The order for the top-16 spots in the 2022 NHL Draft was decided during Tuesday’s lottery. While the New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators and New York Islanders could land promising young players with their respective selections, they could be willing to entertain trade offers for those picks.
Fortune favored the Devils once again in the draft lottery, moving up this time into the second-overall position. However, they already possess considerable depth in young talent in part because of two former first-overall picks in Nico Hischier (2017) and Jack Hughes (2019).
On May 5, general manager Tom Fitzgerald told NHL.com’s Wes Crosby he’s open to shopping his 2022 first-rounder for someone who can help his club become a playoff contender. He’d like to add an established player to his core of young forwards and also hopes to bolster his goaltending.
The Senators, meanwhile, hold the seventh-overall selection. GM Pierre Dorion issued a statement indicating he’s looking forward to adding another promising talent to his young lineup. However, the Ottawa Sun‘s Bruce Garrioch reported there’s a belief Dorion could be willing to part with that pick for a player who can turn the Sens into a postseason contender.
Sitting 13th overall is the New York Islanders. Stefen Rosner of NYI Hockey Now noted that GM Lou Lamoriello talked about making hockey trades this summer. He felt Lamoriello could use his pick to acquire a top-four defenseman or a top-six winger.
Fitzgerald, Dorion and Lamoriello could target cap-strapped clubs attempting to make cost-cutting off-season trades. They could also look at teams commencing a rebuild looking to ship out expensive veterans who no longer fit into their long-term plans.Â
