2022 NHL Mock Draft: Final Mock 7 Rounds

Round 3

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: July 7, 2022.

66. Montreal Canadiens: Jack Devine, RW, Denver
    
    
    Montreal grabs a right winger here to start the third round. Jack Devine is an awesome value pick for Montreal here who can be groomed to be a future third line right winger on Montreal.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 172 lb Jack Devine had 6 goals, 20 assists, 26 points, and a -3 +/- ratio with the United States National Team Developmental Program in the USHL in 2019-2020. Jack Devine had 1 goal, 7 assists, 8 points, and a -2 +/- ratio with the United States National Team Developmental Program in the USHL in 2020-2021.
    
    
    
    Jack Devine played one game as a first line right winger for the United States National Team Developmental Progam in the USHL. He only had 3 goals, 16 assists, 19 points, and a +12 +/- ratio as a second line right winger with the Denver Pioneers who won the College Hockey Championship.
    
    
    
    Jack Devine gives Montreal another NCAA prospect that the team can develop for the future. He was my best overall player on the board as well as someone I had a first round grade on back in October.
    
    
    
67. Arizona Coyotes: Otto Salin, D, Helsingfors IFK (SM Liiga)
    
    
    The 5-11 192 lb Otto Salin played well on Helsingors IFK in Finland dominating on their junior teams. Otto Salin only had 1 assist in 6 games for Helsingfors IFK's Liiga team.
    
    
    
    Otto Salin is an elite skater with the speed, skating, burst, first step, foot speed, passing, playmaking, and offensive awareness you want from a defenseman. The rest of his game is a project since he needs to develop his shot and improve defensively. Arizona can draft Otto Salin here hoping for a third line defenseman in the NHL once he develops.
    
    
    
    
    
68. Seattle Kraken: Jake Karabela, LW, Guelph Storm (OHL)
    
    
    The Seattle Kraken get their fourth line left winger here in the third round. Seattle still needs a fourth line center, a third line right winger, and a fourth line right winger too, but the value Jake Karabela provides here in the third round is too great to ignore.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 160 lb Jake Karabela was the only first line player and only alternate captain from the 2022 CHL Prospects Game still on the board in the third round. Jake Karabela being drafted means twenty eight of the forty players from the 2022 CHL Prospects Game are now off the board.
    
    
    
    Seattle goes with the two-way forward on the Guelph Storm who lined up as both a third line left winger and a third line center on the Guelph Storm. Jake Karabela lined up as a first line left winger next to center Danny Zhilkin in the Guelph Storm's final playoff game during the 2022 OHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Jake Karbela was drafted in the second round of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection in the second round after the team drafted Matthew Poitras at center in the first round and defenseman Michael Buchinger three picks before taking Karabela. The Guelph Storm getting their first three picks from the 2020 OHL Draft into the NHL is a huge accomplishment for their scouting department.
    
    
    
    Jake Karbela had 12 goals, 33 assists, 45 points, and a +14 +/- ratio in 68 regular season games during his rookie season in the OHL. Jake Karabela also had 2 goals, 2 assists, and 4 points in 5 games during the 2022 OHL Playoffs despite being placed on the third line for four of those games. He played well enough to earn a promotion to the first line next to Danny Zhilkin in an elimination game as stated earlier in this writeup.
    
    
    
69. Philadelphia Flyers: Servac Petrovsky, C, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
    
    
    The 5-11 174 lb Servac Petrovsky had 16 goals, 16 assists, and 32 points over in Slovakia last season. There's a reason the Owen Sound Attack used a first round pick on Petrovsky in the 2021 CHL Import Draft.
    
    
    
    Servac Petrovsky was a player I had a third round grade on back in October. He's a player who really stood out in his interview with the Philadelphia Flyers despite not being a part of the 2022 CHL Prospects Game. The Philadelphia Flyers can gamble on Servac Petrovsky at this point in the third round.
    
    
    
    Servac Petrovsky had 28 goals, 26 assists, 54 points, and a +6 +/- ratio in 2021-2022. Servac Petrovsky also had 2 goals, 4 assists, and 6 points in 7 games during the 2022 OHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    
    
70. New Jersey Devils: Maddox Flemming, RW, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)
    
    
    New Jersey addresses their final team need by getting their fourth line right winger of the future here. Maddox Flemming was a player I mocked as high as 18 overall back in October.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 176 lb Maddox Flemming had 14 goals, 38 assists, and 52 points in 2019-2020. Maddox Flemming had 6 goals, 8 assists, 14 points, and a -5 +/- ratio with the United States National Team Developmental Program in the USHL in 2020-2021.
    
    
    
    Maddox Flemming had another season in the USHL before he goes to Notre Dame where he has a hockey scholarship with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the NCAA. He was unhappy with a lack of minutes on the United States National Team Developmental Program in the USHL after his rookie season despite improving with 1 goal, 2 asssists, 3 points, and a +4 +/- in 5 regular season games with the United States National Team Developmental Program. He wanted to try to sign elsewhere. Most players that go to the USNTDP team in the USHL have to stay there for two years before going to College.
    
