2022 NHL Mock Draft: Final Mock 7 Rounds

Round 1 Picks 17-32

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: July 7, 2022.

17. Nashville Predators: Brad Lambert, RW, Lahti Pelicans (SM Liiga)
    
    
    Nashville got swept by Colorado. I'm not surprised since I expected Nashville to be a bottom 10 team picking in the top 10 of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Nashville takes a flyer on Brad Lambert hoping he can be the top 3 prospect he was in the preseason.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 179 lb Brad Lambert is versatile enough to play left wing, center, or right wing with his versatility. He's not only the most versatile player in this draft, but you could also make the argument that he's got the most explosion of any skater in this draft.
    
    
    
    Brad Lambert played in the World Juniors just like Shane Wright and unlike Aatu Raty who was once considered the top prospect in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Lambert is extremely competitive and enters his third season in Liiga formerly known as SM Liiga.
    
    
    
    Brad Lambert had more points in his first two Liiga games than Aleksander Barkov, the team captain for the Florida Panthers. Lambert is probably the best prospect to come from Finland since two former second overall picks on Tappara in Aleksander Barkov drafted by Florida in 2013 second overall and right winger Patrik Laine drafted by Winnipeg in 2016 second overall.
    
    
    
    Lambert played his first season on Helsingfors IFK. He fumbled a penalty shot in one of his games on Helsingfors IFK in 2019-2020. The following year he got moved to JYP where he had 7 goals, 8 assists, and 15 points. Barkov had 7 goals, 9 assists, and 16 points in his rookie season with Tappara prior to his draft year where he took off with 21 goals, 27 assists, and 48 points. Brad Lambert only had 4 goals, 6 assists, and 10 points. By midseason, after losing the line 1 right wing job to Joakim Kemell, he got traded to the Lahti Pelicans making that his third Liiga team.
    
    
    
    Brad Lambert has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. He's cleaned up his game a lot since fumbling on that penalty shot. Puck control may have been an issue two years ago, but his stick handling ability should be on point this season as Lambert enters his third season in SM Liiga.
    
    
    
18. Dallas Stars: Denton Mateychuk, D, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
    
    
    I had Dallas picking at 26 in my first 2022 NHL Mock Draft, but they ended up at 18 underachieving this year and barely making the playoffs. They forced the Calgary Flames to game 7 in overtime before getting eliminated by Calgary. Dallas has some good center prospects in their system like Mavrik Bourque, Wyatt Johnston, and Logan Stankovech. Now they add a defenseman prospect to groom for the future at 18. Denton Mateychuk has elite upside and is the best player on the board at 18.
    
    
    
    For now, I'm going with Denton Mateychuk. Denton Mateychuk was drafted eleventh overall by the Moose Jaw Warriors in the 2019 WHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 192 lb Denton Mateychuk had 2 goals, 7 assists, 9 points, and a -8 +/- ratio in 2020-2021. Denton Mateychuk did a lot better in his second season with the Moose Jaw Warriors after getting promoted to the first line with 13 goals, 51 assists, 64 points, and a +20 +/- ratio in 65 regular season games. Mateychuk also had 1 goal, 9 assists, and 10 points in 10 games during the 2022 WHL Playoffs. Denton Mateychuk was team captain of Team White in the 2022 CHL Prospects Game where Team White defeated Team Red. The Dallas Stars 2022 first round pick finished in the top 3 in the Weave Agility drill and he also finished in the top 5 in the Transition Agility with Puck drill during the 10 Combine drills that test a players athleticism at the 2022 CHL Prospects Game.
    
    
    
    Denton Mateychuk has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. He's a very good defenseman who can play on a first line power play unit in the NHL as well as a first line penalty killing unit.
    
    
    
    He's probably my favorite power play defenseman in the entire 2022 NHL Entry Draft despite David Jircek having the best shot of a defenseman and Pavel Mintyukov's production as an offensive defenseman. My NHL player comparison for Denton Mateychuk is former WHL draft prospect Matthew Dumba who was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the first round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Denton Mateychuk also goes to a great situation in Dallas where the Stars don't have to rush him in terms of development meaning he'll be ready by 2023-2024. He's easily Moose Jaw's best defenseman since Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Reilly who got picked fourth overall by Toronto despite tearing his ACL in his draft year ten years ago.
    
