The 2022 National Hockey League Draft took place on Thursday in Montreal, Quebec, and two Canadian National Hockey League players were traded according to Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press. The Chicago Blackhawks traded center Kirby Dach of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta to the Montreal Canadiens for the first round pick and the third round draft pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The Blackhawks selected American center Frank Nazar with their first round draft pick, and American left winger Gavin Hayes with their third round draft pick.
The Edmonton Oilers traded Zach Kassian of Windsor, Ontario to the Arizona Coyotes with a first round draft pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, a third round draft pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and a second round draft pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft for a first round draft pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The Coyotes selected defenseman Maveric Lamoureux of Hawkesbury, Ontario 29th overall and the Edmonton Oilers selected left winger Reid Schaefer of Edmonton, Alberta 32nd overall. Lamoureux played last year with the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and Schaefer played with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League.
Dach has played the last three seasons with the Blackhawks. Last year in 70 games, he had nine goals and 17 assists for 26 points. He was a -18 with 43 penalty minutes, six power-play points, one shorthanded point, 116 shots on goal, 179 faceoff wins, 44 blocked shots, 49 hits, 42 takeaways, and 17 giveaways.
The Coyotes will be Kassian’s fourth NHL team. He has previously played with the Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks and Oilers. In 2021-22, Kassian played in 58 games. He had six goals, 13 assists, 19 points, was a +2 with 63 penalty minutes, two power-play goals, one game-winning goal, 58 shots on goal, three faceoff wins, six blocked shots, 154 hits, 13 takeaways and 22 giveaways.
