Today, I attempt the impossible and try to project how all 225 picks in the 2022 NHL Draft will go. We are one week away from Montreal being on the clock. Summaries of each team’s draft class can be found at the bottom of the article.
Trying to pin down what Montreal will do with the No. 1 pick has been a challenge. There are quite a few people in the league who believe this pick will be Shane Wright. However, based on discussions with people in the league over the last few weeks, the winds seem to be blowing in the direction of Slafkovsky — to the point that I think this is the slightly more likely scenario at the No. 1 slot.
If the Habs take Wright, I think for the Devils it’s a simple scenario and they take Slafkovsky. If Slafkovsky goes No. 1, it opens up the possibilities. League sources seem somewhat skeptical they will take Wright, or at least they don’t view this as the likeliest scenario. The most common scenario proposed to me for New Jersey with Slafkovsky going first is the Devils taking one of the top two defensemen in Jiricek or Simon Nemec, or trading the pick. Jiricek is the more common name I’ve heard attached to the Devils between the two defensemen.
I’m unsure of what direction Arizona goes in should the draft play out this way. I could see Wright, I could see a defenseman like Nemec, or I could see the Coyotes go in the direction of Cooley. People in the league have given me mixed opinions on whether they think Arizona would go Cooley or Wright in this scenario. There has been the odd mention of Cutter Gauthier to Arizona as well with league sources.
I see you racing to the comments section over Wright getting to No. 4. Should Slafkovsky go first, though, I think it opens up a lot of possibilities in the first few picks. I could see Wright going in any of those first few spots between 1-4, and if he starts to slide, I think it ends at Seattle. If Cooley is available here I would also view that as a strong possibility. If the draft goes more chalk, then the two top defensemen and Gauthier would likely be the considerations here.
I think Philly’s pick will most likely come down to Gauthier or either or the two defensemen in Jiricek and Nemec. I’ve been hearing Gauthier’s name more than the others as we get closer to the draft.
There’s been a somewhat consensus group of six forming as we approach the draft between Wright, Slafkovsky, Cooley, Nemec and Gauthier. I presume Columbus will take whichever of the six are left, but I wouldn’t put it past this group to deviate from a consensus!
Pinning down Ottawa at No. 7 has been difficult. The only intel I’ve had on their pick of late has been some buzz linking them to the Winnipeg ICE kids in Savoie and Conor Geekie. Savoie, Joakim Kemell and Marco Kasper make the most sense in terms of the types of players they value. I did have one source recently tell me to not rule out Jonathan Lekkerimaki here because “someone has to score their goals.”
It feels like everyone presumes Detroit is going to take Kasper, which probably means it’s not going to happen! The pick makes so much sense in terms of talent, positional and stylistic fit though. If it’s not Kasper I could see Kemell or Savoie here.
9. Buffalo Sabres: Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW, Djurgarden (SWEDEN)
Not surprisingly I think Buffalo will be looking to add skill and offense at their pick. The names I’ve heard here the most often are Savoie, Kemell, Kasper and Lekkerimaki.
10. Anaheim Ducks: Kevin Korchinski, LHD, Seattle (WHL)
I don’t have great information on Anaheim’s preferences at 10, but I know a lot of Ducks personnel were spotted at those final Seattle WHL games. My bet is a defenseman is the pick at 10, whether it’s Korchinski or Pavel Mintyukov.
I presumed one of the three smaller forwards in Savoie, Lekkerimaki and Kemell would slide out of the top ten, and possibly even further than this pick. I had initially thought that was going to be Savoie but my latest information seems to indicate an industry cooling on Kemell. He would be an instant fit into what the Sharks value. I could see Korchinski or Geekie here as well.
12. Columbus Blue Jackets: Conor Geekie, C, Winnipeg (WHL)
If Columbus gets Jiricek or Nemec at No. 6 it opens up the possibilities here to several options such as if one of those top wingers fall, or a top center option like Geekie. If they get Gauthier with the sixth pick, I feel this one almost has to be a defenseman like Mintyukov or Korchinski.
