Brad Lambert’s name used to be almost synonymous with Shane Wright’s in conversations regarding the 2022 NHL Entry Draft’s potential first overall pick. Born to a Canadian father and Finnish mother, Lambert chose to pursue hockey through the European system rather than Canadian major junior and had been excelling against older competition in Finland’s junior hockey system and impressing scouts with his phenomenal skating and puck distribution skills since he was 15 years old (or even younger). Joakim Kemell’s name is much less talked about, or at least it was, before his explosive start in the men’s SM-Liiga this season. Now there are some sources (this one among them) who have Kemell ranked higher than Lambert on their draft lists. The two phenoms are currently teammates with the JYP organization, but while Kemell has been absolutely scorching hot through the first month of the campaign, Brad Lambert…well, not so much. Lambert had essentially been the consensus number two player in the class of 2022 dating back at least two or three years, yet there were not many who knew of Joakim Kemell before his dominant start in the Liiga this season. So which one of these two prospects is actually better? Which one has the higher NHL upside? Is the hype around Kemell justified? In this article I am going to break down each player’s career as teenagers so far, as well as their individual skillsets and current projections, to see if we can come up with some sort of answer to those questions.
Brad Lambert ,C/RW, JYP Jyvaskyla (SM-Liiga)
Born: December 19, 2003
Size: 6’0”, 179 lbs.
2021-22 Statistics: 13gp-1g1a-2pts
Lambert’s journey more or less began with his hometown Lahti Pelicans U16 team in Finland’s SM-Sarja junior hockey league in 2017-18. It was there that his special talent became obvious, or at least noticeable enough that by 2018-19, as a 15-year old, he was playing with the U20 club and posting 11 points (2g9a) in 17 games. The next year, after moving from the Lahti Pelicans to HIFK, he raised those totals to 38 points (18g20a) in 42 games and even appeared in 4 games with the men’s SM-Liiga squad and notched 2 assists. In addition, Lambert scored a hat trick in a Hlinka Gretzky Cup game for Team Finland to help them defeat Switzerland and earn a bye to the medal round of the tournament. He also put up 6 points (1g5a) in 5 games at the Under-17 World Hockey Challenge that same season, though the Finns would medal at neither event. His strong play continued into the 2020-21 campaign too (for the most part) even after a third move, this time to JYP in Jyvaskyla. As a full-time member of the team’s SM-Liiga roster, Lambert led all under-18 point producers in the entire league with 15 points (7g8a) in 46 games. Arguably, though, his most impressive feat was an excellent showing at the Under-20 World Junior Hockey Championships as Team Finland’s youngest player. He produced a solid 4 points (1g3a) in 7 games while creating consistently dangerous scoring opportunities with his speed, soft hands, and superb playmaking vision. His outstanding efforts quickly earned him a regular slot in the team’s top six forward group and on the top powerplay unit alongside 2020 first rounder Anton Lundell. Everything appeared to be on track regarding Lambert’s projected status as a future NHL superstar, not to mention the likelihood that he would be a top three draft pick in 2022.
But then, the Under-18 World Hockey Championships arrived in the spring of 2021. A number of the most highly regarded 2022-eligible prospects would be attending, and Lambert was expected to be a dominant force after his performance at the U20 World Juniors earlier that same year. The Finnish team had a disappointing tournament, however, and Lambert was held without a goal and posted just 5 assists in 5 games. Meanwhile, some of his peers had put on very strong showings that immediately piqued the interest of the hockey world. Perhaps fatigue had played a part in his mediocre play, as he had been one of the few his age fortunate enough to have a somewhat typical regular season experience in 2020-21. Lambert has not been very good through the first 13 games of his sophomore year in the Liiga though, collecting just 1 goal and 2 points so far. As a result, his draft stock has started to slip significantly. Especially when you contrast him with the player below.
Joakim Kemell ,RW, JYP Jyvaskyla (SM-Liiga)
Born: April 27, 2004
Size: 5’11”, 176 lbs.
