The Western Hockey League had a strong showing at this week’s NHL Draft with 28 players selected. It was the second most – falling short of the OHL’s 35 picks – for all development leagues in the world. Locally, the U.S. Division had each of its five teams see a player selected.
Leading the way was the Seattle Thunderbirds who had four players that played on their roster drafted plus a player in Brad Lambert who they own the CHL rights to. All of the U.S. Division players selected project to be back with their junior teams this coming season which makes for an exciting time amongst local hockey fans.
The Thunderbirds are coming off a season that saw them run to the WHL Championship Series against Edmonton, and it should be no surprise that they had the most players selected, two of whom went in the first round.
“I feel great for the kids, I’m so proud of them and happy for them,” Thunderbirds general manager Bil La Forge said from Montreal. “I’m happy for the coaching staff. They put in a ton of work getting these guys where they need to be. So, it’s an exciting day for the whole organization.”
Having players drafted is a big deal for a junior team. As they draft and recruit players to choose their team and the WHL, it helps to be able to show that your program develops players that the NHL wants.
For Seattle, they now have a bevy of drafted players and appear to have a strong team heading into next season.
“I think we’re a destination city now, it’s a great place to play,” La Forge said. “Great ownership, and the coaching is so good. They’re coming here. I think we’ve had 12 or 13 guys drafted in the last three or four years. So that just shows that we’re a viable option for your development. It definitely helps us with the recruiting.”
Here is a look at the U.S. Division players drafted at the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
Seattle Thunderbirds
Kevin Korchinski, D, 7th overall, Chicago Blackhawks
Seattle was on the board early when the Blackhawks selected the high-flying defenseman. Korchinski rose up the draft boards this year and was projected to go anywhere in the top 15. He was spectacular for the Thunderbirds in the playoffs and that helped his stock rise.
Korchinski had 61 assists in 67 games this year which is a big number.
“We had a pre-draft tool going and I think both [head coach Matt O’Dette] and I had him at number seven, Chicago,” La Forge said. “We thought anything after five was a possibility.”
Schaefer is a big power forward, and he played well in the Championship Series in Edmonton against the Edmonton Oil Kings. Interestingly, those Oil Kings are owned by the Edmonton Oilers, Schaefer’s future team.
Originally an eighth-round pick in the WHL Draft who failed to score a goal during the COVID-shortened season in 2021, Schaefer exploded for 32 goals this past year. He went from eighth-round bantam pick to first-round NHL pick.
“He’s another guy that just works so hard,” La Forge said. “Just with his development and what he needs to do to get to the next level, I thought that our coaches did a great job with him and Reid put in a ton of work.”
Jordan Gustafson, C, 79th pick overall, Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas is no stranger to the Thunderbirds program, as former Seattle players Shea Theodore and Keegan Kolesar both play for the Golden Knights. Now they add an all-around player in Gustafson who can score, play all over the ice, and has the trust of his coaches.
“Smartest guy on the ice every time he’s out there,” La Forge said of Gustafson. “He’s a coach’s security blanket, you always want him out there. Five on three for us, five on three for them. There’s no situation that he can’t handle, and Vegas taking him where it traded a pick to get him there, I thought it was a good move.”
Jared Davidson, C, 130th overall, Montreal Canadiens
Perhaps the best story of all the Thunderbirds drafted, Davidson was not drafted in the WHL. He was a camp invite by Seattle and worked his way into a top center who scored 42 times last year. Davidson was passed over twice before by the NHL, but players develop at different paces, and Davidson has worked himself into a good position.
He’s 20 next year and Montreal could choose to send him to the American Hockey League.
“He’s one of my favorite people. He’s a kid I talk to every single day during the season and bug him a lot,” La Forge said. “He just outworks any issue that his game has had. He’s a special kid, and if Montreal keeps him in the American League next year, I’ll be the first guy to jump up and down with excitement for him, but if they send them back, I’ll be pretty excited as well.”
Brad Lambert, C, 30th overall, Winnipeg Jets
Lambert, who is from Finland, has yet to play a second of hockey for Seattle, but the Thunderbirds own his rights, and there is speculation that he’ll sign to play in the WHL for next year. Once considered the top prospect in the draft, he slipped after some non-productive years playing pro hockey overseas. Scouts who watch him say the skill is still there, though.
“We wish him all the best in trying to make the Winnipeg Jets or the [AHL] Manitoba Moose,” La Forge said. “We’ll be really excited if they ask us to help in his development, and we think we’d be a great fit for him.”
Everett Silvertips
Ben Hammerling, RW, 177th overall, Vegas Golden Knights
Hammerling broke out for the Silvertips this year. After seven points as a rookie he jumped to 47 last season as Everett raced out to another U.S. Division title. He’ll be back with the Tips after appearing in the Vegas prospect camps and will be a key player as they look to repeat their division title.
Ben Hemmerling, weaving magic worthy of The Strip.
— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) July 8, 2022
Ryan Hofer, 181th overall, Washington Capitals
It feels like every season, the Silvertips get a big year from a guy that flew under the radar the prior season. Hofer was one of those players this past year as he blew up from six goals to 25 this past year. How many will he score this next season?
Spokane Chiefs
Mason Beaupit, G, 108th overall, Spokane Chiefs
Beaupit’s numbers are not pretty, but NHL scouts look beyond statistics when judging talent. Playing behind a young team that took it in the teeth most nights, Beaupit played well. He really jumped out at the CHL Top Prospect game and made an impression.
Graham Sward, F, 146th overall, Nashville Predators
Like Beaupit, Sward was a good player on a struggling team. He has good size and has shown that he can play, picking up 43 points in 57 games. Will Spokane keep him next year, or strengthen their rebuild by scoring prospects in a Sward trade?
Portland Winterhawks
Marek Alscher, D, 93rd overall, Florida Panthers
Alscher got better as the season wore on, as he got used to the North American game. By the end of the season the import from Czechia was in Portland’s top defensive pairings. He ended the year with 16 points.
Tri-City Americans
Parker Bell, F, 155th overall, Calgary Flames
Bell is another player who managed to flourish on a rebuilding team that suffered some growing pains through the season. He scored 18 times to go with 31 assists to be the Americans second leading scorer. As Tri-City builds its roster they’ll have Bell as a centerpiece for at least another year.
The Sound Of Hockey Podcast guys were just too excited about how things shook out for the Seattle Kraken in the NHL Entry Draft. So, they decided to hastily throw together a quick bonus episode to help you make sense of the team’s 11 total picks, including Shane Wright at No. 4 overall.