One name I’ve heard trending with several teams as we get closer to the draft is Gaucher as a big two-way center who enough teams believe has legit offense to go high in the draft.
14. Winnipeg Jets: Pavel Mintyukov, LHD, Saginaw (OHL)
Winnipeg has needs at center and defense so I could see them go in a few directions, like adding pivots such as Geekie, Gaucher, or Frank Nazar or taking a defenseman like Mintyukov.
As we’ve gotten closer to the draft, one name I’ve consistently heard league sources say I need to move much higher up in my mocks is Ostlund, who many in the league feel will be a top 20 pick if not higher. He would add a lot of speed, skill and playmaking to the Canucks, who need depth at center.
It feels like a lot of people in and outside the league are predicting Yurov with the Sabres pick. I do think it’s a strong possibility but if they went in a different direction, I could see Ostlund here too.
There is a pressing need for defense in the Preds system and the draft will likely line up where several good defensemen make sense in terms of talent such as Bichsel, Ryan Chesley, Denton Mateychuk or Owen Pickering.
18. Dallas Stars: Owen Pickering, LHD, Swift Current (WHL)
Dallas has system needs at center and defense so I could see a lot of options here such as Bichsel, Pickering, Mateychuk or Nazar.
The Wild have drafted a few players that look like Nazar in Marco Rossi and Marat Khusnutdinov, but they clearly value skating and compete in their draft picks recently and Nazar has that in bunches. I could see Jiri Kulich here as well.
Kulich has been a player on the rise this season and many scouts think he’s going to go in the top 20. He would add skill, scoring and two-way ability that the Capitals don’t have a ton of in their system. I could see Pickering at 20 as well.
Once we get to around 20 or so is when I expect teams are going to start taking hard looks at Miroshnichenko. There’s an alleyway of teams like Washington, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Minnesota that could all be looking at a guy who when healthy was a top 5 talent and could help extend their contending windows.
22. Anaheim Ducks: Jimmy Snuggerud, RW, USA U-18 (NTDP)
Presuming they get a defenseman at No. 10 I could see the Ducks go in several directions at 22 given how many good young players they have in the organization. Lambert makes sense here, as does another defenseman like Denton Mateychuk or Ryan Chesley. Snuggerud adds a much needed goal-scorer to the system who also provides size and compete.
23. St. Louis Blues: Ryan Chesley, RHD, USA U-18 (NTDP)
Centers and defensemen are a priority for the Blues so I could see Chesley or Mateychuk at this spot for sure and Nazar as a possibility if he gets to 23.
24. Minnesota Wild: Rutger McGroarty, RW, USA U-18 (NTDP)
It’s tough to find out where McGroarty lands. Some scouts love him — they see elite compete together with legit skill and scoring touch and think he could be a top 15 pick — and some think his skating will keep him out of the NHL. On equilibrium, he probably ends in the 20s and I see Minnesota as a team that makes sense for him given how much they value compete in their picks.
Schaefer is a name on the rise after his WHL playoffs as a big bruising winger who can score. I could see him go even higher than this spot. People around the league think the Coyotes want to get bigger and tougher in this draft, and Schaefer would accomplish that in bunches.
28. Buffalo Sabres: Filip Bystedt, C, Linkoping Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
It’s hard to imagine Buffalo walking away from their three first round picks without any natural centers or a defensemen. They pick Bystedt in this mock; he is a tall, fast center with some offensive touch.
As we get closer to draft day, I’m not hearing a lot of scouts put up their hands to say, “I’d be happy to draft Lambert,” so I expect a slide from where most expect him to go. He may go before 29, but I struggled to find a landing spot for him based on what I know of teams picking value in players. Once you get to the mid 20s though I feel like a team such as Edmonton here will roll the dice on the high-end skating Lambert brings.
30. Winnipeg Jets: Isaac Howard, LW, USA U-18 (NTDP)
I sense some reservations around the league on Howard as we get closer to draft day, but I think he’ll still be a late first/early second on draft day. I could see Luca Del Bel Belluz here too if Winnipeg wants another center.
Tampa hasn’t picked in the first much recently, so I could see them go in a different direction such as Del Bel Belluz or Tristan Luneau if they want a defenseman.
