The 2022 NHL Upstairs Draft will take place July 7-8 at the Bell Center in Montreal. Round 1 will be July 7 (7PM ET; ESPN, ESPN+, SN, TVAS) and Rounds 2-7 on July 8 (11AM ET; NHLN, ESPN+, SN, TVAS). NHL.com counts down to the draft with in-depth profiles on top prospects, podcasts, and other features. Today, we are examining the draft needs for teams in the Pacific Division. Full NHL.com Draft coverage can be found over here.
The 2022 NHL Upstairs Project provides an opportunity for teams to support situations in need by injecting young talent.
Here’s what the eight teams in the Pacific Division could seek to do in the draft (teams listed in alphabetical order):
Anaheim Duck
Top priority: defenseman
first choice: number 10
the situation: Jimmy Dressdale On her way to evolving into Defensive Man #1, and Olin ZellwegerThe Ducks was named in the second round (#34) in the 2021 NHL Draft as the Western Hockey League’s best defender this season. but with trade Humpus Lindholm, more depth into the situation is needed, and there should be many talented defensive men at this point to choose from. Another option could be to add more skill on the wing, or they could do that with pick number 22, which was acquired from the Boston Bruins in the Lindholm trade.
Possible seizures: Pavel MintyukovD, Saginaw (OHL); Kevin KorczynskiD, Seattle (WHL); Daniela YorovRW, Magnitogorsk (Russia)
algal flame
Top priority: defenseman
first choice: number 59
the situation: The Flames’ first pick will come in the second round after they replaced their first-round pick with the Montreal Canadiens in Tyler Toffoli Deal. Calgary picked a striker with his first draft pick in 2021 (Coronato diedNo. 13), 2020 (Connor ZaryNo. 24 (and 2019)Jacob Pelletier, No. 26). Finding more skills in Defenseman might be the best option here.
Possible seizures: Michael FisherD, St.Mark’s School (HIGH-MA); David SpacekD, Sherbrooke (QMJHL); Matthias SabovalevC, Saginaw (OHL)
Edmonton oils
Top priority: defenseman
first choice: No. 29
the situation: Evan Bouchard He became a full-time player in the National Hockey League this season at the age of 23 and 20 Philip Broberg He could have an even bigger role after making his NHL debut this season. But there is a bit of depth behind it. May their best prospects be in this position Dmitriy Samorukov (2017, No. 84) and Luca Munzenberger (2021, No. 90). Another option might be to find a skilled winger who can play side by side at the end Conor McDavid And the Leon Drystel.
Possible seizures: Seamus CaseyD, USA U-18 (NTDP); Jagger FerkusR.W., Moose Jaw (WHL); Sam RinzelD, Chaska (HIGH-MN)
Los Angeles Kings
Top priority: toy industry wings
first choice: number 51
the situation: The Kings will make their first selection in the second round after trading their first-round selection against Minnesota Wild forward Kevin Viala. Los Angeles averaged 2.87 goals per game, the second-lowest number of teams to achieve Stanley Cup playoffs, and the only wingers to score more than 18 goals were Adrian Kempe (35) and Victor Arvidson (20). Adding the Fiala will help for the time being but having some smaller options for the future may be the focus here. Kings built amid the ice early in the draft in the past few years with centers Quinton Byfield (2020, No. 2), Alex Turcot (2019, No. 5) and Rasmus Kupari (No. 2018, No. 20), the men of defense Brandt Clark (2021, No. 8) and Tobias Björnfoot (2019, No. 22). One possibility is to find more skill and score from the wings. Another area they can catch is a defensive guy with an offensive mindset.
Possible seizures: Alexander PerevalovL.W., Yaroslavl 2 (RUS-JR); Dylan JamesL.W., Sioux City (USHL); Christian KeroD, Erie (OHL)
San Jose Sharks
Top priority: defenseman
first choice: No. 11
the situation: Three of the six best defensive sharks were 37 years old Brent Burns35 years old Mark Edward Vlasic and 32 years old Eric Carlson. Mario Ferraro, 23, secured a place in the top four as the season continued, but more needed to be added in the center. San Jose used high choices in attackers William Ecklund (2021, No. 7), Ozzy Wiesblatt (2020, No. 31) and Thomas Bordeleau (2020, No. 38) past two years on a draft; Now seems to be the time to find the best defense.
Possible seizures: Pavel Mintyukov, D, Saginaw (OHL); Kevin Korchinsky, D, Seattle (WHL); Denton MatichokD, Moss Joe (WHL)
Seattle Kraken
Top priority: best player available
first choice: No. 4
the situation: Kraken have begun building their own pool of prospects with seven picks in the 2021 NHL Draft and have already seen some of that category pay off with the center’s arrival. Matty Penners, the second-choice holder, who scored nine points (three goals and six assists) in 10 matches. Seattle has 12 picks, including four in the second round. With the Beniers expected to be a staple in the future, the choice with their first pick in the 2022 draft could be to find a similar building block in the defenseman. But since Kraken is still in its development stage, picking the best available player regardless of position is the best option.
Possible seizures: Simon NemecD, Nitra (SVK); David JerichekD, Plzen (CZREP); Logan CooleyC, USA U-18 (NTDP)
Vancouver cookies
Top priority: defenseman
first choice: number 15
the situation: Queen Hughesand 22 and Travis DermottAt 25, he is the only defenseman not yet 26 years old who is expected to be in the opening day squad for next season, with Jack Rathbone, 23, has a chance. Other than Hughes, their first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, he is the only defender the Canucks have selected in the first two rounds since 2016 Jeet Woo (No. 37, 2018). Adding a high-ranking potential client to the position is vital, especially with Oliver Ekman Larson (30) and Tyler Myers (32), two of the Canucks Ice Time’s top captains, are nearing the end of their major seasons.
Possible seizures: Ryan Chesley, D, USA U-18 (NTDP); Kevin Korchinsky, D, Seattle (WHL); Owen PickeringD, Swift Current (WHL)
Golden Vegas Knights
Top priority: straight ahead
first choice: number 48
the situation: The Golden Knights will make their first selection in the second round after trading their selection in the first round on the Buffalo Sabers in the center Jack Eichel. Vegas has exhausted its pool of outstanding potential clients over the years in forward trades Mark StoneAnd the Max Priority and Eichel, so building that area of the development system could be where the Golden Knights came to be. Choosing a goalkeeper can also be an option.
Possible seizures: Daniel Zilkinc, Guelph (OHL); Adam Ingram, C, Youngstown (USHL); Alexander Perevalov, LW, Yaroslavl 2 (RUS-JR)
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