NHL Draft 2022: Top Storylines and Predictions Ahead of Day 2 Selection Order

Months ago, it would have been hard to imagine Shane Wright not being selected within the first three picks of the 2022 NHL draft. But anything can happen once the event begins, and sure enough, Wright was still on the board for the Seattle Kraken at No. 4.

The draft got off to a bit of a surprise start on Thursday night at the Bell Centre in Montreal. First, the Montreal Canadiens went with Juraj Slafkovsky at No. 1. Then, the New Jersey Devils opted to improve defensively at No. 2, taking Simon Nemec. And the Arizona Coyotes stuck with their guy at No. 3, drafting Logan Cooley.

That left Wright at No. 4 for the Kraken, who came away with a player who was atop some draft rankings heading into the event. Did the three teams ahead of Seattle make the right decisions? Only time will tell.

For now, there's plenty more drafting to do. Day 2 of the draft begins Friday at 11 a.m. ET, as the final six rounds will take place in Montreal. The best players may be available on the first night, but the rest of the draft can be just as important for teams' futures.

Heading into Day 2, here are some storylines to keep an eye on, along with several predictions for how things will unfold.

After the Canadiens took Slafkovsky with the No. 1 overall pick, they remained busy on Thursday night. They swung two trades that resulted in acquiring center Kirby Dach from the Chicago Blackhawks. Then, the Habs used the No. 26 overall selection to land another talented offensive player in forward Filip Mesar.

Just like Day 1, Montreal will be on the clock to begin Day 2. And there are some strong players who remain on the board, giving the Canadiens plenty to think over before returning to the Bell Centre on Friday.

But considering the Canadiens drafted two offensive players and traded for another on Thursday, it may be time for them to address their defense in the second round. Among the best defensemen still available are Lane Hutson and Ryan Chesley, a pair of players from the U.S. National Team Development Program.

The Habs are going to be busy with 10 more picks on Day 2, and it will be important for them to set the tone at No. 33 overall. That's why they'll take Hutson, arguably the best player still on the board, to add a defenseman to their growing young core to build around.

It may be only one round, but the first round is the most important of the draft. Especially when you're a team like the Buffalo Sabres, who had three selections to use on Thursday night.

Buffalo had the Nos. 9, 16 and 28 overall picks, and it was smart with each of those selections. The Sabres came away from the opening round with three talented centers: Matthew Savoie, Noah Ostlund and Jiri Kulich. And all three could become key players for the franchise down the line.

“It was a really good day for our organization,” Buffalo general manager Kevyn Adams said, per Lance Lysowski of the Buffalo News. “Felt really strongly that we got players that we believe in. They all have different attributes, but very, very competitive players. … Guys we think are Sabres, and they’re going to help us.”

Now, Buffalo has eight more selections on Day 2 of the draft, beginning with the No. 41 overall pick in the second round. The Sabres will likely address defense at some point, and if they do that early on Friday, this could end up as a well-rounded class.

But with Buffalo's strong three first-round selections, this is shaping up to be the best showing by any of the NHL's 32 teams this year. Don't be surprised if the Sabres' draft class ends up as the clear No. 1 in the league by the time Friday is over.

With only 32 picks in the first round of the draft, there will be numerous players expected to be drafted on opening night who fall into the second round. This year, one of those players was Canadian forward Jagger Firkus.

Why is Firkus still on the board heading into Friday? It could be because he's 5'10" and 154 pounds, so there's likely some size concern. But the 18-year-old has proved to be a talented offensive player in the WHL, where he tallied 36 goals and 44 assists in 66 games for Moose Jaw during the 2021-22 season.

As The Athletic's Corey Pronman noted, Firkus' "skill and creativity stand out consistently."

"He shows great ability to beat defenders one-on-one with his stickhandling," Pronman wrote. "He can make tough passes at a high rate through seams and under pressure. He is a shot-and-pass threat, which makes him a major asset on a power play and often scores from range with a release that will beat NHL goalies."

So Firkus shouldn't stay on the board long on Day 2, as he'll likely be selected early in the second round. The prediction here is that he'll end up going at No. 39 to the Blackhawks, who used two of their three first-round picks on defensemen. And down the line, that will end up being a steal for Chicago.