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Who doesn’t like an ice cold Schaefer or Medalla or Tsing Tao or Asahi or Pilsner Urquell or Red Stripe or Sea Quench or…what are we talking about again?
Prospect Info: 2022 Draft Prospects, Part II
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Who doesn’t like an ice cold Schaefer or Medalla or Tsing Tao or Asahi or Pilsner Urquell or Red Stripe or Sea Quench or…what are we talking about again?
Yurov gets the edge as an overall hockey player, but Gauthier gets the edge in pure power and pure shooting and probably skating. These are two players I'm extremely high on.
If the season ended today, the Devils would draft #6 with Buffalo/Philly at 4/5. The problem with this is that both teams would be a big threat to take Jiricek in my opinion. To me, Gauthier is a player the Devils should be able to get at #7 or #8 without much risk of him being grabbed sooner as his consensus ranking is in the likely #13-#15 range. As I've stated at length, I disagree with the consensus on Gauthier -- he's a rare player when you take into account his combination of extreme physicality, high-end goal-scoring and 200-foot play.
Wright will go #1 overall. The only team I could see not jumping at the chance to draft him is the Devils, who would create a very interesting trade-down scenario if they won the lottery.
If the season ended today, the Devils pick #6. Wright will be gone. This would be my list:
1) Slafkovsky, but he almost certainly goes top 3
2) Jiricek
3) Nemec
4) Gauthier
5) Yurov
If the Devils get hot and wind up in the #8/#9 position, I would still say one of those 5 would be available, especially Gauthier. The next guy on my list would be Kemell or Nazar, but at that point I'd be fine with trading down a few slots and taking RD Ryan Chesley, who fits far more of an organizational need and is the most underrated D in the draft by a country mile.
Right now, Reid Schafer is my dream 3rd/4th round pick for the Devils. Heck of a young power forward prospect, and he's ridiculously under-rated in my book.
Eggtimer
Registered User
Would you consider trading the pick for a a young player or prospect off another team if your top 4 are gone ? At any point would you consider that? I’m almost at the point if Slaf Jiricek Nemec are gone , I look at offers at least. See if any offers are as much or more value to team as Gauthier. Unless you view Gauthier better of a prospect and need than anything that might be realistically offered in trade ? Can’t see all those 4 being gone including Gauthier but if they are, I look at offers.
Yup I agree Gauthier should be there with the Devils pick. And he absolutely fills a huge area of need as an interior scorer with the requisite skill to compliment the top NJ scorers for the foreseeable future.
I don't think I trade the pick unless it's a still-young player we don't even know will be available who can also fill the Devils major, pressing needs -- like a Matt Tkachuk or Spencer Knight. But I certainly don't "shop" the pick.
Say the Devils pick #9 overall and all the guys on my list are gone. Well, that means a player like Joakim Kemell or Matt Savoie or Frank Nazar will be available, so I just snatch up the best available player and worry about where exactly they fit in later. It's one more potentially elite piece for the core.
2022 Draft Profile:
LW Brandon Lisowsky, Saskatoon WHL
I've seen a bunch of Lisowsky, as he plays with one of my favorite prospects in Tristen Robins for the Blades. He's a fairly prototypical smaller forward, just 5'9-170 but with terrific skating and offensive capabilities. He's scored at a PPG pace on a high-powered Saskatoon squad, with 28 goals and 49 points in 50 games played thus far. He offers a nice effort level in all three zones, though of course he has a problem with being out-muscled in puck battles and needs a lot of overall work in the defensive zone.
Without being an elite skater, the native British Columbian is certainly an excellent one. He has all the features of the quick, small offensive forward -- agility, edges, acceleration. While his offensive tool kit is is pretty good across the board, he defies his own prototype in the sense that his best skill is his shooting. Lisowsky can wire the puck with a quick release and optimal accuracy, and I'd say the velocity he gets would be considered a plus trait for a player of much larger physical stature. His passing and puckhandling are both good, though not close to the elite levels one would normally want out of a smaller forward if they were to consider them early in the draft.
