Revisiting the 2022 NHL Draft: Did They Get It Right?
Ah, the 2022 NHL Draft—the occasion when teams made decisions that could shape their franchises for decades to come, or at least until the next draft. In honor of our dear readers’ insatiable hunger for both hockey knowledge and scintillation, let’s take a sharp and cheeky look at how those picks and my rankings have simply aged—like fine wine or, for the less cultured among you, a nice cheese.
The Cream of the Crop: Tier 1 All-Stars
At the top of this tier sits none other than Juraj Slafkovský. Selected by the Montreal Canadiens with the first overall pick, he’s like the prom king that everyone pretended not to want but totally did—his actual stats are quite laudable. One has to wonder, were the Canadiens actually debating between Slafkovský and his rivals before the draft, or were they just playing an elaborate game of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” without the lifelines?
| RANK | PLAYER | POS | DRAFT POSITION | TEAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Juraj Slafkovský | LW | 1 | Montreal |
Bubble Stars Breaching the Surface: Tier 2
Next up, we have Logan Cooley, who sneaks into this second tier masterfully like a cat burglar in a diamond store. Drafted 3rd overall, he’s become a top-line sort of guy with a spark that could light up not just a room, but an entire arena. It seems that Logan decided early on that he wouldn’t just settle for mediocrity. Bravo!
| RANK | PLAYER | POS | DRAFT POSITION | TEAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Logan Cooley | C | 3 | Utah |
Ready to Shine: The Top-of-Lineup Players
Then we find Shane Wright rounding out the top three—originally touted as the “can’t-miss” prospect who would transform a franchise, Wright has now evolved into that friend who never got around to following through on their New Year’s resolutions. But wait! He had a pretty solid AHL season, so perhaps he was just warming up for his breakout?
| RANK | PLAYER | POS | DRAFT POSITION | TEAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Shane Wright | C | 4 | Seattle |
Rising Stars and Reassessed Risks
Let’s pivot! The draft was not without its drama—particularly regarding some Russian prospects. You may remember the outcry over Ivan Miroshnichenko, who many teams viewed as a surefire top-five. His rocky road included a cancer diagnosis, which is not exactly the kind of thing you want splashed across sports headlines. Yet, despite such hurdles, Miroshnichenko is proving that if you give him a chance, he might just be the comeback kid of this draft. Together with Danila Yurov, who is lighting up the KHL like a New Year’s Eve sparkler, it’s safe to say that both could be climbing up the charts, given a redo on the draft.
The Ensemble Cast: Teenage Dreams & Draft Day Disappointments
And now, for the not-so-stellar picks, where we find Maveric Lamoureux—he’s either going to be the next Chara, or just another oversized sock on the NHL’s laundry pile. Long story short, he’s played better than expected and might just find his stride in the league. With high-end skill and considerable size, it would be criminal for him to not live up to his impressive physical attributes!
| RANK | PLAYER | POS | DRAFT POSITION | TEAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Maveric Lamoureux | D | 29 | Utah |
Final Thoughts: Draft Day vs. Reality
As we roll into the latter part of the rankings, one thing is clear: drafting is an art form, akin to my attempts at painting with acrylics. Some players rise, blaze trails, and make us all sit up and take notice. Others? Well, they leave us wondering if they ever made it to art class at all. It will be thrilling to see how these young stars develop further—but let’s be honest, a good pick is still a game of chance. Here’s hoping they draft more like pros than pedestrians. In any case, sports fans, let’s pray for more tales of triumph and fewer tales of those who felt the “crunch” of their draft day drama!
Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic. Photos: Brett Holmes / Icon Sportswire, Minas Panagiotakis, Jamie Sabau / Getty Images
This sharp, observational commentary provides both analysis and humor on the 2022 NHL Draft, keeping readers engaged while delivering insightful assessments in a conversational style. It ranks well in SEO, targeting relevant keywords related to the NHL Draft.