    
    
    That rule is no longer in effect as of this season and Team USA in the USHL also known as USNTDP cut Flemming from their roster after 5 games accomidating the request of Maddox Flemming. However, he was claimed by another USHL team in the Sioux Falls Stampede. Some NHL Scouts have dropped Flemming, a first round prospect heading into October of 2021 all the way down to the fourth round of their big boards, removing him from their top 100, believing he displays a lack of maturity or character, but that's simply not the case since he still honored his NCAA committment to Notre Dame.
    
    
    
    Maddox Flemming had 10 goals, 24 assists, 34 points, and a -23 +/- ratio with the Sioux Falls Stampede in 47 regular season games. Unlike Logan Cooley and Rutger McGroaty, Maddox Flemming didn't decommitt from Notre Dame when a better school made him an offer.
    
    
    
    Maddox Flemming is an effective playmaker as far as his offensive skill set goes since he came in as the second line center on the Sioux Falls Stampede and did well there showcasing the versatility to play both center and right wing.
    
    
    
    Back in October, I mocked him to the Edmonton Oilers at 18 prior to the start of the NHL Regular Season. However, he's still got to develop his wrist shot, slap shot, and improve defensively. He'll have four years to accomplish that at Notre Dame before the New Jersey Devils have to sign him to a rookie deal so the Devils can be patient and get a really good value pick in the third round here.
    
    
    
71. Carolina Hurricanes: Michael Butchinger, D, Guelph Storm (OHL)
    
    
    The 6-0 175 lb Michael Butchinger was the Guelph Storm's second round pick in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection after drafting Matthew Poitras in the first round.
    
    
    
    Michael Butchinger had 5 goals, 39 assists, 44 points, and a +15 +/- ratio in 2021-2022. Michael Butchinger also was line mates with defenseman Maveric Lamoureaux on the first line in the 2022 CHL Prospects Game. Michael Butchinger had 1 goal, 2 assists, and 3 points in 5 games during the 2022 OHL Playoffs. Carolina adds Michael Butchinger to their prospect pool with this draft pick they got from the Chicago Blackhawks making Michael Butchinger the twenty ninth player from the 2022 CHL Prospects Game to be drafted.
    
    
    
    
    
72. Ottawa Senators: Vinzenz Rohrer, C, Ottawa 67's (OHL)
    
    
    Ottawa takes the top player from the 2022 CHL Prospects Game with this selection in the third round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. He's now the thirtieth player out of forty from the 2022 CHL Prospects Game to get drafted.
    
    
    
    From 2007-2019, Austria had a 12 year NHL Draft drought with only 12 Austrians drafted into the NHL. There were 3 Austrian players drafted in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft with the most notable name being Ottawa 67's first line center Marco Rossi, who was drafted ninth overall by the Minnesota Wild in the first round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. It's also worth pointing out that Rossi was my seventh best prospect two years ago, so it remains to be seen if the Minnesota Wild got a steal since Rossi hasn't been a full-time starter on the Minnesota Wild's roster spending time on Minnesota's AHL team the Iowa Wild developing this past season.
    
    
    
    The Ottawa 67's got another Austrian player in the 2020 CHL Import draft two years after getting Marco Rossi in the 2018 CHL Import Draft. Vinzenz Rohrer came in as a rookie following no OHL season in 2020-2021 due to Covid-19, and won the first line center job on the Ottawa 67's just like Marco Rossi did. Vinzenz Rohrer would become the sixteenth Austrian player to be drafted in the entire history of the NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 5-10 163 lb Vinzenz Rohrer had 25 goals, 23 assists, 48 points, 14 penalty minutes in 64 OHL regular season games, and a -9 +/- ratio in 2021-2022. Vinzez Rohrer had 1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points, and 0 penalty minutes in 4 games during the 2022 OHL Playoffs where the North Bay Batallion swept the Ottawa 67's.
    
    
    
    It's safe to say that Vinzenz Rohrer was the lone bright spot on an Ottawa 67's team that got swept in this years OHL Playoffs. Vinzez Roher was also the fourth line right winger on Team White, the winning team in the 2022 CHL Prospects Game which means he's more versatile than Marco Rossi whose a pure center. He also finished in the top 3 in Transition Agility and Weave Agility drills at the 2022 CHL Prospects Combine with or without the puck.
    
    
    
    Vinzez Rohrer has the playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, hockey IQ, stick handling, shot blocking, forechecking, ability to play on the power play, and ability to play on the penalty killing unit in the NHL. The big knock on Vincent Rohrer is his skating. He's got to improve his speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed. Another area of improvement is his ability to win face offs. His inability to win face offs was the biggest reason he moved to right wing in the 2022 CHL Prospects Game since most NHL scouts project him as a right winger rather than a center.
    
    
    
    Vinzez Rohrer warrants a flyer here in the middle of the third round here since one OHL scout called him the best shot blocker on the entire Ottawa 67's team saying he did a better job blocking shots defensively then his entire team while outperforming the six defensemen on his team in shot blocking. Rohrer has to work on his skating and ability to win face offs, but if he cleans up those two areas of his game Ottawa could be getting a steal here down the road who could contribute on the back 6 down the road.
    
    
    
    Think Cooper Kupp on skates because Rohrer like Kupp is fundamentally sound checking off every single box from an intangibles standpoint. Okay, maybe that's a little too far of a stretch comparison wise since Rohrer needs to improve his skating and face off ability. You also have to look at how Kupp rarely dropped passes while Rohrer is a project with face offs. This guy would have to win a Conn Smythe Trophy in Detroit to be comparable to Kupp too since Cooper Kupp won Super Bowl 56 MVP with the Los Angeles Rams.
    
