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. Publishing date 2022-10-13 User Anonymous Views 18875 Favorited 3 Share Embed 2023 WHL Draft Rankings Hes the go-to center for the Cougars in the faceoff circle. Hes sound positionally defensively. Yager has been on the radar in Western Canada for some time now, and hes got some real pedigree to his profile and cache to his game to support it. He can beat you carrying the puck in rotations around the perimeter of the offensive zone. 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. For all the talk about how strong the 2022 draft class was for Slovakia, Dvorsky leads another excellent group into 2023. Danielson plays a well-rounded two-way game, is a proficient penalty killer, wants to make a difference in all areas when hes on the ice and blends good overall skill with his effort. The biggest question following Reinbachers great performance last year in the Swiss League (SL), the second-tier Swiss professional league, was if he had more offense in his game to show. 2022-2023 regular season player stats for CSDHL 13U, including top goal scorers, most games played, PPG leaders and more. Hes also not fast despite his strength, although he has made progress in his skating and does at times look powerful in straight lines. He can beat you by pushing through lanes to the middle third, driving the net, or dropping a shoulder to take space that isnt there. 2002 Rankings. ), but he has shown that his timing and puck protection skills are strong enough for him to succeed in college. Tristan Bertucci, LHD (Flint) And while his game is bullish, hes also got surprising soft skill. Tuomas Uronen, RW (HIFK), (Illustration: John Bradford / The Athletic; photos: Jamie Crawford, Minas Panagiotakis, Dennis Pajot / Getty Images). Caden Price, LD, Kelowna Rockets (WHL), 35. Name. 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. Its not often we see players his size who can move like him. 2022 WHL Prospects Draft Results - First Round #1 - Medicine Hat Tigers Name: Gavin McKenna Position: Forward Hometown: Whitehorse, Yukon Team: Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna U18 Prep Stats: 35 GP - 23G-42A-65 points #2 - Tri-City Americans Name: Jackson Smith Position: Defence Hometown: Calgary, Alta. When you spend some time watching him and asking around about him, you quickly realize why. He regularly makes difficult plays as a passer, demonstrating high-end spatial awareness and often finding second or even third options (constantly pre-scanning and shoulder-checking). WHL News. 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. Reinbacher had a solid tourney on a bad team despite dealing with an illness the entire time. But getting around it consistently enough at higher paces has proven to be a bit of a challenge and his decision-making can look a little slow. Hes still got room to get stronger, too, so its not as though hes a finished product. 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. He hasnt looked out of place against men and has scored points at an excellent rate so far for a draft eligible player. There has been a lot of hockey since my last rankings and tons of prospects are on the move as a result. 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. 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. While this draft is the first opportunity for teams to select bantam players, it is not the last chance for a player to be listed. Scott Wheeler. ), the CHLs leader in goals per game, assists per game, points per game, and shots per game. After the 1st round, the Clubs select in order from fewest to most regular season points. Without further ado, let's get to the 2023 draft board. Carlssons ability to find and make space off the puck is also impressive for such a young player playing against grown men. Mazden Leslie, RHD (Vancouver) Aiden Fink, RW, Brooks Bandits (AJHL), HM: Ian Scherzer, C, Rgle BK J20 (J20 Nationell), HM: Gracyn Sawchyn, C, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL), HM: Isac Born, C, Frlunda J20 (J20 Nationell), HM: David Edstrom, C, Frlunda J20 (J20 Nationell), HM: Noel Nordh, LW/RW, Bryns IF J20 (J20 Nationell), HM: Zeb Forsfjll, C, Skellefte AIK J20 (J20 Nationell), HM: Jakub Dvorak, LD, Bl Tygri Liberec (Czechia). Wins it in OT for !!! Heidt, taken No. On the puck, hes a multi-faceted playmaker who often looks like the player who was the No. Theres the pinpoint accuracy from impossible angles. 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. The bantam draft allows for the orderly transfer of players to WHL Protected Player Lists (PPL) from the bantam ranks (13-14 year-olds). And while we dont often see smaller defenceman taken as high as I have him ranked here, he doesnt play small and I like his game at both ends of the ice because of his mobility and the confidence with which he reads the play. He can push into space. WHL Network Tigers sign Gavin McKenna, first overall selection in 2022 WHL Prospects Draft 9 months ago The SHL demands a lot of players when it comes to physicality and defensive effort, both of which Carlsson has excelled at. 