*Queue Sportscenter music*
Hello and welcome to the 2022 BBKL Post Draft special. Here we'll sit down with our panel of experts and dissect each team and their selections. With me is Bob MacKenzie, Craig Button and Darren Dreger to help us sift through each of the teams' 2022 draft class.
We'll begin this edition by issuing an apology for not having aired the analysis of the 2021 Draft class. While the episode was filmed it was decided not to air it due to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic had on scouting services across the globe and as a result; the draft class itself. We predict that the 2021 draft class will be an absolute mess and we didn't want to make bigger fools of ourselves than what Craig Button already does for us on a day-to-day basis.
This year's draft is a move back to normalcy with GM Chuck and his Montreal Canadiens hosting this year's draft in person in Montreal. This is the first time in the past couple of years where prospects had a full season to play that wasn't interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and we hope that this class will be much more accurate than last years as a result. There was lots of storylines to watch in this draft: Would Shane Wright go 1st Overall or would Juraj Slafkovsky play spoiler? How would the Russian factor play out given the conflict currently in Ukraine? Would Nashville dominate the draft as in previous years on the backs of unsuspecting GMs giving away their 1sts? Would Pittsburgh actually make a selection at all? Would recent reclamation project Frank cause half the league to rage quit with terrible trades mid-draft? Find out here now!
#32 - Vancouver Canucks Grade F-
2020 BBKL Draft Ranking: #19
2019 BBKL Draft Ranking: #27
Value Pick: None
Reach Pick: None
Button's take: We'll start with arguably the lowest bar set by any team in BBKL history: GM Fraser and his Vancouver Canucks. Sporting three selections this draft the Canucks made the terrible mistake of sending their scouting service a week late to Montreal to attend the draft and as such all three picks were dropped. Attempts to reach GM Fraser for an interview have so far gone unanswered but a release issued by GM Matthew on his behalf stated that Fraser said he had a mix up in his schedule, hence the error and that he was "Sorry to hold up the draft". A rather embarrassing turn of events for the Canucks organization as a whole.
#31 - Pittsburgh Penguins Grade F-
2020 BBKL Draft Ranking: #30
2019 BBKL Draft Ranking: #30
Value Pick: None
Reach Pick: None
Dreger's take: For the fourth year in the row GM Mike had zero selections for a Penguins organization in desperate need of new blood. The farm is barren with little to look forward to coming through the pipeline to help an aging roster improve. Embarrassingly the Penguins organization through the past 3 GMs have selected a total of 6 prospects combined in the past 9 years!!! GM Mike needs to do something for his organization because status quo is clearly not working.
#30 - Washington Capitals Grade F+
2020 BBKL Draft Ranking: #26
2019 BBKL Draft Ranking: #2
Value Pick: Adam Engstrom
Reach Pick: None
MacKenzie's take: In typical GM Thom fashion the Washington Capitals traded away both their 1st and 2nd round selection and yet still had the highest pick since the 2019 draft. Using his 3rd round selection GM Thom reaches on Chaz Lucius - someone with some NHL upside but given other options on the table at this point he could have done better. The next two picks in the 5th and early 6th rounds are then outright whiffs by the Caps when mercifully GM Thom finds some late round value in Adam Engstrom out of Djurgardens in Sweden. A final whiff by the Caps in the 7th completes this draft class. Given the number of selections GM Thom had it was very disappointing to see him go only 2-for-5 and his highest selection being a reach.
#29 - Colombus Blue Jackets Grade D
2020 BBKL Draft Ranking: #11
2019 BBKL Draft Ranking: #9
Value Pick: Jesper Vikman
Reach Pick: None
Button's take: Mr Slow N' Steady himself, GM Dave went a little off the rails this year by trading away his first round selection. This is the first time since the 2015 draft that he has not owned his own 1st round pick. Given aging pieces like Anze Kopitar and Jamie Benn still present on a rebuilding team it was disappointing to see that more wasn't done in acquiring prospects and picks to help the rebuild along. To open the draft class the Jackets find some early value in Kasper Kulonummi - a smooth skating Dman with solid international output. Next up was Alex Bump in the 5th which we feel is good value. GM Dave makes his only whiff of the draft in the 6th round missing his mark. Closing out this class was a nice value selection in Jesper Vikman a goaltender from the WHL. Nothing to see here.
#28 - Philadelphia Flyers Grade D
2020 BBKL Draft Ranking: #15
2019 BBKL Draft Ranking: #20
Value Pick: George Fegaras
Reach Pick: None
Dreger's take: After a respectable playoff push by GM Shep the Philadelphia Flyers were looking to restock the cupboard a bit. Missing his top two picks GM Shep certainly had his work cut out for him. With their first selection the Flyers tell the rest of the draft tables that the Russian factor is a non-factor by selecting Viktor Neuchev - a really nice selection at this spot. Next the Flyers extract some value in the 5th round by selecting George Fegaras - a near point per game player in the OJHL. GM Shep then misses the mark with his next two selections and then in the late 6th goes back to Russia and takes Sergei Ivanov. One of the more interesting storylines of this draft was when at the end of the 6th round GM Shep and his scouting team suddenly left the building with a 7th round pick still unused. Sources within the Flyers organization point to the embarrassment of former Flyers GM Lee storming the draft floor mid 6th and screaming about "How slow the draft was going" and that he "Wanted a new team".