On this bonus episode, Curtis (@DeepSeaHockey) makes his SOH Podcast debut, filling in temporarily for Andy. Along with John and Darren, Curtis shares lots of good draft analysis.
Friday morning the NHL Entry Draft moved into rounds two through seven, and the Seattle Kraken were quite busy. Coming into Friday, Seattle had 11 remaining picks, highlighted by four in the second round. The Kraken ended up with 10 picks after making one trade with the Boston Bruins to move up and select Ben MacDonald in the third round.
General manager Ron Francis made it clear earlier in the week that the club was looking to add scoring, and that was evident by the players he chose on Friday. All the skaters selected (there was also one goalie taken), are goal scoring, offensively minded players. It’s unknown how many of these prospects will ever sign or make it to the NHL, but Francis certainly gave himself a chance with the selections made.
Francis played his junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League, and you have to wonder if he was feeling nostalgic during this draft. If you count Thursday’s first pick, Shane Wright, the Kraken took five players from the OHL.
A couple of picks to highlight and watch for when the team holds its first ever Prospect Camp – July 11-14 – are Jagger Firkus and third-round pick Ty Nelson. Both are big-time offensive producers and could develop into gems for the Kraken. If nothing else, Nelson won the draft outfit competition with his blue checkered blazer and matching blue fedora.
This was a quality pick for the Kraken, who as Ron Francis said last week were looking for scoring. That’s what you get with Firkus. He potted 36 goals, with 44 assists, for 80 points in 66 games last year in the WHL. He’ll need to try and put some weight on that frame, but he’s lightning quick and is an outstanding play maker. He will be back in Moose Jaw, and their new uniforms, next season but he’s a prospect with a high ceiling ahead of him.
He was great during spring’s CHL Top Prospect Game, and his draft stock rose to the point that some suggested he’d be selected late in the first round. The Kraken benefitted for the second straight day with a guy slipping to them.
Firkus loves the sport and spoke highly of practicing in his basement with a shooting trainer that his parents purchased for him.
“My parents set it up for me for a couple of years ago,” Firkus said to the media Friday. “It’s really good. Probably the best present I ever got and something that I still use to this day. You set it up like four feet from the wall so when you hit the target, it doesn’t quite hit the wall.”
Pick 49: Jani Nyman, F, 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, Ilves – Liiga
The Kraken picked up some needed forward size with Nyman who can skate well for a big man. He scored 18 goals in a Finnish pro league last season and has a great shot. He is one of the younger players in the draft – he doesn’t turn 18 until the end of July – so he may be a long way away from the NHL.
Good sized goalie who is athletic in the net and covers a ton of ground. In 29 games last season for Karpart in Finland’s U20 league, he had a goals against average of 2.06 with a .914 save percentage. The Kraken only had one goalie in their prospect system, so Kokko gives them needed goalie depth.
A skilled center with great skating ability, Goyette scored 33 goals and 40 assists for 73 points in 66 games during his rookie season in the OHL with Sudbury. That’s some impressive scoring for a kid his age and continues the Kraken theme of getting offensive depth in the system. Scouts like his skating and play-making ability with the puck while wanting more consistency out of him.
Third Round
Pick 68: Ty Nelson, D, 5-foot-10, 175 pounds, North Bay Battalion – OHL
Nelson, while a defenseman, is all offense. Scouts praise his skating ability and offensive instincts, and he plays with no fear. The biggest knock on him is that he’s on the smaller size but not afraid to play a heavy game. If he can put on some muscle, he may have a shot.
“He just has high character,” Kraken director of amateur scouting Robert Kron said. “He’s got a high compete and is very positive. He works really hard, he’s a strong kid, a right-hand defenseman who skates well and has a hard shot.”
Nelson also once broke a puck in half.
Ty Nelson of the North Bay Battalion from the OHL has his shot hit the crossbar, the puck breaks with half going in and half staying out😱😱
Pick 91: Ben MacDonald, F, 6-foot-0, 181 pounds, Noble and Greenough School
Seattle moved picks 117 and 132 to Boston to make this selection and go the high school hockey route with MacDonald. He’s ranked 60th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting and scouts like his pace of play and overall skill. He’s an under-the-radar pick who is committed to play at Harvard, which makes one assume he has the smarts.
“Our regional guys were passionate about him,” Kron said. “They had a big belief in his ability. He plays high school, which is a difficult league to judge, but he’s got good size and speed.”
Jugnauth is committed to the University of Wisconsin next season and just finished a year in the BCHL where he scored nine goals and 41 assists for 50 points in 52 games. That was second in the league among defensemen. Scouts like his puck handling skills and ability to exit the zone to go along with his offensive ability.
Scored 41 goals last season and 81 points in the OHL. He was passed up in last year’s Draft so he is an older player at 19 years old. Scouts like how hard he plays and has good hands while showing no fear in attacking the net.
Hall split time between the Wilderness and high school hockey with Gentry Academy. In high school he scored 55 points in 25 games with 25 goals. He’s committed to play NCAA hockey with St. Cloud State and is definitely a project to keep an eye on.
Seventh Round
Pick 196: Kyle Jackson, F, 6-foot-2, 191 pounds, North Bay Battalion – OHL
Jackson is an over ager, having been passed over in the draft before. He was invited to the Nashville Predators Development Camp last year prior to scoring 30 goals and 62 points in just 45 games last season.
Welcome to the NHL Draft Day 2 liveblog! We are writing this in chronological order, with the most recent happenings at the top. So, scroll to the bottom to see Seattle’s first pick of the day, then work your way up.
Enjoy!
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Here is a list of all Seattle Kraken selections:
DRAFT OVER – ROUND 7 Complete
11:09 AM KRAKEN PICK #196 overall: Center Kyle Jackson, also from the North Bay Battalion. Jackson is teammates with Ty Nelson, the No. 68 pick of the Kraken. Jackson had 30 goals and 32 assists in 45 games this season.
ROUND 6 Complete
10:37 AM KRAKEN PICK #164 overall: Center Barrett Hall from Minnesota high school player, headed to St. Cloud State University in a few years. Here is a video from six years ago.
ROUND 5 Complete
Seattle Kraken did not have any fifth-round selections.
ROUND 4 Complete
10:00 AM: We have an action shot of third-round selection Ty Nelson.
9:58 AM KRAKEN PICK #123 overall: Forward Tucker Robertson from the Peterborough Petes. He is an overager that had 81 points in 68 games last season.
