The Montreal Canadiens selected Slovakian forward Juraj Slafkowski with the first overall selection in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
It’s shaping up to be a wild first round NHL draft pick from Montreal. Stay tuned for live updates on every selection, signing and trade as they happen.
Here’s each first-round selection, as it happens, by team:
1. The Montreal Canadiens selected Slovakian forward Juraj Slafkowski with the first overall selection in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
Slafkovski registered five goals and five assists in 31 games for TPS in the Finnish League last season. The massive 18-year-old was also named the men’s MVP of the Olympics after tallying seven goals in Beijing last February.
2. The New Jersey Devils selected Slovakian defenseman Simon Nemec with the second pick. Nemek registered 26 points in 39 games with Nitra HMS of the Slovak Tipos Extraliga.
3. The Arizona Coyotes selected American forward Logan Cooley with the third pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Cooley recorded 75 points in 51 games with the United States National Development Program last season.
4. The Seattle Kraken selected Canadian forward Shane Wright with the fourth pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Wright recorded 94 points in 63 games with the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs last season.
5. Philadelphia Flyers
6. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Chicago Blackhawks)
7. Chicago Blackhawks (from Ottawa)
8. Detroit Red Wings
9. Buffalo Sabres
10. Anaheim Ducks
11. San Jose Sharks
12. Columbus Blue Jackets
13. New York Islanders
14. Winnipeg Jets
15. Vancouver Canucks
16. Buffalo Sabers (from Vegas)
17. Nashville Predators
18. Dallas Stars
19. Minnesota Wild (from Los Angeles)
20. Washington Capitals
21. Pittsburgh Penguins
22. Anaheim Ducks (from Boston)
23. St. Louis Blues
24. Minnesota Wild
25. Toronto Maple Leafs
26. Montreal Canadiens (from Calgary)
27. Arizona Coyotes (from Carolina via Montreal)
28. Buffalo Sabers (from Florida Panthers)
29. Edmonton Oilers
30. Winnipeg Jets (from New York)
Latest NHL Draft News
Marc-Andre Fleury remains at Mini
Pending free agent goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury decided not to test the UFA waters, instead signing a two-year extension with the Minnesota Wild, who acquired him at the 2022 trade deadline from the Chicago Blackhawks.
The story continues
According to Wild beat writer Michael Russo, Fleury’s deal is worth $7 million over the next two seasons, for an AAV of $3.5 million. Frank Serravalli of the Daily Faceoff added that Fleury will have a complete shutout with no movement for the duration of the deal.
The Penguins and Malkin are nowhere near an extension
According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, negotiations between the Pittsburgh Penguins and star forward Evgeni Malkin are “somewhat on life support.” The Penguins are reportedly unwilling to offer the term Malkin is likely seeking for a possible deal.
Pittsburgh answered one of its biggest offseason questions earlier Thursday when it re-signed veteran guard Kris Letang to a six-year, $36.6 million contract.
NHL Announces Partnership with BioSteel
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced before Thursday’s draft that the league has made BioSteel the official hydration partner of the NHL and NHLPA.
BioSteel, a Toronto-based company founded in 2009, will replace PepsiCo’s Gatorade as the official beverage of the league and its players. Although financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, Bettman said the NHL will partner with BioSteel for “many years to come.”
Senators sign Alex DeBrincat from Blackhawks
The Ottawa Senators acquired winger Alex DeBrincat from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for the seventh and 39th picks in the 2022 draft, along with a third-round pick in 2024.
One of the best snipers in the NHL, DeBrincat scored 41 goals last year to go along with 37 assists, marking the second time he reached the 40-goal mark in his five-year career.
The 24-year-old has one year remaining on his current contract, which carries a maximum cap hit of $6.4 million. He will become a restricted free agent at the end of his deal if not extended before then.
DeBrincat joins a promising young core in Ottawa that now boasts one of the most dangerous offensive groups in the East, led by captain Brady Tkachuk, Josh Norris, Tim Stützle, Drake Batterson and Alex Formenton, all of whom are under the age of 24.
New Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson, meanwhile, will get a building block for the future with the seventh overall pick after former GM Stan Bowman dealt Chicago’s first-round pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the Seth Jones trade last July.
Chicago also may not be done yet, as reports surfaced prior to the NHL Draft that the team was actively listening to offers for 2019 third round pick Kirby Dach. — Mac Liddell
The Penguins signed Kris Letang to a 6-year contract
The Pittsburgh Penguins ended speculation surrounding their No. 1 defenseman in the hours leading up to the NHL Draft by signing impending unrestricted free agent Kris Letang to a six-year contract extension Thursday afternoon.
