As we anxiously await July 23 & 24 and the 2021 NHL Draft to come, our crew is back at it watching video on next year’s crop, breaking down the prospects and getting an idea on NHL potentials, and we are excited for what the 2022 NHL Draft class has shown us and will bring to the table.
Below are some profiles and video highlights starting with the top three ranked prospects in Draft Prospects Hockey sneak peek, you can find loads more in our 2021 NHL Draft Guide and Yearbook on the 2022 class. We give you a small taste of the top end guys that NHL teams will be clamoring to call their names at the draft podium twelve months from now in Montreal Quebec.
During the summer we will be adding another handful of video highlight packages of the 2022 top prospects to our YouTube page so be sure to check it out and subscribe.
“A franchise talent. High-end skater, balanced, quick, has excellent edgework. Impressive intelligence and situational awareness, both with and without the puck. Pro grade offensive skills including a cannon of a shot. Can let his release go midstride, at top speed. Dangerous one timer that he can really get some heat on. Elite vision with the puck and makes his wingers better by giving them the puck in positions to succeed. Quick hands and decision making. Responsible 200-foot player. Sets the tempo. Elite positioning. Is not afraid to finish his checks. All-Star potential.” – 2021 DraftPro Guide
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“Offensive center with McDavidesque type speed. Impressive stride with power, agility, and sharp edge control. A play driver who pushes the offensive attack. Excellent vision, decision making and timing on his passes. Can thread passes between legs and under sticks. Slick hands and often dangles defenders senseless with his ridiculous puck skills at top speed. Big shot that he gets off in a nanosecond. Heavy wrister and dangerous one timer. Needs to hit the gym and add some muscle. Consistent defensive effort could improve. Future top line NHLer.” – 2021 DraftPro Guide
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“Impressively quick, dynamically, heads up skilled center. Possesses elite skating ability. Burner speed that he hits with just a couple of quick steps. Excellent edgework. Super creative with the puck and can dance through traffic with dekes and jukes. High IQ and skilled playmaking. Remarkable vision. Finds open lanes and reads the developing play. Agile and shifty. Skilled at the art of puck steals. Small but sturdy, can body guys off the puck. He has a tremendously accurate shot, with a disguised release. High-end offensive point producer at the NHL level.” – 2021 DraftPro Guide
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“Intelligent, poised, mature, two-way defender. Smooth stride, strong all-encompassing mobility, and dynamic acceleration. Offensively he is more smart than creative. Quick transition game. Can move the puck with a pass or rush it. Distributes the puck accurately and smartly. Has a big shot and puts it in position to allow for tips. Reads and reacts quickly. He keeps good gaps and closes off lanes. Very smart. Uses his positioning and stick to defend more than being physical. Plays a very clean game but can apply force when needed. Has top pairing NHL upside.” – 2021 DraftPro Guide
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“Highly skilled, energetic, power winger. Strong skating stride with impressive first steps and acceleration for a big man. A beast in the corners and along the wall. Strong forechecker. Loves to play the body and throw his weight around. Great attitude. Possesses a heavy, accurate wrist-shot. Smart. Uses his reach and strength to hold off pressure or create space to make a play. Plays a mature game. Has a two-way mindset. A very complete player. Needs to be more selfish and shot each opportunity. A potential big strong two-way NHL power winger.” – 2021 DraftPro Guide
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“Dangerous, electric, natural goal-scorer. Powerful skater, quick feet, and excellent edges. allowing him to constantly gets open to receive a pass. Has a lethal shot, a gunslingers release and can tuck a puck in the smallest of windows. Has a shooter’s mentality always looking to direct shots towards the net. Drives the pace of play. Ultra-quick hands, high-end offensive instincts and impressive competitiveness make him incredibly tough to defend. Wins puck battles in the offensive zone. Still lots of work to do in his own zone. Top line NHL goal scoring potential.” – 2021 DraftPro Guide
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“Big, skilled, power centre. Strong on his edges, turns, and stops. Produces good straight-line speed. Creates space with long reach. Can ripped a beauty wrist shot. Confident and intelligent playmaker. Reads the play well. Handles the puck with skilled mitts. Exhibits excellent puck control in tight. Plays a heavy game. Solid frame. Not overly physical but hard to knock off the puck. Often little to no hustle in his backcheck, will need to rectify that. Needs to bring it consistently and to round out his overall game. Has top line playmaking NHL upside.” – 2021 DraftPro Guide
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“Tall, lanky and rangy, two-way defenseman. Skating has improved this season. Still could add more footspeed. Likes to join the attack or lug the puck up ice himself. Sees the ice well, handles the puck with his head up and makes a deadly cross ice pass. Holds and walks the line well. Displays a hard, purposeful point shot. Plays with a high motor. Aggressively closes gaps in the neutral zone. Uses his long reach. Plays physical, bodying his man. Still has areas to improve defensively. Has top pairing, minute munching, two-way NHL potential.” – 2021 DraftPro Guide
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“Dynamic, quick, intelligent, offensively skilled winger. His skating ability is near flawless. Wide and sturdy stance. His first few strides are both quick and powerful. Uses his speed to beat defenders or get in on the forecheck. Hands are quick and deceptive, can beat defensemen and goaltenders one on one. His wrist shot is whippy and accurate, has a heavy one-timer. Excellent playmaker. He is strong on his stick. Gritty and physical. Size, speed and abilities with the puck make him a handful to contain. Many edges to round off but has top six NHL scoring upside.” – 2021 DraftPro Guide
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“Slippery, evasive, pure dynamic offensive minded defenseman. Slippery skater with astonishing lateral movement, pivots, turns, and overall elite edgework to escape pressure. Slick, skilled hands. Quick and creative ability to make skilled plays happen. Excellent vision and puck distributing capabilities. Acts as a fourth forward on most offensive attacks. Reads and reacts quickly. Has a solid work ethic. Has some work to do with regards to his physical strength and defensive positioning. Top pairing NHL offensive defenseman upside.” – 2021 DraftPro Guide
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For DraftPro’s top 64 ranking and prospect profiles on the top 32 prospects eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft pick up a copy of either our comprehensive 2021 DraftPro Guide or our extensive 2021 DraftPro Yearbook which includes hundreds of actual game reports.