By Warren Kozireski —
National Hockey League Central Scouting released their final rankings for the 2022 Entry Draft to be held in Montreal July 7-8 and it will be a sparse draft for late 2003-2004 New York born players compared to previous drafts.
Marcellus, NY native Seamus Powell is listed 169th among North American skaters; a three position drop from the midterm rankings after his one goal, 13 assist season in 58 games with the U.S. National Development Team Program. That would project him to one of the final two rounds of the seven round draft.
A 5’11”, 166 lb. defenseman is committed to Boston University for the 2023-24 campaign. His older brother Eamon, a fourth-round selection by Tampa Bay in the 2020 draft, was a sophomore defenseman with Boston College.
Rockville Centre native Jeremy Wilmer is another name to watch. Undrafted last year after averaging almost one point per game in his second year with the USNDTP, scouts may not be able to ignore his 5’7”, 141 lb. frame after he posted 25 goals and 98 points in 60 games with Tri-City in the USHL this past season.
One other state connection is Clarkson 2023-24 commit and current Warroad High (MN) center Daimon Gardner is slotted 97th—four spots ahead of the midterm rankings. A big body at 6’4”, 201 lb. already, he has scored 45 goals with 38 assists in 30 high school games this season.
Projected as a fourth-round pick, he will move from the USHL to Chilliwack in the BCHL this fall.
Barring any trades between now and the draft, Buffalo owns three first round selections—their own at 9th overall, Vegas’ 16th overall in the Jack Eichel trade and wherever the Florida Panthers slot ends up after the playoffs from the Sam Reinhardt deal.
The New York Islanders have the 13th overall first round selection while the New York Rangers will wait until the end of their playoffs to see where they are slotted.
