Prospect Info: Ives 2022 Top 100 NHL Draft Rankings (Spring Edition, 2.0)

[Xirik]

I’m getting a feeling we’re going to pick him somehow. Trade or just picking him outright. He’s been mentioned in most of the Devils draft content right with the other top names. He is a Fitz-type player. I would not be remotely surprised.

Don't get my hopes up!

Not a knock on Slaf but something in my guts says he's a Devil and has star potential.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I’m getting a feeling we’re going to pick him somehow. Trade or just picking him outright. He’s been mentioned in most of the Devils draft content right with the other top names. He is a Fitz-type player. I would not be remotely surprised.

Gauthier could go as early as #5 overall to Philadelphia. I can't see him slipping past Ottawa at #7. His shooting is right up behind Kemell and Lekkerimaki, he's physical as hell and extremely versatile. You can slot him at center or wing, on a checking or scoring line. He'll excel on the PP or PK. He's a heck of a hockey player.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Don't get my hopes up!

Not a knock on Slaf but something in my guts says he's a Devil and has star potential.

I'm pretty sure I was one of the first couple of people who ranked Gauthier in my top 10, along with Steve Kournianos, so of course you know how high I am on this kid. Up until just a few months ago, there were people ranking Gauthier in the 20s, which was kind of absurd now that we know he has a good chance to be a top 5 pick.

Unfortunately, there aren't many scenarios which see the Devils coming away with him. You're almost certainly going to need a top 7 pick for Gauthier, which would mean the Devils would have to trade down from #2. A trade with either #5 Philly or #6 Columbus would mean allowing Slafkovsky to go to a division rival, which is probably a risk NJ would be unwilling to take.

I suppose there is a chance the Devils could offer something to Ottawa, who has shown a willingness to deal the #7 pick, but it would take a lot. Maybe Zacha, Bahl and Foote could be a starting point, but a #7 overall pick is worth a ton, and even the shoddy management team in Ottawa must be aware of this.

 

[Guttersniped]

Here’s the combines’ weights & heights. I posted the link in the other thread but it’s useful here since other dudes are being discussed here.

And I went and compared the combine measurements to the Central Scouting ones because I really underestimated how long it would take lol (big mistake on my part).

Lane Hutson bulked up. Some of the European players earlier stats were off. Yes, some of these guys could have gained or lost (a lot) of weight but Joakim Kemell probably didn’t shrink.

2022 NHL Combine Heights & Weights

Sam Rinzel D (19th NA):
Central Scouting: 6’4” & 177
Combine: 6-foot-3.25, 180 pounds

Lane Hutson D (25th NA):
Central Scouting: 5’8” & 148
Combine: 5-foot-8.25 & 158

Isaac Howard LW (9th NA):
Central Scouting: 5’10” & 182
Combine: 5-foot-9.75, 180 pounds

Quinn Finley LW (36th NA):
Central Scouting: 6’0” & 168
Combine: 6-foot, 166 pounds

Brennan Ali C (83rd NA):
Central Scouting: 6’0” & 193
Combine: 6-foot-0.25, 193 pounds

Danny Zhilkin C (35th NA):
Central Scouting: 6’1” & 189
Combine: 6-foot-0.75, 196 pounds

Matthew Poitras C (45th NA):
Central Scouting: 5’11” & 174
Combine: 5-foot-11, 177 pounds

Cruz Lucius RW (41st NA):
Central Scouting: 6’0” & 178
Combine: 6-foot-0.75, 184 pounds

Jake Karabela C (62nd NA):
Central Scouting: 5’10” & 160
Combine: 5-foot-10.25, 172 pounds

Jagger Firkus RW (12th NA):
Central Scouting: 5’10” & 153
Combine: 5-foot-10, 151 pounds

Ryan Chesley D (18th NA):
Central Scouting: 6’0” & 195
Combine: 6-foot-0.5, 201 pounds

Matyas Sapovaliv C (23rd NA):
Central Scouting: 6’3” & 182
Combine: 6-foot-2.75, 183 pounds

Vinzenz Rohrer C (42nd NA):
Central Scouting: 5’10” & 163
Combine: 5-foot-10, 167 pounds

Paul Ludwinski C (49th NA):
Central Scouting: 5’11” & 176
Combine: 5-foot-11, 184 pounds

Christian Kyrou D (48th NA):
Central Scouting: 5’10” & 182
Combine: 5-foot-10, 172 pounds

Hunter Haight C (44th NA):
Central Scouting: 5’11” & 173
Combine: 5-foot-10.5, 174 pounds

Luca Del Bel Belluz C (8th NA):
Central Scouting: 6’0” & 175
Combine: 6-foot-0.5, 179 pounds

Michael Buchinger D (30th NA):
Central Scouting: 6’0” & 175
Combine: 5-foot-11.5, 187 pounds

Owen Beck C (10th NA):
Central Scouting: 6’0” & 185
Combine: 5-foot-11.25, 187 pounds

Jimmy Snuggerud RW (11th NA):
Central Scouting: 6’1” & 186
Combine: 6-foot-1.25, 188 pounds

Nicholas Moldenhauer RW (39th NA):
Central Scouting: 5’10” & 170
Combine: 5-foot-10.25, 170 pounds

Ben MacDonald C (50th NA):
Central Scouting: 6’0” & 165
Combine: 5-foot-11.75, 180 pounds

Cameron Lund C (40th NA):
Central Scouting: 6’2” & 185
Combine: 6-foot-2, 192 pounds

