Insider Bob McKenzie's final NHL Draft rankings have a surprising twist

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Dorin Canaday
June 28, 2022 (1:22 PM)

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TSN and NHL insider Bob McKenzie is well-known for his deep analysis of the NHL Entry Draft for many years now.

For the 2022 Draft, his "final" rankings come as a bit of a surprise, with just over a week to go before round one starts next Thursday.

That's right. Bob McKenzie now has the Slovakian Juraj Slafkovsky over Shane Wright to go number one overall at the 2022 NHL Draft.

McKenzie noted:

"The headline will be that it's the first time this season � that includes pre-season rankings in September; mid-season rankings in January; draft lottery edition rankings in April; and now the final rankings in June � that someone other than Wright is No. 1."

According to the insider, out of 10 NHL scouts, four had Wright going first and five had Slafkovsky (no report on who else got a first place vote).

The Slovakian was ranked number five at mid-season but thanks to two stellar international performances at the Olympics and the men's world championship, he has propelled himself all the way up to number one.

Per Slafkovsky's scouting report on why he would be taken ahead of Wright:

"What separates Slafkovsky from Wright for me is that he's bigger, he played harder, he was more consistent with his competitiveness, and he stepped up to produce on big stages [Olympics and world championship],» another NHL head scout said. «In my view, he has the best chance to be a first-line NHL forward."

Here is how the rest of the Top-10 rounds out:

3. Logan Cooley: Centre -United States
4. Simon Nemec: Defenseman - Slovakia
5. Cutter Gauthier: Forward - United States
6. David Jiricek: Defenseman - Czechia
7. Joakim Kemell: Left/Right wing - Finland
8. Jonathan Lekkerimaki: Left wing - Sweden
9. Matt Savoie: Centre - Canada
10. Marco Kasper: Centre - Austria