The way he wheels across the top of the circles and then play-makes from the high slot is special. Youll commonly see him activate to lead plays into the offensive zone and create something. The top 50 drafted NHL prospects ranking, 2023 edition:1. Lenni Hameenaho has been an early riser this year, establishing himself as a prospect to watch while playing in the Finnish Liiga where he has scored at roughly a half point per game pace as a draft year player. He can pick apart opposing defenses with pin-point passes and sly fakes, and his effort level is admirable. After being selected 10th overall in the 2022 CHL Import Draft by the Vancouver Giants, Samuel Honzek has done nothing but impress in his first season in North America. Bedards statistical profile speaks for itself: 28 points in 15 games as a 15-year-old in the WHL, two points per game at U18 worlds as a double underager, 51 goals and 100 points on a dreadful team at 16, six goals in four games at U18 Worlds as an underager this time (in what wasnt even his best hockey), 13 goals and 31 points in 14 world juniors games (after forcing his way onto the first of those three teams by torching the selection camp), and now, as a 17-year-old who wont turn 18 until July (we can almost forget that! And while he creates a lot off the rush, he also has the finer skills to play the flank on the power play, create inside the offensive zone, finish from mid-range (hes got a nifty release) and dice up coverage. Despite his diminutive size, hes also a smart player off of the puck and Ive been struck by how often hes in the right position above the puck to hold play inside the offensive zone (I absolutely get why he was named an alternate captain). by. Stenberg is never the biggest guy on the ice, but hell drop a shoulder and push his way to the dangerous areas of the ice without hesitation. When you package all of that skill with a dogged work ethic that keeps him around pucks all the time, and youve gota tremendous player. Im not sure there has ever been a player Connor Bedards age in the history of hockey who has been able to shoot the puck like he can. I expect him to become a top point producer in college at the University of North Dakota, too. While he benefits from playing with talented linemates, Bensons a driver in every sense. Hes also not fast despite his strength, although he has made progress in his skating and does at times look powerful in straight lines. Last added: Carter Joo. Related: The NHLs Top 100 Prospects Midseason Update. From my first live viewing of him two Octobers ago in St. Catharines when he looked like the Generals most talented forward in just the second game of his OHL career, to his four-goal, seven-point series in Oshawas six-game first-round defeat against the Frontenacs, to his Hlinka performance this summer, to my most recent live viewings of him both in Oshawa and in Langley at the CHL Top Prospects Game, Ritchie has consistently impressed me. The son of longtime NHLer Yanic Perreault and brother of Ducks prospect Jacob, Gabe doesnt have his dads defensive acumen or his brothers build (hes listed at 165 pounds now), but hes an intuitive, highly-intelligent player who sees the play develop offensively at a more advanced level than his two family members did/do and than almost anybody in the draft does. He has now impressed me wherever Ive watched him (NCAA, USHL, Five Nations, U18 Worlds, world juniors, etc.) He was theNo. This ranking follows my way-too-early top 26 and my preseason top 32 (released in August). After scoring 30 goals as a rookie in the OHL last season, Colby Barlow has been on my radar as a pro-sized winger with a legit NHL-caliber shot. He has learned to use some clever movement patterns to make defencemen miss and get to his spots as a shooter. On the puck, hes a multi-faceted playmaker who often looks like the player who was the No. 3 in advance of any draft and the best Russian prospect since Alex Ovechkin. Mix in a multi-dimensional shooting arsenal and I see top-six upside. Oliver Moore is one of the best skaters in this draft class with blazing speed and solid agility. He is so difficult for defenders to pin down because of the way he manipulates defenders movements (like waiting for them to turn their skates in one direction before darting in the other), and him being a right-handed centerman doesnt hurt either. He shows off his edgework and hands best while playing through traffic as he just seems to be nearly impossible to nail down and knock off the puck. Denver Barkey, C (London) The Scouting News. Eduard Sale is a great offensive winger who currently leads all U20 players in scoring as a 17-year-old in the top Czechian professional league. Fantilli is currently averaging about one and a half points per game on a University of Michigan team filled to the brim with talent. Danielson is great at attacking the middle of the ice which makes up for his lack of a finishing touch because it leads to a plethora of chances that good line mates could finish at a solid clip. 3 pick in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft. Hes quick side-to-side on little jumps and drags. Hes a commanding