Prospect Info: 2022 Draft Prospects, Part II

[StevenToddIves]

I don't know...I guess his skating is good for his size but still needs work. His edgework is a little suspect to me. I'd also say he's a very reactive, high energy player, which I respect but seems tougher to get away with at the next level. If Jiricek puts it all together, that's a unique beast.

Nemec looks like a guy that might get me to trade Severson this summer. But I'm partial to a more patient game.

I don't know if you remember Byfuglien's skating when he was drafted, but I do. The parts were all there and the athleticism certainly was too, but he was a poor kid from Minnesota and never had the proper coaching. Once Buff cleaned up his stride, his skating and game took off and he became maybe the best 8th round pick in NHL history.

I'm thinking Jiricek's knee injury might be a blessing in disguise, because the comeback trail involves 90% skating exercises. We'll see how he looks when he comes back. Keep in mind he's just 18 years old, and all indications are he's an extremely bright kid with an outstanding work ethic and compete level. I have him at #3 for my next rankings, and I'm very comfortable with him that high.

 

[My3Sons]

I'm old enough to remember Stevens, and he was completely a rare player. Just ask Lindros. I'd say Byfuglien would be a comparable I'm more comfortable with, although Byfuglien might have been the strongest NHLer I'd seen since Pronger and Stevens in their primes.

I’m old enough to remember Stevens as a rookie. He was a wild man and I was amazed how he matured his game. What a special player.

 

[My3Sons]

I don't know if you remember Byfuglien's skating when he was drafted, but I do. The parts were all there and the athleticism certainly was too, but he was a poor kid from Minnesota and never had the proper coaching. Once Buff cleaned up his stride, his skating and game took off and he became maybe the best 8th round pick in NHL history.

I'm thinking Jiricek's knee injury might be a blessing in disguise, because the comeback trail involves 90% skating exercises. We'll see how he looks when he comes back. Keep in mind he's just 18 years old, and all indications are he's an extremely bright kid with an outstanding work ethic and compete level. I have him at #3 for my next rankings, and I'm very comfortable with him that high.

I don’t know if you remember when the Egyptians invented beer but it really changed weekends.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I’m old enough to remember Stevens as a rookie. He was a wild man and I was amazed how he matured his game. What a special player.

You're probably old enough to remember Rocket Richard as a rookie.

 

[Guadana]

You're probably old enough to remember Rocket Richard as a rookie.

In pre school league.

 

[BurntToast]

I hope you guys don’t mind me putting this in this thread.

I listened to the Athletic’s the hockey podcast, interview with Matthew Tkachuk. Great listen for all who want him. He talks about the 2016 draft and how PoolParty slipped to the Oilers, and they ripped his name tape of their jersey (to pick PoolParty). One mistake changes both franchises.

I remember the Jost hype and people were let down because he went right before the Devils pick. I know he scores a little more, but Mikey feels more valuable. Colorado would rather have a Mikey type player (Sturm) over Jost. Pretty wild.

I also find it funny how last years draft was considered weak, and then most of the top 10 takes off D+1 and this years prospects came out slow. Now teams, are aiming for next years draft, because this years draft is weak.

 

[My3Sons]

In pre school league.

Well you and @StevenToddIves are just jealous because with age comes experience and wisdom and wait where am I? Who are all you people and why am I sitting in an adult diaper? Somebody get me my walker.

 

[Guadana]

Well you and @StevenToddIves are just jealous because with age comes experience and wisdom and wait where am I? Who are all you people and why am I sitting in an adult diaper? Somebody get me my walker.

I think I'm already in the generation that envies the past, because "the grass was greener."
Give me my 90`th hockey back.

 

[Goptor]

I hope you guys don’t mind me putting this in this thread.

I listened to the Athletic’s the hockey podcast, interview with Matthew Tkachuk. Great listen for all who want him. He talks about the 2016 draft and how PoolParty slipped to the Oilers, and they ripped his name tape of their jersey (to pick PoolParty). One mistake changes both franchises.

I remember the Jost hype and people were let down because he went right before the Devils pick. I know he scores a little more, but Mikey feels more valuable. Colorado would rather have a Mikey type player (Sturm) over Jost. Pretty wild.

I also find it funny how last years draft was considered weak, and then most of the top 10 takes off D+1 and this years prospects came out slow. Now teams, are aiming for next years draft, because this years draft is weak.

I always find this an interesting case because it runs counter to the narrative here at HF boards.

