By Jeff Quake, Sports Talk Philly writer 
What had once felt like an eternity to get here, we are now just days away from the 2022 NHL Draft that is being hosted at the Bell Centre.
The Philadelphia Flyers have the fifth overall pick, and the host Montreal Canadiens select first overall. The Flyers have been rumored to use the fifth overall pick, trade back, or trade the pick entirely – lately in a blockbuster deal to the Chicago Blackhawks for Alex DeBrincat.
Below is my final mock draft for Round 1 on Thursday night.
1. Montreal – Juraj Slafkovský LW
2. New Jersey – Shane Wright C
3. Arizona – Logan Cooley C
4. Seattle – Šimon Nemec RHD
5. Philadelphia – David Jiříček D
6. Columbus – Cutter Gauthier LW
7. Ottawa – Jonathan Lekkerimäki RW
8. Detroit – Joakim Kemell RW
9. Buffalo – Danila Yurov LW/RW
10. Anaheim – Frank Nazar C
11. San Jose – Matthew Savoie C
12. Columbus (From CHI) – Denton Mateychuk LHD
13. New York Islanders – Pavel Mintyukov LHD
14. Winnipeg – Brad Lambert C
15. Vancouver – Ivan Miroshnichenko LW
16. Buffalo (From VGK) – Connor Geekie C
17. Nashville – Kevin Korchinski D
18. Dallas - Owen Pickering D
19. Los Angeles – Jiri Kulick C
20. Washington – Filip Bystedt C
21. Pittsburgh – Rutger Mcgroarty RW
22. Anaheim (From BOS) – Tristan Luneau D
23. St. Louis – Marco Kasper C
24. Minnesota – Jiri Kulich C/LW
25. Toronto – Mattias Havelid D
26. Montreal (From CGY) – Seamus Casey D
27. Arizona (From CAR via MTL) – Ty Nelson D
28. Buffalo (From FLA) – Sam Rinzel D
29. Edmonton – Reid Schaefer LW
30. Tampa Bay – Jimmy Snuggerud RW
31. Winnipeg (From NYR) – Jagger Firkus RW
32. Arizona (From COL) – Liam Ohgren LW
17. Nashville – Kevin Korchinski D
18. Dallas - Owen Pickering D
19. Los Angeles – Jiri Kulick C
20. Washington – Filip Bystedt C
21. Pittsburgh – Rutger Mcgroarty RW
22. Anaheim (From BOS) – Tristan Luneau D
23. St. Louis – Marco Kasper C
24. Minnesota – Jiri Kulich C/LW
25. Toronto – Mattias Havelid D
26. Montreal (From CGY) – Seamus Casey D
27. Arizona (From CAR via MTL) – Ty Nelson D
28. Buffalo (From FLA) – Sam Rinzel D
29. Edmonton – Reid Schaefer LW
30. Tampa Bay – Jimmy Snuggerud RW
31. Winnipeg (From NYR) – Jagger Firkus RW
32. Arizona (From COL) – Liam Ohgren LW
