2022 NHL Mock Draft: Final Mock 7 Rounds

Round 4

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

98. Montreal Canadiens: Alexander Suzdalev, LW, HV71 (Elitserien)
    
    
    The 6-2 172 lb Alexander Suzdalev could be a decent third line left winger. He's got experience on the first line in HV71's amateur teams for multiple years finally posting a breakout season on the HV71 Under 20 Team with 15 goals, 36 assists, and 51 points in 2021-2022. He has 5 games of experience in the SHL formerly known as Elitserien, producing 0 points since then.
    
    
    
99. Winnipeg Jets: Viktor Neuchev, LW, Avotmobilist Yekaterinburg (KHL)
    
    
    The 6-2 165 lb Viktor Neuchev only has one game of experience in the KHL with 0 points. He dominated in Russia's semipro league the MHL with 40 goals, 27 assists, and 67 points in 2021-2022. Winnipeg can gamble on Viktor Neuchev here to start the fourth round.
    
    
    
    
    
100. Seattle Kraken: Brennan Ali, C, Lincoln Stars (USHL)
     
     
     The 6-0 193 lb Brennan Ali only had 2 assists with the Lincoln Stars in the USHL in 2021-2022 season. He did impress for the High School team he played for. Seattle can gamble on this project center in the fourth round hoping he can be a fourth line center on the Seattle Kraken. He's probably not an NHL guy, but he's the best player on the board, who could end up being a prominent player on Seattle's new expansion AHL team set to join the AHL this Fall.
     
     
     
101. Philadelphia Flyers: Niklas Kokko, G, Oulun Karpat (SM Liiga)
     
     
     The 6-3 184 lb Niklas Kokko is extremely raw, but developing a goalie after two bad seasons of Carter Hart following two really promising seasons of Hart isn't the worst idea in the fourth round. One thing going for him is his 1.000 save percentage in 2 minutes of play.
     
     
     
     
     
102. New Jersey Devils: Sergei Ivanov, G, SKA Saint Petersburg (KHL)
     
     
     New Jersey saw both Jonathan Bernier and MacKenzie Blackwood get injured this past season. New Jersey had to bring up 2020 third round pick Nico Daws at the age of 21, after drafting the 19-year-old goalie on October, 7, 2020.
     
     
     
     The 5-11 185 lb Sergei Ivanov dominated in the MHL with a 2.17 goals against average and a .928 save percentage in 26 games in 2021-2022. The last two goalies that SKA Saint Petersburg developed in the KHL were Igor Shesterkin the current starting goalie for the New York Rangers and Yaroslav Askarov, the first goalie drafted in the 2020 NHL Draft taken eleventh overall by the Nashville Predators.
     
     
     
     SKA Saint Petersburg has an excellent track record with goalies. I also read a Los Angeles Kings blog that stated he's their number one goalie even ahead of the consensus number one goalie in Tyler Brennan.
     
     
     
103. Tampa Bay Lightning: Ludwig Persson, LW, Frolunda Indians (Elitserien)
     
     
     The Lightning use this pick to get a future second line left winger to replace Ondrej Palat. Ludwig Persson was a first line left winger in limited action with the Frolunda Indians in the SHL, but he's also versatile enough to play center or right wing.
     
     
     
     The 5-11 168 lb Ludwig Persson had 1 goal, 1 assist, and 2 points in 13 SHL games in a league formerly known as Elitserien in 2020-2021. He failed to match that total in 2021-2022 getting 0 points in ten games in the SHL, but in his defense he dominated on the Frolunda Indians junior team with 25 goals, 36 assists, 61 points, and a +16 +/- ratio against kids his own age.
     
     
     
     Ludwig Persson has the has the playmaking, sniping, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, hockey IQ, speed, skating, agility, and stick handling.
     
     
     
     This guy has an incredible shot as well as good hands. He's speedy, crafty, and works hard every shift. Back in October, I had a second round grade on him, and said he could play his way into the first round with a dominant SHL season, so Tampa Bay gets Ludwig Persson here in the fourth round because Persson hasn't taken that next step in the SHL yet.
     
     
     
     He did well against kids his own age, but hasn't dominated against men yet. He's a guy who will dominate on the Syracuse Crunch which is the Tampa Bay Lightning's AHL team in minor league hockey. He's got to fix his defense and score consistently in the SHL if he wants to convince me he's an NHL prospect. One thing working in his favor is he's got a lot of traits you want in an NHL prospect.
     