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. 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) 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. (other than Brad Lambert who's half Sask) but we'll see how the kids develop. Follow Scott on Twitter @scottcwheeler, Matvei Michkov. Leschyshyn played junior hockey for the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Regina Pats in the Western Hockey League, serving as . Add in the strength and power that comes with his physically mature frame, an ability to drive and shed contact when he gets bumped, and a defensive conscience, and theres more than just a hands-shot-worker skill set. 2023 WHL Draft Rankings - Elite Prospects 2023 WHL Draft Rankings Add to Favorites This is a custom user-submitted ranking. And he just always seems to play well, no matter the role/usage/stage. After no Manitobans were selected in the opening round of the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft, five players from the province were picked in round two. Alex Ciernik, LW/RW, Sdertlje SK J20 (J20 Nationell), 37. 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. Hes a treat to watch in possession and processes the game at such an advanced and rapid level. Michael Hrabal, G, Omaha Lancers (USHL), 61. 2 in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft with the pick between Bedard and Yager (he and Yager were actually teammates in minor hockey), is a talented and hardworking playmaker who keeps himself involved in the play off the puck and then makes plays between battles in possession of the puck. In fact, its not even the only element of his shooting arsenal that is one of one. One of three draft eligibles on this list playing college hockey this season, Brindley hasnt just settled in at the University of Michigan, he has looked anywhere from comfortable to impactful in every game, including at centre and on the wing. He can get a little ahead of the play, and hes got work to do on his game defensively if he doesnt want to get hemmed in at the next level, but those are things you live with with a talent as singular as his. Eventually, when the points pile up like they have, and they happen making the kinds of plays that he does, you cant ignore them. Hes got one of the best shooting actions in motion Ive ever seen. Hes consistent shift-to-shift and game-to-game and while he might lack the dynamism of some of the players in front of him here, he can make plays in a variety of ways on and off the puck and the ice usually tilts in his teams favor when hes out there. Its hard to be a true top-of-the-lineup forward at his size, though, and I think he projects more as a complementary scorer who gives a lineup a bit of a different look. Timur Mukhanov, LW (Omsk) . And he always seems to be around it. February 2023 OHL Draft Ranking Update Jordan Malette 2023 Canada Winter Games Recap - Eastern Canada Brayden Olafson 2023 Canada Winter Games: Gold Medal Game Report - Team Saskatchewan Joel Henderson 2023 Canada Winter Games: Gold Medal Game Report - Team Ontario Jordan Malette Four 2005-born standout defenders in the CHL Sam McGilligan Nicknamed Big Rig when he was at the program, Stramel is a heavy but not doughy kid whoseathletic, muscular build jumps out at you right away. with the Wolverines). Scott has written for the Toronto Star, the Globe and Mail, The Toronto Sun, the National Post, SB Nation and several other outlets in the past. Hes got excellent touch and weight on his passes (hes a great saucer passer off of his forehand and backhand, in particular), and does a beautiful job waiting for lanes to open. There are many whove settled on Perreault as more of a mid-to-late-round first because of the combination of his skinny frame and the linemates he plays with. Perron, who didnt go the popular prep school route in Western Canada, was a terror in Manitobas minor hockey ranks who stepped right into the titanic Steel last season and immediately flashed his skill with the puck, producing 48 points in 63 games to earn USHL All-Rookie Second Team honours. Cam Squires, RW (Cape Bretton) Not Clayton Keller. His average SHL TOI is around 4:30, so this should be a confidence boost for the 2023 top prospect.In the J20 Nationell, Stenberg has 20pts (8G, 12A) through 23 games.pic.twitter.com/H36RVcNC4H. It often takes two to take the puck off of him when hes twisting and turning, too. Connor Bedard has made the competition for first overall a one horse race, absolutely dominating at the World Juniors where he clearly looked several steps ahead of his competitors Adam Fantilli and Leo Carlsson. 