The high skill guys that don't pan out become mostly useless but the toolsy guys that don't pan out tend to become valuable bottom 6 players. Crouse is the ultimate example. He was hated here and the Panthers' bad new management dumped him for a 2nd rounder almost immediately. 5-6 years later and everyone here wants Crouse on their team's bottom 6.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I always find this an interesting case because it runs counter to the narrative here at HF boards.

The high skill guys that don't pan out become mostly useless but the toolsy guys that don't pan out tend to become valuable bottom 6 players. Crouse is the ultimate example. He was hated here and the Panthers' bad new management dumped him for a 2nd rounder almost immediately. 5-6 years later and everyone here wants Crouse on their team's bottom 6.

Lawson Crouse was dumped by Tom Rowe, who was the worst GM in Florida's short history. He took over a 1st place team and drove them into the cellar within one year. Rowe didn't believe in "role players", in physicality, in character or chemistry. He basically tried to reduce hockey to a math equation, and he wasn't very good at math.

 

[StevenToddIves]

2022 Draft Profile:

C Matthew Poitras, Guelph OHL
Matthew Poitras has received no shortage of hype leading up to the 2022 draft. His high-skill, excellent skating and near-elite playmaking acumen have him almost universally regarded as a 2nd round pick, with a handful of 1st round rankings, including a high of #24 overall from Dobber Prospects. There are still skeptics, especially since he's playing on a pretty good Guelph team and not exactly tearing it up in terms of production with 43 points in 62 games. Personally, I play both sides of the fence, because I find Poitras to be a lot like watching a great thriller movie. Which is to say, there are alternate moments where I'm like "that was so awesome!" tempered by other moments where I'm covering my eyes and like "no no no no no no noooooo!"

Poitras is very nimble and agile on his skates, he gets around the ice quickly. His passing is excellent, especially in space, and his puckhandling is also a major strength. He can shoot pretty well, but I'd call him more of a playmaker than a finisher despite the fact he only has 5 more assists than goals this season, which is probably a bit of an anomaly. Poitras' greatest strength cannot be narrowed down to a "tool" or "skill" so much as the rare ability to create something out of nothing offensively.

This is to say, there are many players on the amateur level who are good enough to take space or time or passing options given to them by the opposing defense and exploit them . But that number shrinks exponentially when we are talking about a player who can enter a zone one one two, make a series of moves to create space, open a passing lane and hit the next teammate entering the zone on the tape in full stride. Poitras has these types of abilities -- he gets you out of your seat at least once per game with an absolutely phenomenal play to create high-danger chances out of seemingly nothing from anywhere in the offensive zone.

The next question should be: then why is Poitras not even close to a PPG player on a decent OHL team? Well, this is also a player who leaves you scratching your head with some regularity. In the defensive zone, he can often be seen floating so far out of position he's almost not seen at all. His desire to constantly create offensively leads to some epic turnovers. Without getting too heavily critical, Poitras is the prototypical player with very uncommon ability but a great deal to work on before he can consistently unlock those abilities.

Poitras is obviously a player of great awareness and a potentially high hockey IQ, but several brain-lock moments must be eliminated before he can be considered such a player. I like his compete level, unlike some players of his ilk, Poitras can absorb hits and plays with courage and desire. With the right development, he can become an excellent second line support scorer and thus should be considered a very good pick in the 2nd round. But there is some variability and risk here, so I'm probably ranking him towards the back of the round.

 

[Oneiro]

In 2016, I remember a lot of the board wanted Keller and it was tough to watch his solid rookie season.

 

[StevenToddIves]

In 2016, I remember a lot of the board wanted Keller and it was tough to watch his solid rookie season.

Keller was my pick in 2016, I had him ranked #4 overall. Everyone's mock draft had Arizona taking Nylander (the bad Nylander, not the good one) with the #7 pick, and it was a bit of a shock in my draft-writing community when the Coyotes actually made a good decision (rare, as we all know) and took Keller.

Nylander was one of the most overrated players I've seen leading up to a draft. His compete level was extremely low, and I took some flak for ranking him well outside the top 10.

I wanted McAvoy with the Devils pick once Keller and Sergachev and Jost were off the board, as everyone knows what a fan I am of physical defensive D. But I understood the McLeod pick, since the Devils at that point were extremely thin up the middle and no one had a crystal ball to the them they'd be winning the Hischier and Hughes lotteries.

