The 2022 NHL draft is fast approaching, with the first round taking place in Montreal on July 7. On the heels of the Stanley Cup playoffs in which the top teams attempted to convert years of building into a championship, the spotlight will soon shine brightest on teams at the bottom of the pecking order that are eager to build something anew. The Montreal Canadiens will start the party with the first overall pick, while the Buffalo Sabres and Arizona Coyotes project to be extremely busy with three first-round picks each. In total, 23 of the 32 NHL teams currently own 2022 first-round picks, though of course trades could change the outlook both before and during draft night. You can view the current draft order at CapFriendly. With most leagues having played a full season, the 2022 draft class is easier to analyze than the 2021 class, which had most of their seasons shortened or even canceled altogether because of COVID-19. That also impacted the ability to assess the 2022 class ahead of the season, though we tried. Players’ stocks go up and down over the course of a draft season even in normal circumstances, and that’s even more true for this group.
Recruit Scouting
