Who could the Bruins target in second round & beyond in 2022 NHL Draft?

After relinquishing their 2022 first-round pick in their deadline deal for Hampus Lindholm, Don Sweeney and the Bruins are scheduled (for now, at least) to be on the clock Friday afternoon during the 2022 NHL Draft — with Boston currently on tap to make six selections during Day 2 at Montreal’s Bell Centre.

In case you need a refresher on where Boston is slated to pick on Friday:

Round 2 - No. 54
Round 3 - No. 91  
Round 4 - No. 119  
Round 6 - No. 183  
Round 7 - No. 200  
Round 7 - No. 215

Along with coughing up their third first-round pick in the last five years in the Lindholm deal, the Bruins also surrendered their own third-round pick in their trade with Ottawa in 2021 for Mike Reilly, along with a fifth-round pick in a 2022 trade for Josh Brown.

Even though they gave up their third-round pick in the Reilly deal, the B’s did manage to replenish some of their draft capital by dealing Dan Vladar to Calgary last summer, adding the Flames' third-rounder (91st overall) in the process. 

The Bruins might have to wade a bit deeper into the pool of 2022 draft talent, but their mandate of both injecting high-end skill and talented pivot prospects could still be accomplished, especially if a few poised centers fall to them in that No. 54 spot.

So … who could the Bruins target with a few of their first picks on Friday? Let’s take a look at some intriguing youngsters in the 2022 draft class. 

SECOND ROUND - No. 54 overall

Jack Hughes - C, Northeastern (NCAA)
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 165 pounds
Stats: 39 games played - 7 goals, 9 assists

Ranked No. 35 overall by TSN/Bob McKenzie
Ranked No. 73 overall by TSN/Craig Button
Ranked No. 26 overall by NHL Central Scouting (North American skaters)
Ranked No. 51 by McKeen’s Hockey
Ranked No. 44 by EliteProspects.com

No … not that Jack Hughes. 

He may not boast the same high-end ceiling as the Devils' young pivot (and No. 1 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft), but Hughes makes an awful lot of sense for a team like the Bruins — and the rationale is pretty evident.

A two-way center? Check.

A Massachusetts native? Check. (Westwood)

A Hockey East player? Check (Northeastern).

Ties to the Bruins? Check. (His father, Kent, is currently GM of the Canadiens, but he was Patrice Bergeron’s long-time agent before taking up his new post last season). 

Hughes’ freshman-year stats may not exactly leap off the page, but the center (who was the youngest player in NCAA hockey last season) impressed many scouts with his playmaking ability, hands and untapped potential which should continue to unveil itself with more reps at the collegiate ranks.

He doesn’t project to be a star at the next level, but Hughes does have a pretty solid floor as a middle-six pivot that could anchor your second or third line for the foreseeable future. A defensively responsible pivot may not exactly wow B’s fans, but Hughes sure looks the part as a future NHLer. 

Cameron Lund - C, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 192 pounds
Stats: 62 games played - 25 goals, 25 assists

Ranked No. 43 overall by TSN/Bob McKenzie
Ranked No. 47 overall by TSN/Craig Button
Ranked No. 40 overall by NHL Central Scouting (North American skaters)
Ranked No. 65 by McKeen’s Hockey
Ranked No. 49 by EliteProspects.com

Another local kid (Bridgewater native, set to play at Northeastern next season), Lund sure fits the mold of an effective future NHLer — with the 18-year-old forward already nearly tipping the scales at 200 pounds. During his time in the USHL, Lund showcased an ability to push tempo and throw his weight around. But unlike other young power forwards, Lund’s skating ability allows him to make plays through the neutral zone and remain active on O-zone possessions. However, he'll need to find some consistency at the next level.

Danny Zhilkin, C Guelph Storm (OHL)
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 189 pounds
Stats: 66 games played - 23 goals, 32 assists

Ranked No. 48 overall by TSN/Bob McKenzie
Ranked No. 52 overall by TSN/Craig Button
Ranked No. 35 overall by NHL Central Scouting (North American skaters)
Ranked No. 54 by McKeen’s Hockey
Ranked No. 51 by EliteProspects.com

The Bruins earned a major break last season when Fabian Lysell fell down in the first round and landed directly in their laps — giving them a blue-chip, impact forward to add to their system.

Boston is likely hoping that Zhilkin is the latest prospect that drops a bit, as the Russian-Canadian center saw his stock rise this past season on a good Guelph team. He already possesses a strong frame and logged minutes on both the power play and PK in the OHL, but he’s also a very effective scoring threat with a quick shot and solid on-ice awareness. 

Paul Ludwinski - C, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 183 pounds
Stats: 67 games played - 16 goals, 27 assists

Ranked No. 60 overall by TSN/Bob McKenzie
Ranked No. 94 overall by TSN/Craig Button
Ranked No. 49 overall by NHL Central Scouting (North American skaters)
Ranked No. 50 by McKeen’s Hockey
Ranked No. 55 by EliteProspects.com

Ludwinski is kind of all over the map when it comes to where he’s projected to land — but it will likely be somewhere in the late second/third round on Friday. Ludwinski really wasn’t in the spotlight much this past season (a byproduct of being 2C on a Kingston team that had Shane Wright leading the way), but the 18-year-old pivot is routinely praised for his motor and skating ability.

