To be clear, though, the Kingston Frontenac centre’s top-prospect status is by no means a sure thing – even if nine of 10 scouts ranked the Burlington, Ont., native first on TSN’s 2022 Mid-Season NHL Draft Rankings.
It isn’t that Wright has been a bust or that scouts are skeptical of him as a high-end NHL prospect. He’s fully expected to be a good NHL player, but the scouts are looking for more great than good from the No. 1 overall pick. Wright’s game this season has lacked any sort of “wow” factor or “dynamic” aspect.Wright was awarded exceptional player status by Hockey Canada in 2019, allowing him to enter the OHL as a 15-year-old for the 2019-20 OHL season.
At the, albeit abbreviated, 2022 World Junior Championship, Wright was, at best, just okay in a really small sample size. Scouts were hoping Wright, and his 2022 draft challengers, would use the World Juniors to define and assert themselves. That didn’t happen. Wright’s play raised more questions than it answered.
“His engagement has been good, his production underwhelming given the expectations,” one said. “Overall, I could say [Wright] is an above-average prospect but not where you would think a No. 1 overall pick should be.” “I don’t have a big issue [with his game],” a sixth scout opined. “He is still over a point per game and the problem is a lot of people expect him to be at 2.5 points per game. He’s going to be a second-line centre in the NHL. He’ll be reliable and coaches will love his work ethic, tools and hockey sense.”
The leading contender to knock Wright off the No. 1 perch is USA Under-18 forward Logan Cooley, a 5-foot-10 centre who is as savvy and skilled offensively as any prospect in the draft. All he appears to lack is being six feet or taller, which is the preferred size standard for an elite No. 1 pivot.Although nine of 10 scouts have Shane Wright as the projected No. 1 pick for the 2022 NHL Draft, as Bob McKenzie explains, some scouts believe the gap is closing because of his underwhelming season.
Still, scouts say Cooley plays hard and goes into heavy traffic and high-danger zones to make plays and score goals, elevating the players he plays alongside. Savoie has high-end hockey sense, skill and competitiveness, more a playmaker than a goal scorer but a prolific dual threat every time he has the puck, despite his size.Canadian Matt Savoie, who Bob McKenzie has No. 4 in his mid-season prospect rankings, joins Glenn Schiiler to discuss his excitement for the 2022 NHL Draft, which NHL player represents the best comparable to his style of play, being a big Oilers fan growing up and getting a chance to meet Connor McDavid, and more.
TSNBobMcKenzie I just have this feeling that Savoie is gonna be such a stud, but all these guys have the potential to be studs tbh
TSNBobMcKenzie Jiricek over Nemec & both outside of the top 5… interesting. I feel like they’ll go higher but if you’re picking in the top 10, you’re getting a solid prospect
TSNBobMcKenzie If wrights at number 1 it’s not a good draft
TSNBobMcKenzie How is Brad Lambert not on your top 10 🧐
TSNBobMcKenzie I think matt savoie will be a hefty steal at 4, just watch
TSNBobMcKenzie Where are the goalies
TSNBobMcKenzie Haven't been impressed with Wright the few games I saw him play
TSNBobMcKenzie If you pick top 10, you will get a good prospect.
TSNBobMcKenzie No Lambert?
TSNBobMcKenzie Thanks for your input Bob, but doesn’t really matter
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: CTVNews - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »
Source: CBCNews - 🏆 2. / 99 Read more »
Source: Sportsnet - 🏆 57. / 59 Read more »
Source: TSN_Sports - 🏆 80. / 51 Read more »
Source: Sportsnet - 🏆 57. / 59 Read more »
Source: TSN_Sports - 🏆 80. / 51 Read more »