Introduction

The Devils may only be halfway through the team’s season, but most fans are already looking forward towards the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. So, let’s do that too! This draft is an interesting one with a number one pick that some claim to be open for the taking. Is it really though? Maybe. Let’s take a look at who could go number one as well as the rest of our draft rankings at Devils Army Blog, 10 through one.

#10 – Frank Nazar, C/RW (US Development Program)

Statistics: 51 games played (GP) – 28 goals (G), 38 assists (A), 66 points (PTS)

Frank Nazar is one part of a great US Development Program, 18-year old class. Nazar is first and foremost an athlete, while not having the largest frame his compete level is through the roof. He’s been reliable on both ends of the ice, efficient at getting on loose pucks, and always looking to make a play. He is creative with the puck, but carries a chaotic energy with him that you just don’t see with many top draft picks. 

He definitely is a candidate to jump up in the rankings, especially if he has a good under-18 tournament.

#9 – Juraj Slafkovsky, LW (Finnish Liiga)

Statistics: 21 GP – 1 G, 3 A, 4 PTS

Despite only having four points in 21 games played, Juraj Slafkovsky is most definitely a top-10 prospect. He has a huge frame that he uses to his advantage to compete with men in the Liiga (Top professional league in Finland) as a 17-year old. He has fantastic puck protection and loves to shoot the puck. Slafkovsky is also a good skater in almost every possible way. Being a great skater who is also six-foot-four and 225 pounds is a great way to get drafted inside the top-10. 

The Slovakian winger is also competing in the ongoing Winter Olympics. With that having just begun, his draft stock, similar to Nazar, could rise even further.

#8 – David Jiricek, D (Czech League)

Statistics: 29 GP – 5 G, 6 A, 11 PTS

David Jiricek is an interesting defenseman. He has a ton of great tools such as his transitional play going both ways and his skating ability. However, there is one big gripe with his game that is preventing him from being the top defenseman in this year’s draft. That gripe being that he takes his game a little too far.

For example, Jiricek is a pretty good puck handler, but sometimes he’ll just try to do a little too much with the puck on his stick. He activates from the point a lot and tends to drift away from the play a little too soon. 

Jiricek is still a great defenseman, he just needs to be coached a little better on some smaller things. Those smaller things are what has him outside the top-seven.

#7 – Danila Yurov, RW (KHL/MHL)

Statistics: 36 GP – 5 G, 14 A, 19 PTS

Danila Yurov is just a solid player, not terrific at anything, but not below-average at anything. Yurov is very easy to project as a middle-six forward at the worst, and high end top-six forward at best. Your classic high-floor prospect. He’s pretty decent defensively, has smooth edge work and solid skating abilities. He also knows how to run a power play from the half wall. 

Yurov started the year in the KHL, but barely got to play and has spent a large majority of a recent stretch in the MHL (Russian junior league). Even with him playing recently in the MHL, his play hasn’t changed and he’s putting up great numbers. Good enough for a spot in the top-seven.

#6 – Brad Lambert, C/RW (Finnish Liiga)

Statistics: 31 GP – 3 G, 4 A, 7 PTS

Brad Lambert just 16-months ago seemed to be a consensus top-three pick. That all changed this season due to the fact that his production has slowed to a halt. He was traded mid-season, and has only played seven games with his new team. In those seven games he has collected just a single goal. Don’t mistake his low production for little skill, however, as he’s been getting very unlucky. Lambert currently owns a PDO (read more on that statistic here) of 94.3 which ranks 28th on his team.

Lambert’s two main attributes are his top-tier skating ability and hand skills. The two are a deadly combination that allow him to make plays off the rush at top-speed. Similar to Jiricek, Lambert has the tools, he just needs to learn how to be a little smarter about how to use them.

#5 – Joakim Kemell, RW (Finnish Liiga)

Statistics: 25 GP – 12 G, 6 A, 18 PTS

Joakim Kemell is, in a sense, a reverse Lambert. He’s been scoring a ton and getting the luck, but isn’t as good of a skater. That’s not to say he doesn’t belong above Lambert though, because he does.