 

[StevenToddIves]

2022 Draft Profile:

LD Jorian Donovan, Hamilton OHL
Whether or not you like Jorian Donovan may have more to do with you than him. For many draft writers who prefer a new-age defenseman, Donovan's 6'2-180 and physical play combined with good speed and some puck skills haven't been able to entice too far past his slim production of 18 points in 60 games. This is evidenced by some rankings in the 90s, or out of the top 100 altogether. For more traditional NHL scouts, Donovan remains a very intriguing prospect, as evidenced by his #50 overall ranking in the McKenzie scout poll, a ranking which still stands as his highest.

Donovan is a player with a great deal to work on, but also with undeniable potential. He's a very strong skater who works hard and can punish the opposition physically down low. He's also possessing some sneaky offensive upside -- he can dangle a bit and pass well in space, he can shoot the puck and he's willing to lead transition or join the offensive rush, depending on the situation. Watching him for a few shifts, it is not difficult to project him as a professional with the size, speed, strength on the puck and skill.

It's when you closely scrutinize Donovan when the questions begin. This is a player who impresses with the puck in space, but often makes mistakes when pressured. In space, he makes clean, accurate outlet passes with regularity. Under a heavy forecheck, he rarely circles back or figures ways to buy time -- he's more apt to just bang the puck up the boards, and can even be pressured into panic-turnovers. Similarly, he's a very good defender in one-on-one battles or against the rush, but when pinned in by a strong forecheck or defending against a high-skill opponent, Donovan can lose his head and, in turn, lose positioning and get beaten, sometimes disastrously. I suppose the question with him is whether he has the hockey awareness and intelligence to clear up these problem areas so that his strengths shine through. This is the question the scouts will need to answer come draft day.

I'm probably going to rank Donovan in the mid-3rd round region. I like his strength, speed and size, but there's awful a ton of projection involved here for a player whose upside is probably a mid-pairing type-defender. He's a really good pick if he falls, but due to the size and speed combo, I'd say finding him in the 4th round would be very unlikely.

 

[Oneiro]

Keller was my pick in 2016, I had him ranked #4 overall. Everyone's mock draft had Arizona taking Nylander (the bad Nylander, not the good one) with the #7 pick, and it was a bit of a shock in my draft-writing community when the Coyotes actually made a good decision (rare, as we all know) and took Keller.

Nylander was one of the most overrated players I've seen leading up to a draft. His compete level was extremely low, and I took some flak for ranking him well outside the top 10.

I wanted McAvoy with the Devils pick once Keller and Sergachev and Jost were off the board, as everyone knows what a fan I am of physical defensive D. But I understood the McLeod pick, since the Devils at that point were extremely thin up the middle and no one had a crystal ball to the them they'd be winning the Hischier and Hughes lotteries.

Once Keller and Sergachev were gone, I wanted Chychrun and no part of McLeod or Brown.

In the end it worked out for obvious reasons. I'm skeptical McLeod grows into the 4C role but he's improved enough that I'm willing to let it play out. I could easily see the entire bottom six turning over before it's all said and done.

I'm very much a toolbox kind of drafter so both the Zacha and McLeod picks kind of grate at me. On some level, I feel like thinking the game well at a young age reads as true obsession / passion for hockey. It just seems to me that it's so much easier for those kind of cerebral guys to outwork their flaws than the opposite.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Once Keller and Sergachev were gone, I wanted Chychrun and no part of McLeod or Brown.

In the end it worked out for obvious reasons. I'm skeptical McLeod grows into the 4C role but he's improved enough that I'm willing to let it play out. I could easily see the entire bottom six turning over before it's all said and done.

I'm very much a toolbox kind of drafter so both the Zacha and McLeod picks kind of grate at me. On some level, I feel like thinking the game well at a young age reads as true obsession / passion for hockey. It just seems to me that it's so much easier for those kind of cerebral guys to outwork their flaws than the opposite.

Anyone who follows my draft-writing to any degree knows I put a higher emphasis on compete level and hockey IQ than anyone. They're just so crucial to me.

The Zacha pick was awful, and the only reason I can think for it was the Conte battle in the front office, which I don't think any of us have the full details on. Maybe I'm speculating. I personally wanted Barzal, but I was sure the Devils were taking one of Werenski/Provorov. I was shocked when I heard Zacha's name called.

 

[My3Sons]

Anyone who follows my draft-writing to any degree knows I put a higher emphasis on compete level and hockey IQ than anyone. They're just so crucial to me.