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. Adam Gajan, G, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL), 55. My best guess at a player who has great skill but might slide on draft day due to his height is Gavin Brindley. Nobody can defend his inside-out cut into that low, hard wrister of his at the junior level. Narrowly my top-ranked defenceman in the draft at this stage, Gulyayev put together the most productive 16-year-old season by a defenceman in the MHLs modern history (13 seasons dating back to 2009) when he posted 35 points in 54 games last year, regularly playing 20 minutes per game in a league famous for typically relying on older players. 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. He uses his body to gain inside positioning on defenders and shields pucks effectively. Gabriel Szturc, C (Kelowna) He loves attacking defenders and beating them in one-on-one skill battles. Hell of a performance from Slovakia especially their Tendy! Its powerful when it needs to be and light and adjustable when it needs to be. And while he played exclusively as a winger in the SHL the last two seasons, Carlsson came up as a centre and I like the way his game might fit there long term because of his combination of size, detail, and awareness. 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. 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. He has also taken a step forward in terms of production, placing him firmly as one of the top-20 scorers in the WHL. 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. But hes also sturdy for his size, which allows him to extend plays, hang onto pucks when a quick attack isnt there, or delay for his linemates. Scouts are drawn to him because of his size-skill combo and while he can look a little uncoordinated out there at times, that draw is real and theres some definite tools there. Roman Kantserov, LW/C, Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk (MHL_, 53. His skating is a bit of a weakness with less-than-ideal speed, but he more than makes up for it with his offensive creativity and hands. The big question with Dvorsky for a while was whether or not hed be a centre or a winger long term. Hes got smooth skating mechanics. Connor Bedard, C, Regina (WHL), 5-foot-10, 187 pounds. Its impossible not to. Name. It will be followed by my midseason top 64 (released in February), an updated top 32 following U18 Worlds. There were also five more goalies who were among the final cuts for this list and I fully expect each will be on my final draft board. 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. 1 pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins posted). He has also shown a little more fire. 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. Martin Misiak, RW/LW (Youngstown) Hes also highly creative despite his goal-scoring tilt. Hes a classic example of a jack of all trades, master of none, with solid scores across the board when it comes to defensive play, playmaking, skating and shooting, with none of those individual skills popping off the page at you. 22-Mason Fauser F Swift Current Broncos 5-8 23-Cash Lanigan F Regina Aces 5-8 24-Dane Mansuy D Regina Monarchs 5-8 25-Charlie Kay F Saskatoon Outlaws 5-8 26-Dryden Deobold D Regina Monarchs 5-8 27-Keaton Lesperance F Regina Aces 5-8 28-Cameron Jacobson D Humboldt Broncos 5-8 29-Ethan Dundas F Regina Monarchs 5-8 Roman Kantserov, RW (Magnitogorsk) January 2023 WHL Draft Ranking update | Top-80 Joel Henderson. Oliver Moore is one of the best skaters in this draft class with blazing speed and solid agility. Not Logan Cooley. Hes a player who has earned the respect of those around the USHL amongst both rival players and staff. Dower Nilsson doesnt have Lekkerimakis shot or Ostlunds passing ability, but his offensive IQ is terrific and he has shown the ability to produce at an incredible pace without any other high-end scorers around him to help him pick up a few points here and there. 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. Sign up for EP Premium to create your own ranking. This ranking follows my way-too-early top 26, my preseason top 32 (released in August), and my preliminary top 64 (released in November). Emil Jarventie, LW, Ilves U20 (U20 SM-sarja, 64. His ability to make plays offensively both off the rush and inside the zone (where hes got slick skill in traffic, great instincts off of the puck, and a lunch-pale approach) also gives me a lot of confidence that hell continue to progress. At the time of writing, he leads all defenseman in points per game and is on pace to have one of the most impressive offensive seasons in league history amongst defensemen of any age, not just draft eligible ones. Hell make plays through seams. Calgary, Alta. Without further ado, lets get into the January edition of my 2023 NHL Draft Rankings. He has every physical tool you could hope for, and uses each of them well, with the speed, strength, and reach to be a really great top-four defender in the NHL. Try a week on us. His playmaking and shot arent exceptional, but theyre both good enough to be reasonably sure that his offense would translate to the NHL some day. Theres just this elusiveness to his game where you never know where hes going with the puck. The pro build, mentality and scoring tools are very appealing though and there will be teams that fall in love with his game/makeup. Hes got gallops, cutbacks, crossovers, all of it. 