9:28 AM KRAKEN PICK #100 overall: Defenseman Tyson Jugnauth from the West Kelowna Warriors of the BCHL. He is committed to Wisconsin. That’s two picks in a row with ties to the West Kelowna Warriors.
ROUND 3 Complete
9:18 AM KRAKEN PICK #91 overall: Center Ben MacDonald from US Prep School Noble and Greenough School in Massachusetts. MacDonald is headed to the BCHL next year to play for the West Kelowna Warriors and committed to Harvard for the 2023-24 season.
9:17 AM ****KRAKEN TRADE****
#SeaKraken trade 117 and 132 to BOS for No. 91. Pick-for-pick trade!
8:41 AM – KRAKEN PICK #61 overall: Center David Goyette from the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL. Goyette had 33 goals and 40 assists in 66 games last season.
8:38 AM – KRAKEN PICK #58 overall: Goalie Niklas Kokko from Karpat of the Finnish U20 league. Kokko played 29 games with a 2.06 GAA and a .914 save percentage. He is expected to play in Liiga next year for the senior Karpat team.
8:30 AM – KRAKEN PICK #49 overall: Jani Nyman from the Finnish U20 league.
8:18 AM – KRAKEN PICK #35 overall: Right winger Jagger Firkus from the Moose Jaw Warriors. He had 36 goals and 44 assists (80 points) in 66 WHL games. Jagger was ranked #26 on our big board. Nice value pick, and this kid is a beauty in a lot of ways. He’s known for his big shot, and had first-round value.
8:00 AM – Here we go. Day two of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. We will be following along here to keep you up to speed on the events. The Kraken have a lot of picks today. They will come fast and furious.
We were surprised but not shocked to hear Juraj Slafkovsky’s name get announced Thursday as the first overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. We were more surprised, but—based on organizational needs—still not shocked to also see the New Jersey Devils pass over the player that was widely expected to be the top pick, instead selecting defenseman Simon Nemec. But did we think Shane Wright would still be available to the Seattle Kraken when they went on the clock with the No. 4 overall pick? Absolutely not.
Before Thursday, never in our wildest dreams did we expect to see Wright donning a Kraken jersey. And yet, somehow, by some stroke of incredible luck, that’s what happened. The superstar center from the Kingston Frontenacs—who has 160 points in 121 career OHL games, was granted “exceptional status” to move up to the major junior ranks at age 15, and notched 14 points in just five games for Team Canada at the 2021 IIHF U18 World Championship—is the newest member of the Seattle Kraken.
How did Shane Wright drop to the Kraken?
“Christmas came early,” director of amateur scouting Robert Kron quipped. “You have a player that two years ago was talked about as a slam dunk, and I don’t think he’s changed that much, so we’re very excited to have him.”
Everything had to break right (Wright?) for the Kraken to end up with Wright, who landed at No. 1 on the Sound Of Hockey Composite Big Board.
Here’s how we think it shook out this way. Slafkovsky had recently gained some traction as potentially taking the top slot, so that’s an understandable pick by the Habs. Then, we figure Nemec at right defense was a better choice for the Devils, who are already stacked with young centers in Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Dawson Mercer, and Pavel Zacha. Why did the Arizona Coyotes choose Logan Cooley over Wright? The explanation we came up with is that Cooley could have higher upside, simply because he’s physically less developed than Wright, and the Coyotes are far from being in “win now” mode. So, from their perspective, there was no need to take the player most ready for the NHL, and they instead opted for the guy who could become a star in a few years.
Either Cooley or Wright would have been great picks for the Kraken, but Wright seems to be an even bigger steal. Whether Montreal, New Jersey, and Arizona regret passing on such a touted prospect like Wright remains to be seen, but for the Kraken, this feels like an enormous win.
Wright joins Matty Beniers as a second elite, young centerman in the Seattle organization, and together, it’s easy to envision a spectacular one-two punch anchoring the team’s top six for many years to come.
“Not a bad way to start a franchise, with Matty Beniers and Shane Wright as your one-two centermen,” general manager Ron Francis said. “So it’s good for the Kraken, and we’re excited about it.”
Not bad at all, Ron. Not. Bad. At. All.
Trades add to Draft Day tension
Just as the Kraken were about to go on the clock, and just as it was revealed that Seattle would have a crack at Wright, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, accepting yet another onslaught of relentless boos from the Montreal crowd, announced that two trades had been consummated. Kraken fans everywhere held their collective breath, as Bettman shared that the host Canadiens had acquired Kirby Dach from the Blackhawks and sent Alexander Romanov to the Islanders.
Thankfully, the trades did not involve Seattle. Of course there was still a chance the team could galaxy brain its pick and also pass on Wright. But to the credit of Francis, Kron, and staff, the Kraken didn’t overthink things and snagged perhaps the best all-around player in the draft.
A local flair to the opening round of the NHL Entry Draft
The trades of Dach and Romanov came on the heels of an earlier blockbuster that sent Alex DeBrincat from Chicago to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for the Nos. 7 and 39 picks, as well as a third-rounder in 2024. Between DeBrincat and Dach, that’s two terrible deals for the Blackhawks in one day, and frankly, we have no idea what that franchise is doing right now. Perhaps they’re getting a jump on the 2023 Connor Bedard sweepstakes? We digress.
Interestingly, that No. 7 pick ended up being used on Seattle Thunderbirds defenseman Kevin Korchinski. Korchinski played a huge role in Seattle’s run to the WHL Championship Series. He’s a smooth-skating puck mover that landed at No. 13 on the SOH Composite Big Board. Our own Andy Eide profiled Korchinski back in March, so give that a read if you want to learn more about the touted local prospect, who should be back at accesso ShoWare Center with a stacked Thunderbirds team next season.
Speaking of that stacked team, Finnish-Canadian forward Brad Lambert, whose CHL rights were recently acquired by the Thunderbirds in a trade with the Saskatoon Blades, dropped all the way to No. 30, where he was plucked by the Winnipeg Jets. Lambert is offensively gifted and at one time had been ranked much higher on draft boards, but his stock slipped after limited production this season in Finland’s Liiga.
Another Thunderbird, Reid Schaefer, snuck into the first round, getting selected No. 32 overall by the Edmonton Oilers. He was also profiled by Andy in May.
So, for those of you counting at home, that’s potentially three first-round picks that could suit up for the T-Birds next season.
Moments of levity
As always at a live NHL Entry Draft, there were a few comical moments Thursday.
First, how about Maveric Lamoureux’s parents getting after it?