The effort is almost always there, but there are questions as to whether he has more to give offensively at the next level — or whether or not his smaller frame will allow him to morph his game more into a checking/energy role in the NHL ranks.

Rieger Lorenz - LW, Okotoks Oilers (AJHL)
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 184 pounds
Stats: 60 games played - 38 goals, 47 assists

Ranked No. 52 overall by TSN/Bob McKenzie
Ranked No. 50 overall by TSN/Craig Button
Ranked No. 17 overall by NHL Central Scouting (North American skaters)
Ranked No. 77 by McKeen’s Hockey
Ranked No. 109 by EliteProspects.com

The center position might be Boston’s most pressing need when it comes to restocking its cupboard full of prospects. But as seen last season with the Lysell pick, sometimes the best option is to take the best player available — especially one with a high-end skill set.

And while a forward like Lorenz may not have the speed of a Lysell, the young winger ripped up the AJHL as a furious forechecker and physical force who routinely bulldozed his way into Grade-A ice. Lorenz, who is set to play at the University of Denver next season, projects as a middle-six winger at the NHL level, capable of landing some thumps against the opposition while earning reps on both the power play and PK.

Matyas Sapovaliv, C, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 182 pounds
Stats: 68 games played - 18 goals, 34 assists

Ranked No. 46 overall by TSN/Bob McKenzie
Ranked No. 54 overall by TSN/Craig Button
Ranked No. 23 overall by NHL Central Scouting (North American skaters)
Ranked No. 44 by McKeen’s Hockey
Ranked No. 76 by EliteProspects.com

In some respects, Sapovaliv does draw some comparisons to another Czech playmaking pivot in David Krejci. While Sapovaliv isn’t exactly a burner with his skating ability, he’s poised with the puck on his stick and rarely rushes with it — opting to dictate the pace and use his high hockey IQ and on-ice vision to orchestrate some quality chances. 

While that lack of dynamic skating ability and finishing talent could be a hurdle that prevents him from really thriving at the next level,  Sapovaliv’s knack for creating offense in small areas and already refined ability to escape pressure and read what an opposing defense is giving him already makes him a very intriguing option for Boston in the second round. 

Jani Nyman - LW, Koovee (FINLAND-2)
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 212 pounds
Stats: 34 games played - 18 goals, 17 assists

Ranked No. 55 overall by TSN/Bob McKenzie
Ranked No. 58 overall by TSN/Craig Button
Ranked No. 24 overall by NHL Central Scouting (North American skaters)
Ranked No. 47 by McKeen’s Hockey
Ranked No. 77 by EliteProspects.com

There’s a lot to like about a big-bodied winger like Nyman, who was a point-per-game player with Koovee in Finland’s second-tier league and doesn’t turn 18 years old until the very end of July. His size and shot stand out, but Nyman also has soft hands and a pretty good knack for playmaking. He’s already a big body, but if he can continue to utilize it more and more as the physicality ramps up at higher levels of competition, Nyman could be a bruising winger in a team’s middle-six grouping.

Adam Sykora - LW, Nitra (Slovakia)
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 172 pounds
Stats: 46 games played - 10 goals, 7 assists

Ranked No. 64 overall by TSN/Bob McKenzie
Ranked No. 48 overall by TSN/Craig Button
Ranked No. 42 overall by NHL Central Scouting (EU skaters)
Ranked No. 48 by McKeen’s Hockey
Ranked No. 38 by EliteProspects.com

Sykora may not exactly be a big body, but the 17-year-old forward held his own against men in Slovakia thanks to his relentless pursuit of the puck and second-effort capabilities. Granted, Sykora isn’t projected to be a checking forward at the next level, but that high compete level is good to see in a player who also has very good puck skills. His numbers may not jump off the page, but 17 points as a 17-year-old rookie in a league filled with players 5-10 years older than him is very impressive. 

THIRD ROUND - No. 91

Ben MacDonald - C, Noble & Greenough School (Prep)
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 181 pounds
Stats: 22 games played - 14 goals, 15 assists

Ranked No. 87 overall by TSN/Bob McKenzie
Ranked No. 50 overall by NHL Central Scouting (North American skaters)

We’ll see if MacDonald will be around by the time Boston picks in the latter stages of the third round. But if he’s available, you have to think that the B’s would be interested in … yes, another center prospect that hails from the Commonwealth.

MacDonald, born and raised in Weston, just wrapped up a strong season with Noble & Greenough School and is expected to play next year for the West Kelowna Warriors in BCHL before arriving in Harvard in 2023-24. MacDonald has plenty of ties to the Crimson, considering his father, Lane, won the Hobey Baker Award back in 1989. 