     
     
     
     
104. Ottawa Senators: Tomas Hamara, D, Tappara (SM Liiga)
     
     
     The 6-0 185 lb Tomas Hamara is about to earn a promotion to Liiga formerly known as SM Liiga in Finland after a promising 2020-2021 season in Finland. Hamara had 2 assists in 24 games for a Tappara team that won it all in Liiga by defeating TPS to win the 2022 SM Liiga Playoffs. Ottawa needs one more defenseman for depth on the third line, so the Senators gamble on Tomas Hamara in the fourth round.
     
     
     
105. Detroit Red Wings: Christian Kyrou, D, Erie Otters (OHL)
     
     
     The 5-10 182 lb Christian Kyrou whose also the younger brother of Jordan Kyrou came out of nowhere and dominated as an offensive defenseman for the Erie Otters in 2021-2022 with 18 goals, 42 assists, 60 points, and a -3 +/- ratio. He was the best defenseman in the CHL that did not get an invite to the 2022 CHL Prospects Game. Detroit continues to add depth on the blue line hoping to find upgrades over their current defensemen on the second and third lines. Kyrou stole the first line defenseman job from Spencer Sova on the Erie Otters who was the Erie Otters 2020 first round pick in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection.
     
     
     
     
     
106. Buffalo Sabres: Michael Fisher, D. St. Mark's HS (MA)
     
     
     Buffalo grabs the top High School prospect in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft in the fourth round. The 6-2 185 lb defenseman has a hockey scholarship to Northeastern where he will have four years of play in the NCAA before the Sabres decide whether to sign him to an entry level contract or whether to let him walk. I can see Fisher earning a contract around 2026 if he graduates from Northeastern and puts the work in since Buffalo needs one more defenseman to fill out this roster.
     
     
     
107. Anaheim Ducks: Dmitri Buchelnikov, RW, SKA Saint Petersburg (KHL)
     
     
     The 5-10 168 lb Dmitiri Buchelnikov had 25 goals, 23 assists, and 48 points as a right winger in the MHL. He was a second line right winger behind Matvei Michkov whose projected to go in the top 3 of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. Once Michkov got promoted to the KHL, Dmitri Buchelnikov got promoted to the first line in the MHL.
     
     
     
     He's got crafty hands. Dmitri Buchelnikov does everything you want a shooter to do traits wise. He has the wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, and a great release too. He just needs to develop the rest of his game and apply himself in the KHL, but he's already giving other MHL players nightmares.
     
     
     
     
     
108. San Jose Sharks: Oasiz Wiesblatt, C, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
     
     
     San Jose took Ozzy Weisblatt with the first round pick they got from the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Barclay Goodrow trade. Now the San Jose Sharks have a chance to draft Ozzy's younger brother who was a first round pick in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft where he was selected twelvth overall by the Medicine Hat Tigers.
     
     
     
     The 5-8 183 lb two-way forward is versatile enough to play left wing, center, or right wing. He's raw, but you can line up him anywhere at forward. Some will say he's small, but he's gained nearly 40 lbs of muscle since being drafted by the Medicine Hat Tigers back in 2019. He only had 2 goals, 3 assists, and 5 points in 2020-2021. He improved with 11 goals, 18 assists, and 29 points, but his +/- ratio has gotten worse each season dropping from -4 in 2020-2021 to -35 in 2021-2022. He's not as good as his older brother on both ends, but he's a guy San Jose may target as a project to develop in the fourth round since he was a second round prospect back in October.
     
     
     
     The Chicago Blackhawks drafted Colton Dach in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft after taking his older brother Kirby Dach third overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Don't be surprsied if San Jose does somthing similar by re-uniting Oasiz Weisblatt with Ozzy Weisblatt.
     
     
     
109. Columbus Blue Jackets: Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, C, Helsingfors IFK (SM Liiga)
     
     
     The 6-0 181 lb Aleksanteri Kaskimaki had 1 goal, 1 assist, and 2 points in 4 SM Liiga games with Helsinfors IFK. Aleksanteri Kaskimaki had 19 goals, 21 assists, and 40 points on Helsinfors IFK's Under 20 Team. He's got a second round grade now after nobody had him on their big boards in the Fall. Columbus gambles on this Finnish center in the fourth round.
     