After he was selected No. 30 overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning, Howard told ESPN’s Emily Kaplan that he dressed that way because he’s the best looking player in the draft.
And finally, we do have to call out Morgan Geekie’s younger brother, Conor, who got snapped up by the Coyotes at No. 11. The younger Geekie nearly tumbled head over heels en route to the stage, but showed impressive balance and managed to regain his footing in the nick of time.
The Kraken still have 11 picks left to make Friday, including up to four in the second round, barring trades. There are lots of great players left out there, as highlighted here by our good friend, Chris Peters.
My best available heading into Day 2: 15. Jagger Firkus 21. Lane Hutson 22. Ryan Chesley 31. Luca Del Bel Belluz 33. Mattias Havelid 35. Owen Beck 36. Jack Hughes 37. Seamus Casey 38. Danny Zhilkin 40. Tristan Luneau
Darren Brown is the Chief Content Officer at Sound Of Hockey and the host, producer, and editor of the Sound Of Hockey Podcast. He is an inconsistent beer league goalie who believes that five players have to make a mistake before the puck gets to him. Follow him on Twitter @DarrenFunBrown or email darren@soundofhockey.com.
Complete and utter chaos. But Corey Pronman called it. And I doubted it. It is easy to imagine both Matty Beniers and Shane Wright donning the Deep Sea Blue in Seattle’s top-six forward group for many years to come. He was not on our radar in the mock draft, as we assumed he would be long gone. This is a fantastic break for the Kraken.
Wright was No. 1 on the Big Board and No. 1 in my analytics rankings. There were no players higher on either list available at the time of Seattle’s selection, obviously.
What does he look like on the ice?
What are scouts saying?
“[Wright] is such a well-rounded player because of how well he thinks the game. His success is built around micro play driving and terrific reads, with and without the puck. He anticipates the actions of his teammates and those of the opposition so well, and this puts him a step ahead of the competition on many nights. When you combine this with his high-end skill, elite shooting mechanics, and strong skating ability, you have a player who should become a more than reliable top-six forward at the NHL level.” – McKeen’s
Closely scrutinized as the likely No. 1 pick all year, he was mostly commonly criticized for simply being “very good” but not great. Scouts also seemed hung up on a calm demeanor on the ice that at times gives the impression of disengagement. (Think the opposite of Yanni Gourde’s demeanor.) But the production was there. He led the OHL in points per game among draft eligible players and ended up No. 1 overall on my analytics board. The Kingston offense ran through him; he made everything work. Scouts put elite grades on his passing and hockey sense. His defense, physicality, skating, and shot all check in solidly above average too. This provides a solid floor for Wright as a top-six forward, with upside to be an All-Star. This is a tremendous outcome for the Kraken.
The Seattle Kraken’s NHL Draft cupboard is stacked for the next two years.
But will the windfall of draft picks make a considerable difference for general manager Ron Francis and company?
The Kraken, thanks to a busy trade deadline firesale, have 25 total draft picks in the next two NHL Drafts — 12 in 2022 and 13 in 2023. Most notably, Seattle boasts seven total second-rounders in those two drafts and the No. 4 overall pick in the upcoming July draft.
There’s no guarantee all of those picks will be used by the Kraken — Francis has said he’s open to trading up or down in the draft or packaging picks for roster-ready players — but I set out to see how past NHL teams used gluts of draft picks to their benefit, or lack thereof.
The focus below centers around 1) teams with back-to-back draft classes with double-digit picks and 2) teams with three or more second-round picks. The 2019, 2020, and 2021 drafts were not included because it’s too early to make grand proclamations about how those teams performed.
How rare is the Kraken’s stock of draft picks?
Since 2010, there have been six teams with 12 or more draft picks in the NHL Entry Draft — four of which have occurred over the last three years.
Having three or more second-round picks isn’t quite as uncommon, but a team hasn’t boasted four second-round picks since the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010.
What can the Kraken expect from their draft picks?
As outlined below, there are quite a few drafts that are completely unfruitful in the later rounds. While it’s certainly possible to hit on later picks, Kraken fans shouldn’t expect a future star in the third round or later.
The second round, which constitutes 28 percent of the Kraken’s draft picks over the next two years, also provides no guarantees. As you’ll see in the breakdowns below, it’s not a given that the Kraken will find bona fide NHL players with all their second-rounders.
But they are available, in the second round or later. It’s up to the scouting staff to unearth those draft gems and the general manager to pull the trigger.
Chicago Blackhawks — 2010, 2011, and 2016
The Blackhawks had 10 draft picks — including four second-rounders — in 2010 and 11 in 2011, a close comparison to the Kraken’s upcoming drafts.
Unfortunately for Chicago, and perhaps the Kraken, the results were a bit mixed, but overall the Blackhawks nabbed quite a few NHLers.
Chicago landed Kevin Hayes No. 24 overall, a pick that was sent to Chicago from the Atlanta Thrashers (R.I.P.) in the Dustin Byfuglien trade. The Blackhawks then traded out of their own first-round pick (30th overall) and landed two more second-rounders, giving them four total, including another pick acquired in the aforementioned Byfuglien trade.
The Blackhawks whiffed on the highest selection of that quartet, Swedish forward Ludvig Rensfeldt, who never cracked the NHL. Two of those remaining seconds — Justin Holl and Stephen Johns — became late-blossoming depth defensemen for Toronto and Dallas, respectively. The fourth became Kent Simpson, a former Everett Silvertips netminder, who only appeared in one NHL game.
In the third round, the then-defending Stanley Cup Champions snagged longtime depth forward Joakim Nordstrom, but after that, there wasn’t much else; none of the Blackhawks’ five remaining selections in 2010 cracked the NHL.
The 2011 draft yielded better results.
Chicago’s first pick at No. 18, center Mark McNeill, flopped, but Chicago snagged two-way dynamo Phillip Danault at No. 24 overall — acquired via Washington for Troy Brouwer — Brandon Saad at No. 43, and depth forward Andrew Shaw in the fifth round.
The unique aspect of Chicago’s 2011 haul is that aside from Danault, the best picks played the majority of their best hockey in Chicago.
Also noteworthy context: Chicago pulled off these massive draft hauls in the middle of a dynasty. Anything obtained from these drafts was just gravy on top of a loaded roster, and in that gravy were some darn good players.
Despite seemingly swinging and missing on two of their three second-rounders in Chad Kuys and Artur Kayumov in 2016, the Blackhawks’ one connection was an absolute home run.
Alex DeBrincat was taken by Chicago at No. 39 overall. The undersized American winger is already one of the league’s most dangerous goal scorers, with 160 tallies in 368 NHL games.