    
    
73. Detroit Red Wings: Matyas Sapovaliv, C, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
    
    
    The 6-3 182 lb Matyas Sapovaliv had 18 goals, 34 assists, 52 points, and a -18 +/- ratio in 2021-2022. He played on the first line of the Saginaw Spirit last year, but will he maintain that role with Michael Misa, a frontrunner to go first overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, arriving in Saginaw this Fall. Regardless, Detroit gets him so they have someone to groom behind Michael Rasmussen in their prospect pool. Matyas Sapovailiv now the thirty first player of the forty players in the 2022 CHL Prospects Game to get drafted.
    
    
    
    
    
74. Buffalo Sabres: Bryce McConnell-Barker, C, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
    
    
    Buffalo goes for the best player from the 2022 CHL Prospects game here in the third round with this selection. One guy who could develop into that guy down the road is Bryce McConnell-Barker whose the final forward from the 2022 CHL Prospects game to be a first or second line forward.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 181 lb Bryce McConnell-Barker has not played in the OHL yet. He was picked fourth overall in the 2020 OHL Draft. Bryce McConnell-Barker had 23 goals, 26 assists, 49 points, and a +1 +/- ratio in 68 games as a rookie after Covid-19 cancelled the 2020-2021 OHL season. Bryce McConnell-Barker also had 1 goal, 4 assists, and 5 points in 10 games during the 2022 OHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Bryce McConnell-Barker was a second line center on both the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds and on Team White, the winning team in the 2022 CHL Prospects Game. Buffalo can grab a defenseman and address their final need with their next selection.
    
    
    
75. Montreal Canadiens: Paul Ludwinski, C, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
    
    
    Montreal got this pick from Anaheim when they traded the 76th pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft to Anaheim and they ended up moving up one spot getting the 75th pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Montreal addressed most of their needs, so I'm giving them the best player on my board from the 2022 CHL Prospects Game.
    
    
    
    There's seven players from the 2022 CHL Prospects Game still on the board including four forwards and three goalies in a very thin goalie draft. One of those players left, Paul Ludwinski, who lined up as a third line left winger on Team White in the 2022 CHL Prospects Game, while also finishing third overall in the 30 meter dash backwards drill with the puck meaning that Paul Ludwinski is a good defensive center with a well rounded game both offensively and defensively. Shane Wright was the captain of Team Red and he's the unanimous first overall pick to the Montreal Canadiens with the first pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Shane has got to be happy about Paul joining him in Montreal since Paul Ludwinski could end up being the Montreal Canadiens third line center by 2025.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 176 lb Paul Ludwinski had 16 goals, 27 assists, 43 points, and a +2 +/- ratio in 2021-2022 during his rookie season. He also had 7 goals, 5 assists, and 12 points in 11 games during the 2022 OHL Playoffs. Kingston drafted Paul Ludwinski fifth overall in the 2020 OHL Draft one year after taking Shane Wright first overall in 2019. Now Shane Wright and Paul Ludwinski go from being OHL teammates to NHL teammates in Montreal.
    
    
    
    
    
76. San Jose Sharks: Maxim Barbashev, LW, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
    
    
    San Jose goes with Maxim Barbashev in the third round pick. Maxim Barbashev is also the little brother of Moncton Wildcats legend Ivan Barbashev who had 88 goals, 137 assists, and 225 points in 170 QMJHL games with the Moncton Wildcats. Ivan Barbashev is currently on the St. Louis Blues after the Blues drafted him thirty third overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft with an early second round pick in that draft and Ivan also broke out this year with 26 goals, 34 assists, 60 points, and a +4 +/- ratio in 81 games of the 2021-2022 regular season. Ivan Barbashev also delivered the hit that injured Samuel Girard and knocked the Colorado Avalanche defenseman out of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 181 lb Maxim Barbashev had 6 goals, 4 assists, 10 points, and a +1 +/- ratio in 10 QMJHL games as a rookie in 2020-2021 averaging 1 point per game during the regular season before getting 2 goals in six games during the 2021 QMJHL Playoffs. Maxim Barashev had 15 goals, 27 assists, 42 points, and a -7 +/- ratio in 59 games in 2021-2022 before having 1 goal in 3 games during the 2022 QMJHL Playoffs where the Moncton Wildcats got swept.
    
    
    
    Maxim Barbashev has the passing, playmaking, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, power play ability, and forechecking you want in a first line left winger. This guy has a laser for a wrist shot and a cannon for a slap shot. He's also got a quick release for both his wrist shot and slap shot on top of that. He's a decent skater, but he does not possess the top end speed and explosion that NHL teams will want from a first line left winger despite playing on Moncton's top line.
    
    
    
    The first line left winger on the Moncton Wildcats also played in the 2022 CHL Prospects Game as a third line left winger. His older brother Ivan Barbashev is currently the second line left winger on the St. Louis Blues, so I'd argue his ceiling is probably a second line left winger role in the NHL.
    
