level.

Brian's favorite in-game note: "No looks a pass from right circle to left to find a wide-open Duke and an easy goal." 

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Height: 6’4 (193 cm)

Weight: 180 (81 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.43

Points per Game (normalized): 0.53

A/P Score: -0.50 (390^th)

Key Strength: Stay-at-home defense with offensive upside

Key Question: Will he be an offensive contributor in the NHL?

Although he is capable with the puck on his stick, Owen Pickering is more a classic blue-line prospect than many of his flashier, transition and offensive defenseman counterparts at the top of this year's draft class, including his cousin Denton Mateychuk. At 6'4 and 180 pounds, Pickering towers over most opponents, but most of the time Pickering uses his high hockey iq to defuse scoring threats. He is quick to jump to loose pucks and wins puck races in the corners not because of skating acumen, but because he tends to be among the first players on the ice to recognize where the puck is going to be and when he needs to get there. His awareness buys him an extra step, so he can make a better read or a better pass, and clear his zone and avoid danger. He can skate with the puck, and up ice he can cause some trouble, but Pickering will be earning his professional hockey salary by shutting down his opponents first and foremost, with offense contributions an added bonus. 

Brian's favorite in-game note: "Reads the incoming pass, steps up, reaches out, and deflects the pass away before it can reach its target."

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Height: 5'8 (173 cm)

Weight: 165 (75 kg)

Age At Draft: 17.91

Points per Game (normalized): 1.60

A/P Score: -2.63 (43^rd)

Key Strength: Near-elite playmaking 

Key Question: Will non-elite skating hold him back?

For nearly the entire season, the Hockey Prophets have been shouting Dumais' praises to anyone who might be listening, yet time and again the accolades seem to fade into the echo chamber of too-small-not-good-enough-skaterdom. Having recently published an article regarding the hockey world's fundamental discounting of his stellar playmaking, and not wanting to regurgitate what already has been written, below is an excerpt from Jordan Dumais Might Be the Most Underappreciated Player In This Year's Draft Class:

"At 109 points in 68 games, Jordan Dumais has joined the highly exclusive club of 100-point Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft-year scorers. Dumais ended his pivotal season with 39 goals and 70 assists, good enough for sixth all-time in draft-year scoring among the nearly 1,500 eligible players since the 2000-2001 season. The five players above him on the list (Sidney Crosby, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Derick Brassard, Jason Pominville and Alex Lafreniere) have a combined 3,847 NHL games played with 3,066 total NHL points scored, and of them, only Pominville (55th) was selected outside of the top ten. Dumais has scored more points in his draft year than previous NHL stars and first-round picks like Jonathan Huberdeau (3rd overall), Nikolai Ehlers (9th), Claude Giroux (22nd) and Pierre-Luc Dubois (3rd).

After considering the key attributes of Dumais’ overall game and recognizing that for a draft-year player who cracked100 points in the QMJHL, his omission from the top ranks of scouts’ draft lists comes down to lack of size and acceleration. The acceleration can—and will—be improved. So size appears to be the main contributing factor. Twenty years ago, a 5’9 player would have had a much more difficult time breaking into the NHL, but those concerns should be alleviated somewhat by the huge impact smaller players have made in recent years. Dumais, with his combination of skills, intelligence and high-end scoring drive as well as his dedication to improving his game, must be considered worthy of a first-round pick in the NHL draft. If not, years from now when hockey fans and pundits are looking back at the 2022 NHL draft, they will be wondering why Dumais went so low, and marveling at the wisdom of the team that selected him."

The original article has a breakdown of Dumais' key attributes, so please visit the article for far more detail.

Brian's favorite in-game note: "Wow. Puck behind the net, Desnoyers kicks it out to the side of the crease, where Dumais was closing in. All alone (both defenders were below the net), he stops the puck, rolls his wrists to get the blade behind the puck, then roofs it from right at the edge of the crease. What a beautiful goal." 

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Height: 5'10 (178 cm)

Weight: 164 (74 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.30

Points per Game (normalized): 1.01

A/P Score: -0.86 (475^th)

Key Strength: Energy and competitive play

Key Question: Can he develop an NHL shot?

Yet another of the many Djurgardens players in the 2022 draft class, Noah Ostlund may not have the electric goal-scoring prowess of teammates Jonathan Lekkerimaki or Liam Ohgren, but he is a high-quality prospect all the same. In 32 games with the Djurgardens junior-level team, Ostlund scored 42 points. He was an alternative captain for Team Sweden's U18 world championship team, and his 10 points in that tournament placed him third overall in team scoring. 

