Day 1 2022 Draft Review Grades

 

Another BRHL entry draft has started and day 1 is complete. Teams were moving up and down boards for months in anticipation of a quality group of draftees. Below, we will have a look at the day one draft grades based on my opinion. If you didn’t pick, you have an F. Will include best value pick for each team also. 

 

Knights: A+

Joe moved way up to grab his player. Beniers made his NHL debut and looked like a franchise centre with 9 pts in 10 games. Beyond Beniers, he also took sniper Bolduc, skating dman Ceulemans, Lysell, Stromgren and Kolosov. Kolosov might be a standout pick in third round 22 gp in the KHL this season as a now twenty-year old with a respectable 2.9 gaa and 0.906 save percentage.  

 

Lightning: A+

 

Easy pick once Beniers gone and picked up Olofsson to move down to two when likely may have taken Powers anyway. Also got Bourgault, Morrow, Pinelli, Martino and Ben Meyers. A good day one re-stock. Morrow at 27 was probably best value based on position as many had him going 15-22.

 

Rangers: B+

 

PJ made the move many debated about in getting Wallstedt at 3. I liked him top ten but totally understand making move if he is the guy you wanted! No other picks on day 1 but with Makar anchoring blue line, they now have two young studs to build around. 

 

Sabres: A

 

The draft was always going to be interesting from 3 down and Jared stirred it up taking Eklund. In his 9 game NHL start to career he looked excellent and didn’t disappoint playing in Europe. Assuredly in NHL this season. He followed that pick up with Samosevitch in the 2^nd with good value pick. Mazur wasn’t a value pick as most had in late 2^nd early third but may end up being a steal at that with 38 pts as a freshman in the NCAA for U Denver.

 

Sharks: A

 

Up, down and all around. McTavish at 5 and Edvinsson at 6 gives them two elite prospects to build around and top value on day one. Will they play first games for Sharks, I am not convinced of this as would not be surprised if both get moved! Oliver Johansson was taken in the third round to round out the day. With 41 pts in 33 games in J20 Swedish league, his value was spot on. 

 

Kraken: B

 

When will they not take a goalie? Johnson was a great pick at 8, but I would not have taken Cossa in top 10, particularly with Hughes on board still. Perhaps Rex’s stock piling will work, but with an elite talent on board in Hughes, I think it was a mistake. Props though for taking Cunzenberger! Value pick I think was sliding Johnson as had him top 5 talent.

 

Pens: A+

When Hughes fell, Toby would have been jumping for joy. Outstanding freshman year, won’t be long until he joins the NHL. Top value at 9^th overall. Chibrikov was also good value at 37 after 37 pts in 36 games across the Russian circuit (KHL, MHL, VHL). Many had him as first rounder last year and I didn’t think he would be far out this year. Chase Stillman had borderline first value and got at 40^th overall. Ryan Winterton I loved at 55^th overall. Former Team Canada forward as U17, he looked good when returned from shoulder injury. I had him loaded in chamber to pick with my next draft pick if hadn’t been taken. Ostapchuk slid from 39^th overall in NHL to late 2^nd round. Another value. Final pick Josh Bloom had 61 pts in 65gp. All around solid draft.

 

Panthers: A+

 

Tyler had a very strong day in his build. Sillinger was a revelation as an 18 yr old playing a strong two way game and will make BRHL debut this year. Wyatt Johnson had one of the best junior seasons this past year. Matt Coronato put up 18g 18a as freshman at Harvard. On top of those solid picks the Panthers got Koivunen, Behrens, Iorio, Kirsanov, Roulette, Guslistov, Kuzmin, Grishnikov and Kapanen in a busy 2^nd and 3^rd round. 

 

Preds: B

 

Brandt Clarke was the enigma of the first round. Most had in top 15, but some were leary on. Rich went BPA. I like him and see Doughty-lite. So good value at 11. Colton Dach at 43 was about right with 79 pts this WHL year. Nolan Allen was the value pick as slid to 48 but did nothing to significantly worsen draft +1 year with 41 pts in 65 gp. Final pick Brett Harrison at 75 was about right.

 

Devils: A

 

Ken sat steady and ended up with a top 10 prospect at 13 in Dylan Guenther. He was shredding the WHL this year with 45 goals in 59 gp and 13 goals in 16 in playoffs. With the poor NHL quality ahead of him, it won’t be long until he is skating for the Arizona State Coyotes. Ken then used his 2^nd first rounder to pick a top 15 player in Lucius at 23. Many had him pegged as top scorer in the draft last year but a tough season for a deep U Minnesota team saw fell. I like his game, and he has turned pro. Ken rounded out day taking Maple Leafs back up Erik Kjallgren who immediately adds some goaltending depth and upside.