This probably explains his normal draft ranking, which is anywhere from the middle-3rd to the middle-4th round. He has the one "high anomaly" ranking of #34 overall from McKeen's Scouting, which is extremely high on his potential. To me, Brandon Lisowsky is a player whose upside is a middle six player who can chip in a nice offensive output and inject speed in the line-up, while his offense and shot could see him as a fixture on an NHL second PP unit. In order to reach this potential, Lisowsky simply needs to improve his core strength and general positioning, and these are very realistic goals. He's a nice player, though I would not consider him until probably the vicinity of the 4th round.
LW Brandon Lisowsky, Saskatoon WHL
I've seen a bunch of Lisowsky, as he plays with one of my favorite prospects in Tristen Robins for the Blades. He's a fairly prototypical smaller forward, just 5'9-170 but with terrific skating and offensive capabilities. He's scored at a PPG pace on a high-powered Saskatoon squad, with 28 goals and 49 points in 50 games played thus far. He offers a nice effort level in all three zones, though of course he has a problem with being out-muscled in puck battles and needs a lot of overall work in the defensive zone.
Without being an elite skater, the native British Columbian is certainly an excellent one. He has all the features of the quick, small offensive forward -- agility, edges, acceleration. While his offensive tool kit is is pretty good across the board, he defies his own prototype in the sense that his best skill is his shooting. Lisowsky can wire the puck with a quick release and optimal accuracy, and I'd say the velocity he gets would be considered a plus trait for a player of much larger physical stature. His passing and puckhandling are both good, though not close to the elite levels one would normally want out of a smaller forward if they were to consider them early in the draft.
This probably explains his normal draft ranking, which is anywhere from the middle-3rd to the middle-4th round. He has the one "high anomaly" ranking of #34 overall from McKeen's Scouting, which is extremely high on his potential. To me, Brandon Lisowsky is a player whose upside is a middle six player who can chip in a nice offensive output and inject speed in the line-up, while his offense and shot could see him as a fixture on an NHL second PP unit. In order to reach this potential, Lisowsky simply needs to improve his core strength and general positioning, and these are very realistic goals. He's a nice player, though I would not consider him until probably the vicinity of the 4th round.
2022 Draft Profile:
LW Parker Bell, Tri-City WHL
To be honest, I'm a bit baffled by the lack of attention Parker Bell has received with the 2022 NHL Draft just 4 months away. He's a 6'4-200 LW who has scored at a respectable rate for a mostly punchless Tri-City squad, currently second on his team with 37 points in 47 games. He's a very good skater who is certainly raw in his overall game but offers a great deal of upside if you're patient in his development.
The native British Columbian is not the player you expect when you give him multiple viewings. He's more of a passer than a shooter, and he's very good in this respect. Though not an elite-vision type you would take in the 1st or 2nd round, Bell is a very smart and efficient passer who can surprise with the occasional flashy feed. This is not to say Bell cannot become a goal-scorer -- because technically I'd say his finest offensive attribute is his shot, which features a lightning-quick release and excellent velocity. One of the many things Bell must work on is using this weapon more -- he's definitely a pass-first player, which makes no sense to me when you're playing on a team without much offensive talent and your best attribute is your shot.
To be honest, a lot of Bell's game is raw, but I feel he's the type of player who, with good coaching and development, can really turn out to be a diamond in the rough. He needs to work on his positioning and refine his technique, though there is no reason to believe the aptitude is not there. And although he competes well, Bell does not use his huge frame nearly enough. I'd like to see him seriously hit the weight room, as 15 pounds of muscle and a little more bite to his game could make him a serious steal in the later rounds.
Parker Bell is a player I'd start taking a hard look at from the 4th round on. Quite simply, the mix of a huge frame, great skates and very impressive offensive tools to work with give him tremendous upside. However, this is also a player whose upside is far off in the future, so you're going to need some patience. Ultimately, this is precisely the conundrum which could be dropping Bell into the later rounds, where I feel a team would be very shrewd to snatch him up.
LW Parker Bell, Tri-City WHL
To be honest, I'm a bit baffled by the lack of attention Parker Bell has received with the 2022 NHL Draft just 4 months away. He's a 6'4-200 LW who has scored at a respectable rate for a mostly punchless Tri-City squad, currently second on his team with 37 points in 47 games. He's a very good skater who is certainly raw in his overall game but offers a great deal of upside if you're patient in his development.