The Zacha pick was awful, and the only reason I can think for it was the Conte battle in the front office, which I don't think any of us have the full details on. Maybe I'm speculating. I personally wanted Barzal, but I was sure the Devils were taking one of Werenski/Provorov. I was shocked when I heard Zacha's name called.

I thought from what I read at the time the next consensus ranked prospect was Provorov, but others have cautioned me that NJ was almost certainly taking a forward given the makeup of the very shallow prospect pool at the time. It really seems like a missed opportunity in retrospect.

 

[StevenToddIves]

2022 Draft Profile:

C Logan Morrison, Hamilton OHL
Everyone who follows my draft write-ups knows it is quite rare when I review over-agers. I need to really love a prospect to take the time to fastidiously re-evaluate a player I've probably evaluated previously. Well, you might not be familiar with him, but Logan Morrison is such a prospect. I'm going to take some time to explain the reasons why this criminally unranked player deserves strong consideration for the 2022 NHL Draft, and as early as the 3rd round.

Logan Morrison went undrafted in 2021 after not playing a single game all season due to the OHL shutting down during the pandemic. At the time, he was listed as a 5'11-170 center and probably known more for his play without the puck than with it. I was similarly guilty of overlooking Morrison -- I had not seen him play in over a year, and as he was not a strong consideration for any Canadian tournament teams, he sort of just dropped out of your sphere of attention.

This year, Morrison showed up at 6'0-180. It was clear from the outset of the season that he had a chip on his shoulder about going undrafted, as his skating speed -- which was already a plus -- seemed to improve in explosiveness and he was clearly in the best physical condition of his life. Morrison's added strength has led to a more physical style of play and a far greater acuity in one-on-one battles. Quite simply, instead of sitting home playing video games, this was clearly a kid who took a lost year of development and worked his ass off to become a better hockey player.

The same work ethic Morrison has shown off the ice has translated onto the ice. He is one of the hardest working players in the OHL, and he's a player you notice every time he's on the ice. The compete level isn't his finest intangible, because we need to discuss his hockey IQ. I'm going to make a hot take right here and say Morrison has one of the best hockey IQs in the entire draft -- it's a top 10 pick sort of elite strength. You see this in everything Morrison does. He is perhaps the best takeaway artist of any OHL forward, routinely picking pockets of unaware stickhandlers, baiting passes into lanes he's about to flood, using deception to force opponents to put the puck precisely where he wants it. This carries over to his offensive awareness -- Morrison is an outstanding passer with terrific vision. Though he is not the elite sort of puck skills player to aspire to an NHL 1C role, we're talking about a player with bona fide middle-6 two-way center upside, a kid who can excel on a 1PK and 2PP unit and contribute in all facets of the game.

Ultimately, I really don't care if no one else wants to rank Logan Morrison for the 2022 draft. He's a steal in the 3rd round. Heck, he's a great pick in the 2nd. He came back after a year of inactivity and the crushing let-down of going undrafted and responded with 93 points in 57 games, and is currently on a 100+ point pace. He plays two-ways and he plays hard. He has elite hockey IQ and puck-hawking abilities, combined with near-elite passing skills. He can skate and he can score. He can play all situations, all special teams, and either center or RW. What more can be asked of the kid? He needs to be drafted, he's just an outstanding hockey player and he's the kind of young man you win with.

 

[evnted]

2022 Draft Profile:

C Logan Morrison, Hamilton OHL
Everyone who follows my draft write-ups knows it is quite rare when I review over-agers. I need to really love a prospect to take the time to fastidiously re-evaluate a player I've probably evaluated previously. Well, you might not be familiar with him, but Logan Morrison is such a prospect. I'm going to take some time to explain the reasons why this criminally unranked player deserves strong consideration for the 2022 NHL Draft, and as early as the 3rd round.

Logan Morrison went undrafted in 2021 after not playing a single game all season due to the OHL shutting down during the pandemic. At the time, he was listed as a 5'11-170 center and probably known more for his play without the puck than with it. I was similarly guilty of overlooking Morrison -- I had not seen him play in over a year, and as he was not a strong consideration for any Canadian tournament teams, he sort of just dropped out of your sphere of attention.

This year, Morrison showed up at 6'0-180. It was clear from the outset of the season that he had a chip on his shoulder about going undrafted, as his skating speed -- which was already a plus -- seemed to improve in explosiveness and he was clearly in the best physical condition of his life. Morrison's added strength has led to a more physical style of play and a far greater acuity in one-on-one battles. Quite simply, instead of sitting home playing video games, this was clearly a kid who took a lost year of development and worked his ass off to become a better hockey player.

