The 2022 NHL Entry Draft is in the books.
The Bell Center moved Thursday for the highly anticipated Montreal Canadiens first team. Day 2 produced a bit of everything. Some teams exchanged draft picks. Others did list exchanges. Finally, the announcement that Duncan Keith had decided to retire after a historic career also made waves on the ground.
My opinion is that no other professional league does it better than the NHL in terms of the draft draft. It never ages to see the emotion in the faces of potential customers and family members after saying their names.
Congratulations to the city of Montreal. One of my favorite Scouting destinations in the world offered what we expected: a fantastic event hosted by one of the hockey cities with the most hockey class.
Here’s a look at some intriguing selections from each round:
WHEEL 1
Well. 1: Juraj Slafkovsky, Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens did their due diligence and settled with Slafkovsky above people like Shane Wright, Logan Cooley and Simon Nemec. The Montreal management team removed any outside noise and pressure, and went with the player they believe will most help take the organization to another level.
This selection told me something about Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes: that they have their own vision of how they want to build their team. There have been drafts in the past where teams gave in and took consensus number 1. This was not one of those moments.
One observation: watching Slafkovsky parade through the Bell Center for interviews with the media and fans screaming for a photo, a fist bomb, or an autograph was something to contemplate. He is already a rock star in Montreal.
WHEEL 2
No. 62: Lane Hutson, Montreal Canadiens
I love this selection. Hutson is a very skilled transition “D” who makes plays with haste and quarterbacks the power game. There was a time, not so long ago, when players like this were ignored by NHL clubs for their lack of size and physique. Hutson let the teams in the Buffalo combination know that he hasn’t stopped growing and that he has a chance to reach about 5 feet 10. His height doesn’t bother me, but he’ll have to add weight as he matures.
Hutson is a maker of differences. He is very competitive and wants the record on his stick in key situations.
WHEEL 3
No. 88: Michael Buchinger, St. Louis Blues
This was a clever pick for the Blues. Buchinger is a “glue” for the Guelph Storm in the OHL. The two-way defense is a strong skater who sees the ice and distributes it very well. He scored 44 points (five goals, 39 assists) last season and deployed in all situations. There is a real possibility that the Blues have found a second NHL defender with the Buchinger selection.
WHEEL 4
Num. 122: Dennis Hildeby, Toronto Maple Leafs
Hildeby is an interesting selection in the fourth round and well worth the bet. He is a 20-year-old European who had a big campaign in 2021-22. At the level of the SHL playing with the Farjestad, it had an average of goals against 1.93 and its percentage of saving was .931. He is an absolute giant on the net, is 6 feet 6 and weighs 236 pounds.
Goalkeepers take longer to develop than skaters and that’s why I believe in the strategy of this selection. Hildeby will be in Sweden for at least one more season before he can reach North America. When NHL teams write players from Europe, they have their rights for four years of development time compared to the two years of top junior players in North America. By the time his four years have expired, Hildeby will be 24 and could enter the NHL development phase.
WHEEL 5
Num. 136: Jorian Donovan, Ottawa Senators
Jorian, son of Senators player development director Shean Donovan, is a good addition to the fifth round. He scored 22 points (three goals, 19 assists) in his OHL debut season with Hamilton this year. What I like most about this selection is that Donovan can be used in a variety of roles. I’m projecting it to score more as it matures at the OHL level. He skates very well, comes out responsibly, is a good size (6 feet-1, 183 pounds) and will only get stronger. You’ll probably see a bit of power play in junior, but I don’t see it as a fit in this role as a professional.
Sometimes nepotism can creep into some decisions that organizations make. This is not an example of this. Donovan has a chance to be more than an inferior “D” couple as a professional. I’m sure he’ll put the work in there. This selection has Senator Don Boyd’s explorer written all over it and it’s a good one.
ROUND 6
Num. 179: Matt Seminoff, Dallas Stars
It’s not often that teams can find a player in this phase of the draft with the kind of offensive impact Seminoff had last year with Kamloops in the WHL. He scored 26 goals and 31 assists, with six of his goals in power play. Seminoff also brings more than one offense. He is a responsible player who is above the game when opponents have the record and reliably defending his area. Its small area play is also very strong. He has the creativity to throw checks in tight quarters and bring the play to the net or distribute. His speed will have to improve, but this is a good find for Stars research director Joe McDonnell.
WHEEL 7
No. 225: Ivan Zhigalov, Colorado Avalanche
A tall (6-foot-3), thin (167-pound) athletic goalkeeper who plays Sherbrooke in the QMJHL. It was the last choice of the project and I could literally fly under the radar like a little later, but I actually like the advantage of that selection. Zhigalov has quick feet and pads, is able to make reaction stops in scramble mode, and is a southern paw who grabs with his right hand, which gives opponents a different look when they direct the discs into the net.
Former NHL goalkeeper Jocelyn Thibault owns the team in Sherbrooke, so I’m sure Avalanche consulted with him to learn more about Zhigalov.
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This concludes the Scouting cycle for the 2021-2022 season.
There was a time when staff took some free time following the draft to enjoy what the summer has to offer. This is no longer the case.
Potential customers from around the world will attend development camps starting Sunday, July 10 and Monday, July 11 for all NHL clubs.
The 2022-23 Amateur Scouting Calendar begins July 31 in Red Deer, Alberta, at the annual Hlinka / Gretzky Cup.