offensive defenceman who is at his best when hes looking to take charge with his feet. Mikhail Gulyayev is an intelligent offensively minded defenseman who has found moderate success in the top Russian pro leagues this year while dominating the Russian junior circuit whenever he plays against his peers. Hes got a great release. Hes also outscoring most of the WHL for that matter, dominating the opposition when he has possession. He does a good job maintaining gaps and matching opposing forwards step-for-step skating backwards. He was the No. Hes not just the energy guy though either. NHL Draft History 2021 Draft Rankings: Final 65-96 (May) Enter Player 2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Final 65-96 (May) Steve Kournianos | 5/25/2021 | [hupso] 1-32 | 33-64 | 65-96 | 97-128 | 129-160 | 0 replies Stanley Cup Playoffs: Round 1 Notebook (East and Central Divisions) 2021 Draft Rankings: Final 97-128 (May) Ive said it before and Ill say it again: Bedard can do things with the puck that nobody else in the sport can replicate. On talent, and upside, and pedigree, his game checks all three boxes. Sign up for EP Premium to create your own ranking. He works hard when hes on the ice, making high effort plays without the puck that give me more confidence that he will continue to play as a center in the NHL. I like the way he supports the puck defensively as a centreman, too, though hell need to get stronger to be reliable defensively at the NHL level. Zach Benson is one of the most skilled and creative players in this draft, and the only things holding him back from being a true top-five contender is his size and his underwhelming speed. He keeps his head up in the neutral and defensive zones and is a confident puck carrier on exits and entries. Tomas Suchanek, G, Tri-City Americans (WHL), 59. Manage Settings He uses his speed and skill to blow by defenders in the neutral zone and pressure in-zone defenders who struggle to anticipate his next move. Hes a good skater and should pick up another step as he gets stronger. On top of it all, hes physical, hes strong in the faceoff circle, hell get after it on forecheck and track pucks, he plays with energy, hell pounce on turnovers and be opportunistic. I love him on the half-wall/point on the PP with his ability to hit east-west seams (he just seems to see every lane and opening). The Bantam Draft Lottery will determine the order of selection for the first six picks. A few of the players who have moved up substantially on this board are Zach Benson, Oliver Moore, and Colby Barlow. Id eagerly bet on him. 2023-2024 playoffs qc player stats for Poland, including top goal scorers, most games played, PPG leaders and more. Honourable mentions (sorted alphabetically): Beau Akey, RHD (Barrie) Theres a lot to work with though. Barlow plays a direct, intentional game built around great hands, a physically mature pro frame, and an NHL shot (he can cleanly beat goalies from mid-range). Ravndahl spent parts of three seasons with the Prince Albert Mintos program, recording 25 points in 50 games played. Once he refines his game some more and adds more muscle as he ages, watch out. Id be quite surprised if he slid all the way to 16 (where I have him ranked), because a right-handed centre with his shot has a ton of value to NHL teams. He can definitely drift a little at five-on-five but his eyes light up and his head swivels when the puck lands on his stick, and skill plays against the grain usually follow. He has shown a knack for making big plays at big moments. When you spend some time watching him and asking around about him, you quickly realize why. All 22 WHL Clubs participated in the four-phase lottery . I think theres a small chance he becomes a star or close with the right development, too. Not Logan Cooley. But even when things arent going his way and the points arent falling, Ive always liked his involvement level, so its hard to get too down on him. Last season, I didnt start viewing the 2022 WHL Draft class closely until after Christmas time and Ive thought about that quite a bit when getting used to viewing this 2023 class of players in comparison. The bantam draft allows for the orderly transfer of players to WHL Protected Player Lists (PPL) from the bantam ranks (13-14 year-olds). 2022 NHL Entry Draft Rankings First Round 1. Just a couple of weeks away from having been eligible for the 2022 draft, Danielson, who was an MVP of Albertas U15 AAA circuit and the No. The bantam draft allows for the orderly transfer of players to WHL Protected Player Lists (PPL) from the bantam ranks (13-14 year-olds). 