32. Arizona Coyotes: Sam Rinzel, RHD, Chaska (HIGH-MN)
Arizona adds much needed defense depth into their system with their final first round pick in the tall, mobile Rinzel. I could see Maveric Lamoureux or Luneau as the pick here too.
Second Round
Montreal: Tristan Luneau, RHD, Gatineau (QMJHL)
Arizona: Matyas Sapovaliv, C, Saginaw (OHL)
Seattle: Jagger Firkus, RW, Moose Jaw (WHL)
Arizona: Filip Mesar, RW, Poprad (SLOVAKIA)
New Jersey: Julian Lutz, LW, Munchen (GERMANY)
Chicago: Elias Salomonsson, RHD, Skelleftea Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
Edmonton: Michael Mastrodomenico, RHD, Lincoln (USHL)
New York Rangers: Otto Salin, RHD, Hifk Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)
Tampa Bay: Luca Di Pasquo, G, Maryland (NAHL)
Colorado: Amadeus Lombardi, C, Flint (OHL)
Seventh Round
Montreal: Grayden SIepmann, RHD, Calgary (WHL)
San Jose: Samu Bau, C, Hifk Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)
Seattle: Simon Latkoczy, G, Madison (USHL)
Philadelphia: Mathew Ward, C, Swift Current (WHL)
New Jersey: Yegor Sidorov, RW, Saskatoon (WHL)
Chicago: Liam Steele, RHD, Stanstead College (HIGH-QC)
Boston: Kent Anderson, RHD, Green Bay (USHL)
Detroit: Sergei Ivanov, G, Ska St. Petersburg 2 (RUSSIA-JR.)
Buffalo: Matthew Maggio, RW, Windsor (OHL)
Columbus: Kaden Muir, RHD, USA U-18 (NTDP)
San Jose: Keaton Dowhaniuk, LHD, Prince George (WHL)
Carolina: Markus Vidicek, C, Halifax (QMJHL)
Ottawa: Luke Mittelstadt, LHD, Madison (USHL)
Winnipeg: Aaron Pionk, LHD, Mn Wilderness (NAHL)
Vancouver: Rasmus Rudslatt, RW, Aik Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
Vegas: Axel Mangbo, G, Sioux City (USHL)
Nashville: Vincent Filion, G, Moncton (QMJHL)
Buffalo: Owen Millward, G, Janesville (NAHL)
Detroit: Egor Savikov, LHD, Spartak (RUSSIA)
Washington: Jackson Edward, LHD, London (OHL)
Pittsburgh: Jackson Dorrington, LHD, Des Moines (USHL)
Boston: Kenny Connors, C, Dubuque (USHL)
Montreal: Bogdans Hodass, LHD, Medicine Hat (WHL)
San Jose: Abram Wiebe, LHD, Chilliwack (BCHL)
Toronto: Zam Plante, C, Hermantown (HIGH-MN)
Calgary: Reid Dyck, G, Swift Current (WHL)
Carolina: Lukas Swedin, G, Hv 71 Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
Florida: Connor Hvidston, LW, Swift Current (WHL)
Edmonton: Nick Malik, G, Kookoo (FINLAND)
Tampa Bay: Marian Mosko, LHD, Selects U18 – South Kent (HIGH-CT)
Tampa Bay: Hunter McKown, C, Colorado College (NCHC)
Colorado: Samuel Savoie, LW, Gatineau (QMJHL)
Team-by-team draft results:
Anaheim Ducks 10. Kevin Korchinski, LHD, Seattle (WHL) 22. Jimmy Snuggerud, RW, USA U-18 (NTDP) 42. Cameron Lund, C, Green Bay (USHL) 53. Bryce Mcconnell-Barker, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) 107. Brennan Ali, C, Avon Old Farms (HIGH-CT) 139. Ludvig Jansson, RHD, Sodertalje (SWEDEN-2) 154. Michael Callow, RW, St. Sebastians School (HIGH-MA) 178. Alex Sotek, RW, Bratislava (SLOVAKIA)
