Centers and left wingers are already taken care of in the 2022 NHL Draft prospects preview. Right wingers are important because they cover the right side of the ice. The 2022 NHL Draft will be on Thursday, July 7 for the first round in Montreal, Quebec at the Bell Centre. The second thru seventh rounds will take place on Friday, July 8. Who will be the top 15 right winger prospects for the upcoming 2022 NHL Draft?
1.Name: Danila Yurov
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 178 lbs
Last Amateur Club: Magnitogorsk
League: Russia
Age: 18
Stats: 23 games, 13 goals, 23 assists, plus/minus rating 22. Playoffs, two games, one goal, zero assists, plus/minus rating 1.
Scouting Report: He is a very strong skater. Yurov is very good at protecting the puck and is a great play-maker.
NHL Comp: Phil Kessel.
2. Name: Joakim Kemell
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 171 lbs
Last Amateur Club: JYP
League: Finland
Age: 18
Stats: 39 games, 15 goals, 8 assists, plus/minus rating -13.
Scouting Report: He had a shoulder injury that slowed him down after a hot start to the season overseas.
NHL Comp: Drake Batherson
3. Name: Jonathan Lekkerimaki
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 165 lbs
Last Amateur Club: Djurgarden
League: Sweden
Age: 17
Stats: 26 games, 20 goals, 15 assists, plus/minus rating 18.
Scouting Report: The kid loves to score goals. He is a complete water bug.
NHL Comp: Oliver Wahlstrom
4. Name: Jimmy Snuggerud
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 186 lbs
Last Amateur Club: USA U-18
League: NTDP
Age: 17
Stats: 26 games, 6 goals, 20 assists, plus/minus rating 15.
Scouting Report: He has committed to play college hockey at the University of Minnesota next season. Snuggerud has a strong shot that he isn’t afraid to use and has high IQ for the game of hockey.
NHL Comp: Frank Vatarno
5. Name: Jagger Firkus
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 153 lbs
Last Amateur Club: Moose Jaw
League: WHL
Age: 18
Stats: 66 games, 36 goals, 44 assists, plus/minus rating 15. 10 playoff games, 6 goals, 6 assists, plus/minus rating 2.
Scouting Report: He has a very strong shot release and has a very smart IQ for the game of hockey. Firkus has a very good habit of finding the puck on his stick and not chasing it and could be a very good value in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft.
NHL Comp: Mitchell Marner
6. Name: Jani Nyman
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 212 lbs
Last Amateur Club: Ilves
League: Finland
Age: 17
Stats: 10 games, 0 goals, 1 assist, plus/minus rating 0.
Scouting Report: He has scored goals in other leagues in the past and has a wicked shot from the right side on the power play, but needs to work on his skating ability and is very raw. Jani Nyman is not a part of a very strong right-winger class but could be good value in the later second round and if available in the third round, he could be a potential steal.
NHL Comp: Travis Konecny
7. Name: Miko Matikka
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 187 lbs
Last Amateur Club: Jokerit Jr.
League: Finland-Jr.
Age: 18
Stats: 30 games, 19 goals, 14 assists, plus/minus rating 6. Playoffs, 2 games, 0 goals, 0 assists, plus/minus rating -3.
Scouting Report: He is a large right-winger with deft hands and a heavy release. Matikka will attend the University of Denver next season to play college hockey and also finishes his checks and has a decent shot and is going to be most likely a third-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.
NHL Comp: Alexei Toropchenko
8. Name: Nicholas Moldenhauer
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 170 lbs
Last Amateur Club: Chicago
League: USHL
Age: 17
Stats: 41 games, 18 goals, 25 assists, plus/minus rating 16. Playoffs, 3 games, 1 goal, plus/minus rating -2.
Scouting Report: A very young player who will have offensive talent. He is a very good two-way player that can provide depth scoring.
NHL Comp: Evan Rodrigues
9. Name: Cruz Lucius
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 178 lbs
Last Amateur Club: USA U-18
League: NTDP
Age: 18
Stats: 23 games, 9 goals, 9 assists, plus/minus rating 21.
Scouting Report: He has a very impressive offensive skill set, but his injuries during the 2021-2022 season had his draft stock decline. Cruz Lucius needs to get bigger and stronger as time goes on and has a lethal shot in the slot.
NHL Comp: N/A
10. Name: Oskar Pettersson
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 198 lbs
Last Amateur Club: Rogle Jr.
League: Sweden-Jr.
Age: 18
Stats: 46 games, 25 goals, 11 assists, plus/minus rating N/A.
Scouting Report: A very big primary goal scorer. Needs to polish his hockey game in other areas.
NHL Comp: N/A
11. Name: Alek Sotek
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 176 lbs
Last Amateur Club: Bratislava
League: Slovakia
Age: 18
Stats: 32 games, 2 goals, 0 assists, plus/minus rating -5. Playoffs, 9 games, 0 goals, 0 assists. plus/minus rating 0.
Scouting Report: Alek Sotek needs massive work on his offensive game. He is going to take time to develop and will be one of the later-round picks at the right-winger position in a not-so-deep draft.
NHL Comp: N/A
12. Name: Nikita Grebenkin
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 183 lbs
Last Amateur Club: Magnitogorsk 2
League: Russia-Jr.
Age: 19
Stats: 1 game, 0 goals, 0 assists, plus/minus rating 0.
Scouting Report: N/A
NHL Comp: N/A
13. Name: Nikita Blednov
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 165 lbs
Last Amateur Club: Gornyak Uchaly
League: Russia-2
Age: 18
Stats: 29 games, 3 goals, 1 assist, plus/minus rating N/A.
Scouting Report: N/A
NHL Comp: N/A
14. Name: Devin Kaplan
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 199 lbs
Last Amateur Club: USA U-18
League: NTDP
Age: 18
Stats: 53 games, 13 goals, 25 assists, plus/minus rating N/A.
Scouting Report: Has the talent to be a third or fourth liner one day who works hard. He needs to work on some of his disciplines a little bit with his stick.
NHL Comp: N/A
15. Name: Jack Devine
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 173 lbs
Last Amateur Club: Denver
League: NCHC
Age: 18
Stats: 36 games, 3 goals, 16 assists, plus/minus rating 12.
Scouting Report: He is great playing away from the puck and has durability. Jack Devine might take a jump eventually and it will be worth it for NHL teams to take a chance on him.
NHL Comp: Zach Aston-Reese