2022 NHL DRAFT MIDSEASON RANKING: TOP 100 PLAYER PROFILES WITH VIDEO – #31 thru #40

With this series of articles it is our intention is to briefly introduce you to each of the players ranked in our Top 50. Below you will find a short summary of their games in addition to a top highlight. In the coming months you will see in depth scouting reports published by our regional scouts on each of these players (like the Shane Wright one linked below).

31. Isaac Howard - Wing - NTDP U18 (USHL)

Isaac Howard may not be the biggest forward on the ice, but he finds a way to consistently work his way into the interior to get dangerous looks. Part of that has to do with his quickness. Part of that has to do with his awareness and anticipation in the offensive zone. This awareness and vision is also on display in rush opportunities as he gains the zone and surveys the ice to find streaking teammates. Turnovers can be an issue for him right now because he lacks the strength to consistently maintain possession and play through contact down low, however as he improves his conditioning, he should become a consistently dangerous offensive player at the next level. Ultimately, that is where he will make his money and prove his worth too, as he does have some shortcomings in the defensive end. But Howard is one of the draft’s top offensive wingers with the way he compliments other highly skilled players thanks to a combination of skill, work rate, and awareness. He will continue his development at the University of Minnesota-Duluth next year.

32. Jimmy Snuggerud - Wing - NTDP U18 (USHL)

Coming into the season, Snuggerud was a bit of an after thought on this deep US U18 team. However, he has to be considered the most improved player in the program from last year to now. As such, he has played his way up the lineup and has become one of the team’s most consistent offensive threats. His skating, in particular his explosiveness, already looks better than it did early in the year and is a testament to the kind of work ethic that he possesses. Much like Howard, Snuggerud is just a really smart offensive player with the kind of skill set that perfectly complements creative playmakers. His shot and release are both excellent and he disguises his intentions well, making him a real dual threat offensive talent. Another area of Snuggerud’s game that has shown great growth is his play in his own end. He is slowly becoming a very well-rounded player and projects as a versatile, all situations forward in the NHL. If he can continue to play at a high level through to the end of the season, he should continue to rise on our draft board.

33. Filip Bystedt - Center - Linkopings (SHL)

A big (6’4), rangy pivot, Bystedt projects as a solid two-way middle six center at the NHL level. He skates well for a larger center, and it helps him to be a potential lock down defensive forward, as he continues to add strength to his slender frame. His vision and awareness are also strengths. This not only aids him in the defensive end, but it helps him to be a solid playmaker in the offensive end. His scanning tendencies and poise are assets, and his careful approach has made him someone who already looks fairly comfortable at the SHL level. With a high IQ and solid physical skills, Bystedt offers up a really interesting profile for NHL teams. The real question is, just how skilled is he? He looked very comfortable at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup last summer, playing more of a second fiddle role. However, when tasked with navigating traffic and forced to make quick creative plays with the puck in order to prolong possession, Bystedt can struggle to keep plays alive. This leads some to wonder whether he may profile more towards the back end of an NHL line up. How you view his upside as an offensive player dictates where you feel he should be ranked.

34. Brandon Lisowsky - Wing - Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

Playing with two veteran forwards at the top of the WHL scoring race (Tristen Robins and Kyle Crnkovic), Lisowsky has stood out in his own way for the Blades this season. He makes up for a lack of size (5’9) by being consistently tenacious and by being quick. With a nose for the net and a lethal release, he has been the perfect complementary winger to Robins this season, as he consistently beats defenders to loose pucks and gets himself in scoring position. Lisowsky also uses this quickness and energy to be a factor on the backcheck. There is a real versatility to his game because of his explosiveness and high work rate. Ultimately, there are bound to be questions surrounding his ability to produce moving forward given his lack of stature, but our scouts feel that he has the necessary skills to overcome that. In watching Saskatoon, Lisowsky is not simply being carried by other more talented linemates. He deserves as much praise for their success. The one area of Lisowsky’s game that will need to improve and will likely dictate his future success, is the development of his vision and awareness with the puck. More of a linear attacker, Lisowsky could stand to be more unpredictable by altering pace and direction and by identifying passing lanes with greater frequency.

35. Jagger Firkus - Wing - Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)

One of the hottest teams in the WHL right now is Moose Jaw and one of the hottest players is Jagger Firkus. Operating around the two point per game clip for the better part of the last few months, Firkus is rocketing up draft boards, including our own. There is a lot to like about his game. He projects as a high-end goal scorer because of his quick release and scoring instincts. He skates well and is aggressive in attacking the offensive zone. He works hard to retrieve loose pucks and is improving as a three-zone player. Best of all, his confidence as a creative playmaker and facilitator has improved by leaps and bounds, so much so that Moose Jaw has been using him to run the point of their powerplay, giving him the keys to their offense. There does not appear to be much that Firkus cannot do at this point and his perceived upside and projection is being altered because of that. If he can continue to play at the level he has been, Firkus should receive a first-round grade by us by the time we re-evaluate our rankings before the release of our 2022 Draft Guide.