Arizona Coyotes 3. Logan Cooley, C, USA U-18 (NTDP) 27. Reid Schaefer, LW, Seattle (WHL) 32. Sam Rinzel, RHD, Chaska (HIGH-MN) 34. Matyas Sapovaliv, C, Saginaw (OHL) 36. Filip Mesar, RW, Poprad (SLOVAKIA) 43. Michael Fisher, RHD, St. Mark’S School (HIGH-MA) 45. Jani Nyman, RW, Koovee (FINLAND-2) 67. Tyler Brennan, G, Prince George (WHL) 131. Semyon Sinyatkin, RW, Dynamo St. Petersburg 2 (RUSSIA-JR.) 163. Dylan Godbout, LW, Hill-Murray (HIGH-MN)
Boston Bruins 54. Calle Odelius, LHD, Djurgarden Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) 91. Cedrick Guindon, LW, Owen Sound (OHL) 119. Cameron O’Neill, RW, Mount St. Charles (HIGH-RI) 183. Maxim Arefyev, G, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk 2 (RUSSIA-JR.) 200. Kent Anderson, RHD, Green Bay (USHL) 215. Kenny Connors, C, Dubuque (USHL)
Buffalo Sabres 9. Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW, Djurgarden (SWEDEN) 16. Danila Yurov, RW, Magnitogorsk (RUSSIA) 28. Filip Bystedt, C, Linkoping Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) 41. Adam Sykora, LW, Nitra (SLOVAKIA) 74. Adam Ingram, C, Youngstown (USHL) 106. Arseni Koromyslov, LHD, Ska St. Petersburg 2 (RUSSIA-JR.) 134. Jake Livanavage, LHD, Chicago (USHL) 170. Maxim Barbashev, LW, Moncton (QMJHL) 187. Kocha Delic, C, Sudbury (OHL) 202. Matthew Maggio, RW, Windsor (OHL) 211. Owen Millward, G, Janesville (NAHL)
Calgary Flames 59. Christian Kyrou, RHD, Erie (OHL) 155. Evan Konyen, RW, Sudbury (OHL) 219. Reid Dyck, G, Swift Current (WHL)
Carolina Hurricanes 60. Lane Hutson, LHD, USA U-18 (NTDP) 71. Gleb Trikozov, LW, Omsk 2 (RUSSIA-JR.) 124. Vladimir Grudinin, LHD, Cska 2 (RUSSIA-JR.) 156. Ben Hemmerling, RW, Everett (WHL) 171. Ales Cech, LHD, Karpat Jr. (FINLAND-JR.) 188. Jeremy Wilmer, LW, Tri-City (USHL) 205. Markus Vidicek, C, Halifax (QMJHL) 220. Lukas Swedin, G, Hv 71 Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
Chicago Blackhawks 38. Elias Salomonsson, RHD, Skelleftea Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) 57. Seamus Casey, RHD, USA U-18 (NTDP) 81. Josh Filmon, LW, Swift Current (WHL) 90. Alexander Suzdalev, LW, Hv 71 Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) 94. Hunter Haight, C, Barrie (OHL) 167. Chase Coward, G, Red Deer (WHL) 173. Ruslan Gazizov, LW, London (OHL) 199. Liam Steele, RHD, Stanstead College (HIGH-QC)
Colorado Avalanche 97. Ryan Healey, RHD, Sioux Falls (USHL) 161. Niklas Kokko, G, Karpat Jr. (FINLAND-JR.) 193. Amadeus Lombardi, C, Flint (OHL) 225. Samuel Savoie, LW, Gatineau (QMJHL)
Columbus Blue Jackets 6. Simon Nemec, RHD, Nitra (SLOVAKIA) 12. Conor Geekie, C, Winnipeg (WHL) 44. Tomas Hamara, LHD, Tappara Jr. (FINLAND-JR.) 96. Adam Engstrom, LHD, Djurgarden Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) 109. Cole Spicer, C, USA U-18 (NTDP) 122. Jorian Donovan, LHD, Hamilton (OHL) 203. Kaden Muir, RHD, USA U-18 (NTDP)
Dallas Stars 18. Owen Pickering, LHD, Swift Current (WHL) 50. Topi Ronni, C, Tappara Jr. (FINLAND-JR.) 83. Isaiah George, LHD, London (OHL) 115. Jake Sloan, RW, Tri-City (WHL) 147. Kirill Kudryavtsev, LHD, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) 179. Miguel Tourigny, RHD, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)