Dylan James LW (37th NA):
Central Scouting: 6’0” & 181
Combine: 5-foot-11.75, 177 pounds

Michael Fisher D (52nd NA):
Central Scouting: 6’2” & 193
Combine: 6-foot-2.25, 198 pounds

Jack Sparkes D (127th NA):
Central Scouting: 6’8” & 227
Combine: 6-foot-8.25, 233 pounds

Bryce McConnell-Barker C (34th NA):
Central Scouting: 6’1” & 193
Combine: 6-foot-1.25, 193 pounds

Jack Hughes C (26th NA):
Central Scouting: 6’0” & 170
Combine: 5-foot-11.5, 169 pounds

Jack Devine RW (65th NA):
Central Scouting: 5’11” & 173
Combine: 5-foot-10.75, 177 pounds

Logan Cooley C (2nd NA):
Central Scouting: 5’10” & 174
Combine: 5-foot-10.5, 180 pounds

Liam Arnsby C (115th NA):
Central Scouting: 5’10” & 181
Combine: 5-foot-10.25, 170 pounds

Cameron Whitehead G (7th NA goalie):
Central Scouting: 6’3” & 170
Combine: 6-foot-3, 172 pounds

Brad Lambert C (10th European):
Central Scouting: 6’0” & 175
Combine: 6-foot-0.5, 183 pounds

Ryan Greene C (46th NA):
Central Scouting: 6’1” & 174
Combine: 6-foot-1.25, 179 pounds

David Goyette C (13th NA):
Central Scouting: 5’10” & 172
Combine: 5-foot-10.25, 175 pounds

Isaiah George D (53rd NA):
Central Scouting: 6’0” & 195
Combine: 6-foot-0.25, 196 pounds

Jackson Edward D (123rd NA):
Central Scouting: 6’2” & 186
Combine: 6-foot-2.25, 194 pounds

Jace Weir D (56th NA):
Central Scouting: 6’2” & 183
Combine: 6-foot-2, 191 pounds

Owen Pickering D (15th NA):
Central Scouting: 6’4” & 178
Combine: 6-foot-4.25, 180 pounds

Jeremy Langlois D (60th NA):
Central Scouting: 6’0” & 186
Combine: 6-foot, 182 pounds

Adam Ingram C (27th NA):
Central Scouting: 6’2” & 165
Combine: 6-foot-2.25, 161 pounds

Josh Filmon LW (38th NA):
Central Scouting: 6’2” & 160
Combine: 6-foot-2.5, 157 pounds

Tyler Brennan G (1st NA goalie):
Central Scouting: 6’4” & 184
Combine: 6-foot-3.75, 185 pounds

Lian Bichsel D (9th European):
Central Scouting: 6’5” & 216
Combine: 6-foot-5.5, 225 pounds

Shane Wright C (1st NA):
Central Scouting: 6’0” & 191
Combine: 6-foot-0.5, 199 pounds

Noah Warren D (33rd NA):
Central Scouting: 6’5” & 216
Combine: 6-foot-5, 224 pounds

Denton Mateychuk D (14th NA):
Central Scouting: 5’11” & 188
Combine: 5-foot-10.5, 194 pounds

Tristan Luneau D (24th NA):
Central Scouting: 6’2” & 188
Combine: 6-foot-1.5, 189 pounds

Rieger Lorenz LW (17th NA):
Central Scouting: 6’2” & 184
Combine: 6-foot-2, 194 pounds

Maveric Lamoureux D (20th NA):
Central Scouting: 6’7” & 197
Combine: 6-foot-6.75, 199 pounds

Lucas Edmonds RW (104th NA):
Central Scouting: 5’11” & 185
Combine: 5-foot-10.25, 181 pounds

Fabian Wagner C (27th European):
Central Scouting: 5’11” & 170
Combine: 5-foot-11.25, 180 pounds

Alexander Suzdalev LW (26th European):
Central Scouting: 6’2” & 172
Combine: 6-foot-1.75, 177 pounds

Elias Salmonsson D (12th European):
Central Scouting: 6’0” & 170
Combine: 6-foot-1.25, 183 pounds

Noah Ostlund C (18th European):
Central Scouting: 5’11” & 163
Combine: 5-foot-10, 164 pounds

Liam Ohgren LW (8th European):
Central Scouting: 6’0” & 187
Combine: 6-foot-0.75, 201 pounds

Calle Odelius D (16th European):
Central Scouting: 5’11” & 185
Combine: 6-foot-0.25, 188 pounds

Filip Bystadt C (17th European):
Central Scouting: 6’2” & 187
Combine: 6-foot-3.75, 204 pounds

Servac Petrovsky C (58th NA):
Central Scouting: 5’10” & 172
Combine: 5-foot-10, 181 pounds

Filip Mesar RW (20th European):
Central Scouting: 5’10” & 167
Combine: 5-foot-9.5, 174 pounds

Pavel Mintyukov D (6th NA):
Central Scouting: 6’1” & 197
Combine: 6-foot-1.5, 194 pounds

Julian Lutz LW (30th European):
Central Scouting: 6’2” & 185
Combine: 6-foot-2.25, 187 pounds

Charles Leddy D (117th NA):
Central Scouting: 6’1” & 184
Combine: 6-foot-0.5, 186 pounds

Jiri Kulich C (13th European):
Central Scouting: 6’0” & 172
Combine: 5-foot-11.25, 178 pounds