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. Hes just a natural creator for himself and others who manufactures offence in a variety of ways. Though hes currently still nursing a lower-body injury he suffered in early January, before that, it didnt take long watching this years Kelowna Rockets to realize just how much offence he creates for himself and his teammates. The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) cares about your privacy. A few of the players who have moved up substantially on this board are Zach Benson, Oliver Moore, and Colby Barlow. Hes great along the wall on the cycle, but he can also occasionally make a play that pulls you out of your seat. Theres a lot to work with though. Reinbacher is looking like a potential top-four mainstay in the NHL with exciting defensive potential. Hes also a strong skater who is light on his edges, builds speed quickly into flight to put defenders on their heels and/or create separation, leads a lot of neutral-zone carries into entries, and makes plays into space for himself or his linemates at pace. Hes got quick hick hands (hes prolific on breakaways/in the shootout), a cleverness to his game as a passer (whether through seams or often blind), slick skill in traffic sliding pucks under sticks and rotating through coverage or past checks, and a knack for finessing pucks into spots for himself or his linemates to skate onto. And while hell fade in stretches, the talent level is clear. I think hell stick at centre, too (nice to see him at 53 percent in the circle so far this year). Stenberg was, coming into this season, viewed by many as the second-best Swedish prospect in this class to Carlsson after he played to nearly a point per game at the J20 level last year, looked like he belonged as an underager on the national team at U18 worlds, and impressed as Swedens leading scorer captain at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup (he also scored two Michigan goals last season and has continued to wear the C for Sweden this season at events like the falls Five Nations in Plymouth, and the World Jr. A Challenge). Still, I would argue hes been a more consistent offensive player for Moose Jaw this season than Kraken prospect Jagger Firkus has been, while playing an off-puck game that is inarguably stronger than Firkus (he has also been a dangerous penalty killer and is decently-strong in the faceoff circle). He can beat you flying out wide. 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. Musty is an athletic winger who can beat goalies with his hard shot or by crashing the net and scoring in tight. He is a very intelligent offensive player and can make these great reads and plays at full speed. I watch him and I see an NHL player with the kind of well-rounded, high-effort skill set that could see him move around an NHL lineup (in a good way) someday. The 2021 WHL Prospects Draft Pre-Show begins with co-hosts Chris Wahl and Taylor Rocca at 9:30 a.m. MT, with live draft coverage beginning at 10 a.m. MT. Arttu Karki, LD, Tappara U20 (U20 SM-sarja), 49. It was tricky evaluating and contextualizing Sale last season, when he was above two points per game (99 in 44) in Czechias top junior league, doing things that had never been done and smashing (and even doubling in some cases) the production of recent top Czech players at the same age (including first-rounders like Jakub Voracek and Tomas Hertl). His consistency, effort, speed, and skill make him a coachs dream even though he doesnt have the dynamic offensive qualities of some of his peers. On talent, and upside, and pedigree, his game checks all three boxes. Hes a rare kind of player where hes got A-grade tools across the board, and star talent in spades, but hes also got an efficiency to his game that is incrediblyrare for a skilled player (especially one his age). Hes got some of the quickest hands in the draft. I think hes going to play in the NHL next year and be successful on raw ability from the jump. Ill be shocked if he doesnt become a playmaking top-six centre and PP1 creator. He is agile enough that I expect hell be very successful on zone entries in the NHL some day, giving his team a chance to control play in the offensive zone whenever he touches the puck. Jaden Lipinski, C (Vancouver) 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. One of the most surprising junior players so far this year is Lukas Dragicevic who has put up points at well above a point per game rate in the WHL from the back end, making him the highest scoring defender in the league as of writing. This draft class marks a decade of