The first round of the 2022 NHL draft has come to a close, and everyone throwing draft rankings out the window. Habs, Devils go off the board to give us back to back Slovakian draft picks to open the NHL Draft for the first time.

The guy who everyone thought was going #1? Shane Wright? That guy?

He’s in Seattle now. Pick #4. Oops.

Pre-Draft

The hours leading up to the draft were full of speculation, trades, and signings that proved rumors incorrect.

First big rumor of the day? Marc Andre-Fleury's future. There were a couple teams mentioned for his destination; Toronto (of course), Colorado, Washington, and Minnesota. Kevin Weekes thought he had the scoop, then retracted, but he was just early as Fleury did re-sign in Minnesota for 2 years, $3.5M per.

Chicago is looking to tear it down?

They did make one huge move, trading Alex DeBrincat to the Ottawa Senators for three picks: 2022 7th overall, 2022 39th overall, 2024 3rd round pick

Sens Acquire DeBrincat

The Pittsburgh Penguins re-signed Kris Letang for six more years.

Big Deal! Penguins, Letang agree to six year contract extension

Matt Muray blocked a trade to Buffalo, but come on, they’re jsut throwing Toronto in there to make people pay attention. Right? ......right?

THE DRAFT

#1 - Montréal Canadiens - Juraj Slafkovský
Position: LW - Team: TPS (Liiga) - 31GP - 5G - 5A - 10Pts

2022 NHL Entry Draft: Montreal Canadiens select Juraj Slafkovsky with first overall pick

#2 - New Jersey Devils - Simon Nemec
Position: D - Team: HK Nitra (SVK) - 39GP - 1G - 25A - 26Pts

2022 NHL Draft: Devils Pick Simon Nemec at 2nd Overall in the First Round

#3 - Arizona Coyotes - Logan Cooley
Position: C - Team: USNTDP - 51GP - 27G - 48A - 75Pts

Coyotes select Logan Cooley with 3rd overall pick.

******WE HAVE TWO TRADES TO ANNOUNCE******

Montréal Trades: Alexander Romanov (D) and Pick #98 (Pick 1, Round 4)
Long Island Trades: First round pick #13

Montréal Trades: First round pick #13 and Pick #66 (Pick 1, Round 3)
Chicago Trades: Kirby Dach (C)

The Habs trade away a defensive prospect and a first, third, and fourth round pick for Kirby Dach as Chicago continues to perplex everyone. Eventually it will just by Toews, Kane, and Seth Jones surrounded by cardboard cutouts of the Minions. Note that Romanov is an unsigned RFA.

Montreal Canadiens acquire Kirby Dach for Alexander Romanov, draft picks

#4 - Seattle Kraken - Shane Wright
Position - C - Team: Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) - 63GP - 32G - 62A - 94Pts

Seattle Kraken select Shane Wright with the No. 4 pick

#5 - Philadelphia Flyers - Cutter Gauthier
Position - LW - Team: USNTDP - 54GP - 34G - 31A - 65Pts

2022 NHL Entry Draft: Philadelphia Flyers select Cutter Gauthier with 5th overall pick

#6 - Columbus Blue Jackets - David Jiricek
Position: D - Team: HC Plezen (CZE) - 29GP - 5G - 6A - 11Pts

2022 NHL Draft: Blue Jackets select David Jiricek with the 6th overall selection

#7 - Chicago - Kevin Korchinski
Position: D - Team: Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) - 67GP  - 4G - 61A - 65Pts

2022 NHL Draft: Blackhawks select Kevin Korchinski with No. 7 pick

#8 - Detroit Red Wings - Marco Kasper
Position: C - Team: Rögle BK (SHL) - 46GP - 7G - 4A - 11Pts

Red Wings select Marco Kasper at 8th overall in 2022 NHL Draft

#9 - Buffalo Sabres - Matthew Savoie
Position: F - Team: Winnipeg Ice (WHL) - 65GP - 35G - 55A - 90Pts

2022 NHL Draft: Sabres Select Matthew Savoie with Ninth Overall Pick

#10 - Anaheim Ducks - Pavel Mintyukov
Position: D - Team: Saginaw Spirit (OHL) - 67GP - 17G - 45A - 62Pts

****** WE HAVE A TRADE TO ANNOUNCE ******

San Jose Trades: Pick #11
Arizona Trades: Pick #27, 2x 2022 2nd round picks

#11 - Arizona Coyotes - Conor Geekie
Position: D - Team: Winnipeg Ice (WHL) - 63GP - 24G - 46A - 70Pts

Coyotes trade up to 11, select Conor Geekie

#12 - Columbus Blue Jackets - Denton Mateychuk
Position: D - Team: Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) - 65GP - 13G - 53A - 66Pts

2022 NHL Draft: Jackets select Denton Mateychuk at #12 overall

#13 - Chicago - Frank Nazar
Position: F - Team: USNTDP - 56GP - 28G - 42A - 70GP

2022 NHL Draft: Blackhawks select Frank Nazar with No. 13 pick

#14 - Winnipeg Jets* - Rutger McGroarty
Position: F - Team: USNTDP - 54GP - 35G - 34A - 69Pts