Marek Hejduk RW (159th NA):
Central Scouting: 6’0” & 184
Combine: 5-foot-11.75, 188 pounds

Maxim Barbashev LW (98th NA):
Central Scouting: 6’1” & 181
Combine: 6-foot-1, 183 pounds

Otto Salin D (23rd European):
Central Scouting: 5’11” & 187
Combine: 5-foot-11, 205 pounds

Jani Nyman RW (24th European):
Central Scouting: 6’3” & 212
Combine: 6-foot-3.5, 217 pounds

Topi Ronni C (31st European):
Central Scouting: 6’2” & 179
Combine: 6-foot-2, 181 pounds

Joakim Kemell RW (2nd European):
Central Scouting: 5’11” & 171
Combine: 5-foot-9.5, 185 pounds

Topias Leinonen G (1st European goalie):
Central Scouting: 6’4” & 214
Combine: 6-foot-5, 233 pounds

Marco Kasper C (5th European):
Central Scouting: 6’1” & 183
Combine: 6-foot-0.75, 187 pounds

Aleksanteri Kaskimaki C (25th European):
Central Scouting: 6’0” & 181
Combine: 6-foot-0.25, 196 pounds

 

[Guttersniped]

2022 NHL Combine results: Top 10 prospects at each drill

 

[StevenToddIves]

I actually missed the first half of the Lightning v Rangers game, because I was so sucked into the Hamilton v Windsor OHL final.

Great game, with Hamilton holding off a late Windsor rally to win 5-4 and tie the series 1-1. Though I'd say the best overall player in this series is Windsor's Wyatt Johnston (Dallas) and the best overall prospect is Mason McTavish (Anaheim), a trio of undrafted Hamilton stars have to make us question how the pandemic and a couple other factors have muddied the drafting of OHL players.

Hamilton has three absolute stars on their powerhouse team -- C Logan Morrison, RW Avery Hayes and LD Arber Xhekaj -- who were undrafted in their eligible campaigns. Though Xhekaj was signed as a FA by Montreal this off-season, Morrison and Hayes are available for the 2022 draft.

Arber Xhekaj: 6'4-225 LD who plays one of the most physical games I've ever seen from a CHL defender and has butter-soft hands and outstanding offensive instincts. He's been the best defenseman in the OHL playoffs by a country mile. He's now 21 after being passed over in the draft three times.Right now, I'd say he's a pretty promising prospect for Montreal with mid-pairing, two-way upside. He's certainly a late bloomer, but with this kind of talent you have to wonder how he was passed over in the draft about 650 times.

Avery Hayes: I think the problem here is he plays a traditional power forward type style but at 5'10-180. A 2002 birthday, he scored 41 goals in a 79 point season this year and, after a 4-point explosion today, now has -- and you're reading this correctly -- 30 points in 12 playoff games. I'd say there's Blake Coleman-type upside for your bottom 6 here, and he could be available as late as the 5th/6th rounds. The Devils absolutely cannot be making more Baumgartner/Hurtig/Shlaine picks with kids like this available.

Logan Morrison: I can't shut up about him, but he won't let me. Today he had 3 more primary assists, two of which were highlight-reel passes. In the last minute and half of a one-goal game, Morrison made three outstanding individual efforts to clear the zone and deny Windsor game-tying chances. He might have one of the highest 3 or 4 hockey IQs in the entire 2022 class. I have no idea how he was passed over two years ago, how the Devils are tossing out a pick on Baumgartner when they could've had this gem. This year, it might take a 3rd round pick to get a player like Morrison, and he would be light years smarter as a 3rd round pick than last year's reach for Samu Salminen. The Devils need depth centers, and Morrison's 2nd line two-way potential would slot in nicely on a 3rd line behind Hughes and Hischier, and I'd say he's already ready for the AHL and maybe just one year away from the NHL. Morrison's trio of assists gave him a ridiculous 33 points in 15 playoff games on the heels of a 100-point OHL season.

 

[nugg]

[...]

Arber Xhekaj

Exikach? Zhikay? Exekiel??

 

[BurntToast]

I'm pretty sure I was one of the first couple of people who ranked Gauthier in my top 10, along with Steve Kournianos, so of course you know how high I am on this kid. Up until just a few months ago, there were people ranking Gauthier in the 20s, which was kind of absurd now that we know he has a good chance to be a top 5 pick.

Unfortunately, there aren't many scenarios which see the Devils coming away with him. You're almost certainly going to need a top 7 pick for Gauthier, which would mean the Devils would have to trade down from #2. A trade with either #5 Philly or #6 Columbus would mean allowing Slafkovsky to go to a division rival, which is probably a risk NJ would be unwilling to take.

I suppose there is a chance the Devils could offer something to Ottawa, who has shown a willingness to deal the #7 pick, but it would take a lot. Maybe Zacha, Bahl and Foote could be a starting point, but a #7 overall pick is worth a ton, and even the shoddy management team in Ottawa must be aware of this.

After last years draft, I cant see the Sens passing on Cutter (If available). They took a dude way off the boards last year, hoping he was like Cutter. I heard that pick didn’t age well.

 

[Blackjack]

Did anyone see Todd Cordell's blog about potential OHL gems to draft after #2OA? I checked them against Steve's opinion and... yikes.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Did anyone see Todd Cordell's blog about potential OHL gems to draft after #2OA? I checked them against Steve's opinion and... yikes.

No, but knowing Todd I'm guessing it's a list of soft-compete, smallish perimeter forwards with good analytics.