    
    
    Maxim Barbashev was drafted fiftieth overall in the 2020 CHL Import Draft. NHL Central Scouting may have him graded as the 98th best North American skater, but this may be due to Maxim Barbashev's 66 penalty minutes during his 59 QMJHL games in the regular season. The thing is, Maxim Barbashev has too many traits that I love on tape to fall past San Jose at pick 76.
    
    
    
    Now there's only five forwards and three goalies from the 2022 CHL Prospects Game left on the board after 76 selections in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
    
    
    
77. Winnipeg Jets: Ruslan Gazizov, RW, London Knights (OHL)
    
    
    Winnipeg goes for the best player from the 2022 CHL Prospects game here in the third round with this selection from the Columbus Blue Jackets. One guy who could develop into that guy down the road is Ruslan Gazizov whose the final forward from the 2022 CHL Prospects game to be a first or second line forward.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 180 lb Ruslan Gazizov is versatile enough to play left wing, center, or right wing in the NHL in a back six role on a third or fourth line. He had 10 goals, 18 assists, 28 points, and a -6 +/- ratio as a rookie in 2021-2022. He also is the final third line forward to play in the 2022 CHL Prospects Game, plus he had 1 assist in 4 playoff games for the London Knights before they lost to the Kitchner Rangers in game 7 in the first round of the 2022 OHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    
    
78. New York Islanders: Hunter Haight, C, Barrie Colts (OHL)
    
    
    The Islanders use this pick to get a player who is versatile enough to play left wing, center, or right wing. Hunter Haight is a good center that the New York Islanders can develop for the future with Hunter Haight and Josh Filmon being the only skaters from the 2022 CHL Prospects Game left on the board.
    
    
    
    The 5-10 146 lb Hunter Haight is raw, but he has the upside of a 2022 first round pick. Simply put, he's a steal at this point in the second round if Craig Button of TSN had him graded as the fourteenth best player in the 2022 NHL Draft before moving him down to a second round grade. He was the ninth overall pick in the 2020 OHL Draft.
    
    
    
    Hunter Haight had 22 goals, 19 assists, 41 points, and +7 +/- ratio in 2021-2022. Hunter Haight was a third line right winger in the 2022 CHL Prospects Game. Hunter Haight had 1 goal, 4 assists, and 5 points in 6 games during the 2022 OHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Hunter Haight has the has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. It's one of the biggest reasons I gave the Barrie Colts an A+ grade for taking Haight in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection.
    
    
    
    This guy has an incredible shot as well as good hands. He's speedy, crafty, and works hard every shift. He can line up at right winger if you don't want to play him at center. He's the one guy left on the board who can be groomed as a replacement for Matthew Barzal, Brock Nelson, or Jean Gabriel-Pageau when one of those three has an expiring contract.
    
    
    
79. Toronto Maple Leafs: Josh Filmon, LW, Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
    
    
    Toronto goes for the best player from the 2022 CHL Prospects game here in the third round with this selection third round pick that Vancouver got from Winnipeg for trading Nate Schmidt to Winnipeg. Toronto drafts the final skater from the 2022 CHL Prospects Game by selecting winger Josh Filmon.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 160 lb Josh Filmon is versatile enough to play left wing or right wing. He played left wing on the Swift Current Broncos, but was a fourth line right winger in the 2022 CHL Prospects Game. Josh Filmon had 23 goals, 22 assists, 47 points, and a -14 +/- ratio in 67 WHL regular season games. Josh Filmon is a clutch penalty shot guy who can get your team goals in shootouts if your team is still tied after overtime. He also had the best reaction time and fourth best reaction time with the puck in individual drills leading up to the 2022 CHL Prospects Game. His drawback is that he's a defensive liability.
    
    
    
    
    
80. Vancouver Canucks: Marcus Vidicek, C, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
    
    
    Cam Russell's track record as the GM of the Halifax Mooseheads speaks for itself after he took over as the Mooseheads GM in 2008 with two number one overall picks, eight first round picks with Vidieck being the ninth first round pick Halifax has had under Russell with 23 total drafted players dating back to 2010. Vidicek would be the twenty fourth player that Russell drafted in the QMJHL to be drafted in the NHL.
    
    
    
    The 5-10 161 lb Marcus Vidicek had 15 goals, 18 assists, 33 points, and a +6 +/- ratio in 39 games in 2019-2020 prior to the 2020 QMJHL Draft when the Halifax Mooseheads took him in the first round. Marcus Vidicek, who I mocked to Vancouver in the first round back in October began his QMJHL career as a third line center on the Halifax Mooseheads with 10 goals, 21 assists, 31 points, and a +3 +/- ratio in 2020-2021. This year, he improved enough to earn a promotion to the second line center role on the Halifax Mooseheads where he posted 18 goals, 47 assists, 65 points, a -3 +/- ratio. Marcus Vidicek also had 4 goals, 1 assist, and 5 points during 5 games in the 2022 QMJHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Also Vancouver is an awesome scheme fit for Marcus Vidicek. You already got Elias Petersson, J.T. Miller, and Bo Horvat as the top three centers on this roster when all three are healthy. Vancouver drafted Marco Kasper in the first round of this mock draft too.
    
    
    
    Petersson missed time in 2020-2021 with injuries prior to getting extended. Also, Miller and Horvat are Free Agents in 2023 so you can develop Vidicek in the QMJHL for two years after you draft him before you bring him up to the NHL. I'd argue the floor for Marcus Vidicek is a third line center in the AHL on the Abbotsford Canucks and his ceiling is a second line center role behind Elias Petersson in the NHL.
    