 

RedWings: A

 

Othmann was a pure sniper this season in the OHL. After a strong NHL camp with Rangers, he returned to OHL and promptly put up a 50 goal season. He followed that up with a strong playoff. At pick 14, excellent value for Dan. He then followed up that pick with Svechkov, all around defender Lambos, Doan, draft riser Josh Roy, Jacob Peterson, Evan Nause and Dryden McKay. Doan may have been best value as got at 38 and most mocks had him in 25-32 range.

 

Ducks: C+

 

I was not a massive fan of Zellweger at 17^th overall with what I viewed as better value but Devon clearly sees something. Raty was going to be 15-25 so value was there. Petrov as well, off the board way earlier than I thought. Later picks Pastujov, Buium, Del Mastro, Ufko gave better value in terms of position but in my view, stretched on too many early picks. Just my opinion though. 

 

Coyotes: B

 

Stankoven was draft climber and was clearly going to be taken in first round. Getting at 22 was about right. Olausson had a mediocre year, but still taken about right spot. Evans and Fanti add depth. No real standout for value picks and so grade is average.

 

Maple Leafs: B

 

Garrett dropped back and still got guy wanted. Knies rocketed up draft boards with solid pt per game season in NCAA and solid play at Olympics. At 56, he picks up Samu Tuomaala that many had higher on draft boards after a year he had spent across multiple leagues including the AHL and solid play vs age appropriate competition U20. Simon Robertsson played in SHL and rated as a very high quality scorer last year. At pick 72, I had him in chamber for pick 79 for value about right. Olsson rounded out day around same value in BRHL as NHL. 

 

Canucks: F

 

Kuzmenko for Rob and Canucks in first round? Why? Was decent year but older spect and while might have a decent year next year, is the value there to take over a guy like Moser, Samoskevitch or others? Not in my books. As the only pick for Canucks, it is a fail for me!

 

Flames: A+

 

My hands are going to get sore typing. Moser was great value at 32 as instantly steps in top 6 role with quality ratings. Kevin just builds depth and did today again. After Moser, Dean, Mailloux, Boucher, Klimovich and Svozil all join Flames stable. Mailloux might be coup as many feel he is a top 10 talent but a risk given his background. I would have taken that risk too. Boucher, drafted at 10 was worth a flier in the 2^nd and if can get game online, again might be another steal for Kevin.

 

Jets: No rank given bias.

 

I like my draft but not prepared to call it an A. L’Heureux is pt per game spark plug that fell to us at 36. Daniil Chayka many had as first round value and got at 52. Smooth skating, big puck mover I like risk as 2^nd rounder. Poltapov was 33^rd overall for Sabres. I tend to stay clear of Sabre picks, but spent time in KHL this past year as he builds his game. Helenius played 12 games in the AHL. Monster of a winger might join BRHL within a year. Our final pick of day Tristan Broz had a solid though unspectacular freshman year at UMinn. With many guys moving on, he may explode next year.  

 

Kings: B

 

The lone pick Ryder Korczak I had in the chamber to pick so will call decent value. At more than a pt per game in WHL, Korczak is a good prospect who I had valued in this range.

 

Wild: B

 

Big Al I figured would be looking for Minnesota products or picks and got one. First one off the board was Heimosalmi as a surprise at 41. Carolina has quietly been building a good stable and Heimosalmi added to that with a solid year in Liiga. Jack Peart at 62 OV is probably best value. Taken 54 OV by, you guessed it, Minny, Peart had a good year in NCAA with 0.5pt/game. 

 

Blues: C+

 

The Blues joined the draft at 46 OV. Riley Kidney had a good year and moved up most draft boards with 30g 70 a 100 pt QMJHL year. Jayden Grubbe and Caeden Bankier rounded out the day. Grubbe had a mediocre year about 0.5pts per game. You expect more in draft +1 season from a forward. Bankier was closer to a pt per game and perhaps can leverage something from Al for the Wild draftee!

 

Oilers: No rating

 

The Oilers picked Samu Salminen a captain for his J20 team in Finland where he had 48 pts in 44 games played. He will attend U Denver next year. It is a no rating for Oilers as am aware he will not be an Oilers pick in the foreseeable future.

 

Islanders: C

 

With only the 86^th pick, the Isles get a passing grade. Roman Schmidt is a big dman with 33 pts in 68 gp in the OHL. Picked in similar position in NHL.