Top five late-round steals from the 2022 NHL Draft so far

Mar 24, 2025, 11:00 EDT

Top five late-round steals from the 2022 NHL Draft so far

Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

We’ve looked at late-round steals from 2023 and 2024 already – so now it’s time to turn the clock back to 2022.

It was the first in-person draft since 2019, and everyone was excited. It was also special because the hosts – the Montreal Canadiens – happened to hold the first overall pick. They shocked the hockey world by taking Juraj Slafkovsky over Shane Wright, who ultimately went fourth overall to the Seattle Kraken. It was still a weird draft because many players had to spend that season playing catch-up due to the lost 2020-21 COVID-19 season, so the jury is still out as to whether it was a strong crop or not.

But unlike the other two draft look-backs, this one is unique. It actually has a player with NHL experience in Dennis Hildeby, who has played six games with the Toronto Maple Leafs. We’re at the point where most of the players below aren’t too far away from NHL duty, realistically.

So, here’s the deal: we’re only checking out players taken after the 100th pick. Technically, the fourth round isn’t a late round, and pick No. 100 is still before the halfway point. But given the odds that a player taken after the century mark will make the NHL is low, it’s still impressive when any of them come close.

Here’s a look at five late-round steals so far:

Dans Ločmelis, C (Boston Bruins)

Drafted: Fourth round, 119th overall

Ločmelis had a quiet freshman season at UMass, putting up 14 points in 30 games. More importantly, though, he helped establish himself as a legit 200-foot threat at the college level – and anything else would be icing on the cake. So when Ločmelis registered his 30th point of the 2024-25 season, you have to imagine the Bruins’ scouting staff had a smile on their face. Ločmelis is a hard-working forward who uses his speed and work ethic to win battles. He’s not overly creative, but he is a decent puck distributor who is getting better with more confidence. The Latvian forward won’t be a point producer in the NHL, but I could see him becoming a useful, bottom-six forward who doesn’t lose a ton of puck battles and can find players in open space. He’s the type of player I imagine won’t have a hard time transitioning to the AHL.

Vsevolod Komarov, RHD (Buffalo Sabres)

Drafted: Fifth round, 142nd overall

There’s a lot to like about Komarov. Since going 134th in 2022, Komarov won two QMJHL titles with Quebec and Drummondville and even led the league in scoring with 69 points last year. Komarov took home the top defenseman honors and was named playoff MVP, which was a perfect way to cap off his junior career. He has put up modest numbers in his first pro season in Rochester, but he has seen his ice time jump up to over 18 minutes a night – which is easier said than done for a 21-year-old rookie on one of the top teams in the AHL. Komarov moves well, has a nice 6-foot-2 frame and quickly processes plays. You combine that together, and Komarov is definitely someone worth keeping an eye on in the long run.

Sergei Ivanov, G (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Drafted: Fifth round, 138th overall

Ivanov has had an impressive run in the KHL. His record might be ugly, but he’s been an absolute bright spot on a terrible HK Sochi team. Still, he has managed to boast a solid .911 save percentage despite routinely facing 30-plus shots a night. Add in some great runs at pretty much every level he has played in, and it’s clear Ivanov is one of the more promising young goalies in the game. The issue, though, is that he’s just 6-foot. He combats that by being quick, smart, and flexible while not sacrificing his positioning. He’s very controlled for his size, which isn’t always the case for a smaller goalie. There’s no rush for Ivanov to become an NHLer, but the 20-year-old has looked up to the challenge throughout his short pro career. I think he’ll make it as a backup.

Jack Devine, RW (Florida Panthers)

Drafted: Seventh round, 221st overall

The story has been told before: a once super promising prospect was hampered by a difficult draft season, only to fall from a first-round projection all the way to the seventh. But Devine has taken the opportunity in stride, and he’s become one of the most productive college players over the past half-decade. The 21-year-old set a career-high 56 points last year and entered the NCAA playoffs this season with 54. He has a good shot, but he’s more dangerous as a playmaker, as shown by his 41 assists in his first 39 games. Devine is a speedy, energetic forward who just makes things happen. Now, he’s set to turn pro this offseason after winning two national NCAA titles. It’s time to see if he’s the real deal.

Dennis Hildeby, G (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Drafted: Fourth round, 122nd overall

The 6-foot-7 goaltender was drafted as a triple overager, but Toronto showed full belief in him despite playing just 19 games in his draft year. He was impressive in the top Swedish pro league and then proceeded to play some excellent hockey with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies last year. His numbers have slipped a bit in 2024-25 – and he’s had some absolutely ugly starts in the NHL. But he’s been playing really well recently and has outperformed fellow rookie Artur Akhtyamov. Hildeby has incredible size and has shown how good he can be when he’s dialed in at the AHL level. It’s unlikely he’ll become a starter in the NHL, but if he can add some quickness while limiting the scrambling on rebounds, Hildeby could be a serviceable No. 2 in the NHL in the coming years.

Other Notables: Noah Laba, C (New York Rangers), Nikita Grebenkin, RW (Philadelphia Flyers via Toronto Maple Leafs), Jorian Donovan, D (Ottawa Senators), Arseni Koromyslov, D (St. Louis Blues), Maksymilian Szuber, D (Utah Hockey Club)