It’s been an unpredictable year for NHL draft-eligible prospects—maybe even weirder than the last two seasons disrupted by COVID-19. This draft class, while deep, is an average one, and there are not many clearly defined tiers at the top of most draft boards. The Nashville Predators currently hold six picks next month: picks #17, 82, 84, 114, 146, and 210 overall.
Below are the top-32 of my 2022 NHL Entry Draft ranking. There are many external factors that could have impacted this ranking, including potential hesitancy to draft Russian prospects. However, my ranking does not, and could not accurately, reflect those factors.