36. Maveric Lamoureux - Defense - Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)

6’7 defenders who can move as effortlessly as Lamoreux does, do not grow on trees. Far from a finished product, Lamoreux’s game is very raw. However, he has the potential to develop into a very good NHL defender. Early on in the year, the focus was clearly on the defensive end. He relishes the opportunity to engage physically and is already a very difficult player to win one on one battles against. As he grows into his frame, he could be a defensive monster and someone opposing forwards have nightmares about. When you combine his mobility, reach, and physicality, you already have a potentially high-end NHL shut down defender. However, his offensive game and confidence has slowly been coming around. He is gaining confidence in his ability to lead the breakout, coming to the realization that at his size and with his quickness, he can be difficult to slow down through the neutral zone. There is a lot of room for improvement in his small area skill, but his decision making, and overall offensive effectiveness have been trending in a positive direction. Even if Lamoreux’s offensive development stalls, there is a safeness here and that is why he is firmly on the radar as a potential first round selection.

37. Matthew Poitras - Center - Guelph Storm (OHL)

The Guelph Storm have been one of the OHL’s most surprising teams this year and Poitras’ contribution to the team’s secondary offensive attack has been a large reason. He has played nearly every role asked of him by the Storm this year. He has centered his own line and been looked to as a primary play driver. He has shifted to the wing on the top line, playing more of a complementary/energy role. He has killed penalties. He has played various spots on the powerplay. An intelligent pivot, there is a real versatility to his game. While Poitras may not be the strongest player on the ice, which does lead to some turnovers as he is separated from the puck too easily, he is a determined facilitator who always seems to want the puck on his stick. His awareness in the offensive end is his best attribute, as he slides in and out of traffic to find holes in defensive coverage. His profile is just extremely well rounded. Other than the strength piece, the only other thing missing from his game is top notch explosiveness. Being a slightly undersized player, improving the power in his stride is going to be a must in order for him to become a top six player at the NHL level.

38. Adam Ingram - Center/Wing - Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)

A classic late bloomer, Ingram was playing in the MJHL a year ago, originally passed over in his WHL bantam draft year. Insert Youngstown who brought him to camp this year after making him a later round pick. Once an afterthought, Ingram has become one of the USHL’s best offensive players and a candidate for the first round. Ingram is particularly dangerous in transition because of his ability to shield the puck and create space for himself. Armed with one of the better shots in the USHL, Ingram has been filling the net with consistency. Ingram also shows flashes of being able to play a true power game, driving the net and using his size to play down low. His two-way game is a bit of a work in progress. There is still some room for improvement in the dynamic qualities of his stride. And he is one of the draft’s oldest first-time eligible players. However, how good he has been for Youngstown is impossible to ignore. This is a skilled player who is still growing into his maturing physique. Despite his age, the St. Cloud State commit is a real blank canvas with a projectable skill set.

39. Liam Ohgren - Wing - Djurgardens (SHL)

Ohgren plays one of the most mature and pro ready style games of any forward available this year and it definitely gives him a safe projection as an NHL player. He has good size and is strong on the puck. He has a high work rate and competes hard in the offensive end for positioning and possession. He shows well as a passer and is able to problem solve his way out of defensive pressure by thinking quickly. Ohgren just may have been the Swedes’ top forward at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup this last summer (where they won bronze). However, with this safeness comes some upside concerns. His well-rounded skill set begs the question, does he do any one thing extremely well? He dominated the J20 circuit early on in the year but has struggled to make an impact at the SHL level when promoted, granted few players his age do well at the SHL level. The Under 18’s will be a huge event for him this year to show that his skill set has progressed from the start of the year and that he is capable of being the focal point of an offensive attack.

40. Calle Odelius - Defense - Djurgardens J20 (Swe J20)

One common archetype on this list, and on any list these days, is highly mobile defenders. Insert Calle Odelius, a naturally gifted four-way mover who effortlessly leads the breakout and evades pressure. This makes him an excellent game manager. Odelius also uses his quickness to take great routes to retrievals and as such, he can quickly flip the script for his team and apply pressure by quickly exiting the zone. His vision and ability to use his quickness to run the point and contribute in the offensive end is a bit of a work in progress. The same could be said for the consistency with which he wins one on one physical jousts in the defensive end. Given that, our scouting staff is a bit split as to what Odelius eventually develops into as an NHL player. Is there truly something special about his game outside of his fluid skating ability? On the other side of the coin, his natural physical gifts are special, and his attacking style properly suits the new age transition game of the NHL. No question, NHL teams will be curious as to how the rest of his game comes together leading up to the draft in July.