The same work ethic Morrison has shown off the ice has translated onto the ice. He is one of the hardest working players in the OHL, and he's a player you notice every time he's on the ice. The compete level isn't his finest intangible, because we need to discuss his hockey IQ. I'm going to make a hot take right here and say Morrison has one of the best hockey IQs in the entire draft -- it's a top 10 pick sort of elite strength. You see this in everything Morrison does. He is perhaps the best takeaway artist of any OHL forward, routinely picking pockets of unaware stickhandlers, baiting passes into lanes he's about to flood, using deception to force opponents to put the puck precisely where he wants it. This carries over to his offensive awareness -- Morrison is an outstanding passer with terrific vision. Though he is not the elite sort of puck skills player to aspire to an NHL 1C role, we're talking about a player with bona fide middle-6 two-way center upside, a kid who can excel on a 1PK and 2PP unit and contribute in all facets of the game.

Ultimately, I really don't care if no one else wants to rank Logan Morrison for the 2022 draft. He's a steal in the 3rd round. Heck, he's a great pick in the 2nd. He came back after a year of inactivity and the crushing let-down of going undrafted and responded with 93 points in 57 games, and is currently on a 100+ point pace. He plays two-ways and he plays hard. He has elite hockey IQ and puck-hawking abilities, combined with near-elite passing skills. He can skate and he can score. He can play all situations, all special teams, and either center or RW. What more can be asked of the kid? He needs to be drafted, he's just an outstanding hockey player and he's the kind of young man you win with.

enjoyable read. looks like only Button is on board (so far at least) having him ever so slightly in his top 100

 

[MakoSlade]

In 2016, I remember a lot of the board wanted Keller and it was tough to watch his solid rookie season.

2015 and 2016 seemed to have that group that we just missed - a clear top five in 2015 and top ten in 2016. I was not pleased when Jost was picked by COL!

 

[StevenToddIves]

enjoyable read. looks like only Button is on board (so far at least) having him ever so slightly in his top 100

I really dig hard for draft sleepers, but I'm annually skeptical of over-agers. I tried to explain to the best of my ability why Morrison is an anomaly in this regard.

His IQ is maybe top 5 in the entire draft, he's got a great motor, he skates well, he passes well, he's not small. Logan Morrison is a great prospect who is being almost criminally overlooked, and he's a two-way center.

For the Devils, this is a guy to circle on your draft board. The Devils have three 4th round picks and, judging by his lack of acclaim, should be around there. It is not difficult to envision Morrison as the perfect 3C behind Hughes/Hischier. As a 19 year old, he's closer to the NHL than many kids in the draft. To me, he'd immediately vault to #1 C in the prospect pool, light years ahead of Pytlik and Salminen, if you consider Salminen a center.

 

[StevenToddIves]

2015 and 2016 seemed to have that group that we just missed - a clear top five in 2015 and top ten in 2016. I was not pleased when Jost was picked by COL!

Me neither, but had the Devils taken Jost everyone on these boards would be complaining the Devils passed on McAvoy and Chychrun the same way they do now.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Hey, @Steve Kournianos -- any opinions on my #1 over-ager for 2022 in Logan Morrison?

 

[StevenToddIves]

Guys, I'm actually pretty busy this week, but I'm going to try to finish up my OHL write-ups and then get back to work finishing up my end-of-regular-season 2022 draft rankings. There's going to be a shake-up at the top, so sit tight.

 

[My3Sons]

I really dig hard for draft sleepers, but I'm annually skeptical of over-agers. I tried to explain to the best of my ability why Morrison is an anomaly in this regard.

His IQ is maybe top 5 in the entire draft, he's got a great motor, he skates well, he passes well, he's not small. Logan Morrison is a great prospect who is being almost criminally overlooked, and he's a two-way center.

For the Devils, this is a guy to circle on your draft board. The Devils have three 4th round picks and, judging by his lack of acclaim, should be around there. It is not difficult to envision Morrison as the perfect 3C behind Hughes/Hischier. As a 19 year old, he's closer to the NHL than many kids in the draft. To me, he'd immediately vault to #1 C in the prospect pool, light years ahead of Pytlik and Salminen, if you consider Salminen a center.

Don't you mean 3C behind Hughes and Mercer?