The native British Columbian is not the player you expect when you give him multiple viewings. He's more of a passer than a shooter, and he's very good in this respect. Though not an elite-vision type you would take in the 1st or 2nd round, Bell is a very smart and efficient passer who can surprise with the occasional flashy feed. This is not to say Bell cannot become a goal-scorer -- because technically I'd say his finest offensive attribute is his shot, which features a lightning-quick release and excellent velocity. One of the many things Bell must work on is using this weapon more -- he's definitely a pass-first player, which makes no sense to me when you're playing on a team without much offensive talent and your best attribute is your shot.
To be honest, a lot of Bell's game is raw, but I feel he's the type of player who, with good coaching and development, can really turn out to be a diamond in the rough. He needs to work on his positioning and refine his technique, though there is no reason to believe the aptitude is not there. And although he competes well, Bell does not use his huge frame nearly enough. I'd like to see him seriously hit the weight room, as 15 pounds of muscle and a little more bite to his game could make him a serious steal in the later rounds.
Parker Bell is a player I'd start taking a hard look at from the 4th round on. Quite simply, the mix of a huge frame, great skates and very impressive offensive tools to work with give him tremendous upside. However, this is also a player whose upside is far off in the future, so you're going to need some patience. Ultimately, this is precisely the conundrum which could be dropping Bell into the later rounds, where I feel a team would be very shrewd to snatch him up.
I think I'm up near 100 2022 draft profiles so far, and I think I've pretty much covered everyone I'm interested in for the USHL, USHS, QMJHL and WHL and am moving on to the MHL next. Let me know if there's anyone in those leagues you all think I may have missed, and if there's anyone you specifically want me to write up in the future.
2022 Draft Profile:
LW/RW (left shot) Viktor Neuchev, Yekaterinburg MHL
I'm not sure why the MHL has been so underscouted, but year in and year out it's become a gold mine for draft-day sleepers. This year, Alexander Perevalov is a top 10-12 pick in my book with a consensus ranking near the bottom of the first round and Gleb Trikozov is a top 25 pick in my book with a consensus ranking in the second round. The third draft day steal out of the MHL is likely Viktor Neuchev, who is often ranked in the 3rd round or later but has a good chance to sneak into my first round rankings. He's absolutely slaughtering his league with 37 goals in 59 games and averaging 5 shots per game. He's a 6'2 -165 offensive dynamo who skates well and, if he fills out, has top 6, high-scoring NHL forward written all over him.
Neuchev has no weakness which should keep him out of any scout's top 50 players for the 2022 draft. He's not an elite skater, but he's a good one with nice mechanics. We could see his speed and acceleration improve with some building of his core strength in the weight room. He's a high IQ, high vision player who can also absolutely wire the puck. I'm not sure if his finest trait is shooting or smarts, but he's near elite in both categories. Neuchev is a volume shooter who certainly prefers the shot over the pass, but when the opposition double-teams him -- as often happens -- he's great at dishing the disk to an open linemate. He's got sneaky good puck skills and can dangle a bit, but that's not his calling card. Neuchev is more of a catch-and-release guy than a possession player. Still, he is so much better than most of his league that he is an asset in virtually every area of the game.
Defensively, Neuchev needs some refinement but shows good instincts and a very commendable effort level. Though he's not the absolute warrior of a Perevalov-level, this is still a player with a plus compete level. He can be passive on the forecheck but he back checks with great effort and battles hard for the puck. Offensively, he's always willing to go to the net, because ultimately this is a player who lives to score goals and will stop at nothing to achieve this.
Neuchev is a raw talent, but he's a significant talent. He's been absurdly overlooked in the scouting and draft writing communities. I honestly have to say people just haven't seen him. There's not a way on the planet another draft writer can convince me there are 40 better players than Viktor Neuchev, much less 64. He has a very good chance to rise into my first-round rankings by year's end. This is a player you look at as soon as the 2nd round of the draft starts and, if he's available in the 3rd, he's likely to be the best player left on the draft board.