Ostlund does so many things well and plays with such energy that it can be hard to isolate one or two key attributes that stand out either good or bad. He has good speed, but will never be the fastest player on the ice, and he has very good edge dexterity. Ostlund uses his acceleration and skating quickness to seperate from defenders when he has the puck. He handles the puck through traffic, making him a good possession player, especially in the offensive end, as he is able to keep the puck out of his opponents' reach until he spots an opening to pass or shoot. He reads the play so well and anticipates flow, getting the puck into the right spot to create or take advantage of weaknesses in the defense. He uses that same anticipation while on defense, as well, intercepting passes, getting into passing lanes, jumping plays with his great first step. He just seems to outplay everyone else on the ice on each shift. 

Ostlund has a good shot, again primarily because he gets himself open for a good look at net, but he will need to refine his shot to be more effective from distance. He should be a solid middle-six forward with good chance of being up in the top six. 

Brian's favorite in-game note: "Running the powerplay from the right circle, moving the puck quickly, sends an excellent pass to the far circle for a one-timer goal by Lekkerimaki. Beauty." 

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Height: 6’0 (183 cm)

Weight: 188 (85 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.08

Points per Game (normalized): 0.53

A/P Score: -0.70 (301^st)

Key Strength: Patience and strength at both ends

Key Question: Can he refine his game and increase his potential NHL upside?

Calle Odelius is an interesting defenseman in this year's draft class, primarily because he does not have the flashy offensive skills of some of the high-end transition defenders, nor the bulk of a couple of the bigger stay-at-home defenders. What Odelius does well, however, includes everything that an NHL defender should. Odelius has good skating mechanics, with speed up ice and moving backwards. His first step gives him very good acceleration and his four-way movement is excellent, based on that strong first step with either foot. He has a lot of strength in his legs, which not only helps with his acceleration but also grants him stability on his feet and helps him to generate a lot of force into physical contact. With his 6'0 and 185-pound frame, he has a solid mass that--when combined with his driving acceleration--means he can hit hard. He also plays with patience, which means that he does not try to make big hits just because he can, but instead will take advantage of opportunities only when they actually exist, so he never seems to be chasing the play because of a mental mistake. Odelius has soft hands and is a calm puckhandler. Again, his game intelligence affords him time with the puck, so he can make the correct read and the corresponding pass to lead the breakout. After clearing his zone, he joins the rush, using his speed to stay with the attacking forwards. He has a solid, hard shot from the point, but he is not a huge goal-scoring threat at this time. 

The most remarkable thing about Odelius at this point is that he still looks like an unpolished player. He sometimes seems to be half a step out of position, or a little hesitant to attack from within the offensive zone. Whether or not individual NHL teams believe this to be a limitation to his upside or an indication of his future potential will likely determine where he gets drafted, but Odelius appears to be a first-round blueliner and likely NHL top-four defender. 

Brian's favorite in-game note: "Shoots the puck with confidence and authority and his wrist shot is difficult to handle." 

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Height: 5'10 (178 cm)

Weight: 175 (79 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.25

Points per Game (normalized): 1.11

A/P Score: -1.17 (305^th)

Key Strength: Smart player whose awareness makes the players around him better

Key Question: Can he overcome his more passive moments?

One of the quickest ways to see Goyette's impact to his team is look at the overall scoring for Wolves this season: Goyette not only led the team in goals and assists, but was the only Sudbury player above a point per game and he scored nearly 50% more points than second place Evan Konyen. 

Goyette's effectiveness builds up from a foundation of excellent hockey sense and intelligence. Playing on such a young team, he was often called upon to do just about everything, and he responded with a strong desire to lead his team to victory. Unfortunately, without a lot of help, Goyette many times found himself out of options and having to pull out of an attack because there just were no lanes to the net. As such, he looked passive at times. It will be important for him to make certain that such passivity evaporates from his play and to learn to trust that his teammates will also be creating opportunities for him instead of the other way around. 

Because based on his skills and intelligence, Goyette is an outstanding hockey player. He makes smart, little plays all over the ice, whether that is anticipating an opponent's plans and intercepting or disrupting passes, blocking shots, getting his stick in the lane, setting up give-and-go passing plays, or just making fast, clean zone entries. His skating is good, with decent speed while carrying the puck, but his turns are not as tight as desired. His passing and shooting skills are above average, but his scoring comes down to his game awareness more than an overwhelming scoring touch. As with most OHL players who lost nearly a full year of hockey last season, Goyette's development is likely lagging a bit behind his non-OHL contemporaries. 

Brian's favorite in-game note: "Left side of a two-on-one, takes the saucer pass from Stillman and goes short-side wrist shot, goal." 

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Height: 5'9 (175 cm)

Weight: 173 (78 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.47

Points per Game (normalized): 0.63

A/P Score: -0.88 (250^th)

Key Strength: Excellent skater

Key Question: Can he be an effective smaller defenseman despite limited offense?

