Top NHL Prospects for the 2022 Draft

NHL scouts and insiders have started to release their lists of the top prospects for the 2022 NHL Draft Here’s a look at some of the names to watch out for.

Top 10 NHL prospects for the 2022 Draft

As the 2021-22 NHL season approaches, it’s time to start looking ahead to the next draft. Here are the top 10 prospects for the 2022 NHL Draft according to ‘s very early rankings.

1. Owen Power D, University of Michigan (NCAA)
2. Simon Edvinsson, D, Frolunda HC (SHL)
3. Matthew Beniers, C, University of Michigan (NCAA)
4. Brandt Clarke, D, HC Dynamo Pardubice (Czech)
5. Wyatt Kaiser, D, Eden Prairie High School (USHS-MN)
6. Dante Hanley, LW, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
7. Logan Stankoven, RW, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
8. Guillaume Richard, C/RW Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL)
9. Francesco Pinelli, C Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
10. Simon Edvinsson, D Frolunda HC J20 (SuperElit)

1. Alexis Lafreniere, LW, Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)

Alexis Lafreniere is the consensus top pick for the 2022 NHL Draft The Rimouski Oceanic forward is a generational talent and has been compared to some of the best players in the world. Lafreniere has size, speed, skill, and an incredibly high hockey IQ. He is a threat to score whenever he is on the ice and has the ability to take over a game. Lafreniere is the total package and is expected to be a franchise player for whichever team drafting him.

2. Quinton Byfield, C, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

towering 6-foot-4 center who is already one of the best players in the OHL, Byfield has the potential to be a generational talent. He’s an exceptional skater for his size with great speed, power, and agility. He also has elite-level puck skills and vision, and he’s able to make plays at high speeds. Byfield is also a physical force, using his size and strength to win battles along the boards and in front of the net. He’s one of the best faceoff men in the OHL, and he’s also an excellent penalty killer.

3. Luke Hughes LD, USA U-18 (NTDP)

Hughes is the younger brother of New York Rangers defenseman Jack Hughes, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft He has good size (6-foot-2, 187 pounds) and is an excellent skater with very good mobility and speed. He’s an excellent puck-handler and passer and can make things happen offensively. He’s also a very good Defensive Player

4. Dylan Guenther, RW, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)

Dylan Guenther might just be the most naturally gifted scorer in the entire 2022 NHL Draft class. The right winger is nothing short of a highlight reel, using his incredible skill and vision to leave defenders and goaltenders alike reeling.

Guenther put up an astounding 61 goals and 135 points in just 58 games with the Edmonton Oil Kings last season, earning him Rookie of the Year honors in the Western Hockey League He followed that up with an even more impressive 22 goals and 49 points in 27 Playoff Games helping the Oil Kings to a WHL Championship.

Despite his relatively small stature (he’s just 5-foot-11), Guenther has no trouble standing out on the ice. He’s an electrifying player with the puck on his stick, and he always seems to find a way to put it in the back of the net. There’s no doubt that he has first-line potential at the NHL level, and he should be a top-five pick in 2022.

5. Simon Edvinsson, LD, Frolunda HC (SHL)

Edvinsson is a rangy, smooth-skating defenseman who already plays significant minutes in the SHL as an 18-year-old. He had two goals and seven assists in 44 games this season. He also played for Sweden at the World Junior Championship picking up four assists in seven games. Edvinsson has good vision and makes smart reads with the puck on his stick. He’s not the most creative offensive defenseman, but he has a good Wrist Shot and knows how to get it on net. Defensively, he uses his long strides to close gaps quickly and takes away time and space well. He needs to add some bulk to his 6-foot-4 frame, but that shouldn’t be an issue as he matures. Edvinsson is a raw prospect, but he has a high ceiling and could develop into a top-pairing defenseman.

6. Matthew Beniers, C, USA U-18 (NTDP)

Matthew Beniers is one of the top prospects for the 2022 NHL Draft The 6’2″ center is a native of Hinsdale, Illinois and has played the last two seasons with the USA Hockey national team Development Program. In 2019-20, he had 44 points (23 goals, 21 assists) in 43 games and was named one of the top three players on the NTDP U-18 team. He has committed to play college hockey at the University of Michigan next season.

7. Brandt Clarke, RD, Barrie Colts (OHL)

Brandt Clarke is another excellent skater in this class, with great mobility and edgework. He pairs that with very good stickhandling and puck-moving ability, as well as good vision and playmaking instincts. He isn’t the biggest player out there at 6-foot-2, but he has a solid frame and isn’t afraid to use it, either in retrieving pucks or in front of the opposition’s net. Clarke also has a good shot, especially his wrist shot which he gets off quickly and accurately. He needs to continue to work on his slapshot though, as it lacks power right now. Clarke is already a very good Defensive Player He reads the play well and uses his skating ability to keep himself in good position, as well as using his stick effectively to break up plays and steal pucks. He could stand to be more physical in his own end, but that should come with more strength.

8. Jesper Wallstedt, G, Lulea HF (SHL)

The 18-year-old Wallstedt made his SHL debut this season, starting 23 games for Lulea and posting a .914 save percentage He also represented Sweden at the World Junior Championship where he had a .917 save percentage in five starts.

Wallstedt is a big (6-foot-4, 203 pounds) goaltender who moves well for his size. He has good technique and is very patient in the net, which allows him to track the puck well and make second and third saves. He’s also a good puckhandler and an accurate passer, which helps him play a more modern style of goaltending.

Wallstedt is still somewhat raw and will need to continue to work on his rebound control and overall consistency before he’s ready for the NHL. But he has all the tools to be a high-end starting goaltender, and should be one of the first goaltenders taken in the 2022 draft.

9. Zachary Bolduc, C, Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)

Bolduc is a two-way center with good size and reach. He’s an intelligent player who reads the play well and uses his size effectively to win puck battles and protect the puck in the offensive zone He’s also a good skater, with good speed and acceleration. Bolduc has good vision and playmaking ability, as well as a decent shot. He needs to continue to work on his consistency, however, as he can be ‘hot and cold’ from game to game.

10. Antonio Stranges, LW, London Knights (OHL)

Stranges is an excellent skater with good top-end speed and very good acceleration. He’s more of a finesse player than a Power Forward but he has the agility and edgework to create separation in one-on-one situations. Stranges is also a very smart player. He sees the ice well and makes smart decisions with the puck on his stick, whether it’s finding an open teammate or carrying it into the offensive zone himself. He’s not the biggest player on the ice, but he’s not afraid to go to the tough areas of the ice to make a play.