Ryan Sikes The LA Kings‘ acquisition of Kevin Fiala threw a wrench in these mock drafts that I’ve been putting together. Los Angeles will be without the No. 19 overall selection in the 2022 NHL draft and will make their first pick in Round 2, 51st overall.
If you missed the previous mock draft installments, see the links below.
LA Kings Three-Round 2022 NHL Mock Draft 1.0
LA Kings Three-Round 2022 NHL Mock Draft 2.0
LA Kings Three-Round 2022 NHL Mock Draft 3.0
Like the last iteration, I used the FC Hockey Mock Draft Simulator Tool.
Without further ado, here’s the final version in advance of the draft that begins on Thursday and concludes on Friday.
Round 2, 51st overall: Reid Schaefer, LW
Reid Schaefer is a 2022 NHL draft-eligible prospect who hails from Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada. He’s come a long way since being taken in the eighth round, 164th overall, of the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft.
Schaefer spent the 2019-20 season primarily with the Spruce Grove Saints of the AJHL. In 33 games, he scored six goals with 10 assists, finishing 16th on the Saints roster in points (16). That year, he also got seven WHL games under his belt, logging just one assist for the Seattle Thunderbirds. In the COVID-19 shortened 2020-21 season, he had just two assists in 18 WHL games.
However, he exploded this past season, scoring 32 goals with 26 assists, finishing with the fifth-most points (58) on the Thunderbirds’ roster. In the postseason, Schaefer put the finishing touches on a spectacular season, adding six goals and 21 points in 25 games.
At 6-foot-3, 214 pounds, Schaefer’s size is what immediately stands out as an 18-year-old. He has all the makings of a true power forward and can play in all scenarios, as observed by his nine power-play goals during the regular season.
Player Profile
D.O.B – September 21, 2003
Nationality – Canada
Draft Eligibility – 2022
Height – 6-foot-3
Weight –214 lbs
Position – Left Winger
Handedness – Left
Production
Rankings
Corey Pronman’s Analysis
Schaefer’s NHL appeal is due to being a 6-foot-3 winger with very good puck skills and a scoring touch. He’s able to use his size and hands to create offense around the net, while also having an excellent wrist shot to score from range. He has value away from the puck, with a strong work rate, good physicality and can PK. I don’t see Schaefer driving a line as a pro due his so-so speed and hockey sense, but the tools are good enough to carve out a bottom-six role with the potential to play higher in a lineup.
Scott Wheeler’s Analysis
Schaefer has always struck me as a straight-line, what-you-see-is-what-you-get, net-driven shooting winger, but the more I watched him this season, the greater my appreciation grew for his ability to make plays. He has been one of the steepest risers in the draft, moving from a “C” rating indicating him as a late-round selection in NHL Central Scouting’s initial players to watch list, to fringe first-round consideration and certainly a second-round selection. He has been outstanding in Seattle’s playoff run, scored 32 goals this year, weighs over 200 pounds, plays like his size and high penalty-minute totals suggest, and scouts like his pro traits and approach. He was nearly eligible for last year’s draft, his data starts to soften you when you consider his age though, and I’d bet he tops out as a role player, which would probably mean I’d steer clear in the range where he’ll now be picked. He’s a decent prospect but there’s a little bit of shiny new toy syndrome happening, I think.
Dobber Prospects’ Analysis
Schaefer can best be described as a modern-day power forward. He is willing to go to the dirty areas, score goals in-tight, and isn’t one to back down from a physical challenge. Showing promising development, he has scored at a decent rate this season after hardly producing in his first WHL campaign. Hard to miss, the 6-3, 214 pound winger plays a heavy, powerful game and is very tough to play against. Using powerful, long strides, Schaefer is able to get up to speed with the game when he gets his wheels turning, and is agile enough to stay on the forecheck and make quick stops and turns. Combine this with his energy and effort on every shift, and you can see why he is a thorn in the side of his opponents.
Future Considerations’ Analysis
Schaefer is a big power forward that loves to shoot the puck and get to the net. He is an above-average skater, but he lacks that extra gear for additional separation needed for additional high danger chances. His ability to use his body to create space for himself and his linemates is what makes him most valuable. He isn’t afraid to use his massive frame to make the opposing defensemen pay.