Seamus Casey is a small defenseman who looks more like a two-way player than someone who thrives in transitioning the puck up ice. He is among the best skaters in the draft class, with an effortless stride and graceful agility in all directions. Because he can outskate most opposing forwards, he is a highly effective defender and penalty killer, eliminating any available time and space from attacking players by closing gaps, stepping into passing lanes and taking away pucks with regularity. He takes stellar lines back to his own end to keep opponents out of the high-danger areas and he also shows an eagerness to block shots. He is a quality puck mover, and he has an okay shot, but he simply does not have the same kind of offensive impact on a game as do some of his more highly rated contemporaries. 

Brian's favorite in-game note: "Has the puck at the left point, and a penalty killer dives out to try to poke the puck away from him, but Casey holds and patiently waits, then passes off. Calm." 

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Height: 5'10 (178 cm)

Weight: 185 (84 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.25

Points per Game (normalized): 0.77

A/P Score: -1.60 (116^th)

Key Strength: A dynamo on skates

Key Question: Will he improve his defensive play to match his energy and aggressive attack?

Ty Nelson constantly generates energy and excitement when he is on the ice. He may be shorter than an average NHL defender, but he is all muscle and strength and hits like a wrecking ball. His high energy play matches his nimble skating, as well, with excellent speed and agility. He changes directions at speed and without hesitation, and he uses his speed to scream across the neutral zone. Nelson passes well, and uses his skating to force defenders to react, then passes into the gap his feet created in the defensive structure. Nelson's shot, however, is mostly average and he will need to work on improving his shot selection and finding a way to get pucks through traffic from the point. Too often he hits the congestion and leaves the puck in the middle of the offensive zone.

Defensively, Nelson has a good bit of work to do. He can drift in his own end, relying on his defensive partner and center to do the dirty work down low while he winds up his motor for another offensive attack. He struggles at times with reads and decisions, and leans on his footwork to try to make up the difference. 

Brian's favorite in-game note: "Gets hung out to dry on a two-on-one against, and he just flops down on the ice too early to make a difference, and the Soo get an excellent scoring chance. Yuck."

Brian’s Favorite In-Game Note: “Good skater, smooth edge work and good form. Will get even faster over time.” 

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Height: 5'11 (180 cm)

Weight: 278 (80 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.21

Points per Game (normalized): 0.76

A/P Score: -0.20 (1,062^nd)

Key Strength: High-quality two-way center

Key Question: Can he get fast enough and strong enough to play a similar role in the NHL?

Jiri Kulich may not be the best Czech player in this year's draft class (see David Jiricek above), but he is absolutely the best Czech forward in his age group. He played most of the season in the Extraliga, Czechia's top men's league, and his 14 points (9 goals) at that level puts him in the top six all time for a U18 player in that league, among players like Jiri Hudler, Petr Sykora and Martin Necas. 

Every aspect of Kulich's success starts with his feet. He is an excellent skater, with tremendous speed and even better edgework and agility. He pushes hard out of turns and is able to accelerate off his edges and crossovers, then change directions with ease at speed. Kulich uses his speed both in attacking the offensive zone and in defensive play, and his quickness makes him a good penalty killer. He works hard, too, which enhances his speed as he wins puck races, goes back hard to retrieve pucks, and then is able to easily avoid opponents and beat them with his feet. 

With the puck, Kulich is able to stickhandle with soft hands, and--again--his speed and dexterity in both his feet and hands allows him to move the puck through traffic with relative ease. He passes well, makes smart reads with the puck, and he shows a highly competitive spirit and desire to generate offense. Kulich shows a good wrist shot and scoring drive, and he can beat goaltenders with a quick and accurate release. He could use a better slapshot, but with his work ethic and future development, he will likely build a bigger shooting arsenal.

Brian's favorite in-game note: "Man, he wants to score. Just drove straight at the net, but the pass never made it to him." 

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Height: 6’1 (185 cm)

Weight: 189 (85 kg)

Age At Draft: 18.46

Points per Game (normalized): 0.68

A/P Score: -1.10 (201^st)

Key Strength: Steady puck-mover

Key Question: Can he live up to his initial prospect potential?

Tristan Luneau was selected first overall in the 2020 QMJHL Entry Draft, and he has been making an impact for the Gatineau Olympiques ever since. In his 63 games this season, Luneau posted 12 goals and 31 assists with 144 shots on goal as the team's leading offensive defenseman. Luneau drives play from the defensive zone with good outlet passing and the willingness to jump into the attack. He has above-average foot speed and maneuverability, but he lacks a true high gear. He is a smooth-looking skater, and he has good size at 6'1, 189 pounds. Luneau tends to play a more positional, counterattacking style, and is not much of a physical defensive presence. His development potential is significant because of his style, but he will need some work to get there.

Brian's favorite in-game note: "Sees the turnover in his own end and immediately jumps up to attack. He's the right side of a 2-on-1, gets the puck and a clean look and hits the crossbar from the right side dot."