Edmonton Oilers — 2010
The Oilers, in the wake of selecting Taylor Hall No. 1 overall, possessed three second-rounders and nabbed two NHL depth players — forward Tyler Pitlick and Martin Marincin. Edmonton took Curtis Hamilton at No. 48, who never panned out.
It’s not an awe-inspiring return, but landing two NHL players is nothing to sneeze at — even though Nikita Kucherov was available until No. 58 overall.
Florida Panthers — 2010 and 2011
The Panthers held 23 total picks in subsequent years, with 13 in 2010, including three first-rounders and three second-rounders, and 10 in 2011.
In the first round in 2010, Florida snagged Erik Gudbranson, Nick Bjugstad, and Quinton Howden at No. 3, No. 19, and No. 25 overall, respectively. Gudbranson and Bjugstad are both lineup regulars in the NHL while Howden failed to stick.
The Panthers had the No. 33, No. 36, and No. 50 overall picks and didn’t get much from it in John McFarland, Alex Petrovic, and Connor Brickley. McFarland only played three NHL games and Brickley played just 81. Petrovic has been out of the league for a few years, but he played 263 games in a depth defenseman role.
Florida uncovered some late-round gems by selecting current Kraken forward Joonas Donskoi in the fourth round and current Oilers top-six forward Zach Hyman in the fifth.
The rest of the Panthers’ five remaining picks in 2010 never cracked the league.
In 2011, Florida landed star forward Jonathan Huberdeau at No. 3 overall and two-way stalwart Vincent Trocheck in the third. Early second-rounder Rocco Grimaldi and third-rounder Logan Shaw have each played over 200 NHL games. The rest of their draft picks either just had a cup of coffee or never made it to the NHL.
Minnesota Wild — 2010
It seems like four teams held a monopoly on the second round in 2010, huh?
The Wild landed a diamond in the rough in Jason Zucker at 59th overall, a decent role player in Johan Larsson — even if his most productive years were spent in Buffalo — at 56th overall, and a bust in right winger Brett Bulmer at 39th overall.
Buffalo Sabres — 2013 and 2014
The Sabres held three second-rounders in 2013, the highlight being future Stanley Cup Champion J.T. Compher — included in the trade that sent Ryan O’Reilly to Buffalo — at 35th overall. Connor Hurley, taken at 38th overall, was never signed, and Justin Bailey has played sparingly for Buffalo and Vancouver.
In their second consecutive season with three second-round picks, the Sabres had far less to show from this draft than the year prior.
Brendan Lemieux, taken at No. 31 overall, has been an NHL regular for several teams but never played for the Sabres — he was traded to Winnipeg in a deal that sent Evander Kane to Buffalo.
Forwards Eric Cornel and Vaclav Karabacek never made it to the NHL, but they have gotten surprise value out of seventh-rounder Victor Olofsson, who has two recent 20-goal seasons.
Montreal Canadiens — 2013
The Canadiens had mixed results with their trio of second-rounders in 2013. The first of the three was used on Jacob de la Rose, who was a depth forward for Montreal, Detroit, and St. Louis before returning to play professionally in his home country of Sweden. The second was spent on goaltender Zachary Fucale, whose career consists of just four games with Washington this past year.
The third, forward Artturi Lehkonen, was the best of the three. The Finnish left winger played an integral role on the 2020-21 Canadiens team that made a run to the Stanley Cup Final and the Avalanche team that won the most recent Stanley Cup.
Boston Bruins — 2015
Although this draft was infamous in Beantown for the Bruins passing up former Seattle Thunderbirds superstar Mathew Barzal with back-to-back-to-back first-round picks, the Bruins found some great value in the second round.
The first of their three draft picks was spent on defensive stalwart and former Tri-City American, Brandon Carlo, who remains a fixture in the Bruins’ lineup.
Center Jakob Karlsson was the second pick, who played sparingly for Boston before returning to his home country of Sweden in 2019.
The third pick became former Kraken Jeremy Lauzon, who recently signed a contract extension with Nashville after being traded to the Predators from Seattle at the trade deadline.
Philadelphia Flyers — 2016
The Flyers’ most notable second-rounder from their 2016 crop was Everett Silvertips legend Carter Hart, who has had a bit of a setback in his NHL career ever since bursting onto the scene in 2018. The jury is still out on Hart, who is just 23.
The Flyers’ two other picks, Pascal Laberge and Wade Allison, haven’t panned out. Allison remains in the organization while Laberge has moved on.
Tampa Bay Lightning — 2016
All three of the Lightning’s picks in 2016 have played more than 50 games, but none of the three have played over 100 games.
Libor Hajek, taken at No. 37 overall, was traded to the Rangers in a 2018 deadline deal that brought Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller to Tampa. The other two picks, Taylor Raddysh and Boris Katchouk, were fillers in the trade that sent Brandon Hagel to Tampa in a recent deal with Chicago.
Vegas Golden Knights — 2017
The Golden Knights’ inaugural draft class included 12 picks and provided a nice boost to the depth of the organization.
With three first-rounders, Vegas took Cody Glass at No. 6 overall, Nick Suzuki at No. 13 overall, and Erik Brannstrom at No. 15 overall.
Glass was traded to Nashville in a one-for-one trade for another former high-draft pick in Nolan Patrick.
Suzuki is a burgeoning star for the Montreal Canadiens. The center was sent to Montreal in the deal that brought Max Pacioretty to Vegas.
Similar to the other two, Brannstrom was a key part in a high-profile trade as the centerpiece of the Mark Stone deal with Ottawa.
Vegas landed a useful player in Nicolas Hague in the second round. The defenseman has provided depth to the Golden Knights’ blue line in each of the last three seasons.
Third-round picks Jake Leschyshyn and Jonas Rondbjerg both cracked the Vegas lineup this year as forwards.
The Golden Knights’ remaining six picks have yet to break through to the NHL aside from seventh-round pick Ben Jones.
Detroit Red Wings — 2017 and 2018
With 21 picks over two years, the Red Wings had some success in the first couple rounds, but that’s about it.
In 2017, the Red Wings took Michael Rasmussen No. 9 overall. The 6-foot-6 center has been a regular in Detroit’s lineup, as has Filip Zadina, who the Red Wings selected at No. 6 overall in 2018.
Additionally, defenseman Gustav Lindstrom (selected No. 38 overall in 2017) and forward Joseph Veleno (selected No. 30 overall in 2018) have played over 50 games in the NHL already.