     
     
     
     
110. New Jersey Devils: Angus Booth, D, Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
     
     
     The 6-0 177 lb Angus Booth had 1 goal, 22 assists, and 23 points in 2021-2022 in 42 QMJHL games during the regular season. Angus Booth had 2 goals, 2 assists, and 4 points in 16 games during the 2022 QMJHL Playoffs.
     
     
     
     Angus Booth is the best player on the board, and is someone New Jersey drafts for depth since the Devils can take as much time as they need to develop Angus Booth. Other scouting services have him graded anywhere from the second to third round.
     
     
     
111. New York Rangers: Mattias Havelid, D, Linkopings HC (Elitserien)
     
     
     The New York Rangers quality of depth on the blue line with their defense certainly makes things easier for goalie Igor Shesterkin. New York has Adam Fox and Jacob Trouba on the first line of the New York Rangers defense. Ryan Lindgren and Patrik Nemeth on the second line of the New York Rangers defense. The final defensive pairing features K'Andre Miller and Braden Schneider on the third line of the New York Rangers defense. If the best player on the board in the fourth round is a defenseman, then drafting a defenseman to develop until Nemeth becomes an unresticted Free Agent in 2024-2025 following the 2023-2024 NHL Season is a possibility.
     
     
     
     The 5-10 172 lb Mattias Havelid had 10 goals, 9 assists, and 19 points with the Linkopings HC Under 20 Team in 2021-2022. He played well enough to get promoted to Linkopings HC in the SHL formely known as Elitserien in Sweden. New York can gamble on Mattias Havelid at this point in the fourth round.
     
     
     
     
     
112. Vancouver Canucks: Raul Yakupov, RW, Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk (KHL)
     
     
     Vancouver drafts Nail Yakupov's cousin here since they need more depth at the wing especially right wing where the Canucks lose two right wingers who become unrestricted Free Agents and one right winger that's a restricted free agent. Raul Yakupov got get promoted to the KHL this season with Neftekhimik Nizhenkamsk.
     
     
     
     The 6-1 168 lb Raul Yakupov dominated on affiliate teams to Neftekhimik Nizhenkamsk in the MHL. He had 0 points in 1 KHL game. Most of the teams picking ahead of Vancouver may not draft him because he's related to Nail Yakupov, who many consider to be the biggest NHL Draft bust in any NHL Draft from 2000 and beyond since the 2012 first overall pick did not pan out despite receiving excessive hype. That's because those NHL teams have smart General Managers. Vancouver is thin at right wing and I've questioned the decisions that Vancouver's GM has made following strong NHL drafts from 2014-2018 over the past three years which is why I wouldn't rule out Raul Yakupov here.
     
     
     
113. Detroit Red Wings: Mathew Ward, LW, Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
     
     
     Detroit grabs a left winger here who plays in a first line left winger role despite his size. Mathew Ward of the Swift Current Broncos reminds me so much of Alex Debrincat that it's downright scary. He was the Swift Current Broncos first round pick in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft
     
     
     
     The 5-7 164 lb Mathew Ward had 6 goals, 16 assists, and 22 points in the WHL as a first line left winger with the Swift Current Broncos once the WHL was allowed to resume a season that got delayed due to Covid-19 in 2020-2021. Mathew Ward had 22 goals, 35 assists, and 57 points in 2021-2022. He continued to regress defensively as his +/- ratio dropped from -7 to -15.
     
     
     
     Mathew Ward did showcase the versatility to play center as well as left wing with the Swift Current Broncos since he was a center in Bantam before converting to left wing in the WHL due to his size. Mathew Ward is a nice value pick for the Detroit Red Wings as Detroit stashes a two-way forward that can play both left wing and center in their prospect pool.
     
     
     
     
     
114. Nashville Predators: Kasperi Kulonummi, D, Jokerit (KHL)
     
     
     Jokerit is no longer in the KHL thanks to Vladimir Putin's decision to infiltrate Ukrain. Still, it's unclear if Jokerit will return to their former league in SM Liiga where they played in Finland before joining the KHL. Let's discuss Kapseri Kulonummi before I piss off my readers for getting too political.
     
     
     
     The 6-0 178 lb Kasperi Kulonummi is a nice player for Nashville to gamble on here. He has a 7.5/10 for Fantasy Upside and a 7/10 for NHL Certainty on Dobber Prospects making him a great value pick for Nashville in the fourth round.
     
     
     
115. Dallas Stars: Kirill Kudryavtsev, D, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
     
     
     The 5-11 185 lb Kirill Kudryavtsev was a first line two way defenseman in the MHL last year. He was drafted sixth overall by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the 2021 CHL Import Draft. He's already signed his deal with the Greyhounds as he's set to make the jump to the OHL this season.
     