    
    
    Denton Mateychuk got a 99/100 potential grade for offense, a 100/100 potential grade for defense, and a 98/100 potential grade for athleticism despite being considered raw by some and having a 68/99 overall grade on NHL 22. Denton Mateychuk showed excellent traits that you want from a first line defenseman on film making him a perfect replacement to John Klingberg whose an unrestricted Free Agent.
    
    
    
    Dallas will still have Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell on the first line. Denton Mateychuk will replace John Klingberg and compliment Ryan Suter on the second line down the road in either 2024 or 2025. Jani Hakanpaa and Thomas Hartley the Dallas Stars 2019 first round pick would play on the Dallas Stars third line.
    
    
    
    Drafting Denton Mateychuk allows you to play him on the Dallas Stars second line power play unit with Miro Heiskanen on the first line. This means that Heiskanen and Esa Lidell would be your first line penalty killing defenseman while Mateychuk took on penalty killing responsibilities as a second line defenseman when penalty killing.
    
    
    
    
    
19. Minnesota Wild: Connor Geekie, C, Winnipeg Ice (WHL)
    
    
    The Los Angeles Kings traded the ninteenth pick in the 2022 NHL Draft and Brock Faber to Minnesota to get Kevin Fiala who had 85 points as a line 2 left winger in 2021-2022 with the Minnesota Wild. Fiala will be the new first line left winger on the Los Angeles Kings, while this draft pick originally owned by the Kings transfers to Minnesota.
    
    
    
    The Minnesota Wild will go with a center by taking Connor Geekie who was drafted second overall by the Winnipeg Ice in the 2019 WHL Draft. Geekie has potential to be the second line center for Minnesota behind Marco Rossi down the road.
    
    
    
    The 6-4 205 lb Connor Geekie got some first line minutes when Matthew Savoie opted to play in the USHL rather than return to the WHL when players were able to return to the Western Hockey League after Covid-19. Connor Geekie had 9 goals, 14 assists, 23 points, and a +23 +/- ratio in 2020-2021 whe he got first line minutes on thne Winnipeg Ice.
    
    
    
    Connor Geekie dominated against weaker competition on the second line at center behind Matthew Savoie. Connor Geekie had 24 goals, 46 assists, 70 points, and a +46 +/- ratio in 63 WHL regular season games in 2021-2022. Connor Geekie had 3 goals, 8 assists, and 10 points in 15 games during the 2022 WHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Back in the 2019 WHL Draft, I said Matthew Savoie and Connor Geekie were the best center tandem since the Erie Otters had Connor McDavid and Dylan Strome. I agree with that statement since Connor Geekie was the first line center for Team White who defeated Team Red in the 2022 CHL Prospects Game, and he also had a better reaction time without the puck then Savoie even though Savoie had the top reaction time with the puck. Savoie was a second line center behind Shane Wright in that game.
    
    
    
    Connor Geekie has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Luca Del Bel Belluz, C, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)
    
    
20. Washington Capitals: Luca Del Bel Belluz, C, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)
    
    
    Washington has their top four centers Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Lars Eller, and Nic Dowd under contract next season with 2020 first round pick Hendrix Lapierre competing for a roster spot. Lapierre probably goes to the Hershey Bears in the AHL for a year and comes up to replace Lars Eller in a year from now in 2023-2024 as Washington's third line center. Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Nic Dowd are all unrestricted Free Agents in 2025, meaning if Washington drafts a center at 20 like Luca Del Bel Belluz at 20, he will be a long-term project who probably plays two more seasons in the OHL and one season in the AHL with the Hershey Bears before making the jump to the NHL in 2025. However, I think Luca Del Bel Belluz is good enough to be an upgrade over Dowd as early as 2023 meaning Washington fans could see Luca Del Bel Belluz sometime in 2024 if Dowd gets moved.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 175 lb Luca Del Bel Belluz had 30 goals, 46 assists, 86 points, and a +23 +/- ratio in 2021-2022 dominating the OHL regular season including 15 goals, 12 assists, and 27 points on the power play as a first line center. He finished third among players in the Weave Agility drill with the Puck in the 2022 CHL Prospects Game combine drill. Luca Del Bel Belluz had 1 goal, 3 assists, and 4 points in 10 games during the 2022 OHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Luca Del Bel Belluz has the has the face off ability, playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, hockey IQ, speed, skating, agility, and stick handling. He is amazing on both the power play and the penalty killing unit. He can score short-handed too. Luca Del Bel Belluz gives Washington a guy who can succeed Nicklas Backstrom with Hendrix Lapierre likely replacing Lars Eller.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Kevin Korchinski, D, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
    
