Capitals Select Defenseman David Gucciardi With The 213th Overall Pick In 2022 NHL Entry Draft

Photo: Spartan News Wire

The Washington Capitals selected defenseman David Gucciardi with their seventh round pick (#213 overall) of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Friday afternoon in Montreal. Gucciardi played for Michigan State University (MSU) last season.

Gucciardi, 19, is a 6’-1” left-hander from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was passed over in the past NHL draft but, showed promise in his game during the 2021-22 season.

This goal by David Gucciardi – his second of the night – is the type of play that #SCTop10 is made of. pic.twitter.com/ERI4IN71tP

— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) December 31, 2021

Gucciardi had 5 goals and 6 assists in 36 games during his freshman year at Michigan, scoring twice on the power play and blocking 44 shots. He was part of a promising group of three freshmen and led all Spartan freshmen in goals. He scored three of MSU’s four goals in the Great Lakes Invitational.

He is about to start his sophomore year at Michigan State under new head coach Adam Nightengale.

Gucciardi is the fourth member of the current Spartan blue line to become an NHL draftee, joining fifth-years Christian and Cole Krygier as well as incoming freshman Viktor Hurtig. Forward Josh Nodler, who transferred to UMass in the spring, was also drafted into the NHL, a fifth-round pick by the Calgary Flames in 2019 just before his freshman year.

Prior to playing with Michigan State, he played in the USHL for two seasons, with our different teams: Muskegon Lumberjacks, Sioux City Musketeers, Youngstown Phantoms, and Waterloo Blackhawks.

FROM ELITE PROSPECTS

Every time Gucciardi is on the ice, he demands the puck, gets it, passes, and then joins the rush to get it back. He recognizes space up the ice before many of his forwards, and finishes his off-puck routes to create space behind him. Most of his activation leads to shots from his own stick, but he shows enough passing skill to believe a change in mentality will lead to far better offensive results.

Hey @Capitals fans – want a peek at your newest draftee? Meet Spartan David Gucciardi.#GoGreen #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/HXWIAkzAcd

— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) July 8, 2022

By Diane Doyle

2 Responses to Capitals Select Defenseman David Gucciardi With The 213th Overall Pick In 2022 NHL Entry Draft

steven says:

July 9, 2022 at 12:42 pm

Great pick in the 7th round and he keeps getting better every year.

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- Jon Sorensen says:
  
  July 9, 2022 at 9:49 pm
  
  I have a personal soft spot for 7th rounders. I try to remain as unbiased as possible, but gotta admit I’ll be pulling for the kid.
  
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