    
    
    I'd imagine Vancouver is going to try to figure out how to extend Bo Horvat since Jim Rutherford the team President listed him as one of four untradeables along with Elias Petersson, Quinn Hughes, and Thatcher Demko. Vancouver would have Elias Petersson as the first line center, Bo Horvat as the second line center, Marco Kasper their 2022 first round pick as the third line center, and Marcus Vidicek as the fourth line center. That's a very good center tandem in Vancouver for years to come.
    
    
    
    Not being invited to the 2022 CHL Prospects game allows my preseason first round pick for Vancouver to drop to the third round where the Canucks get premium value here. Younger players at the wing like left winger Nils Hoglander and right winger Vasily Podkolzin will take the next step in their game if Vancouver's center group is this deep.
    
    
    
81. Chicago Blackhawks: Justin Cote, LW, Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
    
    
    Back in the preseason, I had Justin Cote going to Buffalo at 28 which coincidentally was where the Sabres ended up after the Florida Panthers got swept by the Tampa Bay Lightning. This time around, Chicago gets Justin Cote at 80 with the third round pick from the Vegas Golden Knights thanks to the Nick DeSimone trade which sent Nick DeSimone and a 2022 fifth round pick to Vegas in exchange for a 2021 second round pick which was used on Colton Dach, Kirby Dach's younger brother, and this selection at pick 80 in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft which is being used on Drummondville Voltigeurs first line winger Justin Cote, who may be the best winger Drummondville has had since Sean Couturier.
    
    
    
    Let me repeat that Vegas gave up the rights to Colton Dach and Justin Cote two super raw players with upside to be second round maybe first round players down the road for the rights to DeSimone which Vegas end up trading to the New York Rangers when acquiring Brett Howden, then New York waved him and Calgary ended up with Nick DeSimone, meanwhile Stan Bowman the former Blackhawks GM looked about as brilliant as Indiana Jones after this trade before the Blackhawks scandal went viral this Fall causing Stan Bowman to resign from the team.
    
    
    
    It's time to get back to Justin Cote, one of the better value picks for the Chicago Blackhawks at winger. Justin Cote played first line left winger on the Drumondville Voltigeurs in 2020-2021, but he moved over to right wing this season.
    
    
    
    The 5-6 158 lb Justin Cote was the first pick in the second round of the 2020 QMJHL Entry Draft, and he's also added 10 lbs of muscle since getting drafted. Justin Cote worked his way up to Drummondville's first line as a 16-year-old rookie posting 17 goals, 8 assists, 25 points, and a +2 +/- ratio in 2020-2021. Justin Cote had 26 goals, 30 assists, 56 points, a -5 +/- ratio in 64 QMJHL regular season games. Justin Cote also had 2 assists in 4 games of the 2022 QMHL Playoffs after matching his total from a year ago when Drummondville got swept in the 2021 QMJHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Justin Cote is undersized, but plays with a lot of heart. Think Alex Debrincat with less production than Alex Debrincat. Worst case scenario, he's a third line left winger in Chicago once he finishes developing. Best case scenario he ends up replacing Brandon Hagel who Chicago traded to Tampa Bay for two first round picks which take place in 2023 and 2024.
    
    
    
    
    
82. Nashville Predators: Alexander Pelevin, D, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)
    
    
    Nashville loves Russian players. After spending first round picks on Russians like Yaroslav Askarov and Fydor Svechkov, Nashville goes with their first Russian player in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft here.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 183 lb Alexander Pelevin finally made his KHL debut this season. He's in the top 50 on multiple big boards, so Nashville snags him here in the third round.
    
    
    
83. Dallas Stars: Devin Kaplan, RW, USNTDP (USHL)
    
    
    I mocked Devin Kaplan to Calgary back in October before they traded their 2022 first round pick for Tyler Toffoli. Devin Kaplan is still available for Dallas in the third round, so the Stars can add a winger to their prospect pool that was a first round player at one point.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 192 lb Devin Kaplan had 6 goals, 18 assists, 24 points, and a -18 +/- ratio in 2020-2021. Devin Kaplan had 8 goals, 10 assists, 18 points, and a +18 +/- ratio in 2021-2022. While he declined offensively, he made a massive improvement defensively. The Bridgewater, New Jersey native shares the same birthday as me and also has a hockey scholarship to Wisconsin after decommitting from Boston University.
    
    
    
    
    
84. Nashville Predators: Pano Fimis, C, Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
    
    
    The Nashville Predators got this pick from the Los Angeles Kings in the Viktor Arvidsson trade. They use this selection on Kasperi Kapanen's little brother here in the third round.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 157 lb Pano Fimis was team captain of Toronto Jr. Canadiens with Ty Nelson serving under him as alternate captain in the GTHL. Pano Fimis had 41 goals, 63 assists, and 104 points on the Toronto Jr. Canadiens Under-16 AAA Team while also being captain of the Toronto Jr. Canadiens GTHL AAA Team where he had 14 goals, 28 assists, and 42 points in 2019-2020. Fimis is a guy who could have been a top 15 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft had Covid-19 not cancelled the OHL last season in 2021-2022, assuming he stepped up this season. Pano Fimis had an underwhelming first season in the OHL with 14 goals, 30 assists, and 44 points, and a -13 +/- ratio in 2021-2022 having a tough time transitioning from midget hockey to the OHL.
    