Todd's a very good writer, but he can get a bit of tunnel vision when it comes to the idea of team building.

Exikach? Zhikay? Exekiel??
View attachment 556192

Believe it or not, Xhekaj is pronounced "Jack eye". It's actually pretty easy.

 

[Blackjack]

No, but knowing Todd I'm guessing it's a list of soft-compete, smallish perimeter forwards with good analytics.

Todd's a very good writer, but he can get a bit of tunnel vision when it comes to the idea of team building.


Believe it or not, Xhekaj is pronounced "Jack eye". It's actually pretty easy.

He likes David Goyette (firmly on Todd's radar for 37!), Cedrick Guindon (3rd round? He's a little vague about where he'd take him), Christian Kyrou (no suggested round), and Beau Jelsma (also no suggested round).

Not that any of them are bad players, but yeah, it's almost all stats based. I think you pointed out that Kyrou would be a good mid-late round pick, but will certainly go before then because of his scoring.

 

[StevenToddIves]

He likes David Goyette (firmly on Todd's radar for 37!), Cedrick Guindon (3rd round? He's a little vague about where he'd take him), Christian Kyrou (no suggested round), and Beau Jelsma (also no suggested round).

Not that any of them are bad players, but yeah, it's almost all stats based. I think you pointed out that Kyrou would be a good mid-late round pick, but will certainly go before then because of his scoring.

Yeah, again -- as much as I like Todd, I have to caution all Devils draftniks to take with a grain of salt advice by writers who have spent more time looking at the players' analytic charts than the actual players.

Goyette is a good prospect. I've got him ranked #52 overall. But he's also what I'd call the polar opposite of an interior forward, which is what the Devils need up front. I find him very interesting but also in some ways problematic, which is why I gave him one of my more detailed write-ups:

C David Goyette, Sudbury OHL
With 63 points in 58 games and some very real offensive abilities, Goyette has gotten some first round consideration from several scouting bureaus and draft writers, hype which reached a crescendo with an extraordinarily high #17 overall ranking from Craig Button. Though his consensus ranking is probably the top half of the 2nd round, the fact that certain outliers have him in such great esteem presents a possibility that he could go in the late 1st.

Goyette is a 5'11-175 center who has explosive skating ability. Though he's just shy of the elite skaters of the 2022 class like Cooley and Lambert, he has dynamite acceleration, terrific edges and agility, and can reach some impressive top speeds. This combines with his other plus trait of puckhandling to make him a pretty dynamic player in open ice and in transition. When Goyette is going full throttle, he can blast past the opposition and, as such, against looser defensive opposition he is downright deadly in transition. Once in the offensive zone, Goyette is a good player, but he loses the dynamism he has in open space. He's a good passer, accurate and nifty, but the creativity is not high end. He scores more with his shiftiness than his shot, but his shot is not bad -- he's got a good release and accuracy, but the power is not going to knock your socks off.

Goyette is a smart player who has good awareness without being spectacular in this regard. His compete level is good, but you kind of have to break it down. Some people think compete amounts to *hustle*, but that's just a piece of the puzzle. Goyette always gives good effort in pursuing the puck, but his compete can break down a bit when it comes to physical battles against physical opposition. It's not really lack of courage so much as confidence -- I suspect Goyette feels there are some battles he is not going to win, so he shifts to Plan B. He's got the same "almost but not quite" quality to his offensive game, as he's one of those players who excels in space, but when he doesn't have the gap to make his foot-speed a weapon, his offensive capabilities dip noticeably. He's not a "something out of nothing" scorer -- but he is a very good "something out of something" offensive weapon.

I'd say it's still up in the air whether Goyette's future is at center or LW, as he has trouble with some of the defensive requirements of playing up the middle. The wing would give him a bit more room to roam, which would play to his strengths. I'd say Goyette's talent gives him a ceiling as a 2nd line support scorer, which is a pretty nice get in the 2nd round which represents his likely draft position. However, there is some risk here, as his overall game might not be suitable for a bottom 6 role if he does not reach his ceiling. I'll rank him somewhere in the 2nd round on the basis of some nice speed and puck skills and a nose for offense, but probably towards the back end of the round.


As for Kyrou, he is the exact opposite of what I look for in later round defensemen. I have him ranked in the #120-#125 range right now. Though I will certainly take a flyer on a defenseman with high-end offensive ability who struggles with defense and physicality, Kyrou is a guy with 2PP, 2-pairing upside. Why even take that risk in the 4th round, much less the 2nd? I'm fine if a team reaches for the stars with a dynamic offensive defenseman like Grudinin, but Kyrou is by no means dynamic. He's a guy with 40-point upside IF he can improve his defense a lot and his ability to contend with physicality a lot.

As for Guindon, he's a speedy, undersized center who won't make it to the NHL as a center because his defense and compete level aren't high enough, and he stays to the perimeter to avoid getting pushed around in the interior. I probably have him ranked in the #150-#170 range. He doesn't have the offensive dynamism to make it on an NHL top line, and he doesn't offer any of the intangibles or tools to make it on a bottom 6. So, he's basically a second-liner or bust. Would you take this at #37 overall? Again, I'll repeat I'll take a dynamic, undersized forward all day if he has first line upside and some sand in his game which makes him a possible 3rd liner -- see my hefty praise for Joel Jonsson as an example. But Guindon's more a guy I look at in the 7th round if he slips that far.