    
    
    
21. Pittsburgh Penguins: Rutger McGroaty, C, USNTDP (USHL)
    
    
    Pittsburgh needs to draft a successor for Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Jeff Carter at center. Rutger McGroaty has the leadership traits that Ron Hextall will covet, plus there will be no rush to bring McGroaty up to the NHL.
    
    
    
    Rutger McGroady first got noticed by scouts when he dominated as the first line center with the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies 15U AAA team when he had 82 goals, 78 assists, and 160 points in 63 AAA games.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 198 lb Rutger McGroaty had 12 goals, 7 assists, 19 points, and a -7 +/- ratio as a rookie in 2020-2021 with the USHL. Rutger McGroaty had 15 goals, 18 assists, 33 points, and a +24 +/- ratio in 2021-2022. McGroaty mainly played on the third and fourth lines in the USHL despite playing on the first line with the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies. With Chaz Lucius enrolled into Minnesota, McGroaty should be the second line center behind Logan Cooley this season, but with Frank Nazar playing second line center at times, this kept McGroaty on the third line. Rutger McGroaty will go to Michigan on a hockey scholarship starting in 2022-2023.
    
    
    
    Rutger McGroaty has the playmaking, sniping, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, hockey IQ, speed, skating, agility, stick handling, and ability to win faceoffs. He's a playmaker that can do everything you want a line 1 game changer to do on tape, but he needs to improve his defensive awareness. He can do well on the power play. Rutger McGroaty is someone with the traits to play on the first line in the NHL despite playing on a third or fourth line in the USHL.
    
    
    
    Rutger McGroaty was the captain for Team USA during this years World Junior Championships. This shows me he has the leadership traits that you want from a first line center despite getting second or third line action in the USHL. Rutger McGroaty could be ready for a second or third line role in Pittsburgh by 2023-2024.
    
    
    
22. Anaheim Ducks: Owen Pickering, D, Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
    
    
    Anaheim acquired Boston's 2022 first round pick in the Hampus Lindholm trade at the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline. If Anaheim drafts a winger at 10, then drafting a defenseman at 22 becomes an option. Likewise, if Anaheim drafts a defenseman at 10 they probably get a winger at 22.
    
    
    
    The 6-4 178 lb Owen Pickering had 2 goals, 7 assists, 9 points, and a -3 +/- ratio in 2020-2021. Owen Pickering had 9 goals, 24 assists, 33 points, and a -29 +/- ratio in 2021-2022. Pickering is raw, but he's got potential as an offensive defenseman seeing that he's been on the first, second, and third line with the Swift Current Broncos in the WHL.
    
    
    
    Owen Pickering is described as a unicorn when you watch him skate on film despite the abysmal +/- ratio. Pickering also played baseball as a pitcher and second baseman in addition to playing hockey.
    
    
    
    He also interviewed with all 32 teams at the 2022 NHL Combine which is my biggest reasoning for giving the Anaheim Ducks after trading Hampus Lindholm to Boston and Josh Manson to Colorado. Owen Pickering lasted longer than any player on the MaxV02 Test at the 2022 NHL Combgine which measures the oxygen uptake, heart rate, and speed lasting 15 minutes and 30 seconds in that drill.
    