LW/RW (left shot) Viktor Neuchev, Yekaterinburg MHL
I'm not sure why the MHL has been so underscouted, but year in and year out it's become a gold mine for draft-day sleepers. This year, Alexander Perevalov is a top 10-12 pick in my book with a consensus ranking near the bottom of the first round and Gleb Trikozov is a top 25 pick in my book with a consensus ranking in the second round. The third draft day steal out of the MHL is likely Viktor Neuchev, who is often ranked in the 3rd round or later but has a good chance to sneak into my first round rankings. He's absolutely slaughtering his league with 37 goals in 59 games and averaging 5 shots per game. He's a 6'2 -165 offensive dynamo who skates well and, if he fills out, has top 6, high-scoring NHL forward written all over him.
Neuchev has no weakness which should keep him out of any scout's top 50 players for the 2022 draft. He's not an elite skater, but he's a good one with nice mechanics. We could see his speed and acceleration improve with some building of his core strength in the weight room. He's a high IQ, high vision player who can also absolutely wire the puck. I'm not sure if his finest trait is shooting or smarts, but he's near elite in both categories. Neuchev is a volume shooter who certainly prefers the shot over the pass, but when the opposition double-teams him -- as often happens -- he's great at dishing the disk to an open linemate. He's got sneaky good puck skills and can dangle a bit, but that's not his calling card. Neuchev is more of a catch-and-release guy than a possession player. Still, he is so much better than most of his league that he is an asset in virtually every area of the game.
Defensively, Neuchev needs some refinement but shows good instincts and a very commendable effort level. Though he's not the absolute warrior of a Perevalov-level, this is still a player with a plus compete level. He can be passive on the forecheck but he back checks with great effort and battles hard for the puck. Offensively, he's always willing to go to the net, because ultimately this is a player who lives to score goals and will stop at nothing to achieve this.
Neuchev is a raw talent, but he's a significant talent. He's been absurdly overlooked in the scouting and draft writing communities. I honestly have to say people just haven't seen him. There's not a way on the planet another draft writer can convince me there are 40 better players than Viktor Neuchev, much less 64. He has a very good chance to rise into my first-round rankings by year's end. This is a player you look at as soon as the 2nd round of the draft starts and, if he's available in the 3rd, he's likely to be the best player left on the draft board.
FooteBahl
Took a big shitz for Nemec
I think Luke missed the 22 draft by a week or two—with his current season at Michigan, would he take the top spot from Wright?
Clam Jensen
Registered User
Eggtimer
Registered User
So .. Like woild be seen as a better prospect than Jiricek and Nemec? Or too hard to compare due to play styles?
I'd say right now Hughes would be the #2 overall prospect after Shane Wright for 2022. He's also the #2 overall in a 2021 re-draft after only Owen Power. Luke Hughes' combination of elite skates, puck skills and size just make him a rare prospect right now.
Lou Bloom
Registered User
- Oct 14, 2020
- 1,046
- 1,998
Between what Luke has done during his freshman campaign at Michigan, elite skating and a playstyle similar to his brothers who have both been great at the NHL level he'd have to go #1 in a draft that is pretty underwhelming and doesn't have a clear cut #1 (Wright is certainly seen as the clear cut but I couldn't disagree more).
As for Nemec and Jiricek, I'd put him ahead of both but I think Jiricek isn't too far behind and he might very well be my #1 prospect in this class when it's all said and done.
Stephen Gionta
Boston College > Boston University
There is 0 doubt in my mind most, if not all, NHL teams would have Luke Hughes #1 on their 2022 draft board.
Shane Wright is great and all, but he does not come close to Luke Hughes in my opinion.
Luke Hughes has the potential to be a top 5 defenseman in the NHL.
I do not think Shane Wright has the potential to even be a top 20 forward.
I see Shane Wright as very comparable to Nico Hischier.
Shane Wright is great and all, but he does not come close to Luke Hughes in my opinion.
Luke Hughes has the potential to be a top 5 defenseman in the NHL.
I do not think Shane Wright has the potential to even be a top 20 forward.
I see Shane Wright as very comparable to Nico Hischier.
So Wright is more like a 3C or 5C (since McLeod is the 4C)?
Eggtimer
Registered User
Depends . If we draft Wright he is the 3c
Hughes Mercer Wright Nico McLeod…….
