Top 10 NHL Draft Prospects 2022 Rankings

Ranking the best draft prospects in this year’s NHL Draft like Ivan Miroshnichenko, Matthew Savoie, Shane Wright, and many more

By admin | February 2, 2022

The 2022 NHL Entry Draft is still a few months away, but at this point some teams are thinking about the draft and not playoffs. The best draft in recent history was 2015 with multiple All-Stars and a few Stanley Cup winners.

This year’s draft may be shaping up to be a similarly strong draft and could boost some teams immediately. It is unfortunate that the Canadians traded their first overall pick and lost Jesperi Kotkaniemi, they could have used one of our top five guys. Anyway, here are the top ten prospects available at this year’s NHL Entry Draft.

Honorable Mention

Ivan Miroshnichenko

Team: Omskie Krylia (VHL)

I had to Google it and find a picture, but yes that name does fit on a jersey. Judging VHL players is always difficult, the league is skill wise similar to the AHL but personally I think it’s ECHL level.

Ivan has played 31 games in the VHL and 1 game in the MHL this season for Omskie, so when drafted I would expect him to come play in North America. In 33 games this season he has 10 goals and 6 assists for 16 points in those games.

I think he slips down into the twenties just because his numbers have fallen off and there are some great players in this year’s draft, but he would be a great investment project for any team. Especially if he were to fall into the second round.

Top 10 NHL Draft Prospects

10. Tristan Luneau

Team: Gatineau Olympiques (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League)

It seems weird that the only QMJHL prospect won’t be going till around ten is this year’s draft, but the OHL and NCAA have been churning out top level prospects. Tristan Luneau is having a decent season with the Olympiques and is ranked 10th by NHL Central Scouting.

He has slipped into the late twenties on every other draft board. The QMJHL was the only CHL league that was able to play last season, so Luneau was able to make his debut and play four playoff games. Last season in 31 games, he had 4 goals and 18 points.

This season he will surely put more points up with 15 in 26 games so far. He could slip into the teens or twenties; it really depends on how the next nine players get drafted.

9. Denton Mateychuk

Team: Moose Jaw Warriors (Western Hockey League)

In his first full WHL season, Mateychuk is having one hell of a campaign. So far in 40 games, he has 8 goals and 30 assists. Making sure my math is good here, but that’s 38 points in 40 games, just under a point per game.

Mateychuk was able to play 16 games last season and 7 before that for Moose Jaw, but this year is his first true year in the league. He is ranked ninth in NHL Central Scouting, while other lists have him going somewhere between 14th and 29th pick.

He is an averaged sized winger and surely would be a blue-chip prospect for any team that was to snag him. His skill, talent, and draft ranking give Zegras vibes. Surely, we will hear more about him once he gets his NHL jersey on.

8. Jimmy Snuggerud

Team: United States National Development Team

There is only one word to describe the USNDT and USA Hockey lately, elite. Snuggerud is looking to build on to the massive success other USA born players have seen since getting drafted into the NHL.

One thing that might affect where he gets drafted is that he is committed to playing for the University of Minnesota next season, there is still some NCAA hesitancy in the NHL despite players like Cale Makar having massive success and turning pro early.

Snuggerud has split time between the U.S. U18 team and the USNDTP Junior team. On the U18 team, he has 40 points in 35 games, 16 goals and 24 assists. While on the juniors team, he scored 12 points in 13 games, pretty solid. Able to play anywhere upfront, after bulking up in the NCAA, Suggerud is going to be a force for whatever team is lucky enough to get him.

7. Jack Hughes

Team: Northeastern University (NCAA)

This is going to confuse anyone who Googles him, but there are two Jack Hughes’. Hughes is another USNDTP player. Last season he had 34 points in 38 games, 8 of which were goals. He has a natural ability to find his teammates on the ice.

So far this season for Northeastern he only has 9 points in 25 games. Surprising since Northeastern is 16-8-1 and 8-6-1 in their conference. He has slipped recently in rankings, but Central Scouting still has him ranked in the top ten, the raw talent is absolutely there.

Hughes is an absolute offensive machine and creates scoring chances in the offensive zone almost every single game. His conditioning is also fantastic as he always has gas in the tank to keep up with his teammates.

If he gets drafted this year, I would predict him playing one more season in the NCAA before going pro, he’s a few years away from being an NHL regular and needs to bulk up. He would definitely be the top prospect in any GM’s war chest.