    
    
    
    
23. St. Louis Blues: Ryan Chesley, D, USNTDP (USHL)
    
    
    St. Louis did a lot better then I expected as I had the Blues being the final non playoff team heading into the regular season. After winning a playoff series against the Minnesota Wild, the Blues currently have a rematch with a Colorado Avalanche team that swept them a year ago. Plus, most people don't know what will happen with Vladimir Tarasenko who wanted to be traded after losing trust in the team doctors before rebounding with the St. Louis Blues and staying healthy. Jaden Schwartz signed with Seattle. Centers Brayden Schenn and Ryan O'Reilly are the only forwards from the 2019 St. Louis Blues Stanley Cup team keeping the Blues from a rebuild.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 187 lb Ryan Chesley had 6 goals, 8 assists, 14 points, and a -8 +/- ratio in the USHL in 2020-2021. Ryan Chesley had 5 goals, 10 assists, 15 points, and a +20 +/- ratio in 2021-2022. The Blues lost a defenseman to the Expansion Draft as well as Vince Dunn one year after losing Alex Pieterangelo. Carl Gunnarson retired too. The Blues still have a good core of defenseman, but get one more prospect on the blue line to groom for the future.
    
    
    
    Ryan Chesley played on the first line with Luke Hughes last year and anchored the blue line once Hughes went down with a season ending injury. One advantage Chesley has is that he will have two years of experience anchoring the first line on the United States National Team Developmental Program blue line in the USHL. Ryan Chesley has a hockey scholarship to Minnesota.
    
    
    
24. Minnesota Wild: Liam Ohgren, LW, Djurgardens IF (Elitserien)
    
    
    The Minnesota Wild get a winger to replace Kevin Fiala at 24. Liam Ohgren is a nice addition for the Minnesota Wild with their second first round pick.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 187 lb Liam Ohgren had 33 goals, 25 assists, 58 points, and a +8 +/- ratio with the Djurgardens IF Under 20 Team in Sweden in 30 games in 2021-2022. He also got promoted to the Djurgardens IF SHL team where he had 1 goal, 1 assist, and 2 points in 25 games against men instead of kids his own age in he league 2021-2022. Liam Ohgren was also team captain for Sweden's Under 18 Team at this years World Junior Championships.
    
    
    
    
    
25. Toronto Maple Leafs: Lian Bichsel, D, Leksands IF (Elitserien)
    
    
    Toronto grabs the best player on the board at 25. Lian Bischel interviewed with all 32 NHL teams just like Owen Pickering.
    
    
    
    The 6-5 212 lb Lian Bichsel is one of the bigger more physical defensemen in this draft. He does have a reputation for being a dirty player. One scouting service had a first round grade on him prior to the start of the season with another scouting service having a second round grade on him. He got suspended 1 game for checking towards the head or neck which is against SHL league rules. Lian Bichsel had 1 goal, 2 assists, and 3 points in 29 SHL games in 2021-2022. He's simply too talented to fall past this pick. Toronto gambles on this big physical defensive defenseman hoping he can be a missing piece to Toronto's blue line.
    
    
    
    Lian Bischel's contract with Leksands IF runs through the 2022-2023 NHL Season meaning Toronto can sign him to his rookie deal after next season. Toronto's defense would have Morgan Reilly and Jacob Muzzin on the top line. T.J. Brodie and Timothy Liljegren on the second line. Toronto would have Lian Bichsel and Mark Giordano on the third line with Lian Bichsel replacing Justin Holl whose an unrestricted Free Agent in 2023-2024.
    
    
    
26. Montreal Canadiens: Tristan Luneau, D, Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)
    
    
    Montreal got this second first round pick from a trade with Calgary when trading Tyler Toffoli to Calgary. Montreal's defense is lethal when fully healthy, but suspect without team captain Shea Weber. Montreal traded team captain Shea Weber to the Vegas Golden Knights, so Montreal will probably draft a defenseman at 26 if the best player on their board at 26 happens to be a defenseman.
    
    
    
    Montreal still has Jeff Petry, David Savard, Joel Edmundsson, Jordan Harris a former Northeastern captain, and Justin Barron as their top five defenseman. Montreal could bring Kaiden Guhle up to the NHL this season after drafting him sixteenth overall ahead of Justin Barron who played five NHL games.
    