I’m kidding BGS before people get too fired up . McLeod bumps Nico to the pressbox . FO% reasons
2022 Draft Profile:
LD Vladimir Grudinin, Krasnaya MHL
Where you rank Vladimir Grudinin probably has as much to do with how you view the defense position as it does with the player's potential. What I mean by this is that Grudinin is essentially the prototype for the "new age, undersized offensive-defenseman". He's unbelievably fast -- maybe the second-best skating D in the entire 2022 class -- with near-elite puck skills and passing vision -- a dazzling combination which leads to him being a dazzling offensive generator whenever he's on the ice. However, he's also weak on the puck, and a liability in one-on-one battles and pretty much anywhere in the offensive zone. When Grudinin is on the ice, you're certainly going to score more. But then again, so is everyone else.
Breaking down his skills, the standout for Grudinin has to be his skating. He skates in the 10/2 style with remarkable agility and edges, an explosive first step and lightning-fast top speeds. He's certainly on the short list for the best skating D in the class of '22. With the puck on his stick, he's magical -- able to quickly dart in any direction and create offense out of nothing by dancing the line until a seam opens to pass or shoot or dangle through. He's exciting as hell and fun to watch. Grudinin's offensive awareness is excellent and his stick handling is wonderful to behold, especially in conjunction with his feet. Grudinin's only offensive weakness is his shot, which lacks juice and, given his overall lack of strength, might not be something which you can ever hope to be anything beyond average. But make no mistake, Vladimir Grudinin is a terrific offensive generator from the back line.
Defensively, it's precisely the opposite. I'm not sure what really to list as a strength. Maybe it's his breakout ability -- give him the puck and a modicum of space, and this is a player who can absolutely explode into transition. But everything else? I almost feel bad going into detail. Let's just say it all needs work -- a lot of work -- his positioning, his instincts, his battle, his strength, his gaps, you name it. He's essentially two players in the MHL. He's the best player on the ice when his team has the puck, and he's the biggest liability on the ice when the opposition possesses the puck.
So, where do you draft a Grudinin? Bureaus who subscribe to the "new age defenseman" rank him quite highly -- McKeen's has him at #25 overall, while Smart Scouting gives him his highest ranking at #21 overall. Analysts who like a more defensively responsible guy are the opposite, like Draft Prospects hockey and the CSB and McKenzie's scout poll who essentially have him as a 3rd/4th round pick. Those who have read me for awhile know that, while I am quite forgiving of a winger who generates offense struggling defensively, I am quite demanding of a defenseman's ability to defend. It is my sincere belief that if you have an NHL-average group of forwards and goaltenders and back them on D with 6 Brett Pesces, you're a playoff team -- but if you back them with 6 Shayne Gostisbeheres you're probably picking in the top 3 overall.
Vladimir Grudinin probably has 50-60 point upside at the NHL level, which is rare production for a defenseman. But he's also utterly unable to break an opposing cycle or adequately defend his own net-front, and has shown no sign of being able to change this. I believe it's easier for a defensive defender to develop offensive ability than it is for an offensive defender to develop a defensive game. I can name a bunch of shut-down draft-eligible D who then became 30+ or even 40+ point NHL defenders, from Chara to Slavin to Weegar, but I'm not sure I can think of an NHL player who was as needing of improvements in his own zone as Grudinin who became a strong defender. As such., I don't consider Vladimir Grudinin a 1st or 2nd round pick, despite his many gifts. I'll probably wind up ranking him in the late 3rd round, and he'll be long gone by then.
LD Vladimir Grudinin, Krasnaya MHL
Where you rank Vladimir Grudinin probably has as much to do with how you view the defense position as it does with the player's potential. What I mean by this is that Grudinin is essentially the prototype for the "new age, undersized offensive-defenseman". He's unbelievably fast -- maybe the second-best skating D in the entire 2022 class -- with near-elite puck skills and passing vision -- a dazzling combination which leads to him being a dazzling offensive generator whenever he's on the ice. However, he's also weak on the puck, and a liability in one-on-one battles and pretty much anywhere in the offensive zone. When Grudinin is on the ice, you're certainly going to score more. But then again, so is everyone else.
Breaking down his skills, the standout for Grudinin has to be his skating. He skates in the 10/2 style with remarkable agility and edges, an explosive first step and lightning-fast top speeds. He's certainly on the short list for the best skating D in the class of '22. With the puck on his stick, he's magical -- able to quickly dart in any direction and create offense out of nothing by dancing the line until a seam opens to pass or shoot or dangle through. He's exciting as hell and fun to watch. Grudinin's offensive awareness is excellent and his stick handling is wonderful to behold, especially in conjunction with his feet. Grudinin's only offensive weakness is his shot, which lacks juice and, given his overall lack of strength, might not be something which you can ever hope to be anything beyond average. But make no mistake, Vladimir Grudinin is a terrific offensive generator from the back line.
