26th Pick – Montreal Canadiens
Owen Pickering (D)
6’5″, 179 lbs
After picking up a potential superstar center in Wright with the first pick of the draft, the Canadiens will be looking to find a defenseman with their second pick of the first round. Using Calgary’s pick, the Habs will be able to select Owen Pickering from the Swift Current Broncos. He is the tallest player in the draft so far and if he adds more muscle, could become a tormenting player on the ice.
Pickering is known as an offensive defenseman with a booming shot. Before he makes his way up to the NHL, Pickering will need to improve at the defensive end as well. Interestingly, he is cousins with another top-prospect, Mateychuk.
27th Pick – Arizona Coyotes
Jagger Firkus (F)
5’10”, 154 lbs
While Pickering is Mateychuk’s cousin, Jagger Firkus is his teammate. The WHL has been very well represented in this Entry Draft. With the 27th pick, the Moose Jaw Warriors should see its top point producer drafted by the Arizona Coyotes.
Firkus has been an unexpected success story. Originally selected by Moose Jaw in the 2019 WHL Draft as a fourth-round pick (82nd overall), few would have guessed that Firkus would eventually find himself in this position. After accumulating 80 points in 66 games, he made himself undeniable and a solid selection for the Coyotes.
28th Pick – Buffalo Sabres
Luca Del Bel Belluz (C)
6’1″, 179 lbs
Luca Del Bel Belluz is in a similar position as Firkus by beginning his junior career with low expectations. Del Bel Belluz was a third-round selection in the 2019 OHL Priority Draft. He was drafted 51st overall by the Mississauga Steelheads. Since then, he had an underwhelming rookie season followed by an explosion of offense this past regular season. In 68 games, the center recorded 30 goals and 46 assists for 76 points. While he played well in the playoffs, his production dipped to just four points in 10 games.
29th Pick – Edmonton Oilers
Lian Bichsel (D)
6’5″, 225 lbs
The Edmonton Oilers, more than most other NHL clubs, need to bolster their back end. They don’t want to waste the prime years of two of the league’s best players without getting help behind them. While Lian Bichsel isn’t NHL ready yet, he looks like a player who will have a role with the franchise in the not so distant future.
Bichsel is already playing professional hockey in Switzerland. He played 29 games for Leksands IF in the SHL this season and will return to them next year to continue locking down and frustrating opponents.
30th Pick – Winnipeg Jets
Ryan Chesley (D)
6’0″, 201 lbs
After seeing a number of offensive defensemen selected in the first-round, this is the second of back-to-back picks where a primary defender comes off the board. Ryan Chesley is a competent defender but he also has offense to offer thanks to his cannon of a shot. Chesley will continue his development at the University of Minnesota under the tutelage of the Gophers Head Coach, Bob Motzko, next season.
31st Pick – Tampa Bay Lightning
Nathan Gaucher (C)
6’3″, 207 lbs
Nathan Gaucher is in the unique position where he gets to compete against his older brother Jacob, the captain of Baie-Comeau Drakkar and his father Yannick, the Assistant General Manager of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in the QMJHL. Just like the rest of his family, Nathan has put himself in a leadership position. He is an assistant captain of his club, the Quebec Remparts.
Gaucher has had two very strong years of Major Junior where combined he has played 96 games and potted 45 goals with 43 assists. He’s continued that production into the playoffs as well. This season, he played in 12 contests where he scored three goals and had six helpers.
32nd Pick – Arizona Coyotes
Owen Beck (C)
6’0″, 190 lbs
Rounding out the first round is the Coyotes’ third pick. They are sure to be the winners of the night, having the ability to stock their farm system in just this single Entry Draft. In this position, they would likely want a defenseman after already selecting two forwards. That could easily be Sam Rinzel from Chaska High School, but it would be hard to pass on Owen Beck with him still available.
As such, look for the Yotes to add Central Scouting’s tenth ranked North American skater instead. Playing for the Steelheads with teammate Del Bel Belluz, Beck managed to have a spectacular rookie season. He notched 21 goals and 30 assists for 51 points in 68 games.
The 2022 NHL Entry Draft begins this Thursday, July 7. It continues the following day in front of a crowd at the Bell Centre, the home of the Montreal Canadiens.