The Athletic

● By Scott Wheeler
Welcome to my preliminary top 64 ranking for the 2022 NHL Draft. We’re well into the 2021-22 hockey calendar and every major developmental league at the junior, college and pro levels across North America and Europe are now at least a month into their schedules (and in some cases two or three). I’m also now in a place where I’ve had the time to get updated viewings on the top 2003 and 2004 birthyear players in this draft class and ask around about many of them. This list follows March’s early top 22 and September’s preseason top 32. It will be followed by a midseason top 64 and a final top 100 later in the season.

Top Players Not Included

These players appear in the top 32 of our

Consensus Big Board

, but do not show up on this big board.