Detroit Red Wings 8. Marco Kasper, C, Rogle (SWEDEN) 40. Ryan Greene, C, Green Bay (USHL) 52. Noah Warren, RHD, Gatineau (QMJHL) 73. Ben MacDonald, C, Noble & Greenough (HIGH-MA) 105. Jace Weir, RHD, Red Deer (WHL) 113. George Fegaras, RHD, North York (OJHL) 129. Hugo Havelid, G, Linkoping Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) 137. Logan Morrison, C, Hamilton (OHL) 201. Sergei Ivanov, G, Ska St. Petersburg 2 (RUSSIA-JR.) 212. Egor Savikov, LHD, Spartak (RUSSIA)
Edmonton Oilers 29. Brad Lambert, C, Pelicans (FINLAND) 158. Tyler Muszelik, G, USA U-18 (NTDP) 190. Michael Mastrodomenico, RHD, Lincoln (USHL) 222. Nick Malik, G, Kookoo (FINLAND)
Florida Panthers 93. Servac Petrovsky, C, Owen Sound (OHL) 125. Cole Knuble, RW, Fargo (USHL) 157. Matthew Morden, LHD, St. Andrews College (HIGH-ON) 186. Connor McClennon, RW, Winnipeg (WHL) 189. Antonin Verreault, LW, Gatineau (QMJHL) 221. Connor Hvidston, LW, Swift Current (WHL)
Los Angeles Kings 51. Mattias Havelid, RHD, Linkoping Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) 86. Michael Buchinger, LHD, Guelph (OHL) 116. Brandon Lisowsky, LW, Saskatoon (WHL) 148. Martin Johnsen, C, Farjestad Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) 180. Dylan Silverstein, G, USA U-18(NTDP)
Minnesota Wild 19. Frank Nazar, C, USA U-18 (NTDP) 24. Rutger McGroarty, RW, USA U-18 (NTDP) 47. Owen Beck, C, Mississauga (OHL) 56. Viktor Neuchev, LW, Yekaterinburg 2 (RUSSIA-JR.) 89. Jeremy Langlois, LHD, Cape Breton (QMJHL) 121. Daniil Orlov, LHD, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk 2 (RUSSIA-JR.) 153. Garrett Brown, RHD, Sioux City (USHL) 185. Ilya Kvochko, C, Magnitogorsk 2 (RUSSIA-JR.)
Montreal Canadiens 1. Juraj Slafkovsky, LW, TPS (FINLAND) 26. Liam Ohgren, LW, Djurgarden Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) 33. Tristan Luneau, RHD, Gatineau (QMJHL) 62. David Goyette, C, Sudbury (OHL) 66. Dylan James, LW, Sioux City (USHL) 75. Fraser Minten, C, Kamloops (WHL) 92. Mason Beaupit, G, Spokane (WHL) 98. Vinzenz Rohrer, C, Ottawa (OHL) 127. Angus Booth, LHD, Shawinigan (QMJHL) 128. Lucas Edmonds, RW, Kingston (OHL) 130. Tyson Dyck, C, Cranbrook (BCHL) 162. Michael Schnattinger, G, Brno Jr. (CZREP-JR.) 194. Grayden SIepmann, RHD, Calgary (WHL) 216. Bogdans Hodass, LHD, Medicine Hat (WHL)
Nashville Predators 17. Lian Bichsel, LHD, Leksand (SWEDEN) 82. Ty Nelson, RHD, North Bay (OHL) 84. Paul Ludwinski, C, Kingston (OHL) 114. Spencer Sova, LHD, Erie (OHL) 146. Tristan Sarsland, RHD, Benilde-St. Margaret’S (HIGH-MN) 210. Vincent Filion, G, Moncton (QMJHL)
New Jersey Devils 2. David Jiricek, RHD, Plzen (CZREP) 37. Julian Lutz, LW, Munchen (GERMANY) 70. Quinn Finley, LW, Madison (USHL) 102. Liam Arnsby, C, North Bay (OHL) 110. Marek Alscher, LHD, Portland (WHL) 126. Josh Davies, LW, Swift Current (WHL) 141. Ian Blomquist, G, Vasteras Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) 166. Jere Lassila, C, Jyp Jr. (FINLAND-JR.) 198. Yegor Sidorov, RW, Saskatoon (WHL)