Other than blueliner Alec Regula, who was taken in the third round in 2018, the Red Wings’ remaining 16 draft picks haven’t made it to the NHL yet.
These are exciting times for Kraken fans, as the NHL Draft is here, and the team is expected to make some significant changes to its roster in the coming weeks. Seattle made two big hires this week in Steve Briere and Jessica Campbell, and Ron Francis gave a pre-draft press conference on Tuesday, so on this episode of the Sound Of Hockey, you will get lots of Kraken updates.
Also on this show, the guys welcome Kraken defenseman Ryker Evans for a fun chat about his draft experience, his first trip to Seattle’s training camp, and much more.
After the interview with Ryker, the show shifts to segments, which feature the triumphant return of Goalie Gear Corner, followed by Weekly One-Timers and Tweets of the Week.
Many long-held questions will soon be answered. Who will the Kraken take at No. 4? Will Seattle package any of its picks in a trade? If so, with what goal, draft picks, or veteran players? Where will Thunderbirds players Reid Schaefer and Jordan Gustafson end up? Will goalie Thomas Milic be drafted this time around? We would love to hear your take. Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below or reach out to us on Twitter.
Our own John Barr, Andy Eide, and Darren Brown will be talking about the Kraken’s plans for the NHL Draft on this week’s Sound Of Hockey Podcast. Also, be sure to check out the rest of our draft coverage on the website, including the Sound Of Hockey Big Board, Andy’s draft profiles of Reid Schaefer, Simon Nemec, and Jordan Gustafson, John’s draft primer, and my prospect preview identifying more than sixty draft prospects that drew our attention based on their underlying analytics relative to consensus draft projections. Also, take a look at our analysis of NHL draft pick trades.
On Thursday and Friday, the Sound Of Hockey team will also be delivering live draft analysis. Keep it here for all of your Kraken draft content.
Sound Of Hockey mock draft
Today, we’re doing our inaugural Sound Of Hockey mock draft. For today’s exercise, we will presume that players will come off the board approximately in the order predicted by the Big Board. For example, as much as I may like Lane Hutson as a draft prospect for the Kraken in the early second round, we’re going to presume that he is off the board by that point because his Big Board rank (No. 34) is higher than Seattle’s first second-round pick (No. 35).
One complicating factor is the status of Russian players. Recent news about Russians attempting to leave that country to join NHL teams is truly alarming. Given the geopolitical climate, I think we’d all be fooling ourselves if we were to simply presume those players will be available to join their NHL clubs. That may be true. Or we may be looking at a decade or more of visa issues or closed borders. Indeed, the fallout may extend to current players too.
With the gravity of the Russian crisis unfurling each day, we are not confident that the draft stock of Russian players is fully captured by public lists, many of which were completed weeks ago. Accordingly, we are operating on the assumption that Russian players may fall, perhaps as many as 50 spots, below their projected draft stock on the Big Board.
We will also operate on the assumption that Seattle management is not comfortable with drafting Russian players at all in the top half of the draft. To be clear, this not informed in any way. This is purely an assumption I am using for this mock draft exercise. It is also a regrettable assumption because a few of my favorite prospects in this draft class, including Gleb Trikovoz and Vladimir Grunidin, are Russian.
Finally, taking a cue from Ron Francis that the team may not use all of its 12 draft picks, I am wildly predicting one trade will involve the Kraken shipping out one of their four second-round draft picks. I’ll predict the Kraken send No. 49 and No. 117 overall to Edmonton for Jesse Puljujarvi. I will still include one or more “alternative picks” at each spot in an attempt to predict the direction the Kraken could go if they do not make such a trade.
Without further ado, let’s draft:
Round 1. Pick 4: Simon Nemec, RD, HK Nitra (Slovakia)
Big Board Rank: 4 | Analytics Rank: 2
Age: 18 | Height: 6’1″ | Weight: 192 lbs | Right shot | 1 goal, 25 assists, 39 games played
Notes: If, as most predict, Shane Wright, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Logan Cooley are drafted in the top three, we think the Kraken will opt for Simon Nemec over the other remaining options at No. 4. He is a modern defenseman, capable of driving transition play and quarterbacking a power play. His offensive zone passing is a great strength according to many scouts. And this is a skill the Kraken are sorely lacking. Nemec will likely need to be paired with a stronger defensive partner, particularly at first, but he has a high floor as a top-four blue line contributor. If Arizona goes off script and Cooley remains on the board at No. 4, we think Cooley would receive strong consideration. If both Nemec and Cooley are there when the Kraken are on the clock, who would Seattle take? That’s a tough one, but we’d lean toward the dynamic forward, Cooley. That said, we’re predicting that Nemec is the pick and that he’ll sign and begin the year with Coachella Valley.
Round 2. Pick 35: Adam Sykora, LW, HK Nitra (Slovakia)
Big Board rank: 44 | Analytics rank: 26
Age: 17 | Height: 5’10” | Weight: 172 lbs | Left shot | 10 goals, 7 assists, 46 games played
Notes: The highest ranked player on my analytics board still available at No. 35 is Seamus Casey, another offense-oriented right-shot defenseman. I gave him serious consideration, but after drafting Nemec, I’d wager the Kraken would prefer to go in another direction if a roughly comparable player is available. It so happens there is such a player; and, in a bizarre coincidence, it is Nemec’s HK Nitra teammate Adam Sykora. Sykora is one of the youngest prospects available in the draft and receives raves for his motor, hockey IQ, and defensive game. With projectable offensive tools, there is a high floor as a well as a moderate ceiling that is enticing in the second round. To my untrained eyes, he was fun to watch at the IIHF World Championship. Easy to imagine him taking the baton from Yanni Gourde as a feisty, difficult-to-play-against player in a few years.
Second alternative pick: David Goyette, C, Sudbury Wolves (OHL) (Big Board Rank: 39 | Analytics Rank: 35)
Round 2. Pick 49: Mock Trade to Edmonton
Alternative pick: Jani Nyman, LW, Ilves (Liiga) (Big Board rank: 50 | Analytics rank: 37)
Second alternative pick: Adam Ingram, C, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL) (Big Board rank: 54 | Analytics rank: 41)
Round 2. Pick 58: Cameron Lund, C, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)
Big Board rank: 59 | Analytics rank: 59
Age: 18 | Height: 6’2″ | Weight: 192 lbs | Right shot | 25 goals, 25 assists, 62 games played
Notes: Lund has been singled out by a few draft analysts for his high upside, but he also brings a strong baseline of tools as a 6-foot-2 right-shot center. For this reason, it would not surprise me if a team reached for him ahead of his Big Board rank on draft day. If so, Devin Kaplan, a 6-foot-3 winger for the US National Team Development Program, would be a fine consolation prize. But Lund is the preferred pick due to his ability to play center. I bet the Kraken would like to come out of the first two rounds with at least one center prospect. (I also like center prospect Adam Ingram or the Youngstown Phantoms, mentioned above, but he is projected to be off the board at No. 54.)
