The Bell Center was buzzing Thursday for the long-awaited first overall pick by the Montreal Canadiens. Day 2 produced a bit of everything. A few teams traded draft picks. Others made roster trades. Finally, the announcement that Duncan Keith had decided to retire after a storied career also made waves on the floor. In my opinion, no other professional league does it better than the NHL when it comes to the entry draft. It never gets old seeing the excitement on the faces of prospects and their family members after their names are called. Congratulations to the city of Montreal. One of my favorite scouting destinations in the world delivered what we expected: A fantastic event hosted by one of the most prestigious hockey cities in hockey. Here’s a look at some interesting picks from each round:
ROUND 1
Good. 1: Juraj Slafkovsky, Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens did their due diligence and dealt Slafkowski with Shane Wright, Logan Cooley and Simon Nemec. The management complex in Montreal has eliminated all outside noise and pressure and gone with the player they believe will help the most in taking the organization to the next level. That pick told me something about Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes: that they have their own vision of how they want to build their team. There have been drafts in the past where teams cave and take the consensus No. 1. This was not one of those times. One note: Seeing Slafkovsky parade around the Bell Center for media interviews and fans clamoring for a photo, a punch or an autograph was something to behold. He’s already a rock star in Montreal.
ROUND 2
No. 62: Lane Hutson, Montreal Canadiens I absolutely love this option. Hutson is a highly skilled transition “D” who makes plays off the rush and quarterback on the power play. There was a time, not too long ago, when players like him were passed over by NHL clubs due to their lack of size and physicality. Hutson let the combine teams know in Buffalo that he hasn’t stopped growing and that he has a chance to reach around 5-foot-10. His height doesn’t bother me, but he will need to put on weight as he matures. Hutson makes the difference. He is very competitive and wants his stick in key situations.
ROUND 3
No. 88: Michael Buchinger, St. Louis Blues This was a smart pickup for the Blues. Buchinger is a stickler for the Guelph Storm in the OHL. The two-way defenseman is a strong skater who sees the ice and distributes very well. He scored 44 points (five goals, 39 assists) last season and was used in all situations. There’s a real possibility the Blues have found a second NHL defenseman with the Buchinger selection.
ROUND 4
No. 122: Dennis Hildeby, Toronto Maple Leafs Hildeby is an interesting pick in the fourth round and well worth it. He is a 20-year-old European who had a breakout campaign in 2021-22. At the SHL level playing for Farjestad, he had a 1.93 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage. He is an absolute giant in the nets, standing 6 feet tall and weighing 236 pounds. Goalies take longer to develop than skaters, which is why I believe in the strategy of this pick. Hildeby will be in Sweden for at least one more season before possibly coming to North America. When NHL teams call up players from Europe, they retain their rights for four years of development time compared to two years for big-time players in North America. By the time his four years are up, Hildeby will be 24 and likely entering the NHL phase of his development.
ROUND 5
No. 136: Jorian Donovan, Ottawa Senators The son of Senators Director of Player Development Shean Donovan, Jorian is a nice addition in the fifth round. Scored 22 points (three goals, 19 assists) in his OHL debut with Hamilton this year. What I like most about this pick is that Donovan can be used in a variety of roles. I project him to score more as he matures at the OHL level. He skates very well, comes out responsibly, has good size (6-foot-1, 183 pounds) and will only get stronger. He’ll likely see some power play time in junior, but I don’t see him fitting into that role as a pro. Sometimes nepotism can sneak into certain decisions made by organizations. This is not an example of that. Donovan has a chance to be more than a bottom-pairing “D” as a pro. I’m sure he’ll put in the work. This pick has Senators Don Boyd written all over it and it’s a good one.
ROUND 6
#179: Matt Seminoff, Dallas Stars It’s not often teams can find a player at this stage of the draft with the kind of offensive impact Seminoff had last year with Kamloops in the WHL. He had 26 goals and 31 assists, with six of his goals coming on the power play. Seminoff brings more than just offense. He is a responsible player who is on top of the game when the opposition have the stock and reliably defends his zone. His small area game is also very strong. He has the creativity to spin off checks in tight quarters and take the play to the net or distribute. His speed will need to improve, but this is a nice find for Stars Director of Scouting Joe McDonnell.
ROUND 7
No. 225: Ivan Zhigalov, Colorado Avalanche A tall (6-foot-3), lean (167 lbs), athletic goaltender who plays for Sherbrooke in the QMJHL. He was the last pick of the draft and could, quite literally, fly under the radar as a bit of an afterthought, but I really like the upside of this pick. Zhigalov has quick feet and pads, is capable of making reaction saves in scramble mode and is a southpaw who catches with his right hand, which gives opponents a different look when he directs pucks to the net. Former NHL goaltender Jocelyn Thibault owns the team in Sherbrooke, so I’m sure the Avalanche consulted with him to learn more about Zhigalov. – This completes the scouting cycle for the 2021-2022 season. There was a time when staffs took time off after the draft to enjoy what the summer has to offer. This is no longer the case. Prospects from around the world will attend development camps from Sunday, July 10 and Monday, July 11 for all NHL clubs. The 2022-23 amateur scouting calendar begins July 31 in Red Deer, Alberta at the annual Hlinka/Gretzky Cup.