     
     
     Kudryavtsev grew an inch and added 15 lbs of muscle since being drafted into the OHL by the Greyhounds. Kirill Kudryavtsev had 5 goals, 34 assists, 39 points, and a +13 +/- ratio in 68 regular season averaging a point every two regular season games. He also had 4 assists in 10 games during the 2022 OHL Playoffs. This pick is a steal for Jim Nill in Dallas, because this was a guy I had a second round grade on October.
     
     
     
     
     
116. Los Angeles Kings: Nick Pierre, RW, Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
     
     
     The Los Angeles Kings need as many wingers as possible. The right winger that played with Dylan James on the Sioux City Musketeers 2022 Clark Cup Team was Nick Pierre. Nick Pierre was a left winger prior to the 2020 USHL Draft, so he's versatile enough to play left wing or right wing at either winger role.
     
     
     
     Nick Pierre accepted a hockey scholarship to Wisconsin so Los Angeles won't have to sign him before he turns 20. Los Angeles can wait until he graduates to sign him to his rookie deal.
     
     
     
     The 5-9 170 lb Nick Pierre had 17 goals, 16 assists, 33 points, and a +13+/- ratio in 2021-2022. Nick Pierre also had 3 goals, 2 assists, and 5 points in 10 games during the 2022 USHL Playoffs. Nick Pierre was drafted second overall by the Sioux City Musketeers in the 2020 USHL Draft.
     
     
     
117. Seattle Kraken: Cruz Lucius, C, USNTDP (USHL)
     
     
     The 5-11 176 lb Cruz Lucius is the younger brother of Winnipeg Jets 2021 first round pick Chaz Lucius. Cruz played left wing, center, and right wing on the first and second line for the United States National Team Developmental Program in the USHL.
     
     
     
     Cruz Lucius had 6 goals, 12 assists, 18 points, and a -4 +/- ratio in 2020-2021 in the USHL. Cruz Lucius only had 5 goals, 2 assists, 7 points, and a +10 +/- ratio in 10 USHL games in 2021-2022. Seattle can draft Cruz Lucius as a project center in the fourth round.
     
     
     
     Cruz Lucius is a nice player that can compliment Minnesota's back six as a fourth line center. At the very worst he's a first or second line center in the AHL and a top 6 forward if he moves to the wing in the AHL after he goes to the NCAA for four years. At one point, Cruz Lucius had a first round grade back in October before a very underwhelming season in the USHL caused him to plummet out of the top 100.
     
     
     
     
     
118. Pittsburgh Penguins: Emanuelson Charbonneau, D, Alberni Valley Bulldogs (BCHL)
     
     
     The 6-3 199 lb Emanuelson Charbonneau had 3 goals, 13 assists, and 16 points in 41 BCHL regular season games. Emanuelson Charonneau had 1 goal, 1 assist, and 2 points in 10 BCHL playoff games. The second line defenseman on the Alberni Valley Bulldogs who anchors their second line in the BCHL is committed to Nebraska-Omaha in the Fall.
     
     
     
119. Boston Bruins: Luke Woodworth, C, Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
     
     
     The 5-8 146 lb Luke Woodworth had 4 goals, 16 assists, and 20 points as a rookie. Woodworth is versatile enough to be a center or a right winger on the first line with the Drummondville Voltigeurs.
     
     
     
     Luke Woodworth had 16 goals, 34 assists, and 50 points as a sophomore. After getting his first career playoff goal in the 2021 QMJHL Playoffs, he finally got his first career playoff assists in the 2022 QMJHL Playoffs.
     
     
     
     Luke Woodworth has the passing, playmaking, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, and hockey IQ down. The rest of his game needs work. Luke Woodworth was the eleventh pick in the 2020 QMJHL Draft.
     
     
     
     
     
120. St. Louis Blues: Tucker Robertson, C, Peterborough Petes (OHL)
     
     
     The 5-11 190 lb Tucker Robertson fell all the way to the fourth round of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection. Coincidentally Robertson dropped all the way to the St. Louis Blues in the fourth round of my first four round 2022 NHL Mock Draft, even though some other NHL Draft scouting services have a second round grade on him.
     