He’s a few years away from the pro game, but you could also make the case that MacDonald has been overlooked by some scouts given his prep-circuit development. He’s a high-IQ forward who has been a driver of offense at just about every stop of his young hockey career. 

Aleksanteri Kaskimaki - C, HIFK (Finland U-20)
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 181 pounds
Stats: 31 games played - 19 goals, 21 assists

Ranked No. 65 overall by TSN/Craig Button
Ranked No. 25 overall by NHL Central Scouting (EU skaters)
Ranked No. 74 by McKeen’s Hockey
Ranked No. 108 by EliteProspects.com

It might be wishful thinking to assume that Kaskimaki will still be waiting for Boston near the end of the third round, but if the Finn is there, he’d represent a great value add for a B’s team that desperately needs more options down the middle. So long as he works on his skating,  Kaskimaki could be an everyday pivot in the NHL ranks given his slick hands and playmaking ability.

Ryan Greene - C, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 174 pounds
Stats: 59 games played - 19 goals, 32 assists

Ranked No. 59 overall by TSN/Bob McKenzie
Ranked No. 46 overall by NHL Central Scouting (North American skaters)
Ranked No. 94 by McKeen’s Hockey
Ranked No. 90 by EliteProspects.com

Greene is a productive, two-way forward who impressed in the USHL ranks and is set to play at BU next season. He’s not necessarily flashy, but Greene can do a bit of everything out on the ice and do it well. Like many of the promising prospects who are slated to fall to the second or third rounds, Greene needs to work on his skating to succeed at the next level, but he’s a cerebral, talented player who could be a Swiss Army Knife if he hits at the pro level. 

Michael Fisher - D, St. Mark’s School (Prep)
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 198 pounds
Stats: 28 games played - 13 goals, 37 assists

Ranked No. 60 overall by TSN/Craig Button
Ranked No. 52 overall by NHL Central Scouting (North American skaters)
Ranked No. 89 by McKeen’s Hockey
Ranked No. 42 by EliteProspects.com

There’s a lot to like about a young defenseman like Fisher (and no, not just because he’s from Westborough and is set to play at Northeastern next year). 

Fisher is already a physical specimen at 18 years old but his value is elevated by the fact that he’s also a very, very good skater. After Fisher dominated at St. Mark’s last season thanks to an effective point shot and crisp transition talents, I wouldn’t be surprised if a team scoops up Fisher ahead of his projected spot in the draft order. Fleet-footed, playmaking D that will also clock in above 200 pounds at the NHL level don’t come around very often. 

Miko Matikka - RW, Jokerit (Finland, Jr.)
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 187 pounds
Stats: 30 games played - 19 goals, 14 assists

Ranked No. 90 overall by TSN/Bob McKenzie
Ranked No. 32 overall by NHL Central Scouting (EU skaters)
Ranked No. 176 by McKeen’s Hockey
Ranked No. 119 by EliteProspects.com

Matikka is a bit of a tough prospect to evaluate. The big-bodied winger has very good hands and a hell of a shot, but he’s routinely been knocked for his foot speed and inconsistent play while in Finland’s junior league. Of course, those drawbacks are things that can be corrected over time, especially with Matikka expected to make the jump over to North America and play for the University of Denver next season. 

FOURTH ROUND AND BEYOND

A few names to keep tabs on…

Cameron O’Neill - F, Mount Saint Charles (Prep)
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 194 pounds
Stats: 62 games played - 57 goals, 76 assists

O’Neill absolutely ripped up the competition during his time at Mount Saint Charles down in Rhode Island, posting 133 points in just 62 games played last season. Of course, he’ll face much steeper competition in the years ahead, with O’Neill expected to play in the USHL next season before making the jump up to UMass in 2023-24.

Sam Savoie - C, Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 190 pounds
Stats: 64 games played - 18 goals, 15 assists

Savoie’s stats may not jump off the page, but all it takes is a few minutes of game film to see why plenty of teams will likely be more than happy to snatch up the prickly forward in the fourth or fifth round. Savoie has a great motor and tends to hit everything that moves when he hops over the boards. He may not be a high-end player, especially at the next level, but he could be a key cog on a team’s checking unit in just a couple of years. 

Marcus Nguyen - RW, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 172 pounds
Stats: 68 games played - 22 goals, 18 assists

Another young prospect (doesn’t turn 18 until August), Nguyen had a strong first full season in the WHL, impressing scouts with his straight-line speed while potting 22 goals — all with little in terms of reps on Portland’s top power-play unit.

Cole Knuble - RW, Fargo Force (USHL)
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 174 pounds
Stats: 62 games played - 20 goals, 29 assists

The son of former NHLer (and B’s forward) Mike Knuble, Cole Knuble is a shifty forward who put together a strong first season in the USHL in 2021-22. Knuble, who will attend the University of Notre Dame beginning in 2023-24, can spot soft areas of the ice in short order and do some damage. However, he does need to work on his skating, as he struggles to separate from opposing skaters.