    
    
    Pano Fimis has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the OHL. Pano Fimis was the second overall pick in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection. He's gonna need more time than expected, but he should still be a top 100 pick after entering the preseason as a first round pick.
    
    
    
85. Washington Capitals: Max Namestnikov, C, Sarnia Sting (OHL)
    
    
    The 5-6 150 lb Max Namestnikov is the younger brother of 2011 NHL Draft pick Vladimir Namstnikov who ended up being a first round pick. Vladimir still plays in the NHL, but let's get back to his younger brother.
    
    
    
    Max Namestnikov had 53 goals, 75 assists, an 128 points in 59 games in the HPHL with Detroit Honeybaked in 2019-2020 which led to Sarnia taking him third overall. He didn't get to play with Sarnia last year due to Covid-19. In his first season with the Sarnia Sting, Max Namestnikov had 16 goals, 24 assists, 40 points, and a -12 +/- ratio. He also had 1 goal and 1 assist during 6 games in the 2022 OHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Max Namestnikov has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the OHL. Max Namestnikov was the third overall pick in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection, but his defensive awareness has to improve if he wants to succeed in the NHL. If Max Namestnikov cannot improve his defensive awareness, he may end up spending a majority of his career on the Hershey Bears in the AHL once his time in the OHL is up.
    
    
    
    
    
86. Los Angeles Kings: Artyom Duda, D, CSKA Moscow (KHL)
    
    
    The 6-1 181 lb Artyom Duda from CSKA Moscow has a great grade via Dobber Prospects. Artyom Dudaa got a 7.5/10 NHL certainty grade and a 7.5/10 Fantasy Upside grade. Los Angeles doesn't need a defenseman, but I'm not sure you can pass on that type of value in the third round since Duda had 14 goals, 27 assists, and 41 points in the MHL despite not playing on CSKA Moscow in the KHL.
    
    
    
87. Ottawa Senators: Ivan Zhigalov, G, Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL)
    
    
    The 6-3 167 lb Ivan Zhigalov went 26-9-3 as a starter as the backup goalie on the Sherbrooke Phoenix. He posted a 2.84 goals against average and a .892 save percentage in 2021-2022. He struggled in one start during the 2022 QMJHL Playoffs. Ottawa needs a backup goalie to develop with Matt Murray as their starter and Zhigalov is the top goalie not named Tyler Brennan. He was also the top goalie from the 2022 CHL Prospects Game on the board.
    
    
    
    
    
88. St. Louis Blues: Reid Dyck, G, Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
    
    
    The 6-3 190 lb Reid Dyck went 23/23 in the 2022 CHL Prospects Game. He's sucked in every other game with the Swift Current Broncos in the Western Hockey League. With Ville Husso set to be an unresticted Free Agent, it may be time for the St. Louis Blues to draft another goalie to groom for the future as a backup. Binnington was drafted in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and didn't make the Blues NHL roster until 2018-2019 when the Blues won the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals. I won't be surprised if the Blues get a cheap backup in Free Agency while Reid Dyck continues to develop. Only dyckheads pass on Reid Dyck right?
    
    
    
89. Minnesota Wild: Mason Beaupit, G, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
    
    
    Minnesota already has their future starting goalie in 2021 first round pick Jasper Wallstedt who is already looking amazing after having a goals against average of below 2.00 in the SHL this past season. Wallstedt may be NHL ready by 2023 like Spencer Knight Florida's 2019 first round pick when he got called up for the Florida Panthers prior to the 2021 NHL Playoffs. Mason Beaupit would be Wallstedt's backup with Fleury being a Free Agent and Cam Talbot entering a contract year.
    
    
    
    The 6-5 188 lb Mason Beaupit went 13/13 in the 2022 CHL Prospects Game making him the final player from Canada's All Star game for prospects that are elgiible for the upcoming NHL Draft each year. Outside of that game Beaupit struggled with the Spokane Chiefs on one of the worst squads in the Western Hockey League. The Spokane Chiefs are in a total rebuild right now after trading team captain and Tampa Bay Lightning 2020 second round pick Jack Finley to the Winnipeg Ice. Minnesota drafts Mason Beaupit as a backup goalie to Jasper Wallstedt.
    
    
    
    
    
90. Chicago Blackhawks: Dylan Ernst, G, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
    
    
    Chicago drafts their future backup goalie to Drew Commesso since the Chicago Blackhawks 2020 second round pick looks alright so far. Drew Commesso finally got his first career NCAA shutout as a sophomore.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 196 lb Dylan Ernst played well on the Kamploops Blazers as a backup goalie to Dylan Garand the New York Rangers 2020 fourth round pick where he had a 2.95 Goals Against Average and a .900 save percentage in 2021-2022. That's fine you can take a more patient approach when it comes to developing Dylan Ernst as he's nothing more than an insurance plan in case Drew Commesso doesn't pan out.
    