New York Islanders 13. Nathan Gaucher, C, Quebec (QMJHL) 65. Kasper Kulonummi, RHD, Jokerit Jr. (FINLAND-JR.) 78. Matthew Poitras, C, Guelph (OHL) 142. Samuel Mayer, LHD, Peterborough (OHL) 174. Ivan Zhigalov, G, Sherbrooke (QMJHL)
New York Rangers 63. Jack Hughes, C, Northeastern (H-EAST) 111. Kirill Dolzhenkov, RW, Cska 2 (RUSSIA-JR.) 159. Tyler Dunbar, LHD, Muskegon (USHL) 191. Otto Salin, RHD, Hifk Jr. (FINLAND-JR.)
Ottawa Senators 7. Matthew Savoie, C, Winnipeg (WHL) 39. Maveric Lamoureux, RHD, Drummondville (QMJHL) 64. Devin Kaplan, RW, USA U-18 (NTDP) 72. Jordan Dumais, RW, Halifax (QMJHL) 87. Miko Matikka, RW, Jokerit Jr. (FINLAND-JR.) 104. Marc-Andre Gaudet, LHD, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL) 136. Marek Hejduk, RW, USA U-18 (NTDP) 143. Filip Nordberg, LHD, Sodertalje Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) 151. Daimon Gardner, C, Warroad (HIGH-MN) 168. Andrew Oke, G, Saginaw (OHL) 206. Luke Mittelstadt, LHD, Madison (USHL)
Philadelphia Flyers 5. Cutter Gauthier, LW, USA U-18 (NTDP) 69. Jack Sparkes, RHD, St. Michaels (OJHL) 101. Fabian Wagner, C, Linkoping Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) 133. Leo Gruba, RHD, Hill-Murray (HIGH-MN) 165. Jake Karabela, C, Guelph (OHL) 197. Mathew Ward, C, Swift Current (WHL)
Pittsburgh Penguins 21. Ivan Miroshnichenko, LW, Omsk Krylia (RUSSIA-2) 118. Tyson Jugnauth, LHD, West Kelowna (BCHL) 150. Barrett Hall, C, Gentry Academy (HIGH-MN) 182. Niks Fenenko, LHD, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL) 214. Jackson Dorrington, LHD, Des Moines (USHL)
San Jose Sharks 11. Joakim Kemell, RW, Jyp (FINLAND) 76. Oskar Pettersson, RW, Rogle Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) 108. Cameron Whitehead, G, Lincoln (USHL) 138. David Spacek, RHD, Sherbrooke (QMJHL) 140. Ludwig Persson, LW, Frolunda Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) 172. Alexandr Muromtsev, C, Belarus U18 (BELARUS-2) 195. Samu Bau, C, Hifk Jr. (FINLAND-JR.) 204. Keaton Dowhaniuk, LHD, Prince George (WHL) 217. Abram Wiebe, LHD, Chilliwack (BCHL)
Seattle Kraken 4. Shane Wright, C, Kingston (OHL) 35. Jagger Firkus, RW, Moose Jaw (WHL) 49. Danil Zhilkin, C, Guelph (OHL) 58. Topias Leinonen, G, Jyp Jr. (FINLAND-JR.) 61. Jordan Gustafson, C, Seattle (WHL) 68. Simon Forsmark, LHD, Orebro (SWEDEN) 100. Gavin Hayes, LW, Flint (OHL) 117. Kyle Jackson, C, North Bay (OHL) 123. Michael Milne, LW, Winnipeg (WHL) 132. Tucker Robertson, C, Peterborough (OHL) 164. Rayan Bettahar, LHD, Swift Current (WHL) 196. Simon Latkoczy, G, Madison (USHL)
St. Louis Blues 23. Ryan Chesley, RHD, USA U-18 (NTDP) 88. Charles Leddy, RHD, USA U-18(NTDP) 120. Nicholas Moldenhauer, RW, Chicago (USHL) 152. James Hardie, LW, Mississauga (OHL) 184. Jake Furlong, LHD, Halifax (QMJHL)