     
     
     Tucker Robertson had 41 goals, 40 assists, and 81 points and a -12 +/- ratio in 68 games in 2021-2022. Despite his elite offensive production, his suspect defensive play and lackluster skating for now cause him to drop all the way to the fourth round. Tucker Robertson checks off every box offensively in terms of passing, playmaking, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, release, and offensive awareness. If you can improve his defense and skating you got a guy who may be able to take over for Brayden Schenn when he retires.
     
     
     
121. Minnesota Wild: Lucas Edmonds, RW, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
     
     
     The 5-11 185 lb Lucas Edmonds dominated in his first season in the OHL with 34 goals, 79 assists, 113 points, and +29 +/- ratio in 68 OHL games during the regular season. Lucas Edmonds also averaged a point per game with 6 goals, 5 assists, and 11 points in the 2022 OHL Playoffs. He was linemates with projected number one overall pick Shane Wright in his first season in the OHL after the 21-year-old right winger spent most of his hockey career in Sweden.
     
     
     
     The crazy thing is this 21 year old is eligible for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Most NHL Draft prospects get drafted when they are 18 which is the only reason Lucas Edmonds fell this spot since he's a little older. It's also worth pointing out that he's the final second round player left on the big board made by TSN's Craig Button. The Hockey News ranked him as the seventy second best player despite his age. Minnesota drafts a 100 point right winger here.
     
     
     
     P.S. if Craig Button is reading this and would like me to link his Big Board from TSN he can email me personally at chris@draftutopia.com. Other readers and fans of the site are welcome to email me or comment below on your favorite picks.
     
     
     
     
     
122. Nashville Predators: Brandon Lisowsky, LW, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
     
     
     Brandon Lisowsky was team captain on the Burnaby Winter Club Bantam Prep Team. He got promoted to an elite Under 15 Team prior to getting promoted to the Burnaby Winter Club Prep Team. It only took this kid 14-years to become a team captain. Also Lisowsky is the only team captain to be drafted so far in the top 10 so Saskatoon gets another A+ grade. Lisowsky is the perfect successor to Kirby Dach who got drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks third overall in the 2019 NHL Draft.
     
     
     
     That was my exact writeup word for word about Brandon Lisowsky from the 2019 WHL Draft. Only one player on the Saskatoon Blades has averaged 0.48 goals per game at age 17 in the past 40 years. That player is Brandon Lisowsky, who was drafted into the WHL as a center, but made the transtion to left wing in his draft year.
     
     
     
     The 5-8 171 lb Brandon Lisowsky is versatile enough to play left wing, center, or right wing. His floor would be a second line forward in the AHL with his ceiling being a first line forward in the NHL at left wing, center, or right wing.
     
     
     
     Brandon Lisowsky broke out with 33 goals, 25 assists, 58 points, and a +1 +/- ratio in 68 WHL regular season games. He also averaged a point per game with 3 goals, 2 assists, and 5 points in 5 games during the 2022 WHL Playoffs.
     
     
     
     What's even more impressive is that Brandon Lisowsky got his first career hat trick in December. Saskatoon has had a player picked in the first two rounds of the NHL Draft each year for the past three years with Kirby Dach, Tristen Robins, and Colton Dach being the last three players drafted by the Saskatoon Blades.
     
     
     
     Brandon Lisowsky has the skating, speed, burst, explosion, first step, foot speed, passing, playmaking, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, release, vision, offensive awareness, and hockey IQ you want a player to have. He's got to get stronger, increase his defensive awareness by improving his ability to create defensive pressure, and attack the net more frequently which is the only thing you'd like to see Brandon Lisowsky fix offensively.
     
     
     
     Brandon Lisowsky probably won't go in the first round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft due to his size. Reaslistically, he could go anywhere between the second round if an NHL team loves his traits and the fourth round. Brandon Lisowsky is a huge steal for a Columbus Blue Jackets team that is already extremely loaded at both the left wing and right wing positions, but he gives the Blue Jackets another really good winger that the team can develop.
     
     
     
123. Seattle Kraken: Sergei Safin-Tregubov, D, Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL)
     
     
     The 5-9 187 lb Sergei Safin-Tregubov had 7 goals, 14 assists, 21 points, and a +23 +/- ratio in the MHL last season in 2020-2021. He needs to get promoted to the KHL after showing the qualities of a second line defenseman. He may have to prove himself as a first line defenseman in the MHL first though. He's got the tools you want a two-way defenseman to have, and the crazy thing is he was a second round pick back in October despite being 20-years-old and going undrafted in the 2020 NHL Draft. He's someone Seattle can stash here since he's capable of becoming a high end defenseman on Seattle's AHL Team.
     
