143 CHL Players to Watch ahead of 2022 NHL Draft

143 Canadian Hockey League players have been listed as Players to Watch by NHL Central Scouting ahead of the 2022 NHL Draft.

The 143 CHL players include 66 from the Ontario Hockey League, 45 from the Western Hockey League, and 32 from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

In all, seven players received ‘A’ ratings, indicating likely first-round candidates. Three ‘A’ rated players come from the WHL and two each from the OHL and QMJHL.

From the WHL, ‘A’ rated talent includes Winnipeg ICE centres Conor Geekie and Matt Savoie as well as Moose Jaw Warriors defenceman Denton Mateychuk.

From the OHL, the list of ‘A’ talent includes Guelph Storm centre Matthew Poitras as well as Kingston Frontenacs centre Shane Wright.

Rounding out the list, the two ‘A’ rated players from the QMJHL include Quebec Remparts centre Nathan Gaucher and Gatineau Olympiques defenceman Tristan Luneau.

The remainder of the list counts 29 players who received a ‘B’ rating, indicating likely second- and third-round selections. The ‘B’ rated group counts 18 forwards, 10 defencemen, and one goaltender. Additionally, 107 players received a ‘C’ rating, indicating likely fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-round candidates. The ‘C’ rated group counts 63 forwards, 31 defencemen, and 13 goaltenders. Collectively, the rankings include 86 forwards, 43 defencemen, and 14 goaltenders.

In all, 52 CHL clubs are represented by at least one player, with the London Knights headlining the list with eight players followed by the Guelph Storm and Sudbury Wolves each with six, and the Niagara IceDogs and North Bay Battalion each with five. In the WHL, the Prince George Cougars, Seattle Thunderbirds, and Swift Current Broncos are the most represented clubs, each with four players, while in the QMJHL, the Gatineau Olympiques, Halifax Mooseheads, and Moncton Wildcats headline the league each with four representatives.

The 2021 NHL Draft saw 87 CHL players selected, marking the league’s best showing since 2017. The 2022 NHL Draft will be held July 7-8 in Montreal.

‘A’ Ranked Players

‘B’ Ranked Players

‘C’ Ranked Players