2021-22 Statistics: 16gp-12g6a-18pts
Joakim Kemell’s big breakout this year wasn’t a total surprise to everyone. Anyone who watched him play last year (in any format) saw the young star gradually picking up steam and building momentum throughout the various leagues and international events he was shuffled between during the 2021-22 season. Like Lambert, Kemell also appeared in the U16 SM-Sarja in 2017-18, but with his hometown JYP club in Jyvaskyla, though his progression took a little longer than Lambert’s. The 5’11”, 176-lb. right winger wouldn’t suit up in the U20 division until 2020-21, and only after he had put up 3 goals and 6 points in his first 2 games at the U18 level. Kemell would prove to be an enormous asset to his team as a 16-year old, leading them in both goals (22) and points (36) in 38 games. He was even promoted to the men’s SM-Liiga and officially made teammates with Brad Lambert for his final regular season game. Oh yeah, and he scored a goal too.
It was at the Under-18 World Hockey Championships last spring that he first began to open some eyes on the international stage. The Finnish team had a poor tournament and were soundly spanked 8-0 by the rival Swedes in the bronze medal match, but Kemell scored 3 goals in 7 games and impressed with his speed, skill, and NHL-ready shot. As the only 2004-born prospect on the roster, scouts and fans in attendance quickly learned his name soon enough. Then, things really took off for him at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, as he tied for third overall (and led the Finns) with 5 goals (6 points) in 5 games. Widely considered the club’s best player from start to finish, Kemell somehow looked faster, stronger, and more determined to put the puck in the net than ever before. That level of excellence has clearly carried over to his debut Liiga campaign this year. As a 17-year old rookie in the top professional hockey program in the country, he leads the entire league in goals (12) and points (18) in just 16 games. For the sake of reference, former second overall NHL draft pick Patrik Laine (2016) had 17 goals and 33 points in 46 games in the Liiga during his draft year.
WHAT MAKES THEM GREAT?
Brad Lambert
In short: his skating. If Lambert isn’t the single best skater in his draft class, then he’s top two or three at the very worst. He’s got top-end acceleration and blinding speed to go along with his dynamic edgework and ability to stop, start, or pivot on a dime. In today’s NHL especially, it pays to be able to outskate your opponents, and Lambert certainly can. When he’s at his best, he is flying through the neutral zone at full speed with the puck on his stick looking for an open teammate to pass to or scanning the ice for a quick lane to take it to the net himself. While he packs a decently heavy wristshot in his repertoire, he doesn’t appear to have overly tremendous upside as a goal scorer in the NHL. It is Lambert’s playmaking talents that have always stood out, as his speed typically draws defenders to him and opens up the ice for his linemates to get into a good scoring position. While he does have the ability to score goals as well, he’s not a pure shooter.
Joakim Kemell
This kid is a pure shooter. He is a top-tier sniper with incredible speed and all-around skating ability who packs one hell of a wristshot along with a lethal one-timer and the killer instincts of a natural born goal scorer. Kemell’s advanced weaponry makes him a threat every time he enters the offensive zone, and especially so on the powerplay. Oftentimes you will see him set up in the zone awaiting a pass to unload his powerful slapshot, but he likes to play the rover at times too. With his speed and stickhandling, he creates time and space for himself (not that he needs much) to tap into his individual skillset. He can pass the puck at a very high level when the opportunity arises, but nine times out of ten he will shoot the puck himself.
WHICH PLAYER HAS THE MOST UPSIDE?
Brad Lambert
He has spent time at both center and right wing, with the middle position being his most common this season. However, I think Lambert projects much better as a winger when he reaches the NHL than he does a center. While opinions on this subject are quite varied, Lambert has been more successful in his stints as a right wing than as a pivot. For one thing, it allows him to carry the puck at full speed without having to focus on his defensive positioning too much. He’s never been a regular penalty killer (though he does play a solid defensive game when he has to) and the added minutes and responsibilities of a number one center can be a bit of a daunting task for a young player. Despite his sluggish start in 2021-22, Lambert still projects as a top-line winger and mainstay on the man-advantage who will put up plenty of points before his career is finished.
Joakim Kemell
There’s no question in my mind that Kemell is a future star in the NHL. He may not have a lot of size (5’11”, 176 lbs.), but with his impressive footspeed and elite goal scoring it won’t matter. Don’t be surprised if he steps right into the NHL as an 18-year old next year and wins himself a Maurice Richard Trophy in the near future. He’s that good. The current era of the sport is being dominated by players with blinding speed and incredible skill, and those are the hallmarks of Kemell’s game. He has enormous upside and plays a style custom-made for the new NHL. I fully expect Joakim Kemell to be one of the first names called on draft day next summer.
The Draft Report 