2023 NHL Draft top 64 prospects: Scott Wheeler's March ranking. Reinbachers a solid forward and backwards skater (though he can look a little stilted at times) who gaps well and defends the rush effectively with a noticeably long stick. But at this point in time theres also only one player in the history of the U.S. NTDP who has produced at a higher points per game clip in their draft year than Perreault has this season: Jack Hughes. Good luck taking the puck away from him because he can easily move around you with his excellent skating or truck through you with his solid 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame. Hes got impressive shooting mechanics given how long his stick is, and regularly pulls pucks into his feet to change his angle face-up against goalies. His gifts in control of the puck are undeniable. Smith is an incredibly shifty playmaker who can create high danger plays at will by threading passes through traffic, stickhandling around pressure, or taking a shot of his own. Its not just his dominant, record-breaking performance at the World Juniors, dragging an underperforming Canada team to the gold medal, and its not just his 12 goals and 16 points in five games since returning to the WHL. Hes a smooth skater. But youll also see him make the heady escape play out of his own zone under pressure at five-on-five, or slide into a passing line to intercept a pass, or disrupt an opposing carrier with a tight gap and active stick. And he always seems to be around it. Im not sure he has the star power of the names in front of him here, but hes got some unique attributes in this class and hes going to make a heck of an NHL player. Ritchie is the complete package. Each of those guys played quite well at the tournament for draft eligible players, but nobody at the tournament of any age could hand the offensive pressure of Bedard. Problem-solving. This year, he has been pretty clearly one of the most talented players in J20 whenever he has been there, has shown some really positive signs in spurts in HockeyAllsvenskan (he has actually been equally as productive on a rate basis as Dvrosky), and I liked him at the world juniors before a quiet quarterfinal against Team Canada. His performance at the 2023 World Juniors helped his draft stock a bit, though Austria was dominated by every team they played against. Hes a marvel, with legit 50-goal upside at the next level. Updated hourly, with analysis, commentary and features from hundreds writers worldwide, our articles are read over 5 million times every month. His skating is average in my eyes and so is his defending, but his offensive skill and smarts package could get him a look even higher on draft day as theres not a single NHL team who wouldnt love an offensive defender as dynamic as Dragicevic. And while his game is bullish, hes also got surprising soft skill. I dont think hes going to become the kind of star that youre hoping to get when you draft him in the 5-7 range that some expected him to land in this year, but hes got 2C, PP1 upside if he can fill out his game and continue to add dimension. When you think youve got him trapped, you usually dont. 2023 NFL Mock Draft . I see clear, projectable top-six tools as a play-creating winger and Im not the least bit worried about him doing it against NHL defences because of how hard he is to pin down. Hes got really quick side-to-side hands, a hardshot that rattles off of his stick, and quick crossover patterns that allow him to use those hands to get to places where he can look to shoot. The Clubs that miss the playoffs are placed into a lottery for the 1st round only. His combination of speed and effort will make him a very flexible player who can fill in whatever role is needed of him, which has earned him the second-line center spot for a stacked University of Michigan team. Jesse Nurmi, LW, KooKoo U20 (U20 SM-sarja), 58. Without further ado, let's get to the 2023 draft board. Scouts are fascinated by his power forward package and size down the middle (following a move to centre from the wing as a 16-year-old). ), a quick move into a pass, a sudden stop-up, or an attacking cut. Im less and less convinced of that. Theres just this elusiveness to his game where you never know where hes going with the puck. Get access to our unique free agency lists and many more premium features. Carlssons a big kid who has begun to come into his body (hes 6-foot-3 and 198 pounds), buthes also got slick handling and finesse for a forward his size, regularly finding his way through traffic or around it by out-waiting defenders one-on-one in shielded puck protection off of his hip. January 2023 WHL Draft Ranking update | Top-80 Joel Henderson. Hes not the most cerebral player and he can be a little too net-focussed at times, but hes the kind of player who will score, add physicality to a line, and slide up and down a top nine in an NHL lineup while endearing himself to his coaches. He has a great shot, but more often than not he scores goals because he slipped his defender and managed to find the space and time necessary to score a goal. His playmaking vision is solid but will likely never be his calling card. Carson Rekhopf, C/LW, Kitchener Rangers (OHL), 60. Few centers in junior hockey enter their draft year as well-rounded as Nate Danielson. Hes always moving. David Edstrom, C (Frolunda) Regardless, it is always impressive to see a draft-year player earning serious minutes in the KHL, especially a defenseman, and Simashev might just have the highest defensive potential in the whole draft. The way that Fantilli plays wouldnt really fly in the SHL where you need to be dependable at all times, and Carlssons maturity, reliability, and his clear understanding of what makes him great are the reasons he has succeeded in a top pro league as a teenager. Chloe Primerano was the Giants final selection in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft. He has a great release on his shot, and he has a knack for manipulating shooting lanes or goalie positioning in just a split second to give himself a better scoring chance. 