Standout performances from the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup

RED DEER, Alberta -- Seven days and 18 games later, the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup has come to a close, with the host Canadians cruising to a 4-1 victory over Sweden. And only a few short hours earlier, Finland took home bronze with their 3-1 win over Czechia.

The scouting season for the 2023 NHL Draft has now begun in earnest, and it's going to be a fun one if this tournament is any indication. Scouts and analysts who had to suffer through a pair of down years are now getting rewarded with a class so deep that there are about five prospects who could credibly contend for the first overall spot in any other season. And another five who would be no-brainer top three picks. It's a good time to cover the draft.

We got a nice little preview into that last week at the Hlinka Gretzky, with J.D. Burke and Mitch Brown set up shop in the Peavey Mart Centrium writing up 3 Stars articles during each day of the round-robin portion of the tournament, filing scouting reports for this year's draft guide, and now sharing their thoughts on the standout performances of the tournament. Let's go.