    
    
    There are some questions about Tristan Luneau's skating and some medical concerns with one of his knees. However, he's a guy with two years of experience as a first line defenseman. The bottom line is Montreal cannot pass on that type of prospect at 26 after trading team captain Shea Weber away.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 174 lb Tristan Luneau did well enough to earn the line 1 defenseman spot on the Gatineau Olympiques as a rookie anchoring their blue line in the QMJHL. Tristan Luneau had 4 goals, 14 assists, 18 points, and a -5 +/- ratio in 2020-2021. Tristan Luneau had 12 goals, 31 assists, 43 points, and a +9 +/- ratio in 63 games in 2021-2022. Tristan Luneau also had 6 assists in 7 games during the 2022 QMJHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Tristan Luneau anchored the blue line for Team White during the 2022 CHL Prospects Game despite the fact that his blue line line mate Denton Mateychuk was the team captain for Team White. Tristan Luneau was still an alternate captain in the 2022 CHL Prospects Game, but just like Pavel Mintyukov he did not finish in the top 5 in any of the individual athletic drills at the 2022 CHL Prospects Game, yet his consistency as a player speaks for itself.
    
    
    
    Tristan Luneau has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Tristan Luneau was the first pick in the 2020 QMJHL Draft.
    
    
    
    
    
27. Arizona Coyotes: Ivan Miroshnichenko, LW, Avangard Omsk (KHL)
    
    
    Arizona uses their second first round pick from the Carolina Hurricanes on a left winger that was once a top 5 prospect at 27. Ivan Miroshnichenko is the eleventh best European skater on NHL Central Scouting edging out the twelfth best North American skater in Jagger Firkus for the best value pick at 27. Arizona is also scouting OHL and USHL skaters not named Logan Cooley, but after doing more research, Ivan Mirshnichenko is still the best value pick for Arizona at 27 since he's got a ceiling similar to Alexander Ovechkin if he can recover from his Hodgkins Linphoma.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 185 lb Ivan Miroshnichenko has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Ivan Miroshnichenko scored hat tricks for Russia against countries such as Finland and USA. He's a legit top ten talent in this draft who was once considered the fourth best prospect in this draft behind Wright, Lambert, and Savoie back in 2019.
    
    
    
    At the 2022 NHL Combine, Ivan Miroshnichenko was cleared to train again despite being diagnosed with Hodgkins Linphoma. He probably won't make the KHL until 2024. He would be ready for the NHL in 2024-2025 at the very earliest. Arizona is a team that can gamble on Ivan Miroshnichenko, and if they hit on this pick, they've got a second line left winger behind team captain Clayton Keller by the 2025 NHL Season at the very latest.
    
    
    
28. Buffalo Sabres: Jiri Kulich, C, HC Energie Karlovy Vary (Extraliga)
    
    
    The Buffalo Sabres use this 2022 first round pick from the Florida Panthers to get a defenseman at 28. Buffalo grabs a center at 28 that the Sabres might consider as early as pick 16 with Jiri Kulich.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 186 Jiri Kulich is versatile enough to play left wing, center, or right wing. Jiri Kulich had 9 goals, 5 assists, and 14 points in 49 Extraliga games in the Czech Repuplic. Jiri Kulich is one of a few prospects in Extraliga that managed to score on top 5 draft prospect David Jiricek one of the top two defenseman in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft while lining up as a first line left winger.
    
    
    
    Jiri Kulich has the face off ability, skating, speed, burst, athleticism, passing, playmaking, stick handling, deking, wrist shot power, and wrist shot accuracy. The rest of his game from developing a slap shot, to offensive awareness by playing pucks out of zone not making safe passes, to defensive awareness, to a lack of physicality are the areas that Jiri Kulcich has to improve in. The biggest weakness Jiri Kulich has is a lack of physicality and he's not always going to get leverage on puck possession, but if you can look past that, you can make a legitimiate case for taking him in the back half of the first round.
    
    
    
    Jiri Kulich is a safe bet to be a middle six player on a second or third line at left wing or center. He's got a chance to reach a first line left winger or center role in the NHL, but a slim chance at that. Buffalo takes a chance on Jiri Kulich at 28 thrilled that he's still on the board this late in the first round.
    