17, is one of the top prospects for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft , even though he was denied exceptional status by the WHL in 2019. He has also begun to fill out his frame, which has helped turn him into a diligent, relied-upon two-way player off the puck. Hes a crafty handler who hangs onto pucks to spin away from pressure, attacks in and out of crowds, makes plays into space for himself, and can comfortably make plays through layers to others. He is on the younger side of the draft class with a July birthday so he has plenty of time to grow into the potential that he has shown thus far and increase his draft stock. Priority Draft 10 months ago 44 players were selected by the 22 WHL member Clubs in Wednesday's U.S. Brindleys a plus-level skater who gets through his extensions quickly (including from a standstill), excels on his edges, rounds corners sharply, and darts around the ice, hunting pucks and pushing through holes. With a hot start in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) as a 17-year-old Leo Carlsson has shot up draft boards and quickly made the top tier of the draft a four-player group. Hes got one of the best shooting actions in motion Ive ever seen. Hes a multi-dimensional forward who has quick acceleration, can handle the puck at speed and change tempos in control, can shape play by opening up his hips to go heel-to-heel, thrives in traffic, is a dual shot-pass threat, plays one step ahead of the game in possession, supports the play effectively, problem-solves as well as anyone in this class (in an age group that is full of intelligent playmakers), works his tail off off the puck to keep his energy up (he plays heavier and scrappier than he looks, too), and sets the pace for his line (whether by picking it up or slowing it down to use his creativity). Hes got really good edges and mobility, though he doesnt have the speed in straight lines to pull away from faster chasers. Hell of a performance from Slovakia especially their Tendy! Riley Heidt C, Prince George Cougars, 5-foot-11. He buzzes around the ice and does such a good job releasing from one battle or chance to hunting or getting open for the next one. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Fantilli is a big, strong, powerful kid who takes pucks from the wall to the interior with force, and ease, and speed. This may be a little low given that, but also underscores the strength of this draft. Theres work to do to get a little quicker from a standstill, and that leaves some believing hes more of a mid-to-late first than an upper-half-of-the-first guy, but hes better suited as a playmaker and finisher than a power forward type anyways. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. The midseason ranking divides into six tiers. Welcome to my March ranking of the top 64 prospects eligible for the 2023 NHL Draft. His head is always up and on a swivel and he does a good job pre-surveying the ice when hes going back to get pucks through frequent shoulder checks. Evasive. Not Cole Caufield. Jayden Perron is an excellent play-driving winger with tons of offensive talent. The beauty of Brindleys game is that while he may prove talented enough to play in a skill role at the NHL level, hes got the approach/tools to play an effective bottom-six game too. He hasnt looked out of place against men and looks very comfortable dictating play from the flanks at even strength and on the power play. There have been times this season, though, where he has looked like hes trying a little too hard to impress and make things happen instead of allowing the game to come to him. I have questions about his talent level, though. The way he dodges checks and evades pressure is impressive, but the way he attacks the middle of the ice is what I like most about him. He also hunts pucks and applies pressure with the best of them, and his motor doesnt stop, bouncing from one won battle to the next. Go Premium for Elite Prospects Support. This ranking follows my way-too-early top 26, my preseason top 32 (released in August), and my preliminary top 64 (released in November). Hes an up-tempo playmaker and dynamic skater (in straight lines, through his three-step acceleration from a standstill, and around corners through his crossovers) who looks to involve himself more than you might expect at his size. Hedid that after notching five points in five games at lastyears Hlinka Gretzky Cup as a young 16-year-old, too. Calum Ritchie has great puck skills and sometimes it looks like he has glued the puck to his stick while carving through defenders or when hes on a breakaway. WHL Clubs send scouts to watch first-year bantams from the start of the minor hockey season. Hes got everything else you look for in a dynamic play creator, too. Last season was certainly a strange one