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Round 3, 85th overall: Artem Duda, LHD
Artem Duda is a 2022 NHL draft-eligible prospect who hails from Moscow, Russia. The 18-year-old played his youth hockey for the Dynamo Moskva U16 club, potting nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points in 24 games during the 2019-20 season. He was elevated to the U18 club for two games, adding a goal from the blueline there as well.
The following season, Duda played across four levels of Russian junior hockey. He primarily spent the year with the Krasnaya Armiya Moskva team of the MHL, scoring one goal with eight assists in 40 games. This past season, he played with Krasnaya again, scoring 14 goals with 27 assists in 52 games. In the postseason, he added five goals and 12 assists for 17 points in 18 games. Duda’s 41 points during the regular season were the most among Krasnaya defensemen.
He was elevated to the Zvezda Moskva team of the VHL, Russia’s second-tier hockey league, and went pointless in four games.
In International play, Duda tallied a goal in six games at the U18 World Juniors and had two assists in five games at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup en route to helping Team Russia earn a gold medal.
Duda can score in a lot of different ways. He features a bomb of a shot from the blueline, but he has a deceptive wrist shot that you will see below (#78). He’s not afraid to walk pucks in for better looks, and he attracts a lot of attention, which leaves his teammates open for scoring chances. The Russian defenseman can quarterback the power-play, scoring four goals in that department last year. He’s also an excellent facilitator, which shines on the man advantage.
Player Profile
D.O.B – April 8, 2004
Nationality – Russia
Draft Eligibility – 2022
Height – 6-foot-1
Weight – 181 lbs
Position – Defenseman
Handedness – Left
Production
Rankings
Corey Pronman’s Analysis
Duda is a skilled defenseman. He shows very good cretaivity as a puckhandler on his rushes and play from the offensive blue line. He can make opponents miss and also sets up teammates well. I would say his hands pop more than his playmaking. Duda also has a hard point shot, giving him various weapons on the power play. Duda’s main limitation is his skating. He lacks NHL mobility and doesn’t have much pace in his game. As a 6-foot-1 defender who is good but not dynamic offensively with OK feet, it’s hard to see what his NHL role would be, but he has a lot of talent to give him a chance to play.
Scott Wheeler’s Analysis
Duda’s got a little bit of everything in his game. He’s got the frame. He loves to carry and shoot the puck and does both at a high level, activating off the line to create his own looks or get open into the high slot, or comfortably leading rushes, running a power play, and creating exits and entries with his feet. He’s also got a pro frame, strong posture and core control, and one of the better sticks defensively in the draft. Though he can be a little passive defensively and doesn’t defend particularly hard man-to-man, I think we can confuse that as needing correcting when, at least in his case, it’s actually quite effective at keeping play to the outside and staying out of the box. I’ll be keeping a close eye on him next year.
FC Hockey’s Analysis
Duda is an offensive defenseman who is constantly looking to generate shooting attempts when the puck is on his stick in the offensive zone. He always has his head up when controlling the puck, probing the opposing defense from the blue line for shooting lanes, and isn’t afraid to put the puck on net when the opportunity presents itself.
Dobber Prospects’ Analysis
Duda had an excellent season in the MHL, leading all draft-eligible defenders with 14 goals and 41 points in 52 games for Moscow’s junior side. He stepped it up even further in the playoffs, adding 17 points in 18 postseason matches for his squad.
A great skater with solid offensive instincts, Duda was often used as the team’s point-man on the power play, where he put his mobility, execution speed and accurate shot to use on a regular basis. He was also good at breaking the puck out of his zone, and shows some poise in possession to cut back across the grain and find better passing lanes with forecheckers on his back. His intensity can waver at times, and he struggles with defending while skating backwards, but the offensive promise is there, and Duda could end up manning an NHL man-advantage with enough time and patience. His 6-foot-1 frame should fill out quite well, which will help him with board battles and contested pucks. A top-four role down the line is the ceiling, but there are improvements needed in his game to see that come to fruition. A great long-term project to have in the pipeline.
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(All videos courtesy of InStat)