Round 2. Pick 61: Christian Kyrou, RD, Erie Otters (OHL)
Big Board rank: 62 | Analytics rank: 40
Age: 18 | Height: 5’10” | Weight: 172 lbs | Right shot | 18 goals, 42 assists, 68 games played
Notes: Christian Kyrou, younger brother of Jordan Kyrou, is a right-shot defenseman who has displayed strong transition and offensive zone skills in the OHL. It is not difficult to imagine Nemec and Kyrou running the two power play units five years from now. His offensive skills give him a baseline of NHL value, even if his defensive deficiencies have to be sheltered in a third-pair even-strength role. If he can refine the defensive aspects of his game over time, a Sam Girard or Torey Krug-type upside could be there.
Alternative pick: Vladimir Grunidin, LD, Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL) (Big Board rank: 60 | Analytics rank: 36)
Round 3. Pick 68: Nicholas Moldenhauer, C/RW, Chicago Steel (USHL)
Big Board rank: 82 | Analytics rank: 45
Age: 18 | Height: 5’10.25″ | Weight: 170 lbs | Right shot | 18 goals, 25 assists, 41 games played
Notes: Potentially an underexposed prospect, Moldenhauer’s early season was derailed by injury. When he finally regained his form, he was a consistent scoring threat in the USHL, primarily winning with his skating, agility, and puck handling. Since scouts also noted above-average defense from Moldenhauer, there may be an all-around package that projects into a team’s middle six if all goes right with his development.
Alternative pick: Devin Kaplan
Second alternative pick: Topias Leinonen, G, JYP U20 (U20 SM-sarja) (Big Board rank: 86 | Analytics rank: N/A)
Age: 17 | Height: 5’10” | Weight: 181 lbs | Left shot | 28 goals, 26 assists, 65 games played
Notes: One of the youngest draft-eligible players, scouts suggest that he already thinks the game and competes at a high level. He also displays a willingness and ability to win in the physical areas. With average-or-better tools across the board, and a long development runway ahead, Petrovsky seems to carry a desirable combination of a high floor and a ceiling as a relatively skilled bottom-six NHL forward. His teammate on the Owen Sound Attack, Cedrick Guindon, would be a nice alternative here.
Age: 18 | Height: 5’11” | Weight: 172 lbs | Left shot | 3 goals, 5 assists, 29 games played
Notes: Now officially in the back half of the draft, this mock draft version of the Seattle Kraken finally considers a Russian prospect. And Pelevin is worthy of the risk. Elite Prospects Russian area scout Dylan Griffing ranks Pelevin as his fifth-best Russian prospect in this draft, ahead of many others that could be drafted much higher. Pelevin is credited for his defensive game, but he also can threaten in all three zones with above-average skating. Some scouts see a strong projection to a third-pair role, with the potential for more. Obviously, that would be a terrific result at the end of the fourth round.
Alternative pick: Hudson Thornton
Round 5. Pick 132: Hudson Thornton, LD, Prince George Cougars (WHL)
Big Board rank: 143 | Analytics rank: 67
Age: 18 | Height: 5’11” | Weight: 181 lbs | Left shot | 14 goals, 31 assists, 65 games played
Notes: Thornton produced points from the blue line as an 18 year old in the WHL at a rate behind only top prospects Kevin Korchinski and Denton Mateychuk. And on a team that generally struggled defensively, Hudson nevertheless received solid reports on his play in his own zone. I’ll be curious to track Thornton’s development because he seems like one of the prospects most underrated by the scouting community.
Alternative pick: Brayden Schuurman, C, Victoria Royals (WHL) (Big Board rank: 138 | Analytics rank: 90)
Second alternative pick: Dmitri Buchelnikov, LW, SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL) (Big Board rank: No. 147| Analytics rank: N/A)
Age: 17 | Height: 5’11″ | Weight: 165 lbs | Right shot | 18 goals, 29 assists, 56 games played
Notes: Richard is a very young winger whose playmaking ability and production progressed significantly from the beginning of the season to the end, according to scouts. Over the final 40 games, he produced 45 points, a pace very similar to analytics darling Nicholas Moldenhauer. If the progress was real from the young player, there might be a good deal of upside in Richard as a sixth-round pick. Regardless, the development path will be a long one.
Notes: After a really tough year in the OHL last year, Malik had a stellar year in the top Finnish league, Liiga, this year, where he ranked in the top five in save percentage. In isolation, this was one of the more impressive seasons from a draft-eligible goalie. But the full resume is checkered. The glimpse of upside may be enough for a Seattle team that needs to develop a goalie pipeline. Alternatives include talented-but-undersized goalies Sergei Ivanov of SKA-1946 St. Petersburg in the MHL or Thomas Milic of the Seattle Thunderbirds in the WHL. The top picks at the position will likely go off the board in the second or third rounds.
Alternative pick: Thomas Milic, G, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) (Big Board rank: 176 | Analytics rank: N/A)
Second alternative pick: Sergei Ivanov, G, SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL) (Big Board rank: 163 | Analytics rank: N/A)
Undrafted Free Agent Signing: Benjamin King, C, Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
Big Board Rank: 208 | Analytics Rank: N/A
Age: 20 | Height: 6’3″ | Weight: 201 lbs | Right shot | 52 goals, 53 assists, 68 games played
Notes: King led the WHL in goals and plays a physical two-way game as a right-shot center. There is a lot to like about this prospect. If he goes undrafted, the Kraken could offer prime playing time in Coachella Valley and the opportunity for more. He would be a good signing.
Age: 20 | Height: 5’8″ | Weight: 161 lbs | Right shot | 43 goals, 38 assists, 62 games played
Notes: A small but productive goal scorer, McClennon did not sign with the Flyers after being drafted previously. If he goes undrafted this year, he would be eligible to sign with any club and join their AHL team. Similar to the pitch to King, the Kraken can offer a strong opportunity for AHL playing time and maybe more down the road. He would be a solid depth add to the organization.
