Carolina Hurricanes make seven picks on Day Two of 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal
The Carolina Hurricanes did not have a first-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal but had a busy Friday, with seven total selections.
The Canes selected four Russians in those seven picks, making forward Gleb Trikozov their first choice of the draft at No. 60, in the second round.
Carolina later traded away a pick, giving the Chicago Blackhawks the No. 188 selection in the sixth round for a sixth-round pick in the 2023 draft.
Hurricanes draft choices
Second round
F Gleb Trikozov
So much for NHL teams possibly shying away from drafting Russians this year. Trikozov, 17, is a 6-1, 185-pound forward from Omsk who played last season for Omsk Yastreby (MHL) and Omsk Krylia (VHL) and was ranked 15th among European skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
Scouts call him a decent skater with good vision on the ice and an above-average shot. He played on the Russia U18 team in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup as Russia took the gold.
Canes assistant GM Darren Yorke: “He’s an incredibly high-end offensive player. Really smart in transition with the puck.”
Third round
F Alexander Perevalov
Another pick, another Russian forward. The Canes took Perevalov at No. 71, selecting a 6-foot, 191-pound winger who was ranked 14th among Euro skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
Perevalov, 18, spent most of last season in the MHL junior league with Loko Yaroslavl (50 points in 42 games) but did play five games for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the KHL. He also was on Russia’s U18 team in the Hlinka Gretzky event, with five points in five games.
Yorke: “High-end offensive player. Good skater. Another who had over a point-a-game at the MHL level.”
Fourth round
D Simon Forsmark
The Canes took the Swedish defenseman with the No. 101 pick acquired earlier Friday in the Tony DeAngelo trade with Philadelphia. Forsmark, listed at 6-2 and 191 pounds, is a left-handed shooter who was ranked 34th among EU skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
Forsmark, said to be a good puck-handler who uses his size well, got in 40 games for Orebro HK in the SHL last season at age 18 and was in four playoff games.
Yorke: “Big. left-handed D who is able to generate offense as well as be able to play strong defense.. He’s another player who we felt like could fit into how we want to play.”
F Cruz Lucius
Committed to play college hockey for Wisconsin after decommitting from Minnesota, where older brother Chaz played last season. Chaz Lucius was a first-round pick by Winnipeg last year.
Cruz Lucius, a native of Grant, Minnesota, has been with USA Hockey’s National Team Development program the past two years. Despite a broken wrist, had 25 points in 33 games last season and competed in the U18 World Championship. He was ranked 41st among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
Yorke. “Missed a little time with a broken wrist and it took him a little time to get up and running. One of our scouts has known him since he was 15 years old. High-end offensive player, great shot, great around the net.”
Fifth round
D Vladimir Grudinin
The Russian D-man is a left-handed shot and isn’t a big guy at 5-10 and 159 pounds but has good quickness, allowing him to find open shooting and passing lanes. Got in six games with CSKA Moskva in the KHL last season while playing a combined 30 games in the VHL and MHL.
Named to Russia’s World Junior Championship team, he appeared in two games before the tournament was postponed.
Yorke: “Someone who played in Russia, played against men, played on the national team. Someone where you may look at his size and say ‘can you defend against men?’ (it’s) the way he skates, the way he holds tight gaps.”
Sixth round
G Jakub Vondras
Vondras, 18, has good size at 6-3 and 180 pounds and was ranked 10th among EU goalies by NHL Central Scouting.
Had a 22-5-0 record last season, splitting time with IHC Kralve Pisek U20 and HC Pizen U20. Was 10-5 in the playoffs with HC Pizen with a 1.91 goals-against average.
Yorke: “Incredibly smart goalie. Quick to recognize side to side plays and has the power to get across.”
Seventh round
D Alexander Pelevin
The Canes closed out their draft picks by using No. 205 on Russian defenseman Alexander Pelevin, who was rated 61st among EU skaters by NHL Central Scouting. The report on him was that he’s a strong skater and a good defensive defenseman, but that his aggressiveness can lead to mistakes and penalties.
Yorke: “ A little similar to Grudinin in being able to hold tight gaps, be able to get up in the play and join the rush.”
This story was originally published July 8, 2022 at 11:09 AM with the headline "Carolina Hurricanes make seven picks on Day Two of 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal."
