2022 NHL Draft: Wright tops Central Scouting midterm rankings
The Central Scouting Bureau released its midterm rankings for North America’s top skaters and goaltenders and top international skaters and goalies on Wednesday. JYP’s right winger Joakim Kemell in La Liiga, Finland’s top professional league, is No. 1 among international skaters.
“There was no consensus for the No. 1 ranking [in North America] for the 2022 mid-season draft class, but at this point Shane Wright retains the top spot, ”said NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr. “Taking everything into account, Shane remains a desirable set of NHL talent and has proven he loads it up and makes a difference when needed in game situations. He has both led and excelled remarkably. well behaved among the many disruptions and distractions of the past year and a half. “
[2022 Midterm rankings: North American skaters | North American goalies | International skaters | International goalies]
[PDFs: North American skaters | North American goalies | International skaters | International goalies]
The 2022 draft is scheduled to take place at the Bell Center in Montreal, with the first round on July 7 and rounds 2-7 on July 8. The NHL Draft took place virtually in 2020 and 2021 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. The NHL Draft Lottery to determine the top 16 picks in the Draft will be announced at a later date.
Wright (6 feet, 185 pounds), a right center, has 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) with 86 shots on goal in 22 games this season. The 18-year-old also collected a two-game assist for Canada at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship before the tournament was called off on December 29.
“Shane is a great prospect and a guy the scouting community has been following for quite some time now, so everyone knows the attributes he can bring to a team,” said Joey Tenute of NHL Central Scouting. . “He shows up every night, is a leader and plays in all situations. He does the right thing on the ice and any coach can count on a player like that because he is not only offensive but also a complete leader of a team … set a typical example of a guy. “
Wright was playing for the Don Mills Flyers’ minor midget AAA team when Hockey Canada granted him Outstanding Player status in March 2019, and he was selected by Kingston with the first pick in the 2019 OHL Draft at age 15 years old. He was named Rookie of the Year in the Canadian Hockey League after scoring 66 points (39 goals, 27 assists) in 58 games in 2019-20.
Center Logan Cooley (5-10, 174) of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team is second on the North American skaters list. Cooley, a left-handed shooter, has 34 points (14 goals, 20 assists) in 24 games and leads the NTDP with an average of 1.42 points per game. The 17-year-old collected an assist in 15:23 of ice time for the United States in his only game at the WJC.
“Cooley’s continued development and successes have made the No. 1 ranking in the 2022 draft class a two-player race,” said Marr. “On his own, Cooley is a player who can have an impact on games. His top speed is off the charts and his ability to quickly process and execute games make him a scoring threat every time he walks on the ice.
Cooley is one of nine NTDP players ranked in the top 32, including left winger Cutter Gauthier (6-2, 189) and right winger Jimmy Snuggerud (6-1, 186) in the top eight. A record eight NTDP players, including seven in the top 15, were selected in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.
Centers Matt Savoie (5-9, 179) and Conor Geekie (6-3, 193) of Winnipeg in the Western Hockey League round out the top five of North American skaters, and defenseman Pavel Mintyukov (6- 1, 192) from Saginaw (OHL).
Savoie leads the WHL with 52 points (18 goals, 34 assists) and 25 points on the power play (11 goals, 14 assists) in 34 games. Geekie has scored 38 points (11 goals, 27 assists) in 34 games.
“Savoie has big wheels and is a dynamic player,” said John Williams of the NHL Central Scouting. “Geekie is taller and leaner and reminds me a bit Joe thornton at that age in the way he skates. “
Mintyukov, a left-handed shooter, has 22 points (six goals, 16 assists) in 29 OHL games.
“Mintyukov, for me, is the best in his job for the 2022 draft,” said Marr. “He plays a very dynamic game using his size, skating, intelligence and skill to control the game in all areas and situations. The confidence, poise and level of authority with which he supports and runs the games place it in a category unto itself. “
Kemell (5-11, 171), a right-handed forward, has 18 points (12 goals, six assists), six power play goals and three game-winning goals in 21 games for JYP. The 17-year-old took 105 shots on goal and an ice time average of 16:48. He missed three weeks with an upper body injury earlier in the season.
“We looked at the whole season, starting with the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in August, and Kemell has had a sensational start with JYP and is therefore currently ranked No.1,” said NHL European scouting director Goran Stubb. . “He missed several weeks with an injury, but when he’s in good health he’s a highly skilled playmaker with acceleration and speed. He can use his gentle hands and passing skills to move the puck through traffic.
The center of Slovak origin Juraj Slafkovsky (6-3, 218) of the TPS de la Liiga completes the top five international skaters; right wing Danila Yurov (6-1, 178) from Magnitogorsk in the Continental Hockey League; defender David Jiricek (6-3, 189) from Plzen in the Czech Extraliga; and center Brad Lambert (6-0, 175) from JYP in Liiga.
Slafkovsky scored four points (one goal, three assists), had 51 shots on goal and is averaging 13:29 in 20 games for the TPS. The 17-year-old has averaged 22:03 in two games for Slovakia at WJC.
“Slafkovsky is expected to be part of the Slovakian men’s national team at the 2022 Beijing Olympics in February,” Stubb said. “He uses his big size, reach and strength very well, by playing by the rules. He’s an active and efficient controller in both zones, he has good vision and all the tools necessary to have a great career. “
North America’s No. 1 goalie is Tyler Brennan (6-4, 180) of Prince George (WHL). He’s 5-11-1 with a 3.55 goals-against average and 0.896 save percentage in 17 games.
“He’s a good professional build, is very calm and relaxed, and can read the pass for a receiving game or a back gate game,” said Al Jensen of the NHL Central Scouting. “I also love the way he comes back to stop dumps and can move the puck properly behind his net zone. He has very good professional potential.
The No. 1 international goalkeeper is Topias Leinonen (6-4, 214) of JYP in the Finnish junior league. The 17-year-old, who could be Finland’s starting goalie at the 2022 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in Germany in April, has a cumulative average of 2.20 and a save percentage of .911 in five games.
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