NHL Draft 2022: Kasper and Rohrer looking forward to it

The NHL Scouting Combine was suspended for two years due to Covid. From 6–10 June, the 32 NHL teams once again invited the players ranked among the top 100 prospects for the draft to Buffalo for interviews and performance tests this year.

It has long been no secret that Marco Kasper is highly rated for this year's NHL Draft and is even considered a first-round pick. At the NHL Scouting Combine, no fewer than 30 of the 32 teams invited the 18-year-old for an interview, taking an interest in Marco Kasper as a person, how he grew up, his background and, of course, how he sees ice hockey.

Traditionally, unusual questions are also part of the process. The Montreal Canadians asked which animal he would be. Kasper's answer: “I initially asked for a little time to think, then decided on a panther.”

The forward was delighted with the week, which concluded with a fitness test involving twelve stations measuring strength, athleticism and endurance.

“It was an incredible experience to be able to take part in the NHL Scouting Combine,” reports Kasper, who is enjoying and soaking up the past weeks and months: “It is generally a cool time at the moment. The whole year with Rögle, winning the Champions Hockey League, the World Championship with the national team and now the opportunity to present myself to the NHL teams.”

He says he feels no pressure: “What is written and said does not weigh on me. It is simply exciting and a really cool chapter in my life.”

A similar view is shared by Vinzenz Rohrer, with whom Kasper shared a room on site: “It was an incredible experience to exchange views with the clubs’ general managers and the top 100 players.”

Rohrer faced questions from 20 teams, including the Montreal Canadians, to whom he gave the following answer when asked about the animal: “On the ice, a cheetah, because of its speed and intelligence; off the ice, an eagle, because eagles can see things from different perspectives and because it is my favourite animal.”

Anticipation for the draft is growing almost daily, and the 17-year-old is also approaching the big day in a relaxed manner: “I do not feel any pressure. I am playing my best ice hockey; that is all I can do.”

NHL Draft 2022

The order for the first round of the Upper Deck NHL Draft 2022 was determined following the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Final. The first 16 were determined in the NHL Draft Lottery on 10 May. The Montreal Canadiens won the lottery and hold the No. 1 pick, followed by the New Jersey Devils.

The 2022 Draft takes place at the Bell Centre in Montreal (CAN). The first round will be held on 7 July (19.00 ET = 8 July, 01:00 in Austria), with rounds 2-7 following on 8 July (11.00 ET = 8 July, 17:00 in Austria).

The 12 teams that lost in the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs hold positions 17-28. Teams that did not win their division were placed in reverse order of their regular-season points, followed by the three division winners that lost, also in reverse order of their regular-season points.

2022 FIRST ROUND DRAFT ORDER

1. Montreal Canadiens
2. New Jersey Devils
3. Arizona Coyotes
4. Seattle Kraken
5. Philadelphia Flyers
6. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Chicago Blackhawks)
7. Ottawa Senators
8. Detroit Red Wings
9. Buffalo Sabres
10. Anaheim Ducks
11. San Jose Sharks
12. Columbus Blue Jackets
13. New York Islanders
14. Winnipeg Jets
15. Vancouver Canucks
16. Buffalo Sabres (from Vegas Golden Knights)
17. Nashville Predators
18. Dallas Stars
19. Los Angeles Kings
20. Washington Capitals
21. Pittsburgh Penguins
22. Anaheim Ducks (from Boston Bruins)
23. St. Louis Blues
24. Minnesota Wild
25. Toronto Maple Leafs
26. Montreal Canadiens (from Calgary Flames)
27. Arizona Coyotes (from Carolina Hurricanes via Montreal Canadiens)
28. Buffalo Sabres (from Florida Panthers)
29. Edmonton Oilers
30. Winnipeg Jets (from New York Rangers)
31. Tampa Bay Lightning
32. Arizona Coyotes (from Colorado Avalanche)

Source: www.nhl.com