Jelsma is the one guy on Todd's list worth looking at, but not in the second round. He's a worker bee with great compete and just enough skill to envision as a middle 6, heart-and-soul guy with some scoring pop. I've ranked Jelsma at #91 and would certainly draft him, though likely not until the 4th round.

Unfortunately, Cordell's list of picks to consider at #37 are all pretty much disastrous ideas for the #37 pick. If the article were about what to do with the Devils three 4th round picks, I'd take it a bit more serious,

 

[Guttersniped]

Well Goyette is a bit all over place (I’m only including hot off the presses ranking here, no older ones.)

Todd: (specifically for our pick at) 37
Steve: 52
Scouching: 36 (4th tier)
Pronman: 61 (6th tier)
Wheeler: 20 (holy f***, really!?!… 3rd tier)
Elite Prospects: 53
Draft Pro: 40

“The Other” Kyrou
Todd: likes his pew pew offense (?)
Steve: 120-125
Scouching: 48 (5th tier)
Pronman: 83 (7th tier)
Wheeler: 69 (5th tier)
Elite Prospects: 37 (!)
Draft Pro: 154 (EP vs DP fight!)


Cedrick “Diggory” Guindon
Todd: He pops (?)
Steve: 150-170
Scouching: NR on his list of 90 plus 25 WL
Pronman: 110 (7th tier)
Wheeler: 96 (6th tier)
Elite Prospects: 72 (over Luca Del Bel Belluz @ 75!)
Draft Pro: 205 (DP is having none of these shenanigans)

Beau Jelsma
Todd (tireless worker, good EV #, etc)
Steve: 91
Scouching: 82 (6th tier)
Pronman: NR on his list of 127 ranked prospects
Wheeler: NR on his list of 100 ranked prospects but included in his (cheaty) extra list of 88 HM
Elite Prospects: 63 (bold!)
Draft Pro: 78


I didn’t look at Wheeler’s new listing before doing this so that was a reaction in real time lol. Here’s David Goyette ahead of a bunch of guys you totally wouldn’t take before him.

MoneyPuck: Four OHL prospects worth monitoring at the draft

 

[OmNomNom]

2022 NHL Combine results: Top 10 prospects at each drill

wow maveric lamoreaux, what an athlete

6'-7" RHD? yes pls

 

[My3Sons]

wow maveric lamoreaux, what an athlete

6'-7" RHD? yes pls

I can't see him lasting until the second round.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Well Goyette is a bit all over place (I’m only including hot off the presses ranking here, no older ones.)

Todd: (specifically for our pick at) 37
Steve: 52
Scouching: 36 (4th tier)
Pronman: 61 (6th tier)
Wheeler: 20 (holy f***, really!?!… 3rd tier)
Elite Prospects: 53
Draft Pro: 40

“The Other” Kyrou
Todd: likes his pew pew offense (?)
Steve: 120-125
Scouching: 48 (5th tier)
Pronman: 83 (7th tier)
Wheeler: 69 (5th tier)
Elite Prospects: 37 (!)
Draft Pro: 154 (EP vs DP fight!)


Cedrick “Diggory” Guindon
Todd: He pops (?)
Steve: 150-170
Scouching: NR on his list of 90 plus 25 WL
Pronman: 110 (7th tier)
Wheeler: 96 (6th tier)
Elite Prospects: 72 (over Luca Del Bel Belluz @ 75!)
Draft Pro: 205 (DP is having none of these shenanigans)

Beau Jelsma
Todd (tireless worker, good EV #, etc)
Steve: 91
Scouching: 82 (6th tier)
Pronman: NR on his list of 127 ranked prospects
Wheeler: NR on his list of 100 ranked prospects but included in his (cheaty) extra list of 88 HM
Elite Prospects: 63 (bold!)
Draft Pro: 78


I didn’t look at Wheeler’s new listing before doing this so that was a reaction in real time lol. Here’s David Goyette ahead of a bunch of guys you totally wouldn’t take before him.

View attachment 556342


MoneyPuck: Four OHL prospects worth monitoring at the draft

If you're taking Goyette with Kasper, Kulich and Mesar still on the board, it's time to fire the entire scouting staff. I mean, that's Zach Senyshyn over Barzal and Connor type stuff.

I think you need to get on the message board (I can't because I can't justify paying for Todd's site) and mention what a bad idea it would be to take any of these guys at 37. Guindon? Really? Yikes. Does he have any remote idea what type of talent will actually be available at #37?

 

[StevenToddIves]

wow maveric lamoreaux, what an athlete

6'-7" RHD? yes pls

Lamoureux is a guy I've written a ton about, and really like. I had him at #38 in my last rankings, simply because there is some risk there as he's a project who I'd say is about a half-decade from the NHL. Here's my write-up from way back in January:

RD Maveric Lamoureux, Drummondville QMJHL
I don't know if I'd call this kid a unicorn. He's more like Bigfoot. I mean, we're talking about a 6'7 defender who loves crushing people with open ice checks but also skates very well, likes to lead the rush and jump in on offense, and actually possesses a nice passing sense and very soft set of hands. I don't know who to compare him to, he's just so unique, and that's what makes him so challenging to project.

Lamoureux is a team-first kid who loves to get the boys going on his bench. He's always looking to plow an opponent into the ice. When he does, he's always giving a sly look to his teammates, who are usually halfway between "holy crap did you see that hit?" and "boy, am I glad he's on our side". His defensive game is built around the fact that he's well-nigh impossible to beat in one-on-one battles and that his reach is so enormous that it's tough to skate around him or get a pass by him. He's still learning the intricacies of positioning and gap control, but he shows a nice knack for the nuances and I've really enjoyed his overall defensive profession from last season to this one.