Tampa Bay Lightning 31. Luca Del Bel Belluz, C, Mississauga (OHL) 103. Artem Duda, LHD, Cska 2 (RUSSIA-JR.) 160. Connor Kurth, RW, Dubuque (USHL) 169. Jacob Newcombe, C, Chicoutimi (QMJHL) 192. Luca Di Pasquo, G, Maryland (NAHL) 223. Marian Mosko, LHD, Selects U18 – South Kent (HIGH-CT) 224. Hunter McKown, C, Colorado College (NCHC)
Vancouver Canucks 15. Noah Ostlund, C, Djurgarden Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) 80. Matthew Seminoff, RW, Kamloops (WHL) 112. Jack Devine, RW, Denver (NCHC) 144. Vsevolod Komarov, RHD, Quebec (QMJHL) 176. James Fisher, RW, Belmont Hill (HIGH-MA) 208. Rasmus Rudslatt, RW, Aik Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
Vegas Golden Knights 48. Alexander Perevalov, LW, Yaroslavl 2 (RUSSIA-JR.) 95. Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, C, Hifk Jr. (FINLAND-JR.) 135. Ben King, C, Red Deer (WHL) 145. Alex Bump, LW, Prior Lake (HIGH-MN) 177. Dmitri Buchelnikov, LW, Ska St. Petersburg 2 (RUSSIA-JR.) 209. Axel Mangbo, G, Sioux City (USHL)
Washington Capitals 20. Jiri Kulich, C, Karlovy Vary (CZREP) 46. Rieger Lorenz, LW, Okotoks (AJHL) 85. Daniil Ivanov, LHD, Spartak 2 (RUSSIA-JR.) 149. Ty Young, G, Prince George (WHL) 181. Stephen Halliday, C, Dubuque (USHL) 213. Jackson Edward, LHD, London (OHL)
Winnipeg Jets 14. Pavel Mintyukov, LHD, Saginaw (OHL) 30. Isaac Howard, LW, USA U-18 (NTDP) 55. Elias Pettersson, LHD, Orebro Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) 77. Cruz Lucius, RW, USA U-18 (NTDP) 99. Sandis Vilmanis, LW, Lulea Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.) 175. Charlie Wright, LHD, Saskatoon (WHL) 207. Aaron Pionk, LHD, Mn Wilderness (NAHL)
(Illustration: John Bradford / The Athletic; photos: Kirill Kudryavtsev, Christine Olsson / Getty Images; Rena Laverty / USNTDP)
MONTREAL – On a night when New York’s top line was missing in action, the bit players grabbed the spotlight and led the Rangers to a commanding 7-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens.
“That’s the kind of team we have,” said Filip Chytil, who led the Rangers with a pair of power-play goals Tuesday. “The guys on the top line had chances but when they don’t score we have three other lines to pick up the slack.”
The Rangers’ dominance was reflected in the amount of time they spent in the Canadiens zone and their 45-23 edge in shots.
“If you’ve watched us practice, you know that’s something we work on all the time,” said Chytil. “When we get the puck, we want to hold on to it.”
The Rangers grabbed a 2-0 lead on goals by Mika Zibanejad at the 56-second mark and Jonny Brodzinski at 2:05, but it was Montreal which pressed the play in the first minute.
“I thought we had a good start but they turned it around on us,” said Montreal coach Martin St. Louis.
Lane Hutson controlled the puck off the opening faceoff and had two early shots, both of which were blocked by New York’s Jacob Trouba.
“That was huge for us,” said Rangers coach Peter Laviolette. “We know (Trouba) can generate offence but he can come up with those big defensive plays.”