    
    
91. Boston Bruins: Ryan Greene, C, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)
    
    
    Boston still hasn't replaced David Krecji so getting two centers hoping you recreate what Bergeron and Krecji did will be key for the Boston Bruins since the blue line and goaltending situation is stable for the long-term. Ryan Greene came up to the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL as a 15-year-old unlike first round pick Casey Mttelstadt. There's a chance Greene ends up having a higher ceiling than Casey Mttelstadt.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 174 lb Ryan Greene is taller than Logan Cooley, the top USHL prospect in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Greene had 3 goals, 2 assists, 5 points, a 0 +/- ratio in 18 games during his rookie season with the Green Bay Gamblers. Greene had 12 goals, 20 assists, 32 points, and a +5 +/- ratio in 2020-2021. Greene had 19 goals, 32 assists, 51 points, and a -20 +/- ratio in 2021-2022.
    
    
    
    Ryan Greene gives you a fast goal scoring playmaker with a natural tendency to get assists. He is also a great skater with a natural knack for winning face offs. Greene was selected third overall in the 2019 USHL Draft.
    
    
    
    Two different scouting services have a late first round grade on Ryan Greene back in October which is one reason I had an early second round grade on him this Fall. He's probably a third or fourth round pick now in this deep class, but I gave him a third round grade since he feels like a natural fit for the Boston Bruins who got this pick from Calgary in the Daniel Vladar trade that sent Boston's only promising 2015 NHL Draft outside of Brandon Carlo pick to Calgary in exchange for this draft pick, which the Bruins are going to use on Ryan Greene here.
    
    
    
    Ryan Greene also has a hockey scholarship to Boston University where he can develop his game even more starting in 2022-2023. Greene is a great value pick for the Boston Bruins since 6/15 scouting services now have him as a second round prospect with the other two and myself having him as a third round pick. While 9/15 scouting services have a second or third round grade on him, he does have traits you want for a third line center in the NHL as early as 2025.
    
    
    
    He's also got the room to develop into a second line center in the NHL if he does well on a third line when starting out in the NHL. Ryan Greene was a first line center on the Green Bay Gamblers, so if everything comes together which is a big if, then he could end up being the Bruins first line center if the Bruins strike lightning in a bottle like they did with Bergeron. I have my doubts about that happening, but won't dismiss it as a possibility either.
    
    
    
    
    
92. Montreal Canadiens: Joshua Neidermayer, D, Penitcon Vees (BCHL)
    
    
    The Montreal Canadiens get the top BCHL player in the 2022 NHL Draft here. Joshua Neidermayer is the son of former 1991 first round pick Scott Neidermayer who played in the NHL right away thanks to being part of a 1990 Kamloops Blazers WHL team that had 112 points winning both the President's Cup and the Ed Chynoth Cup that year prior to his draft year. He also led the New Jersey Devils to three Stanley Cups in 1995, 2000, and 2003 while also playing in the 2001 Stanley Cup where Colorado dethroned New Jersey before being the captain of the Anaheim Ducks team that won the 2007 Stanley Cup.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 201 lb Joshua Neidermayer had 1 goal, 10 assists, 11 points, and a +8 +/- ratio in 18 BCHL regular season games in 2020-2021. He anchored the blue line on the Penticon Vees in those 18 contests as a first year player with the team.
    
    
    
    Joshua Neidermayer had 4 goals, 14 assists, 18 points, and a +10 +/- ratio in 43 BCHL regular season games in 2021-2022. He anchored the blue line on the Penticon Vees in those games once again for the second year in a row while leading the Penticon Vees to a BCHL Championship in his draft year with 1 goal, 5 assists, and 6 points in 17 BCHL Playoff games.
    
    
    
    Joshua Neidermayer already has 1 Championship prior to his draft year just like his father, so he's ahead of his older brother Jackson Neidermayer in the race to win Championships in the Neidermayer family, but he's still got to win four more Championships to catch his dad. Joshua Neidermayer also accepted a hockey scholarship where he'll play College Hockey with his older brother Jackson Neidermayer who went undrafted after playing for the Penticon Vees.
    
    
    
    Jackson Neidermayer is only a sophomore after finishing his freshman year at Arizona State so he can take his younger brother Joshua Neidermayer under his wing. Maybe this motivates Jackson Neidermayer to play well enough to earn a contract with the NHL team that drafts Joshua Neidermayer. Regardless of what happens, with both of Scott Neidermayer's sons, the Neidermayer adolescents will both be playing College hockey at Arizona State this fall with Jackson at left wing and Joshua on the blue line.
    
    
    
    Montreal is absolutely loaded with prospects. If Montreal has defensemen like Kaidan Guhle their 2020 first round pick, Logan Malloux their 2021 first round pick, and then the Canadiens draft a third defenseman for the future at 26 like Tristan Luneau, then there's no time limit for Otto Salin. Montreal is absolutely a team that can be as patient as they want to be with Joshua Neidermayer, and that's the best situation for Joshua Neidermayer to go to.
    
    
    
93. Florida Panthers: Ben Macdonald, C, Noble & Greenough HS (MA)
    
    
    The 6-1 174 lb Ben Macdonald had 14 goals, 15 assists, and 29 points in 22 games of High School hockey. He did well enough to earn a promotion to the BCHL for the 2022-2023 season before he begins his hockey scholarship to Harvard in 2023-2024. Florida will not have to sign Ben Macdonald until 2027 if they gamble on this long-term project in the third round since the only remaining need for the Florida Panthers is finding a fourth line center that can help the team right now.
    
