Drafting Kemell considered a major steal of the first round
The Nashville Predators were a bit of a mystery heading into the 2022 NHL Draft, as many thought they should either trade up in the first round or even trade the pick in order to acquire a superstar forward. But they chose to hang onto it and select the sharp shooting Joakim Kemell out of Finland.
They still really could have benefitted from trading the pick for a star forward, but the actual pick itself is not one to complain about at all. Kemell is extremely adept at shooting the puck and also driving the net, and he is someone many thought could have gone much earlier in the draft.
Kemell has not come short of impressing the team in his first few days in Nashville, as he has already been signed to his rookie contract.
SIGNED
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) July 15, 2022
The #Preds have signed forward Joakim Kemell to a three-year, entry-level contract.https://t.co/pisid07FYy
There is a good chance that the Predators got a steal with this selection.
It is hard to grade this move too highly right now, as Kemell is at least two years out from making an NHL impact, and we do not even know how he will actually pan out. But all reports around him have been very positive, which is all we want at this point.