Montreal goalie Sam Montembeault exited at 11:05 of the first period after giving up four goals on 10 shots. Zibanejad, Brodzinski, Chytil and Reilly Smith all scored on the Habs’ starter.
His replacement, Cayden Primeau, stopped 33 of 35 shots, giving up goals to Braden Schneider, Kaapo Kakko and Chytil.
Nick Suzuki scored both of the Montreal goals, his first strikes of the season
“It didn’t really feel like a 7-2 game until the end there when you look up at the scoreboard,” Suzuki said. “But we obviously keep digging ourselves these holes, and against a good team like that, our details early on have to be really sharp. And we were definitely a little sleepy coming out and they jumped on us.”
Hutson led the Canadiens in ice time with 24:10 but this wasn’t one of his better games. Smith scored on a breakaway after taking the puck off Hutson’s stick and the rookie was minus-4 for the night.
After Tuesday’s morning practice, the Canadiens announced forward Juraj Slafkovsky will miss at least a week with an upper-body injury. Defenceman Kaiden Guhle missed a second consecutive game with an upper-body injury but the team said it isn’t a long-term ailment.
The injury situation didn’t get any better after Trouba flattened Justin Barron at 7:11 of the third period. Barron didn’t return to the ice but there was no immediate word on his condition.
The Rangers welcomed back defenceman Ryan Lindgren, who made his season debut after missing five games with a jaw injury.
Before the game, 14 players from the Canadiens’ team that won four consecutive Stanley Cups between 1976 and 1979 were introduced at the Bell Centre. Among them were Hockey Hall of Fame members Yvan Cournoyer, Serge Savard, Guy Lapointe, Bob Gainey and Ken Dryden.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.
TOKYO – Canadians Leylah Fernandez and Bianca Andreescu have both moved on to the quarterfinals at the Toray Pan Pacific Open.
Fernandez advanced after downing Varvara Gracheva 6-0, 3-6, 7-5 on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old from Laval, Que., fired three aces and converted 5-of-11 break points during the two-hour 15-minute match. Gracheva, of France, battled back in the second set, winning 72.2 per cent of her first-serve points, before Fernandez rallied in the third set.
Andreescu, from Mississauga, Ont., advanced after Beatriz Haddad Maia retired due to a back injury while trailing 3-0 in the first set. Haddad Maia, the No. 2 seed, appeared to be in pain from the second game onward and took a medical timeout before exiting the match.
In the quarterfinals, Fernandez takes on the winner of a matchup between the tournament’s top seed, Qinwen Zheng of China, and Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima, while Andreescu faces either Katie Boulter or Kyoka Okamura.
In women’s doubles action, Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski and her partner Erin Routliffe were up 6-3, 1-2 on Japanese pair Nao Hibino and Miyu Kato when their match was suspended.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2024.
Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball has sold at auction for nearly $4.4 million, a record high price not just for a baseball, but for any ball in any sport, the auctioneer said Wednesday.
“We received bids from around the world, a testament to the significance of this iconic collectible and Ohtani’s impact on sports, and I’m thrilled for the winning bidder,” Ken Goldin, the founder and CEO of auctioneer Goldin Auctions said in a statement.
The auction opened on Sept. 27 with a starting bid of $500,000 and closed just after midnight on Wednesday. The auctioneer said it could not disclose any information about the winning bidder.
The auction has been overshadowed by the litigation over ownership of the ball. Christian Zacek walked out of Miami’s LoanDepot Park with the ball after gaining possession in the left-field stands. Max Matus and Joseph Davidov each claim in separate lawsuits that they grabbed the ball first.
All the parties involved in the litigation agreed that the auction should continue.
Matus’ lawsuit claims that the Florida resident — who was celebrating his 18th birthday — gained possession of the Ohtani ball before Zacek took it away. Davidov claims in his suit that he was able to “firmly and completely grab the ball in his left hand while it was on the ground, successfully obtaining possession of the 50/50 ball.”
Ohtani and the Dodgers are preparing for Game 1 of the World Series scheduled for Friday night.