Defensively, it's precisely the opposite. I'm not sure what really to list as a strength. Maybe it's his breakout ability -- give him the puck and a modicum of space, and this is a player who can absolutely explode into transition. But everything else? I almost feel bad going into detail. Let's just say it all needs work -- a lot of work -- his positioning, his instincts, his battle, his strength, his gaps, you name it. He's essentially two players in the MHL. He's the best player on the ice when his team has the puck, and he's the biggest liability on the ice when the opposition possesses the puck.
So, where do you draft a Grudinin? Bureaus who subscribe to the "new age defenseman" rank him quite highly -- McKeen's has him at #25 overall, while Smart Scouting gives him his highest ranking at #21 overall. Analysts who like a more defensively responsible guy are the opposite, like Draft Prospects hockey and the CSB and McKenzie's scout poll who essentially have him as a 3rd/4th round pick. Those who have read me for awhile know that, while I am quite forgiving of a winger who generates offense struggling defensively, I am quite demanding of a defenseman's ability to defend. It is my sincere belief that if you have an NHL-average group of forwards and goaltenders and back them on D with 6 Brett Pesces, you're a playoff team -- but if you back them with 6 Shayne Gostisbeheres you're probably picking in the top 3 overall.
Vladimir Grudinin probably has 50-60 point upside at the NHL level, which is rare production for a defenseman. But he's also utterly unable to break an opposing cycle or adequately defend his own net-front, and has shown no sign of being able to change this. I believe it's easier for a defensive defender to develop offensive ability than it is for an offensive defender to develop a defensive game. I can name a bunch of shut-down draft-eligible D who then became 30+ or even 40+ point NHL defenders, from Chara to Slavin to Weegar, but I'm not sure I can think of an NHL player who was as needing of improvements in his own zone as Grudinin who became a strong defender. As such., I don't consider Vladimir Grudinin a 1st or 2nd round pick, despite his many gifts. I'll probably wind up ranking him in the late 3rd round, and he'll be long gone by then.
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njdevils1982
Hell Toupée!!!
this was a fun read... i know nothing of this player but like you said..... defence needs to defend.
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2022 Draft Profile:
LD Arseni Koromyslov, SKA-1946 MHL
Koromyslov is a two-way defender who has generated a bit of hype do to a singular first-round ranking, listed at #28 overall by TSN's Craig Button. Though a lot of people like to criticize Button's hot-button rankings, I believe with this particular player, there is something there. Koromyslov has a projectable frame at 6'3-180 and skates extremely well. He shows very good proclivity both offensively and defensively and is a sneaky good prospect for the 2022 draft.
The Moscow native is very smooth defensively in all respects. He excels at defending against the rush, and he's also terrific along the boards and in tight. He's very difficult to beat one-on-one. He used effective physicality rather than assertive physicality, able to separate puck-carrier from puck with smart positioning, good strength and battle and excellent shoulder-checking technique. His positioning and gaps are very good and show the aptitude to become simply excellent. He features an active stick and is terrific at clogging shooting lanes and blocking passing lanes. He's more of a quiet defender than a loud one, but I'd say he's just a subtly outstanding player in this respect.
Offensively, I believe wholeheartedly that Koromyslov has sneaky upside. While quite efficient and smart in his general passing game, he sometimes flashes higher awareness, completing slick, high-danger passes which lead to tremendous scoring opportunities. Koromyslov is much the same in transition -- though he generally prefers the high-percentage play, every so often he'll raise your eyebrows with a sparkling stretch pass which leaves you wondering where exactly it came from and how much more of that might exist beneath the understated surface. Koromyslov generally prefers to start transition with a pass, but also shows the ability to skate the puck out of traffic, which also lends to the belief that he has more offensive skill than his generally careful style of play lets on. This is how I've felt about many of my favorite draft-eligible defensemen over the years, from Andrew Peeke to Drew Helleson to Brock Faber. It makes me feel there may be more offensive upside than the numbers thus far indicate -- numbers which are obscured simply because Koromyslov is a team-first guy who takes care of his own zone before worrying about the offense.