for WHL scouts as they anticipated the task of two drafts in one calendar year. This kid is as prolific from long distance as any shooter Ive ever scouted. ), but he has shown that his timing and puck protection skills are strong enough for him to succeed in college. Reinbacher is a 6-foot-2 defender with a right-handed shot and great mobility who is playing lots of minutes in the National League (NL), Switzerlands top professional mens league. Denver Barkey, C, London Knights (OHL), 63. Check out his skating and awareness! Cam Squires, RW (Cape Bretton) Hes got gallops, cutbacks, crossovers, all of it. Thank you for your interest in our network of websites, newsletters, and other services. This year, after getting off to a bit of a slow start (one goal and five points in his first eight games), he has really come on. Id like to see him pick up a bit more of an acceleration gear from a standstill (his stride can look a little short/stunted/heavy), and fill the scoresheet a little more (though the talent around him has something to do with that too), but theres a lot to like. With the 268th overall selection (Round 13) the Vancouver Giants have selected 2007-born defender Chloe Primerano (North Vancouver, BC) in the 2022 @TheWHL Prospects Draft. pic.twitter.com/ZNwH9wYcC0. There have been Lane Hutson (2022 Draft), Olen Zellweger (2021 Draft), Logan Stankoven (2020 Draft), and Cole Caufield (2019 Draft), to name a few. Yager is a prospect that I fully expect to still be drafted very early on draft day, I just havent been that impressed with his game this year. While his game doesnt have the dynamism of the other kids in this loaded WHL class, most scouts project Danielson as an everyday top-nine NHL center. He just has a unique ability to impose his will on the game. (Maksim Konstantinov / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images), how strong the 2022 draft class was for Slovakia. Check out his skating and awareness! He has produced solid offense so far this year for the USA U-18 team which is made more impressive by the fact that he is usually playing on the second line behind the Smith, Moore, Perreault trio. Hes also dangerous inside the offensive zone from the top of the circles in, with a quick-release wrister (one of the faster releases in the draft) that comes off of his blade hard and with a slight, goalie-fooling adjustment pre-shot, impressive puck skill in congested areas, an ability to attack in bursts and make something happen out of dead plays, and an equal ability to play off of coverage and make himself available for his linemates. Dvorsky has shown solid defensive play so far against men and his vision and puck skills have looked right at home, especially on the power play. Carlssons one of the smartest players in the draft, a very heady player who understands spacing and timing on and off the puck at an advanced level for his age. He can beat you along the wall on the cycle. Carson Bjarnasson, G, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL), 47. Im not talking about him compared to other prospects in this draft. But thats what the Austrian has done in Switzerlands top flight this season, where he plays over 20 minutes in a game more often than he plays under it. He has struggled in spurts with the pace required of centres at higher levels (whether that be last summers world juniors, or the pro game, he could stand to get and play a little quicker) and some scouts worry about his consistency at five-on-five, but he has shown important progress on that front and showed well at this winters world juniors at evens. Hes a first-round talent. He excels in puck battles, whether along the boards or in front of the net, even against grown men in Finland. Will Smith has established himself as one of the very best prospects in this draft with his continued dominance as a member of the United States National Team Development Program where he is scoring just under two points per game. Western Hockey League. A brilliant handler and manipulator of the puck, including at full speed, Smith is a tantalizing and slippery talent who blends deception, baits and fakes (with his eyes, shoulders and head) into his movements to not just make opposing players miss but often send them the wrong way. My best guess at a player who has great skill but might slide on draft day due to his height is Gavin Brindley. . After the draft is completed, all the remaining bantams become eligible to be listed by teams, and many will be added as spots become available on Clubs PPLs, or as a players talents improve or are more noticeable at a later date or at a higher level of hockey. Its not that he plays poorly (he rarely does) but I dont see enough playmaking to warrant a top-20 slotting and hes a little sluggishfrom a standstill through his first few strides (once he gets moving, his stride actually has good power and hes a decent skater for his size on the whole). The biggest arguments against him are his size and skating, since a 5-foot-10 winger often needs to be an above average skater to make an impact in the NHL and Cristall is not quite there.
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