Letang, 35, will make just over $6 million each year in a $36.6 million deal that will take him into his 40s.
For his part, Letang maximized his value this past season, becoming one of the best in his 16 years with the organization. He finished with 10 goals and a career-high 68 points while putting up some impressive fundamentals in big minutes. He accumulated enough Norris Trophy honors to finish seventh in the voting.
There was some belief that the Penguins, who took over new ownership, would move away from partnering with the older members of the existing core this offseason. In addition to Letang, Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust were expiring contracts. However, the Penguins have now kept Letang and Rust on six-year deals, leaving the door open for Malkin. – Justin Cuthbert
Reports: Avalanche acquire Aleksandar Georgiev from Rangers
Acting decisively again after seemingly failing to reach an agreement with one of their own netminders, the Colorado Avalanche will try a new starter in 2022-23 after acquiring Aleksandar Georgiev from the New York Rangers in exchange for three draft picks .
New York will add third- and fifth-round picks to its collection in the 2022 NHL Draft, while securing a third-round pick in 2023 for the backup netminder who backed up Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin last season season. The move signals that netminder Darcy Kuemper will move on via free agency after helping the Avalanche to their first Stanley Cup in 21 years last month.
Kuemper was originally acquired last summer in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes after Philipp Grubauer left in free agency. – Justin Cuthbert
Where is the 2022 NHL Draft?
The 2022 NHL Draft will be held at the Bell Center in Montreal. This is the 27th time the event has been hosted by Montreal and the first since 2009. The NHL Draft was held in Montreal from its inception in 1963 until 1984, before being moved to a different city each year, beginning with Toronto in 1985. Montreal also held the draft in 1992, 1988 and 1986.
What time is the 2022 NHL Draft?
The 2022 NHL Draft will be held on Thursday, July 7 and Friday, July 8. The first round will begin on Thursday at 7:00 PM ET, while Rounds 2-7 will take place on Friday starting at 11:00 AM ET.
What TV channel is the 2022 NHL draft on?
The first round of the NHL Draft will be televised on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada and on ESPN and ESPN+ in the United States. Coverage of Day 2 of the NHL Draft will be available on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada and on ESPN+ and NHL Network in the US
Click here for our 2022 NHL mock draft
Who are the top prospects for the 2022 NHL draft?
1. Shane Wright, C, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL): In the past, top prospects were all about their offensive acumen. Wright brings elite skating, leadership and scoring skills to the table, but perhaps most notably, he is a two-way threat. His best comparison in the NHL is often Patrice Bergeron, who is a four-time Selke Trophy winner, Mark Messier Award winner and King Clancy Award winner and Stanley Cup champion. Not a bad comparison for Wright, who is a future No. 1 center in the NHL.
2. Logan Cooley, C, U18 (USNTDP): The highest-scoring threat in the US National Team Development Program, Cooley enters the draft as a likely top center who plays a smart two-way game. He plays both off the puck and with it, driving play and generating offense for his teammates. In the offensive zone, Cooley uses changes of pace to create space that allows him to distribute the puck or get into open space for shot attempts.
3. Juraj Slafkovský, LW, TPS (Liiga): The Olympic MVP and standout for Slovakia at the Men’s World Cup, Slafkovský has size and scoring prowess. Taking advantage of his rim and puck protection skills, Slafkovksy has a unique upside. The expectation of an immediate effect is reminiscent of Jesse Puljujarvi. He’s worked his way into a top-5 spot, but how patient a team is willing to be with his development could determine his immediate and short-term impact at the NHL level.
4. Simon Nemec, D, HC Nitra (Slovakia): Whether it’s Nemec or the soon-to-be-mentioned David Jiriček, a European defenseman will be the best blueliner selected in this draft. Nemec’s game is mature and balanced. Against his peers and at the professional level, he showed offensive upside, but his consistency as a teenager playing against adults helped his star rise. He had 26 points in 39 games in Slovakia’s top professional league, which ranks him eighth among defensemen. When the playoffs rolled around, Nemec showed his development throughout the season, earning 10 points in 13 games to lead all Blue players.
5. David Jiricek, D, HC Plzen (Czech Republic): Some people see a bit of Moritz Seider in the young Czech defenseman. Mobile, assertive and capable of generating attack from the back, Jiriček could be the first-choice defender. An injury earlier in the year cooled off some scouts, but since his return he has looked…
Add Comment