6. Cutter Gauthier

Team: United States National Development Team

If you are noticing a trend with the USA players on that list, it’s not surprising. The US programs have been outstanding these last seven years with a plethora of USA born and USNDTP players getting drafted in the first ten of the past few drafts.

Playing with Snuggerland on both the U18 and juniors team. For the U18 team he has 32 points in 33 games played, 20 of them being goals! In just 12 games for the juniors team, he recorded 9 assists.

His father, Sean, played over 10 years in professional hockey, and it is looking like Cutter will far surpass his father. Committed to playing for Boston College in the NCAA, Gauthier is just going to get better. Sportsnet has him going in the teens and other lists have him in the twenties, but he is a gem in this year’s draft.

5. Logan Cooley

Team: United States National Development Team

Logan Cooley might be the best American born player in this year’s NHL Draft. This year he has played 27 games for the U18 team in the USDP and has scored 15 goals and 22 assists for 37 points.

He also played 11 games for 5 goals and 7 assists adding up to 12 points in those 11 games. He was on the World Juniors team that did not get to finish the tournament but hoping he will be there this summer.

The Pittsburgh native is committed to playing for Notre Dame in the NCAA and his tenacity at center will make Notre Dame a tough team to play against this fall. While younger and a little smaller, he is an all around natural center and will be great for any team that drafts him in the next few seasons.

He is ranked top 5 in most scouting rankings but has slipped out of the top three with the outstanding play of Matthew Savoie.

4. Conor Geekie

Team: Winnipeg Ice (Western Hockey League)

Connor Geekie hasn’t been playing as spectacular of a season in the second half for the Winnipeg Ice, but he is still putting up points. He and Savoie have really developed into a one two punch for the Winnipeg Ice this season as they sit atop the WHL standings.

So far, Geekie has recorded 12 goals and 28 assists for 40 points. Last season for the Ice he put up 9 goals and 14 assists for 23 points in 24 games. He is pretty consistent and is a formidable second center on this deep team.

Bulking up isn’t too much of an issue for Geekie, at 6’4” 205 pounds, he is basically NHL ready. His ranking has slipped him out of the top 10 on a few rankings, but you can beat the size and talent Geekie displays. While he has the offensive talent of a McDavid, his skating is just not there yet.

3. Simon Nemec

Team: HK Nitra (Slovakia)

Nemec is the highest ranked prospect on defense going into this NHL Entry Draft and boy is one team going to be ecstatic to snag him. Currently, he is playing for HK Nitra in the Slovakia Extraliga, you love seeing players like this playing in a professional league.

He has only scored 1 goal in 32 games, but you don’t usually judge a defensemen off of their ability to find the net from the blueline. Defensively he is NHL ready with a +9. On top of that, he has 22 assists, that would be great production from a fourth-year player.

I don’t think he goes second overall, but he is the best player on defense available. His growth this season has been exponential and his defensive awareness and passing have improved tenfold this season.

2. Matthew Savoie

Team: Winnipeg Ice (Western Hockey League)

The Winnipeg Ice are absolutely on fire this season, going 29-6-2 this season so far. Big factor for that success is centerman Matthew Savoie who has 55 points in 36 games this season. He has scored 19 goals and potted 36 assists.

His play right now is absolutely elite. Some draft lists have him going second overall off raw scoring talent alone. He is smaller at 5’9” and 179 pounds, like most 18-year-old players, he will need to bulk up.

If he can continue to play at this level, he might be able to knock Shane Wright off the top and be the first overall pick. He definitely is destroying him points wise. It would be surprising since Wright has been the first overall favorite for the last two or three years. Wherever Savoir gets picked, I would not be surprised to see him in the NHL this fall.

1. Shane Wright

Team: Kingston Frontenacs (Ontario Hockey League)

Shane Wright is looking like the unanimous first overall pick in this year’s Entry Draft, Logan Cooley is good, but where there is this much hype about a player going first overall, they usually do.

Shane Wright is an average sized right-handed center with a huge upside, teams like Philadelphia or Detroit would kill to have a prospect like this in their pipeline. Wright’s first year in the OHL was outstanding with him scoring 66 points and 39 goals in 58 games. He did not play a 20-21 season as the OHL could not safely have a season.

This season he has 43 points in 31 games, not bad, but some players ranked below him have more points in the same leagues competition wise. Unless something massive happens, he is the surefire first overall pick.

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