     
     
     
     
124. Carolina Hurricanes: Grayson Badger, RW, Dexter Southfield HS (MA)
     
     
     The 6-0 172 lb Grayson Badger was a player I considered mocking to the Boston Bruins in the fourth round. Carolina gets him in the fourth roundafter the North South winger had 9 goals, 23 assists, and 32 points with Dexter Southfield High School. He's a good defensive winger whose hard on pucks and great on the wall. He's got a hockey scholarship to Northeastern, so there's no need to rush Grayson Badger up to the NHL.
     
     
     
125. Florida Panthers: Kyle Jackson, C, North Bay Battalion (OHL)
     
     
     The 6-2 191 lb Kyle Jackson gives the Florida Panthers a second candidate for a fourth line center. Kyle Jackson had 30 goals, 32 assists, 62 points, and a +17 +/- ratio in 45 regular season OHL games in 2021-2022. This is a great pick because it addresses a position of need, plus it allows Florida ample time to develop Kyle Jackson.
     
     
     
     
     
126. New Jersey Devils: Kirill Dolzhenkov, RW, CSKA Moscow (KHL)
     
     
     The 6-7 234 lb Kirill Dolzhenkov was captain on CSKA Moskva's Under-16, Under-17, and Under-18 Teams before being promoted to the MHL. He still hasn't been promoted to the KHL after having 14 goals, 14 assists, and 28 points in the MHL in 2021-2022.
     
     
     
     He's raw, but has the upside to be the Kirill Kaprizov value pick of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. People forget, that Kaprizov, another guy who helped me win in Fantasy Hockey this year, was a 2015 fifth round pick prior to joining the Minnesota Wild as a rookie in 2020-2021 where he won the Calder Trophy for Rookie of The Year.
     
     
     
     Kirill Dolzhenkov is the final player from my October mock draft with a second round grade to get picked in this four round mock draft. New Jersey has already dominated this draft, so they can still develop Dolzhenkov in the MHL, KHL, and AHL before bringing him up to New Jersey in the NHL assuming he can get through all those leagues like a baseball player that has to start out in rookie ball or single A and work all his way up to the MLB.
     
     
     
127. Montreal Canadiens: Patrik Sokoli, RW, HK Poprad (Tipos)
     
     
     The 6-3 181 lb Patrik Sokoli could be a riser. The Slovakian prospect has impressed. However, he hasn't done enough to get called up to HK Popard's main team as he currently plays for the HK Poprad Under 20 Team despite getting points on a consistent basis. He finally got promoted to the main team in Slovakia before having 0 points in 7 games. He's probably an AHL player at best unless he manages to crack a back 6 right winger role in the NHL by working extremely hard.
     
     
     
     
     
128. Montreal Canadiens: Ian Blomquist, G, Vasteras IK (Allsvenskan)
     
     
     The 6-3 183 lb Ian Blomquist had a .918 save percentage and 2.61 Goals Against Average for the Vasteras IK Junior 20 Team in 29 games. Once he got promoted to Allsvenskan he had a .910 save percentage and 2.61 Goals Against Average in 3 Allsvenskan starts. Carey Price is still an elite goalie, but I'm not opposed to taking a project goalie at 129 or 130 to groom for the future so Montreal has a successor in place by 2027 or 2028 once Carey Price retures. I think Carey Price plays until 2025 or 2026 before retiring, but he may be under contract until 2027.
     
     
     
     I haven't looked too deeply into Carey Price's contract. At the same time, Montreal drafted a goalie named Cayden Primeau whose dominated in the AHL, but also struggled in the NHL. Ian Blomquist provides an insurance plan to Cayden Primeau.
     
     
     
129. Detroit Red Wings: Nick Moldenhauer, RW, Chicago Steel (USHL)
     
     
     The 5-10 170 lb Nick Moldenhauer is the best prospect on the Chicago Steel who still had the best regular season record this past season for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Nick Moldenhauer had 18 goals, 25 assists, 43 points, and a +16 +/- ratio in 2021-2022. Nick Moldenhauer also had 1 goal, 1 assist, and 2 points in 3 games during the 2022 USHL Playoffs. For Chicago Steel fans upset about not repeating, you got two top 3 picks in the next two NHL Drafts with Adam Fantilli in 2023 and Macklin Celebrini who may go first overall in 2024 since he's currently graded out as a five star prospect.