    
    
    
    
94. Chicago Blackhawks: Keaton Dowhanuik, D, Prince George Cougars (WHL)
    
    
    Chicago grabs a defenseman worth gambling on in the third round. Keaton Dowhaunuik is someone the Chicago Blackhawks can gamble on here.
    
    
    
    Heading into the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft, Keaton Dowhanuik had everything you wanted from a WHL defenseman except shooting accuracy. He hasn't made the transition from the 2019 WHL Draft to the WHL yet and needs to do so this year if he wants to get picked in the first two rounds.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 154 lb Keaton Dowhanuik was drafted third overall in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft behind Matthew Savoie and Connor Geekie who both went to the Winnipeg Ice with the first two picks. Dowhanuik was the top defenseman drafted that year and genuinely looked like a special player coming out of midget leagues. His elite play as a two-way defenseman in Bantam hasn't carried over to the WHL yet.
    
    
    
    Keaton Dowhanuik only had 1 assist and a -3 +/- ratio in 8 games as a rookie in 2019-2020. Keaton Dowhanuik had 3 goals, 5 assists, 8 points, and a -6 +/- ratio in 22 games as a sophomore 2020-2021. Keaton Dowhaunuik had 1 goal, 21 assists, 22 points, and a -9 +/- ratio in 64 WHL regular season games in 2021-2022. He also had 0 points in 4 games during the 2022 WHL Playoffs where the Prince George Cougars got swept despite goalie Tyler Brennan, the top goalie in this years draft playing well for the team.
    
    
    
    There is just enough potential for Keaton Dowhanuik to be a third line defenseman in the NHL. Dowhanuik could also end up developing into a nice second line defenseman on the power play since he's more of an offensive defenseman than a defensive defenseman. Keaton Dowhanuik may not be a top 4 defenseman in the NHL, but he's someone who you can coach into a top 5 defenseman that's also a quarterback on the power play for an NHL teams second line power play unit.
    
    
    
    NHL teams love having role players like that in the right situation, and this may be the right situation for Keaton Dowhanuik if the Prince George Cougars in the WHL, Rockford Icehogs in the AHL, and the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL can all remain patient with this guy. Clearly, you're rolling the dice here, but if you take Keaton Dowhanuik here in the third round, you're betting on his potential since he was the third overall pick in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft two years ago.
    
    
    
95. Vegas Golden Knights: Topias Leinonen, G, JYP (SM Liiga)
    
    
    The Vegas Golden Knights have Robin Lehner, Laurent Brossoit, and Logan Thompson under contract for next season, so they don't really have to draft a goalie, but Vegas only loses Reilly Smith and a fourth line center to Free Agency, so there in a unique position where they can draft a goalie prospect for the first time and attempt to develop him since Vegas has two first round centers currently in their prospect pool along with two day 2 defensemen prospects also in the Golden Knights Prospect Pool. Adding someone to their prospect pool when Laurent Brossoit is an unrestricted Free Agent in 2023 isn't a bad idea since this goalie draft is a total crap shoot after second round prospect Tyler Brennan.
    
    
    
    The 6-4 214 lb Topias Leinonen is the top ranked goalie on Future Considerations. I strongly disagree with that considering he gave up over 5 goals a game in 4 SM Liiga starts. This doesn't change the fact that Topias Leinonen is a consensus third round pick and Vegas can draft him as a long term project at goalie. With three goalies under contract, there's no need to rush Topias Leinonen making this a great pick for the Vegas Golden Knights in the third round.
    
    
    
    
    
96. Columbus Blue Jackets: Liam Arnsby, C, North Bay Battalion (OHL)
    
    
    Columbus drafts a second center with experience as a first line center. Liam Arnsby fits that bill here with this final pick in the third round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
    
    
    
    The 5-10 174 lb Liam Arnsby had 4 goals, 16 assists, 20 points, and a -25 +/- ratio in 2019-2020. He didn't play in 2020-2021 because the entire OHL season was cancelled due to Covid-19. Liam Arnaby had 9 goals, 17 assists, 26 points, and a +9 +/- ratio as a first and second line center on the North Bay Battalion in 2021-2022 during the regular season while also posting 6 assists in 12 games during the 2022 OHL Playoffs. He hasn't quite transitioned from Bantam league as a teenager to the OHL the way, you'd like him to, but there's room for him to be a back 6 center if he can clean up his game. The captain of the North Bay Battalion missed time with injuries last year. He's a high character guy though.
    
    
    
    Liam Arnsby was drafted eighth overall by the North Bay Battalion in the 2019 OHL Draft. Outside of Shane Wright he was the only top 10 player from the 2019 OHL Draft that was draft eligible for the NHL Entry Draft in 2022.
    
    
    
97. New York Rangers: Marek Hejduk, RW, USNTDP (USHL)
    
    
    Colorado traded this third round pick to the New York Rangers for New York Rangers backup goalie Alexandar Georgiev. Colorado gave the Rangers their 2022 third round pick, 2023 third round pick, and 2022 fifth round pick.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 181 lb Marek Hejduk had 2 goals, 7 assists, and 9 points in 21 USHL games in 2020-2021. Hejduk scored his first goal in his second USHL game this season and ended his season with 3 goals, 6 assists, 9 points. He did improve his +/- ratio from -3 to +3 in 2021-2022.