#27 - New York Islanders Grade D+
2020 BBKL Draft Ranking: #17
2019 BBKL Draft Ranking: #17
Value Pick: None
Reach Pick: Brandon Lisowsky
MacKenzie's take: Making his triumphant return after unceremoniously being removed from the league nearly a decade ago; GM Frank sat at his first draft table at the head of the New York Islanders lacking in early round selections. With his first selection GM Frank takes a risk and selects undersized forward Jordan Dumais. Scouts had him listed anywhere from a 2nd round prospect all the way to listed as unranked. Next the Isles make a big reach in Brandon Lisowsky and we feel that there was much better options on the board here. GM Frank then misses the mark with his next selection but then selects Mason Beaupit and Daniil Sobolev in the 5th and 6th rounds. A final miss in the 7th caps off this group. Some risk reward with this group but we did want to mention that we grade GM Frank an A+ for not making any terrible trades this draft.
#26 - Dallas Stars Grade C-
2020 BBKL Draft Ranking: #27
2019 BBKL Draft Ranking: #18
Value Pick: Oskar Pettersson
Reach Pick: None
Button's take: After another disappointing playoff run by GM Willy another tall order was needed at the draft given his lack of picks. In the 3rd round the Dallas Stars select Bryce McConnell-Barker a solid two-way center from the OHL. Next the Stars go tyo Russia to select Daniil Orlov who put up respectable numbers in the Russian Junior League. To close out this class was GM Will'ys best selection in Oskar Pettersson who tore up Sweden's junior league. Nothing too wild here just solid all around selections given the picks GM Willy had to work with.
#25 - Anaheim Ducks Grade C-
2020 BBKL Draft Ranking: #10
2019 BBKL Draft Ranking: #4
Value Pick: None
Reach Pick: None
Dreger's take: After being utterly devastated losing to GM Matt in the BBKL finals for the second year in a row - GM Matthew was yanked from his alcohol infused slumber and fed copious amounts of coffee in an attempt to sober him up in time for the BBKL draft. With only 3 picks there wasnt much to work with but a coveted 2nd rounder was on the horizon. With said 2nd rounder the Ducks select Dman Christian Kyrou who possesses huge offensive upside but has yet to learn that being a defenseman requires you to play defense. With a large gap between picks GM Matthew was observed mid-draft dozing off in his chair and one wondered if he had slipped some Bailey's into his coffee at the table. This was because his final two selection were complete misses and questions arose if Matthew was already half-sauced again on his way out the draft door. It will be an interesting off season for GM Matthew in his quest for a BBKL Championship.
#24 - Ottawa Senators Grade C-
2020 BBKL Draft Ranking: #31
2019 BBKL Draft Ranking: #25
Value Pick: Dylan James
Reach Pick: Hugo Havelid
MacKenzie's take: For the first time since 2019 GM Billy actually had draft picks at his disposal at the BBKL Draft. As the BBKL dumping ground for aging players was GM Billy going to try and infuse his farm with some youth to help with the future? With his first selection in the 4th round GM Billy nabs some solid value in Dylan James - the top-scoring first-year draft-eligible USHL player. With his 5th round selections the Sens miss on both Hugo Havelid and Ruslan Gazizov. While disappointing both 5ths were missed the value of James cannot be understated.
#23 - Colorado Avalanche Grade C
2020 BBKL Draft Ranking: #12
2019 BBKL Draft Ranking: #3
Value Pick: Fraser Minten
Reach Pick: Fabian Wagner
Button's take: For the third straight year GM Craig didn't own his own 1st round pick but still held his second along with a number of mid round picks. Would BBKL's self-proclaimed "Draft Guru" be able to extract the gems from these mid rounds as he likes to claim? With his first selection GM Craig selected Danny Zhilkin who possesses a nice mix of skating and skill. Next the Avs select Fraser Minten - who has the look of a bona-fied bottom 6er but not much ceiling beyond that. Fabian Wagner was a bit of a reach but Dennis Hildeby is very intriguing; especially in the 5th round. A couple late misses cap off this draft class. Only time will tell whether GM Craig's prophetic tendencies pan out or not but we feel like he does have some NHL upside in at least 3 of his selections.
#22 - New York Rangers Grade C+
2020 BBKL Draft Ranking: #8
2019 BBKL Draft Ranking: #11
Value Pick: None
Reach Pick: Servac Petrovsky
Dreger's take: For the first time since the 2016 BBKL Draft GM Kyle did not have a 1st round selection to stock his rebuilding cupboard with; but with two 2nd rounders there was still some nice assets to be unearthed. In the 2nd round the Rangers select David Goyette and Elias Salomonsson - two solid slections in this range both with NHL prospects. Moving into the third GM Kyle slightly misses the mark and reaches for Vladimir Grudinin and Servac Petrovsky; two players who we feel would have made a steep drop in this class had GM Kyle not selected them. Reid Dyck closes out this draft class as an NHL-framed goalie out of Swift Current. Two hits and two misses - a rather mixed bag here but some nice assets nonetheless.
#21 - Toronto Maple Leafs Grade B-
2020 BBKL Draft Ranking: #22
2019 BBKL Draft Ranking: #12
Value Pick: None
Reach Pick: Josh Filmon
MacKenzie's take: We managed to confirm this story through multiple sources but when GM Welchie and his scouting group arrived at the Bell Centre; they were initially denied entry as no one knew who they even were. After running around the lobby screaming "I am the Toronto Maple Leafs GM" his identity was verified and they were allowed admittance. A message was immediately sent to the BBKL Competition Committee to call off the cadaver dogs looking for the missing Toronto Maple Leafs GM. With his 1st round selection GM Welchie selected Liam Ohgren who tore up the Swedish Junior ranks and got the call up to the SHL with Djurgarden. The Leafs next selection was a large reach of Josh Filmon in the 3rd round - a big miss at this stage of the draft. In the 4th the Leafs take Gavin Hayes who is a decent pick in this range. A final pair of misses in the 5th round completes GM Tyler's class. One can only hope that GM Welchie doesn't retreat back into his cave and begins to make moves to help shape his team going forward.