Kemell is one of the better overall players in this draft class, having a fantastic shot, a creative mindset, and solid all around hockey-IQ. Kemell knows how to play at both ends of the rink and has an extremely active stick in the defensive zone. As mentioned earlier though, Kemell isn’t the greatest skater, which is what’s keeping him from being higher on this list.

#4 – Logan Cooley, C/RW (US Development Program)

Statistics: 41 GP – 20 G, 36 A, 56 PTS

Logan Cooley is the second-most well-rounded player in this year’s draft. He has great hands, a wicked and deceptive shot, a solid playmaking ability, and an extremely strong two-way game. Cooley is the best piece of a talented under-18 US development program class. He’s a player where there isn’t really a weak point in his game, and there are a ton of strong points.

For now, It’s hard to see Cooley as more than a really great first-line center, but that could all change next year when he will play for the Fighting Irish at the University of Notre Dame.

#3 – Simon Nemec, D (Slovak League)

Statistics: 32 GP – 1 G, 22 A, 23 PTS

Simon Nemec is the most complete defenseman in this draft. He is almost like a defenseman version of Logan Cooley. In the sense he doesn’t have a large weakness, but a ton of great strengths. Nemec is extremely smart in his own end, has an elite stick, and great first pass. Everything you want in a strong transition game. He also has good playmaking and vision along with decent hands.

There is nothing super flashy about Nemec’s game, but nothing bad either. He is eerily similar to Jake Sanderson in his draft plus one season. Like Slafkovsky, Nemec is playing in the Winter Olympic currently where he has a chance to prove that he can continue his dominant play against even better competition.

#2 – Matthew Savoie, C (WHL)

Statistics: 38 GP – 19 G, 36 A, 55 PTS

Matthew Savoie has had an extremely odd journey to where he is currently ranked today. Savoie, similar to Lambert, was a consensus top-three pick just a short time ago. Then he had an extremely disappointing stint with the Winnipeg Ice of the WHL in 2019-20 and didn’t even play in the CHL last season. The combination of those two occurrences dropped him outside the top-10 for some people. However, Savoie returned to the Winnipeg Ice this season, and has been scoring at an elite pace with 55 points in 38 games.

The Ice centerman is one of, if not the most creative player in this draft. Savoie is always willing to try something different to get himself in a position to create offense. When he does that he’ll have the option of choosing if he wants to use his hockey-IQ and playmaking ability to set up a teammate for a great chance, or use his electric wrist shot to wire a puck past a goaltender.

There are two little details about Savoie’s game that hampers him a tad. First is pretty simple: he doesn’t shoot enough. Obviously some players are pass first guys, but Savoie will often make an extra pass or try to fit a puck somewhere it can’t go instead of just shooting. Lastly, he can try to get a little too pretty with his zone exits and it can lead to defensive zone turnover which are not ideal. Besides those two things though, Savoie is a fantastic prospect that definitely should be in consideration for possibly overtaking the player at number one on this list.

#1 – Shane Wright, C (OHL)

Statistics: 34 GP – 17 G, 29 A, 46 PTS

Despite not producing at as strong of a pace as Matthew Savoie, Shane Wright is currently the top player in this draft. Wright should be regard as the top two-way player in this draft, that is extremely deadly on the attack.

Wright does everything well. He’s extremely creative, executes passes very well, and has an exceptional release. He is also strong on backchecks and is always in the right spot to intercept passes in his own end. Similar to some other players, he needs to work on being a little more simple with his zone exits. At the same time, Wright also has so much talent and smarts that he doesn’t do it as much and when he does the exits are executed very well.

Elite Prospects says that the consensus number one pick is a, “dynamic playmaker with a sniper’s release, there is virtually no easy way to stop him.” If you watch him play, it’s pretty easy to read that and easily agree.

Disclaimer: all statistics are as of February 7th, 2022.

All statistics are via Elite Prospects and the Finish Liiga.

If you would like to take a look at our notes and rankings, as well as highlights, for 32 prospects in this year’s draft, you can view that here.