    
    
    
    
29. Edmonton Oilers: Jagger Firkus, RW, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
    
    
    Edmonton grabs the best player on the board in an uber thin goalie draft. Mike Smith isn't the answer, but Edmonton has three goalies in their prospect pool. There are rumors about a WHL defenseman going to Edmonton at 29, but drafting a forward in the WHL may be a more practical strategy.
    
    
    
    Edmonton already has four really good centers with Connor McDavid, Leon Drasaitil, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Ryan McLeod, their 2018 second round pick being an RFA. Jagger Firkus could compliment this core of centers as early as 2024-2025.
    
    
    
    The 5-10 153 lb Jagger Firkus had 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points, and a -8 +/0- ratio in 2019-2020 after being a fourth round pick in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft. Jagger Firkus had 6 goals, 8 assists, 14 points, and a -5 +/- ratio with the Moose Jaw Warriors in 2020-2021. Jagger Firkus broke out this season with 36 goals, 44 assists, 80 points, and +15 +/- ratio ceasing the first line right winger job in 2021-2022. Jagger Firkus was the player of the game during the 2022 CHL Prospects Game. Jagger Firkus also had 6 goals, 6 assists, and 12 points in 10 games during the 2022 WHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Jagger Firkus has the versatility, speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Jagger Firkus may have the best technique of any sniper shooting the puck in the 2022 NHL Draft. Edmonton could be getting a steal with this pick.
    
    
    
30. Winnipeg Jets: Adam Ingram, C, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
    
    
    The Winnipeg Jets get the New York Rangers 2022 first round pick thanks to the Andrew Copp trade along with the New York Rangers reaching the 2022 Eastern Conferene Finals. Winnipeg took Jimmy Snuggerud at 14 to be their right winger of the future. Winnipeg's 2019, 2020, and 2021 first round picks will all be on the Jets in the NHL next season.
    
    
    
    Many will argue Adam Ingram is a reach at 30, but Adam Ingram is ranked the twenty seventh best player in NHL 22's draft class for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. I don't disagree with the consensus rankings since 10/15 scouting services have a second round grade on him with NHL Central Scouting having a first to second round grade on Adam Ingram ranking him as the twenty seventh best North American skater.
    
    
    
    Winnipeg got a gem with Kyle Conner when the Jets drafted the Youngstown Phantoms center seventeenth overall before moving him to left wing. Kyle Conner led the Winnipeg Jets with 47 goals, 46 assists, and 93 points in 2021-2022. Kyle Conner also played a big role in helping me win my first Championship in Fantasy Hockey. If Winnipeg thinks Adam Ingram is half of the player that Kyle Conner is, then I can't blame the organization for drafting Adam Ingram at 30.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 183 lb Adam Ingram had 25 goals, 29 assists, 55 points, and a +10 +/- ratio in 2021-2022 with the Youngstown Phantoms after leaving the Manitoba Junior Hockey League to go to the USHL. Winnipeg plays in the province of Manitoba, so the Jets probably have more intel on Adam Ingram than any team in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
    
    
    
    Adam Ingram has a hockey scholarship to St. Cloud State. He's got the passing, playmaking, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, release, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ you want in an NHL center. Winnipeg is a great fit for him since Mark Scheifele and Chaz Lucius would be the top two guys there allowing Ingram to ease into a third line center role which probably is the best fit for him in the NHL. At the very worst, you're getting a player who goes to the AHL with the Manitoba Mosoe after he plays College Hockey at St. Cloud State.
    
    
    
    Many Winnipeg Jets fans may not be happy with this pick. The thing you got to remember is there's always a surprise pick in the first round of the draft and Adam Ingram to Winnipeg has a chance to be a surprise pick.
    
    
    
    
    
31. Tampa Bay Lightning: Nathan Gaucher, C, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
    
    
    Tampa Bay lost the 2022 Stanley Cup after winning the Eastern Conference for a third year in a row. That's why this is probably Tampa Bay's last year to win a Stanley Cup as far as window of opportunity goes as the team reloaded with some nice Free Agent forwards on the back 6 despite losing Barclay Goodrow, Alex Killorn, and Blake Coleman.
    
    
    
    Tampa Bay gets a five sport athlete here. You read that correctly, the Lightning are getting a five sport athlete in the first round.
    