Offensively, Lamoureux is full of surprises. He likes to rush the puck into the zone, and he has a litany of moves for any defender, much less a 6'7 one. He likes to use his immense reach to hold the puck out, before pulling it back in at the last second, making a quick deke to get even with the defender, and then utilizing his strength and large frame to get around the defender without them able to poke the puck away from him. I think moves like this will work at any level. I'd say he's a good passer but not a high-end playmaker, but the skill is certainly promising enough that it has the potential to play up. I'd like to see more out of his point shot and, as with many big players, the wind-up can take forever giving defenders more than adequate time to block his lanes.

Lamoureux likes to lead transition, but it's a work in progress. When pressured by quality forecheckers, he can panic a bit and be forced into bad passes and turnovers. He can be a bit of an adventure against high-level competition. This is not a perfect player, but you're not drafting him for the player he is now so much as for what he has the potential to be. The risk is that, as a unique prospect, it's very tough to say what he is going to be.

I like to think of Maveric Lamoureux as the type of player who can one day blossom into a physical, defensive beast with the skating acuity and puck skills and intelligence necessary to be an impact player for an NHL second pairing. I've seen him ranked anywhere from the early 2nd round to out-of-the-top-100-completely, so it's tough to pinpoint where he'll go. But a high compete 6'7 RD who can skate and intimidate? He won't fall too far on draft day.

From a Devils standpoint, we all know how badly the team needs RDs in the system. Lamoureux is a guy I'd be considering as soon as the team's likely top-40 pick in the early second round. He's certainly a project, and not a player I'd expect in the NHL for maybe 4 or 5 years. But the potential payoff here is huger than even his height measurement. With his wingspan and quality skating, this kid can singularly clog up the defensive zone, while his intelligence and skill give him the ability to also contribute in the offensive zone. And his physicality is truly tantalizing. Maveric Lamoureux now is not the Maveric Lamoureux you'll wind up with, but either way he's a player I really like for draft day 2022.

 

[Guttersniped]

If you're taking Goyette with Kasper, Kulich and Mesar still on the board, it's time to fire the entire scouting staff. I mean, that's Zach Senyshyn over Barzal and Connor type stuff.

I think you need to get on the message board (I can't because I can't justify paying for Todd's site) and mention what a bad idea it would be to take any of these guys at 37. Guindon? Really? Yikes. Does he have any remote idea what type of talent will actually be available at #37?

I’m pretty sure he wasn’t saying all these guys were candidates for the #37 pick other than Goyette but he doesn’t say when the other guys should be targeted.

 

[glenwo2]

@StevenToddIves , have you heard of this kid?

Jordan Dumais: 2022 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Diminutive Winger With Massive Points but Low Draft Grades

Today, we are profiling one of the more interesting cases in this draft class. By numbers alone, Dumais is a first round talent. But he is very small, and so is ranked much, much lower.

www.allaboutthejersey.com

Sounds like a 6th-round Gem waiting to be snapped up if Teams are turned off by his height..

Though the author says we should absolutely draft him at either 37 or 69 ( )

 

[OmNomNom]

woah have y'all seen this mock draft creator before

Draft Simulator

NHL draft simulator.

draftprospectshockey.com

@StevenToddIves maybe it'll make your life easier when planning out picks/projections!

 

[glenwo2]

@StevenToddIves can you (or someone else here) tell me how many draft picks (aside from the #2 pick, 37, and 69) the Devils currently have?

 

[StevenToddIves]

@StevenToddIves , have you heard of this kid?

Jordan Dumais: 2022 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Diminutive Winger With Massive Points but Low Draft Grades

Today, we are profiling one of the more interesting cases in this draft class. By numbers alone, Dumais is a first round talent. But he is very small, and so is ranked much, much lower.

www.allaboutthejersey.com

Sounds like a 6th-round Gem waiting to be snapped up if Teams are turned off by his height..

Though the author says we should absolutey draft him at either 37 or 69 ( )

Here's my write-up of Dumais from February. He's a player I really like, but I don't think I would seriously consider drafting him until around the 4th or 5th round. If you're drafting him at #37 overall, you need your head checked.

The fact is that people who don't watch the prospects all year long and then look at the stats and one highlight clip love the "2nd line or bust" offensive forwards and the 2nd-pairing upside defensively challenged defensemen; it's pretty much become their definition of a sleeper, because these types tend to put up solid scoring totals in amateur hockey.

Ultimately, a true sleeper is usually the opposite -- a young player who does not put up big numbers for reasons out of their control, like an Adam Sykora or Brennan Ali or Topi Ronni.

If you're taking a Jordan Dumais at #37 overall, you're leaving an Adam Sykora -- a potential top-line Zach Hyman-clone with an extremely high floor -- on the board for a 2nd-line-or-bust finger crosser. If you take him in the 4th round, likely one or both of Ali or Ronni -- two exceptional athletes who have yet to be thrust into offensive roles for amateur teams who rely on their excellent two-way play -- are on the board. Anyway, here's the write-up:

RW Jordan Dumais, Halifax QMJHL
At first look, Jordan Dumais represents the ultimate contradictory fulcrum between stat-based and scouting-based assessment of draft-eligible prospects. His scoring totals are eye-popping: 19 goals and 58 points in 38 QMJHL games, putting him on an 104-point pace for the entire season. With an April 15 birthdate, he's also doing this as one of the younger draft eligibles for 2022. And he's leading a team in scoring which also features two top high-end prospects, Zachary L'Heureux (Nashville) and Elliot Desnoyers (Philadelphia). But, he's also 5'9 and an average skater at best, a damning combination which has left him with draft rankings generally in the #75 to #85 range, pegging him as a late 3rd round pick.