Undrafted Free Agent Signing: Marco Costantini, G, Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL)
Notes: This likely wouldn’t be a Kraken signing, but perhaps a signing by the Americans of the ECHL. The organization may target an additional free-agent goalie that they can get into their system sooner rather than later with the promise of an opportunity to compete for an ECHL role. Constantini is one a few candidates who could fill this kind of depth role.
Recapping the Sound Of Hockey Mock Draft
Draft Pick
Player Name
Player Information
1(4)
Simon Nemec
RD | HK Nitra (Slovakia) | Big Board Rank: 4 | Analytics Rank: 2 | Age: 18 | Height: 6’1″ | Weight: 192 lbs | Right shot | 1 goal, 25 assists, 39 games played
2(35)
Adam Sykora
LW | HK Nitra (Slovakia) | Big Board rank: 44 | Analytics rank: 26 | Age: 17 | Height: 5’10” | Weight: 172 lbs | Left shot | 10 goals, 7 assists, 46 games played
2(58)
Cameron Lund
C | Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) | Big Board rank: 59 | Analytics rank: 59 | Age: 18 | Height: 6’2″ | Weight: 192 lbs | Right shot | 25 goals, 25 assists, 62 games played
2(61)
Christian Kyrou
RD | Erie Otters (OHL) | Big Board rank: 62 | Analytics rank: 40 | Age: 18 | Height: 5’10” | Weight: 172 lbs | Right shot | 18 goals, 42 assists, 68 games played
3(68)
Nicholas Moldenhauer
C/RW | Chicago Steel (USHL) | Big Board rank: 82 | Analytics rank: 45 | Age: 18 | Height: 5’10.25″ | Weight: 170 lbs | Right shot | 18 goals, 25 assists, 41 games played
4(100)
Servac Petrovsky
C | Owen Sound Attack (OHL) | Big Board rank: 106 | Analytics rank: 70 | Age: 17 | Height: 5’10” | Weight: 181 lbs | Left shot | 28 goals, 26 assists, 65 games played
4(123)
Alexander Pelevin
LD | Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL) | Big Board rank: 124 | Analytics rank: 75 | Age: 18 | Height: 5’11” | Weight: 172 lbs | Left shot | 3 goals, 5 assists, 29 games played
5(132)
Hudson Thornton
LD | Prince George Cougars (WHL) | Big Board rank: 143 | Analytics rank: 67 | Age: 18 | Height: 5’11” | Weight: 181 lbs | Left shot | 14 goals, 31 assists, 65 games played
6(164)
Jake Richard
RW | Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) | Big Board rank: 195 | Analytics rank: 105 | Age: 17 | Height: 5’11″ | Weight: 165 lbs | Right shot | 18 goals, 29 assists, 56 games played
7(196)
Nick Malik
G | KooKoo (Liiga) | Big Board rank: 225 | Analytics rank: N/A | Age: 20 | Height: 6’2″ |Weight: 180 lbs | Left glove | 1.97 GAA, .922 S%
UDFA
Benjamin King
C | Red Deer Rebels (WHL) | Big Board Rank: 208 | Analytics Rank: N/A | Age: 20 | Height: 6’3″ | Weight: 201 lbs | Right shot | 52 goals, 53 assists, 68 games played
UDFA
Connor McClennon
RW | Winnipeg Ice (WHL) | Big Board Rank: N/A | Analytics Rank: N/A | Age: 20 | Height: 5’8″ | Weight: 161 lbs | Right shot | 43 goals, 38 assists, 62 games played
UDFA
Marco Costantini
G | Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL) | Big Board Rank: N/A | Analytics Rank: N/A | Age: 19 | Height: 6’1″ | Weight: 185 lbs | Left glove | 2.32 GAA, .917 S%
It is NHL Entry Draft eve in the hockey world, so we thought it would be a good idea to do a data dump on the topic. We will go over who typically gets drafted, expectations, and cover a bit on the Kraken’s specific draft picks.
Draft pick expectations
Being selected in the NHL Entry Draft does not guarantee the player will make it to the NHL. The later the draft pick, the less likely a player is to make it to the NHL. Here is a look at the percentage of players drafted between 2000 and 2012 that played at least 50 regular-season games in the NHL. We selected this range because this gives plenty of time for careers to have played out. If a player drafted between 2000 and 2012 hasn’t played 50 career games yet, it is fairly safe to say he will not be hitting that milestone.
Additionally, the later the draft pick, the longer it takes to break into the NHL. Outside of the first round of the draft, teams take the long view for their picks. Here is a look at the number of players that started their rookie seasons in the NHL in relation to their draft year.
Career velocity
As you would expect, the career curves vary by draft round.
Here is a look at the average number of games played by season in relation to draft year.
First-round draft picks are clearly the most valuable selections in the draft, but even within the first round, the projections vary quite a bit.
With the Kraken’s fourth overall draft pick this year, there is a chance that the player selected plays this season in the NHL, but it is more likely they play in the NHL during the 2023-24 season.
Who gets drafted?
It should be no surprise that the largest percentage of players selected is born in Canada, but the percentage of drafted players born in Canada has been declining over the years.
In the past three years, there has been an increase in Russian players being drafted. It will be interesting to see how teams will handle Russian prospects, given the current geopolitical landscape.
Drafted players by league
The top leagues represented in the NHL Entry Draft tend to be the North American major junior/tier one hockey leagues. Here is a look at the breakdown over the last five drafts.
Comparing leagues across the globe and even within North America is not perfect. For example, the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USNTDP) U18 team mostly plays in the USHL, but their schedule plays college teams as well as international games. That is unique for that team and league relative to the other leagues. For categorical purposes, we classify them as USHL.
If we isolate just the first-round picks over the last five years, the top leagues shift around a bit. Here is how it looks.
2022 NHL Entry Draft
There will likely be trades before the 2022 NHL Entry Draft begins on Thursday evening, but for now, here is the current view of the draft picks by team.
In summary, not all picks share the same value. Montreal’s volume of 14 picks heading into the draft is impressive. However, Arizona’s three first-round and four second-round draft picks should capture the highest volume of future NHL players.
The Kraken’s draft picks are as follows:
Here is a list of some notable current players and their draft positions:
Note that this is selecting only the standouts at these draft positions and should not be the expectation of all the Kraken draft picks.
You can catch the first round of the NHL Entry Draft this Thursday on ESPN and ESPN+ starting at 4 p.m. Pacific. Rounds two through seven will air on the NHL Network and ESPN+ starting at 8am on Friday. Hopefully this post gives you a deeper understanding of the NHL Entry Draft and the expectations around the players selected.
