NHL Draft 2022 live updates, tracker: Slafkovsky goes No. 1 to Montreal, Wright slides to Seattle at No. 4

The opening round of the 2022 NHL Draft is officially in the books, and there were certainly some surprises. Entering Thursday, there was a ton of intrigue as to what the Montreal Canadiens would do with the No. 1 pick. Despite star center Shane Wright being projected by many as the top pick, the Canadiens chose to take big-bodied winger Juraj Slafkovsky over Wright. 

The New Jersey Devils chose to address their defense in Simon Namec with the No. 2 pick. Even though Wright was there at No. 3 for the Arizona Coyotes, Arizona chose to take Pennsylvania native and top-rated center Logan Cooley. Wright finally was selected by the Seattle Kraken with the fourth overall pick and should form a dynamic one-two punch at center with 2021 first-round pick Matty Beniers.

For a complete rundown of the 2022 Draft, check out our tracker below that includes each player that was selected Thursday evening.

2022 NHL Draft first round

1. Montreal Canadiens – Juraj Slafkovsky, LW, HC TPS (Slovakia)

2. New Jersey Devils – Simon Nemec, RHD, HK Nitra (Slovakia)

3. Arizona Coyotes – Logan Cooley, C, U.S. National U18 Team

4. Seattle Kraken – Shane Wright, C, Kingston (OHL)

5. Philadelphia Flyers – Cutter Gauthier, C/LW, U.S. National U18 Team

6. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Chicago Blackhawks) – David Jiricek, RHD, HC Plzen (Czech Republic)

7. Chicago Blackhawks (from Ottawa Senators) – Kevin Korchinski, LHD, Seattle (WHL)

8. Detroit Red Wings – Marco Kasaper, C, Rogle BK (Sweden)

9. Buffalo Sabres – Matthew Savoie, C, Winnipeg (WHL)

10. Anaheim Ducks – Pavel Mintyukov, D, Saginaw (OHL)

11. Arizona Coyotes (from San Jose Sharks) – Conor Geekie, C, Winnipeg (WHL)

12. Columbus Blue Jackets – Denton Mateychuk, D, Moose Jaw (WHL)

13. Chicago Blackhawks (from Montreal Canadiens) – Frank Nazar, C, USA U-18 (NTDP)

14. Winnipeg Jets – Rutger McGroarty, RW, USA U-18 (NTDP) 

15. Vancouver Canucks – Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW, Djurgarden (SWE)

16. Buffalo Sabres (from Vegas Golden Knights) – Noah Ostlund, C, Djurgarden Jr. (SWE-JR)

17. Nashville Predators – Joakim Kemell, RW, JYP (FIN)

18. Dallas Stars – Lian Bichsel, D, Leksand (SWE)

19. Minnesota Wild (from Los Angeles Kings) – Liam Ohgren, LW, Djurgarden Jr. (SWE-JR)

20. Washington Capitals – Ivan Miroshnichenko, LW, Omsk Krylia (RUS-2)

21. Pittsburgh Penguins – Owen Pickering, D, Swift Current (WHL)

22. Anaheim Ducks (from Boston Bruins) – Nathan Gaucher, C, Quebec (QMJHL)

23. St. Louis Blues – Jimmy Snuggerud, RW, USA U-18 (NTDP)

24. Minnesota Wild – Danila Yurov, RW, Magnitogorsk (RUS)

25. Chicago Blackhawks (from Toronto Maple Leafs) – Sam Rinzel, D, Chaska (HIGH-MN)

26. Montreal Canadiens (from Calgary Flames) – Filip Mesar, RW, Poprad (SVK)

27. San Jose Sharks – Filip Bystedt – C, Linkoping (Sweden)

28. Buffalo Sabres (from Florida Panthers) – Jiri Kulich – C, Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic)

29. Arizona Coyotes (from Edmonton Oilers) – Maveric Lamoureux, D, Drummondville (QMJHL)

30. Winnipeg Jets (from New York Rangers) – Brad Lambert, C, Pelicans (Finland)

31. Tampa Bay Lightning – Isaac Howard,  LW, U.S. National U18 Team

32. Edmonton Oilers (from Arizona Coyotes) – Reid Schaefer, LW, Seattle (WHL)