Trades, mystery at the top: What to watch for at 2022 NHL Draft

The NHL draft begins on Thursday night in Montreal and that is typically when the league’s offseason really kicks off.

All 32 general managers and front offices being in the same spot, as well as the very nature of the draft itself, means there will be at least some moves to be made. The significance of those moves may vary.

Here is a quick primer on what to watch for over the next two days.

This is the rare draft year where there is no can’t miss, consensus top pick which means there is some actual intrigue at the top of the draft starting with the Montreal Canadiens and the No. 1 overall pick.

The odds on favorite seems to be Shane Wright, but Juraj Slafkovský and Logan Cooley could also be options.

Wright has been considered the top prospect in this draft class for a couple of years now, but Slafkovský’s stock has risen considerably in recent weeks. He is probably considered the most NHL ready prospect in this draft given his size, speed, and international play. But what is his ceiling?

If Montreal does go with Wright in the top spot, Slafkovský seems to be a safe bet in the second spot where the New Jersey Devils are slated to pick. It will be the third time in the past five years they have picked in the top-two of the draft after previously selecting Nico Hischier (2017) and Jack Hughes (2019) first overall.

Check out our complete 2022 Mock Draft here.

The big name to watch on the trade market is Chicago Blackhawks winger Alex DeBrincat, coming off of another 40-goal season and just one year away from unrestricted free agency. With the Blackhawks deep into a rebuild DeBrincat has been mentioned in trade speculation for the past year, and there seems to be plenty of smoke that a deal could be imminent.

Will it happen