MONTREAL — Diversity was on display on the final day of the 2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft with five players of color selected.
Four Black players, including the relative of a historic hockey figure, and one Indigenous player, were among the players chosen in rounds 2 through 7 on Friday at Bell Centre in Montreal.
Here’s a look at the players chosen:
Noah Warren, D, Anaheim Ducks, second round (No. 42)
Cheers erupted from the decidedly pro-Montreal Canadiens crowd when Warren, a 17-year-old who plays for Gatineau of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, was chosen by Anaheim.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Warren said after being selected Friday. “The Ducks are a great organization and I’m happy to be joining.”
Warren (6-foot-4, 214 pounds) said he’s a defensive defenseman who takes pride in shutting down opposing teams’ top lines.
“I’m hard to play against, I’m big, physical and I think I skate pretty well,” he said.
Anaheim assistant general manager Martin Madden, who oversees the team’s scouting efforts, said he envisions Warren being paired with a good offensive defenseman as a pro. Warren scored 24 points (five goals, 19 assists) in 62 games in 2021-22.
Madden told the Ducks website that Warren’s combination of size and skill was impossible to pass up.
“There are only so many guys who are 6-5 to 6-7 that are that athletic and can play the game at a high level,” he said. That was attractive. We don’t have anybody like that in our system.”
Devin Kaplan, RW, Philadelphia Flyers, third round (No. 69)
The 18-year-old from Bridgewater, New Jersey, grew up a New York Rangers fan while his older brother, Jalen, rooted for the Flyers.
“We kind of always butt heads, but that’s over now,” Kaplan said with a smile as he wore an orange Flyers home jersey. “I’m all Philly.”
Kaplan (6-foot-2, 199) was a power forward who had 38 points (13 goals, 25 assists) in 53 games for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team, and six points (one goal, five assists) in six games to help the United States finish second at the 2022 IIHF Under-18 World Championship. The 18-year-old wing will play for Boston University this fall.
Brent Flahr, the Flyers assistant general manager, did not expect to find Kaplan available with the 69th pick, but was happy to select him.
“He just has the look of a potential NHL role-player with his size, ability to hold on to the puck, cycle the puck, create space for his linemates and go to the net,” Flahr said. “He can really shoot the puck. He’s an intriguing player, for sure.”
Kaplan comes from a hockey family. His oldest brother, Jordan, 25, was a forward for Adirondack, the New Jersey Devils’ ECHL affiliate, last season. Middle brother and Flyers fan Jalen, 22, completed his senior season with NCAA Division III Colby College in Waterville, Maine, in March.
Isaiah George, D, New York Islanders, fourth round (No. 98)
George (6-0, 195), who plays for London of the Ontario Hockey League, said he was thrilled to be selected by the Islanders, but understands that he is still a work in progress.
The 18-year-old from Oakville, Ontario, said he’s working toward becoming a more complete defenseman, especially on the offensive side.
“I think I really wanted to become a two-way defenseman,” he said Friday. “I think my defensive game is definitely my strong point at this stage in my hockey career. I think the offense is continuing to grow and I think it’s gotten better even this season.”
George was London’s second-leading scorer among defensemen last season with 23 points (six goals, 17 assists) in 67 games. He tied for fifth in goals among OHL rookie defensemen.
“I just want to be more of a dominant player when I’m on the ice,” he said. “I think being more active in the O-zone, pretty much creating for myself from the blue line, contributing on the rush.”
NHL Central Scouting’s Joey Tenute said George plays “a well-rounded, intelligent game.”
“He’s an NHL-level skater that’s extremely mobile and agile,” Tenute said. “Gets up to speed quickly. Uses his speed to defend by closing in on guys quickly. Also uses good angles defensively. He’s good at finding options with the puck (and) can rush it up the ice as well.”
Daimon Gardner, C, Vancouver Canucks, fourth round (No. 112)
The 18-year-old power forward from Eagle Lake, Ontario, was one of six Indigenous players who played for Warroad High School in Minnesota this season. Gardner (6-4, 200) had 83 points (45 goals, 38 assists) in 30 high school games after he had four points (three goals, one assist) in 14 games for Omaha and Tri-City of the United States Hockey League.
The Canucks will be able to keep a close eye on Gardner’s progress in the upcoming season; he’s expected to play for Chilliwack in the British Columbia Hockey League. Gardner also committed to play for Clarkson University.
“Gardner is a really intriguing player — the sky is the limit with him,” Greg Rajanen of NHL Central Scouting said. “Has a good skating stride and good technique. A skilled forward that’s a point producer. He’s a (power play) guy and more of a finisher.”
Jackson Dorrington, D, Vancouver Canucks, sixth round (No. 176)
Dorrington (6-foot-2, 192) was limited to 41 games with Des Moines of the USHL this season because of a right hand injury and had 11 points (three goals, eight assists).
“I didn’t know what was going to happen, just a lot of uncertainty, but it worked out anyway,” Dorrington said from his family’s home in North Reading, Massachusetts on Friday. “Vancouver is an awesome organization. I’m excited to get started.”
Dorrington is committed to play at Northeastern University. When his college career is done, he said the Canucks will get “a really reliable two-way defender that plays physical and can eat up some big minutes in a few years.”
Rajanen said Dorrington is “tough in the contact areas – in the corner and around the net.”
“Hits guys consistently,” Rajanen said. “More of a defensive defenseman. Makes a good first pass. Solid skater that manages things well.”
Dorrington’s 20-year-old brother, Max, is a forward at St. Lawrence University. The brothers are distant cousins of the late Art Dorrington, who became the first Black player to sign an NHL contract when he did so with the New York Rangers in 1950. He never played in the NHL.