Though Dumais is quick and agile, he just doesn't have the extension or explosiveness to hit any reasonable top speeds expected for smaller, scoring forwards by the draft consensus. There is no way to sugarcoat this. This affects his ability in transition, to be certain. Combined with a lack of power in both his skating and frame, it makes him below average in the defensive zone despite high levels of awareness and compete. Aside from a very late growth spurt and a redefinition of his entire skating mechanism, it's tough to see how these flaws will be overcome.

Conversely, we're looking at a kid with several high-end, even elite, skills. His passing ability is top 10 in the entire 2022 draft class. Dumais is brilliant in his vision and creativity, able to see passing lanes where there seemingly are none, one of those "eyes behind his head" players with an almost uncanny sense of where his teammates are and where they are going. Once set up in the offensive zone, you want the puck on Dumais' stick, because he's going to generate scoring chance after scoring chance. He's a very good stickhandler who uses his one skating attribute -- agility/quickness -- in tandem with his quick hands to make himself extremely elusive with the puck, even in tight spaces. Though Dumais is certainly a pass-first player, he also features a quick release on an accurate shot and makes good decisions in when to fire away; he's capable of scoring in tight if the defense is too concerned with defending his brilliant passing acumen.

What makes me really a fan of this kid are his intangibles. Dumais' slight size does not affect his courage, and he's willing to battle even against much larger defensemen he stands nary a chance against. He tries to go to the greasy areas, although he often winds up on his ass as a result. He's incredible smart, and I'd rate his offensive awareness as pretty elite -- absolutely first-round caliber.

So, where do you draft a Jordan Dumais? His physical limitations would seem to ceiling him as "second-line scoring forward" despite his formidable strengths as an offensive generator. And there is not a lot of bottom six potential here, for obvious reasons listed above. We're basically talking a "second line or bust" player, though you'd also have to concede he could be a very high scoring 2nd liner if his development progresses to an optimal degree. Again, Dumais represents a true sleeper with significant finger-crossing. The stat-based scouting bureaus will probably be touting him as a worthy first-round pick come June, but that's just poor judgement. The "old school, draft big/fast" teams like Ottawa and Anaheim will probably be crossing him off their draft boards altogether, but that's even worse judgement. I'd say Jordan Dumais is a kid you take a flyer on from the 4th round on, hoping he builds his core strength and improves his straight-line speed enough that his brilliant hockey abilities manifest at the higher levels.

 

[glenwo2]

Here's my write-up of Dumais from February. He's a player I really like, but I don't think I would seriously consider drafting him until around the 4th or 5th round. If you're drafting him at #37 overall, you need your head checked.

The fact is that people who don't watch the prospects all year long and then look at the stats and one highlight clip love the "2nd line or bust" offensive forwards and the 2nd-pairing upside defensively challenged defensemen; it's pretty much become their definition of a sleeper, because these types tend to put up solid scoring totals in amateur hockey.

Ultimately, a true sleeper is usually the opposite -- a young player who does not put up big numbers for reasons out of their control, like an Adam Sykora or Brennan Ali or Topi Ronni.

If you're taking a Jordan Dumais at #37 overall, you're leaving an Adam Sykora -- a potential top-line Zach Hyman-clone with an extremely high floor -- on the board for a 2nd-line-or-bust finger crosser. If you take him in the 4th round, likely one or both of Ali or Ronni -- two exceptional athletes who have yet to be thrust into offensive roles for amateur teams who rely on their excellent two-way play -- are on the board. Anyway, here's the write-up:

RW Jordan Dumais, Halifax QMJHL
At first look, Jordan Dumais represents the ultimate contradictory fulcrum between stat-based and scouting-based assessment of draft-eligible prospects. His scoring totals are eye-popping: 19 goals and 58 points in 38 QMJHL games, putting him on an 104-point pace for the entire season. With an April 15 birthdate, he's also doing this as one of the younger draft eligibles for 2022. And he's leading a team in scoring which also features two top high-end prospects, Zachary L'Heureux (Nashville) and Elliot Desnoyers (Philadelphia). But, he's also 5'9 and an average skater at best, a damning combination which has left him with draft rankings generally in the #75 to #85 range, pegging him as a late 3rd round pick.

Though Dumais is quick and agile, he just doesn't have the extension or explosiveness to hit any reasonable top speeds expected for smaller, scoring forwards by the draft consensus. There is no way to sugarcoat this. This affects his ability in transition, to be certain. Combined with a lack of power in both his skating and frame, it makes him below average in the defensive zone despite high levels of awareness and compete. Aside from a very late growth spurt and a redefinition of his entire skating mechanism, it's tough to see how these flaws will be overcome.

Conversely, we're looking at a kid with several high-end, even elite, skills. His passing ability is top 10 in the entire 2022 draft class. Dumais is brilliant in his vision and creativity, able to see passing lanes where there seemingly are none, one of those "eyes behind his head" players with an almost uncanny sense of where his teammates are and where they are going. Once set up in the offensive zone, you want the puck on Dumais' stick, because he's going to generate scoring chance after scoring chance. He's a very good stickhandler who uses his one skating attribute -- agility/quickness -- in tandem with his quick hands to make himself extremely elusive with the puck, even in tight spaces. Though Dumais is certainly a pass-first player, he also features a quick release on an accurate shot and makes good decisions in when to fire away; he's capable of scoring in tight if the defense is too concerned with defending his brilliant passing acumen.