Right now, Arseni Koromyslov is my runaway top defender from the MHL for the 2022 draft. The consensus top D out of his league is Vladimir Grudinin, but I have to say right now I have Koromyslov ahead of him by a country mile. It's not close. Though I realize the Devils are the deepest pool of LD prospect talent in the NHL by light years and Koromyslov is probably not a priority, I felt the need to highlight him as one of the best sleepers in the entire 2022 class. I can say with conviction that a future as an all-situations, mid-pairing NHL defender is a very realistic one for this player. He's going to be a terrific pick for a smart-drafting team, probably in the 2nd or 3rd round.
LD Arseni Koromyslov, SKA-1946 MHL
Koromyslov is a two-way defender who has generated a bit of hype do to a singular first-round ranking, listed at #28 overall by TSN's Craig Button. Though a lot of people like to criticize Button's hot-button rankings, I believe with this particular player, there is something there. Koromyslov has a projectable frame at 6'3-180 and skates extremely well. He shows very good proclivity both offensively and defensively and is a sneaky good prospect for the 2022 draft.
The Moscow native is very smooth defensively in all respects. He excels at defending against the rush, and he's also terrific along the boards and in tight. He's very difficult to beat one-on-one. He used effective physicality rather than assertive physicality, able to separate puck-carrier from puck with smart positioning, good strength and battle and excellent shoulder-checking technique. His positioning and gaps are very good and show the aptitude to become simply excellent. He features an active stick and is terrific at clogging shooting lanes and blocking passing lanes. He's more of a quiet defender than a loud one, but I'd say he's just a subtly outstanding player in this respect.
Offensively, I believe wholeheartedly that Koromyslov has sneaky upside. While quite efficient and smart in his general passing game, he sometimes flashes higher awareness, completing slick, high-danger passes which lead to tremendous scoring opportunities. Koromyslov is much the same in transition -- though he generally prefers the high-percentage play, every so often he'll raise your eyebrows with a sparkling stretch pass which leaves you wondering where exactly it came from and how much more of that might exist beneath the understated surface. Koromyslov generally prefers to start transition with a pass, but also shows the ability to skate the puck out of traffic, which also lends to the belief that he has more offensive skill than his generally careful style of play lets on. This is how I've felt about many of my favorite draft-eligible defensemen over the years, from Andrew Peeke to Drew Helleson to Brock Faber. It makes me feel there may be more offensive upside than the numbers thus far indicate -- numbers which are obscured simply because Koromyslov is a team-first guy who takes care of his own zone before worrying about the offense.
Right now, Arseni Koromyslov is my runaway top defender from the MHL for the 2022 draft. The consensus top D out of his league is Vladimir Grudinin, but I have to say right now I have Koromyslov ahead of him by a country mile. It's not close. Though I realize the Devils are the deepest pool of LD prospect talent in the NHL by light years and Koromyslov is probably not a priority, I felt the need to highlight him as one of the best sleepers in the entire 2022 class. I can say with conviction that a future as an all-situations, mid-pairing NHL defender is a very realistic one for this player. He's going to be a terrific pick for a smart-drafting team, probably in the 2nd or 3rd round.
It was a tough write-up for me, as I am extremely loathe to being overly critical of NHL prospects. Grudinin has uncommon offensive potential, and I made it a point to spotlight that. But I also made a point of defending my subjective viewpoint that NHL teams with these types of players are not nearly as successful as NHL teams which feature stronger defenders.
I can't think of the last NHL team to win a Stanley Cup with an all-offense, defensive liability on the blueline. But teams have steady, stay-at-home defenders and win cups on the regular. As such, those are the players you're better off drafting. I'd say the singular exception is if a player has "defensive questions" but rare, potentially franchise-caliber offensive ability -- such as Cale Makar or Luke Hughes. But still, Makar and Hughes were far better defensively at the same age as a 2022-eligible like Grudinin or Ty Nelson. Makar and Hughes were players who certainly necessitated defensive refinement, but neither were "liabilities", as it were. This would describe a Grudinin or Nelson, and as such I can't understand when people give them first-round rankings.