me doing this work, and I still believe this 2023 group is rivalled only by 2015 among the talent pools Ive scouted to date. Im less and less convinced of that. Hunter Brzustewicz, RD, Kitchener Rangers (OHL), 43. He was more impressive than his already-impressive 61-points-in-68-games season last year (where he led the Cougars in scoring), and the same is true in his strong production on a middle-of-the-pack Cougars team this year. He walks the line and bends coverage as an impressive and tactical power-play quarterback. Ondrej Molnar, LW (Erie) Its all there. Hes also got an accurate shot from midrange, and regularly picks corners. "The Mintos program was great. That is, of course . Tyler Bertuzzi (F) NHL. Gauthier has cooled off following an incredibly hot start to the QMJHL season production-wise, but his smart and reliable habits have not changed. Im not all that worried about either (5-foot-9, 160 pounds) because he has the tenacity and elusiveness that smaller players need to have to make a difference at the NHL level these days. He stays on pucks, hes got good instincts and takes smart routes around the ice, hes sound positionally, he applies pressure off of the puck and comes up with possession despite not being very physical, and he just always seems to be involved in positive things inside the offensive zone. Carey Terrance, C (Erie) This year, though he has struggled defensively in his limited minutes in the KHL, he has looked dominant at both ends in his returns to the MHL and comfortable in the second-tier VHL. 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. 3 pick in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft. The following WHL stars were not selected in the WHL Bantam Draft but were added to a WHL Club PPL at a later date: Jarome Iginla, Darcy Tucker, Dan Hamhuis, Scottie Upshall, Joffrey Lupul, Jeff Woywitka, and Shane Doan, just to name a few. 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. 2023-2024 playoffs qc player stats for Poland, including top goal scorers, most games played, PPG leaders and more. He has shown a knack for making big plays at big moments. Everywhere he plays, Bedard just oozes poise and talent unlike any other player on the ice. Finesse. He takes smart routes with and without the puck, he has become a reliable three-zone player, and the skill is there (hes got superb puck control skill). He looks to take instead of give in the neutral zone, regularly stepping up to try to bump puck carriers off possession and force dumps (though there are times when that style can leave him chasing if his timings off or hes flatfooted). His gifts in control of the puck are undeniable. Last year, he led Prince George in goals (30) and finished second in points (57, one back of Heidt). He has regularly blown me away in viewings these last couple of years (at Hockey Canadas showcase two summers ago, in games where he looked like a man among boys in the USHL, and now again at various points throughout his historic freshman year at Michigan, where he was the best player in college hockey from the jump andseems to have found another level of late). 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. Then you add in instincts off the puck to get open even when hes a marked man, an improved physical engagement (hes really quite feisty and competitive), some underrated skill as a puck thief, and youve got a superstar prospect. Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Check out his skating and awareness! There he excelled as the team's number one d-man . You want the play to run through his hands and brain. Sandin Pellikka had a great showing for Sweden at the World Juniors, and is now probably the favourite to be the first defenseman drafted in 2023. Now that the 2023 World Juniors are firmly in the rearview mirror, it's time to take another deep-dive into the top prospects for the 2023 Draft. I think hes going to be a star regardless. (Maksim Konstantinov / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images), how strong the 2022 draft class was for Slovakia. 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. NHL. I like the way he has learned to hunt and come up with pucks, too. Luke Mittelstadt, LHD (U. of Minnesota) He may become a darn good, hard and heavy bottom-six player at the next level in time, but hell have to show me more to warrant a projection higher than that (a projection some others do still believe in). Hes a smooth skater. On February 5, 1992, the Rebels selected Mike McBain as their first player in the Bantam Draft. by. Hes a pro-sized, hardworking pivot who can skate and excels in driving through the middle of the ice, pushing tempo, and playing with energy. Expectations were unfairly high for Connor Bedard coming into his draft year, with the generational talent label floating around in many draft conversations. He profiles similarly to David Jiricek physically, but with a more defensive tilt to his game.