NHL Mock Draft 2022: Order of Selections and 1st-Round Predictions

The Montreal Canadiens should have no trouble narrowing down their list of potential No. 1 overall picks in the 2022 NHL draft to two players.

Shane Wright and Juraj Slafkovsky are the clear top two in this year's draft class, but deciding between them has been the difficult part of the equation.

Wright has been perceived as the No. 1 overall pick for quite some time, but Slafkovsky generated some steam in recent weeks and that could suggest the decision is closer than expected.

Some mock drafts have even pushed Slafkovsky to the top of the draft, but the team needs of the Canadiens could keep Wright atop their board. Montreal, which is hosting the draft at Bell Centre, could use help at center over a playmaking winger.

The New Jersey Devils should be a winner Thursday night no matter what happens because they will likely scoop up whichever prospect does not land at No. 1.

Assuming it keeps the No. 2 pick, New Jersey has an opportunity to add to the young core it has built through the depth, and Wright or Slafkovsky could be the piece that moves the franchise closer to playoff contention.

1. Montreal Canadiens - Shane Wright, C, Kingston (OHL)

2. New Jersey Devils - Juraj Slafkovsky, LW, TPS (Finland)

3. Arizona Coyotes - Logan Cooley, C, USA U-18

4. Seattle Kraken - Cutter Gauthier, C/W, USA U-18

5. Philadelphia Flyers - David Jiricek, D, Plzen (Czech Republic)

6. Columbus Blue Jackets - Simon Nemec, D, Nitra (Slovakia)

7. Ottawa Senators - Joakim Kemell, RW, JYP (Finland)

8. Detroit Red Wings - Marco Kasper, C, Rogle (Sweden)

9. Buffalo Sabres - Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW, Djurgardens (Sweden)

10. Anaheim Ducks - Matthew Savoie, C, Winnipeg (WHL)

11. San Jose Sharks - Kevin Korchinski, D, Seattle (WHL)

12. Columbus Blue Jackets - Conor Geekie, C, Winnipeg (WHL)

13. New York Islanders - Pavel Mintyukov, D, Saginaw (OHL)

14. Winnipeg Jets - Noah Ostlund, C, Djurgardens (Sweden)

15. Vancouver Canucks - Nathan Gaucher, C, Quebec (QMJHL)

16. Buffalo Sabres - Danila Yurov, RW, Magnitogorsk (Russia)

17. Nashville Predators - Lian Bichsel, D, Leksand (Sweden)

18. Dallas Stars - Owen Pickering, D, Swift Current (WHL)

19. Minnesota Wild - Jiri Kulich, C, Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic)

20. Washington Capitals - Denton Mateychuk, D, Moose Jaw (WHL)

21. Pittsburgh Penguins - Isaac Howard, LW, US U-18

22. Anaheim Ducks - Jimmy Snuggerud, RW, US U-18

23. St. Louis Blues - Frank Nazar, C, US U-18

24. Minnesota Wild - Rutger McGroarty, RW, US U-18

25. Toronto Maple Leafs - Ryan Chesley, D, US U-18

26. Montreal Canadiens - Brad Lambert, C, Pelicans (Finland)

27. Arizona Coyotes - Reid Schaefer, LW, Seattle (WHL)

28. Buffalo Sabres - Liam Ohgren, LW, Djurgardens (Sweden)

29. Edmonton Oilers - Ivan Miroshnichenko, LW, Omsk Krylia (Russia)

30. Winnipeg Jets - Sam Rinzel, D, Chaska, Minnesota

31. Tampa Bay Lightning - Filip Bystedt, C, Linkoping (Sweden)

32. Arizona Coyotes - Tristan Luneau, D, Gatineau (QMJHL)

Shane Wright sat at the top of draft boards for most of the buildup to the selection process.

The center has been linked with Montreal in most mock drafts and is still there in a majority of them.

The Daily Faceoff's Chris Peters placed Wright at No. 1 in his final mock draft ahead of Slafkovsky and Americans Cutter Gauthier and Logan Cooley.

Wright would fill a need in terms of position and top-tier talent for the Canadiens. That combination of factors should lead to his name being called first Thursday soon after 7 p.m. ET.

The 18-year-old Ontario native totaled 94 points for Kingston in the Ontario Hockey League and produced 14 points for the Canadian U18 side at the World Championships last year. Wright had 66 points during the 2019-20 season with Kingston.

The addition of Wright would give Montreal three youngsters to build around in himself, Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield.

Montreal may not boost itself into playoff status next season, but it could put itself on that path by adding a dynamic young center to partner Suzuki at the position.

The Canadiens may be intrigued by Slafkovsky and building a line around him, Suzuki and Caufield, but they need to find a second young center to create depth in their lineup.

Juraj Slafkovsky is the player who could derail Wright's dream of being the No. 1 overall pick.

Slafkovsky had a fantastic last 12 months playing for TPS in Finland and at the 2022 Winter Olympics with Slovakia.

The 18-year-old winger scored seven goals in Beijing. He captured more of the spotlight in China because of the absence of NHL players in the tournament.

Slafkovsky played in 31 games in TPS' first team during last season, producing 10 points. The disparity in stats between him and Wright should not be concerning since he played at a professional level.

The Athletic's Corey Pronman posted Slafkovsky into the No. 1 spot in his latest mock draft because of the growing buzz surrounding the Slovakian prospect:

Trying to pin down what Montreal will do with the No. 1 pick has been a challenge. There are quite a few people in the league who believe this pick will be Shane Wright. However, based on discussions with people in the league over the last few weeks, the winds seem to be blowing in the direction of Slafkovsky—to the point that I think this is the slightly more likely scenario at the No. 1 slot.

Slafkovsky could partner with Suzuki and Caufield on a top line.

He would also be a strong fit in New Jersey, which has collected top young talent over the last few years with Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes leading that group.

The Devils are in position to jump from bottom of the conference team to playoff contender. Another young scorer like Slafkovsky would be a perfect fit within their system.

Slafkovsky's floor is the No. 2 pick, so if Montreal does not make a surprise selection at the top, he will likely land with New Jersey.