The Winnipeg Jets select Rutger McGroarty 14th Overall

#15 - Vancouver Canucks - Jonathan Lekkerimäki
Position: F - Team: Djurgårdens IF (SHL) - 26GP - 7G - 2A - 9Pts

Canucks select Jonathan Lekkerimäki 15th overall in 2022 NHL Draft

#16 - Buffalo Sabres - Noah Östlund
Position: F - Team: Djurgårdens IF U20 (U20 National) - 32GP - 9G - 33A - 42Pts

2022 NHL Draft: Sabres Select Noah Östlund with Sixteenth Overall Pick

#17 - Nashville Predators - Joakim Kemell
Position: F - Team: JYP (Liiga) - 39GP - 15G - 8A - 23Pts

Nashville selects Joakim Kemell 17th overall

#18 - Dallas Stars - Lian Bischel
Position: D - Leksands IF (SHL) - 29GP - 1G - 2A - 3Pts

#19 - Minnesota Wild - Liam Öhgren
Position: F - Team: Djurgårdens IF U20 (U20 National) - 30GP - 33G - 25A - 58Pts

2022 NHL Draft: Wild select Liam Öhgren at 19th overall

#20 - Washington Capitals -  Ivan Miroshnichenko
Position: F - Team: Omskie Krylia (VHL) - 31GP - 10G - 6A - 16Pts

2022 NHL Draft: Caps Select Ivan Miroshnichenko

#21 - Pittsburgh Penguins - Owen Pickering
Position: D - Team: Swift Current Broncos (WHL) - 62GP - 9G - 24A - 33Pts

2022 NHL Draft: Penguins select Owen Pickering in the first round

#22 - Anaheim Ducks - Nathan Gaucher
Position: F - Team: Quebec Remparts - 66GP - 31G - 26A - 57Pts

#23 - St. Louis Blues - Jimmy Snuggard
Position: F - Team: USNTDP - 59GP - 24G - 39A - 63Pts

St. Louis Blues Select Jimmy Snuggerud with the 23rd Overall Pick

#24 - Minnesota Wild - Danila Yurov
Position: F - Team: Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL) - 21GP - No Points

2022 NHL Draft: Wild select Danila Yurov with 24th overall pick

****** WE HAVE A TRADE TO ANNOUNCE ******

Toronto Trades: Pick #25, Petr Mrazek
Chicago Trades: Pick #38

The Maple Leafs cleared cap space and only had top move down 13 spots. At this point in the draft there’s not a whole lot of difference between these picks.

Maple Leafs trade Petr Mrázek

#25 - Chicago Blackhawks - Sam Rinzel
Position: D - Team: Chaska (Minn. High School) - 27GP - 9G - 29A - 38Pts

2022 NHL Draft: Blackhawks select Sam Rinzel with No. 25 pick

#26 - Montreal Canadiens - Filip Mesar
Position: F - Team: Poprad (SVK) - 37GP - 8G - 8A - 16Pts

2022 NHL Entry Draft: Montreal Canadiens select Filip Mesar with 26th overall pick

#27 - San Jose Sharks - Filip Bystedt
Position: F - Team:  Linköping HC U20 (National U20 Team) - 40GP - 16G - 33A - 49Pts

2022 NHL Draft: Sharks select Filip Bystedt with no. 27 pick

#28 - Buffalo Sabres - Jiri Kulich
Position: F - Team: HC Energie Karlovy Vary (Czechia) - 49GP - 9G - 5A - 14Pts

2022 NHL Draft: Sabres Select Jiri Kulich with 28th Overall Pick

****** WE HAVE A TRADE TO ANNOUNCE ******

Edmonton trades: Zack Kassian, Pick #29, 2024 3rd, 2025 2nd
Arizona trades: Pick #32

The Oilers pay a huge price to move Kassian who is under contract for two more years, but they save $3M+ off the cap. The Coyotes continue to be the leagues contract dumpster.

#29 - Arizona Coyotes - Maveric Lamoureux
Position: D - Team: Drummondville Voltiguers - 54GP - 4G - 20A - 24Pts

Coyotes trade up again and select Maveric Lamoureux with 29th overall

#30 - Winnipeg Jets* - Brad Lambert
Position: F - Team: Pelicans (Liiga) - 25GP - 2G - 2A - 4Pts

The Winnipeg Jets draft Brad Lambert 30th Overall

#31 - Tampa Bay Lightning - Isaac Howard
Position: F - Team: USNTDP - 60GP - 33G - 49A - 82Pts

#32 - Edmonton Oilers - Reid Schaefer
Position: F - Team: Seattle Thunderbirds - 66GP - 32G - 26A - 58Pts

That is it for round one!

The Maple Leafs made no picks, but picked up some cap room by moving a goalie, and they need the space...for...a...goalie.

Huh.

Well, not every signing is a Michael Bunting.

Day two picks up tomorrow afternoon, and hopefully we have some big news for Leafs fans!

Big, GOOD, news I should say.

See you tomorrow!

NHL Draft