What makes me really a fan of this kid are his intangibles. Dumais' slight size does not affect his courage, and he's willing to battle even against much larger defensemen he stands nary a chance against. He tries to go to the greasy areas, although he often winds up on his ass as a result. He's incredible smart, and I'd rate his offensive awareness as pretty elite -- absolutely first-round caliber.

So, where do you draft a Jordan Dumais? His physical limitations would seem to ceiling him as "second-line scoring forward" despite his formidable strengths as an offensive generator. And there is not a lot of bottom six potential here, for obvious reasons listed above. We're basically talking a "second line or bust" player, though you'd also have to concede he could be a very high scoring 2nd liner if his development progresses to an optimal degree. Again, Dumais represents a true sleeper with significant finger-crossing. The stat-based scouting bureaus will probably be touting him as a worthy first-round pick come June, but that's just poor judgement. The "old school, draft big/fast" teams like Ottawa and Anaheim will probably be crossing him off their draft boards altogether, but that's even worse judgement. I'd say Jordan Dumais is a kid you take a flyer on from the 4th round on, hoping he builds his core strength and improves his straight-line speed enough that his brilliant hockey abilities manifest at the higher levels.

Well what about the 69th pick then? He wouldn't be a reach then, would he?

 

[StevenToddIves]

Well what about the 69th pick then? He wouldn't be a reach then, would he?

Yes, Dumais would still be a reach at #69. He's not just small, he's also not a very strong skater. As far as his own player type goes, I don't think he's the best in the draft -- I'd give that honor to Joel Jonsson. I currently have Jonsson ranked #50 overall, with Dumais just outside my top 100. I like Jonsson's skating better, and I think he's more versatile as a player, with a chance to floor on a bottom six while I'd consider Dumais a "2nd line or bust" type.

LW/RW Joel Jonsson, Mora J20 Sweden Jr.
A lot of people read my draft profiles strictly to learn about potential draft-day sleepers who are not talked about nearly enough. Well, Joel Jonsson is one, and as such he's one of my favorite players for the late rounds of the 2022 entry draft. He is mostly ignored for two reasons: his size measurements of 5'9-150 and a lack of high-end straightaway speed. Well, in there next few paragraphs I'm hopefully going to convince you that this is a player with very real NHL top 6 upside due to a combination of sublime skill with off-the-charts intangibles.

I have often said that size is not crucial when judging NHL prospects. It can be when a larger player plays big or a smaller player plays small, but this is not the case with Jonsson. His courage is very high, and he's not afraid to take the puck to the interior. As a matter of fact, he's not afraid to take the puck anywhere. Joel Jonsson is one of those players who always wants the puck on his stick and is very comfortable once it is there. He has outstanding hands and an absurdly high hockey IQ and he knows it. Jonsson has the rare ability to manipulate defenders into making mistakes using a litany of slick moves and the foresight to judge what a defender will do if he leads them in a certain direction, when all along his plan was to open the precise lane the defender just gave him. Jonsson is a devastatingly good passer, and like all devastatingly good puck handler/playmakers, he seems to have more space than other players whenever he has the puck. This is not luck, it's just a high level of being able to create space. He's the guy all of his teammates wants to quarterback every offensive zone situation, and Jonsson does this like a conductor running a philharmonic.

I have also often said that skating acuity is not simply about top speeds. Jonsson is barely above average in this respect, but I'd still call him an excellent skater due to his phenomenal edges and maneuverability with the puck. The combination of his elite hands and elite edges have him literally faking opposing defenders off-balance, sometimes multiple times in the same game. Then when we add in his elite hockey IQ and ability to create lanes and then hit them with remarkable passing acumen, we have a player with top 6 scoring upside in the NHL despite obvious physical limitations. One can ask no more of a player with Joel Jonsson's natural-born abilities than to be as good as Joel Jonsson has been, and this speaks volumes to his high character and intelligence.

Clearly, this is a young player who needs the weight room and several years of development. With improved core strength we could see concurrent improvements in areas of need like straightaway speed and shooting power. However, Jonsson's shot is still "as good as it can be", due to a quick release and excellent accuracy. He's Mora's top shootout option, though naturally that has more to do with his cool under pressure and remarkable set of mitts. Ultimately, I see a player with a potentially high development curve, especially if he adds muscle to his frame. He's actually a kid who loves to hit and get his hands dirty, and although he's quite strong for his size he can obviously still be outmuscled because he's a guy fully willing to go toe-to-toe with a 6'2-200 defender.

Joel Jonsson is, quite simply, the most overlooked forward out of Sweden for the 2022 draft. He has palpable top 6 upside and his character and high IQ -- combined with a silky set of hands -- give him a higher floor than most 5'9-150 offensive wingers. He's a player who loves the puck on his stick and always seems to know exactly what to do with it. He will probably be available from the 4th round to the 6th for purely superficial reasons, and he'd be an absolute steal if you get him there.

 

[StevenToddIves]

@StevenToddIves can you (or someone else here) tell me how many draft picks (aside from the #2 pick, 37, and 69) the Devils currently have?

Devils picks:
#2
#37
#69
#101
#109
#125
#140
#165
#197