    
    
    Tampa Bay can ignore need and take the best player on the board with the abundance of prospects in their system. The Tampa Bay Lightning draft a five sport athlete wo can play hockey, soccer, basketball, golf, and lacross in Nathan Gaucher. His older brother Jacob Gaucher played in the QMJHL as well as his father so he's got a good hockey backround.
    
    
    
    Nathan Gaucher had 18 goals, 15 assists, and 31 points in the QMAAA in 2018-2019 prior to being drafted by the Quebec Remparts in the first round in the 2019 QMJHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 198 lb Nathan Gaucher had 13 goals, 11 assists, 24 points, and a -15 +/- ratio in 2019-2020. Nathan Gaucher improved on that and had 14 goals, 17 assists, 31 points, and a +6 +/- ratio in 2020-2021. Gaucher also had 1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points, and a +1 +/- ratio in the 2021 QMJHL Playoffs. Nathan Gaucher had 31 goals, 26 assists, 57 points, and a +30 +/- ratio in 2021-2022 while adding 9 lbs of muscle to get up to 207 lbs. Nathan Gaucher had 3 goals, 6 assists, and 9 points in 12 games during the 2022 QMJHL Playoffs. Gaucher also had the second fasted 30 meter dash without the puck of any prospect at the 2022 CHL Prospects Combine prior to playing in the 2022 CHL Prospects Game.
    
    
    
    Nathan Gaucher has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, stick handling, deking, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. He even mentioned that stick handling is his biggest weakness despite excelling in that role thanks to working with a stick handling coach in an interview on Youtube.
    
    
    
    He's got the ceiling to be a second line left winger or a second line center in the NHL. Tampa Bay can play him as a behind Steven Stamkos, Brayden Point, and Nick Paul on the fourth line. Tampa Bay can also groom him to replace Stamkos when his contract expires in 2024.
    
    
    
32. Arizona Coyotes: Maveric Lamoureux, D, Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
    
    
    Arizona uses the the third first round pick that they got from the 2022 Stanley Cup Champions. Arizona got this pick from the Colorado Avalanche in the Darcy Kuemper trade. Arizona drafted center Logan Cooley at 3 and left winger Ivan Miroshnichenko at 27. Now Arizona drafts a first line defenseman to pair with Jakob Chychurn at 32.
    
    
    
    The Arizona Coyotes can draft Elias Salomonsson a preseason top 10 pick, Ty Nelson who anchored the blue line for the North Bay Batallion in the OHL, or Maveric Lamoureux who anchored the blue line for the Drummondville Voltiguers in the QMJHL. Ty Nelson and Maveric Lamoureux anchored the blue line for their teams while Elias Salomonsson was more of a reserve player on Skelleftea AIK in Sweden.
    
    
    
    Ty Nelson really impressed me on tape. Maveric Lamoureux is now a consensus first round prospect though and is now the consensus second best QMJHL prospect behind Nathan Gaucher. I still have Tristan Luneau as my top ranked QMJHL player despite Gaucher and Lamoureux being the consensus top two prospects from the QMJHL in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, but those three players are the only guys from the QMJHL that I see getting picked in the first round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-7 197 lb Maveric Lamoureux was the Drummondville Voltigeurs first round pick in the 2020 QMJHL Draft. Maveric Lamoureux had 1 goal, 6 assists, 7 points, and a +9 +/- ratio in 2020-2021. Maveric Lamoureux had 4 goals, 20 assists, 24 points, and a -30 +/- ratio in 2021-2022.
    
    
    
    Maveric Lamoureux finished second among players at the 2022 CHL Prospects Combine in the 30 meter dash forward skating drill with the puck behind top 10 pick Matthew Savoie. He was also an alternate captain that anchored the blue line for Team Red at the 2022 CHL Prospects Game. He also had 1 assist in 4 playoff games during the 2022 QMJHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Maveric Lamoureux is an elite skater despite his size. A lot of NHL scouts are drooling over how good this guy can be. Arizona drafts him hoping he can be that guy who compliments Jakob Chychurn as a first line defenseman down the road once he improves his +/- ratio, but the Coyotes could also have him anchor the second line if 2019 first round pick Victor Soderstrom shows he can play on the first line in the NHL next season.