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 got high-end speed with his galloping crossover strides and strong acceleration from a standstill (with continued work to do to take his first two steps up a notch and find an even quicker gear), which help him carry the puck up the ice or join in transition as the trailer whenever he has to play catchup. 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 got some of the quickest hands in the draft. Get access to our unique free agency lists and many more premium features. I love the way he slows down the game, adjusts and maneuvers his frame and shades pucks. Increasingly, Ive been impressed by his agility in and out of breaks and cuts (his skating is a real asset for him and particularly impressive through his edges and crossovers, though he can get going the length of the ice too). 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. Watch out for Stenberg in the last months of the season, hes been playing better and better and I think hell go in the first round despite his lack of production in the SHL this year. Hes also a very selfless player for his age who is quick to change in the offensive zone and will sooner make the right play than trying to overdo it. Hes an entry machine driving play through the neutral zone and across the line in control. Jaden Lipinski, C (Vancouver) When you spend some time watching him and asking around about him, you quickly realize why. The combination of his skating, shot, and playmaking skills makes him a true offensive weapon. 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. Wins it in OT for !!! Team management chose the name "Rebels". He has also shown a little more fire. I believe Michkov could still easily be the second overall pick even though hes playing in Russia and has a contract that will keep him playing in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) for three full seasons following the draft. Name. 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. 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. 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. Last season was certainly a strange one for WHL scouts as they anticipated the task of two drafts in one calendar year. Reinbacher had a solid tourney on a bad team despite dealing with an illness the entire time. Everywhere he plays, Bedard just oozes poise and talent unlike any other player on the ice. Kalan Lind, C/LW, Red Deer Rebels (WHL), 46. Ive said it before and Ill say it again: Bedard can do things with the puck that nobody else in the sport can replicate. If he can keep up that pace then he could very well lock himself in as the second best prospect in the draft. He can run the wall or the point on the PP, effortlessly picking coverage apart and feathering pucks through seams. This had many drawbacks including the need for extensive scouting systems along with the related expense, as well the added pressure on peewee-aged players (12-13 year-olds). There are times when he can wait too long to make his decisions and I wouldnt call him creative, but he makes good choices more often than hes careless with it and he has progressed really rapidly for a kid who doesnt turn 18 until a couple of weeks from now. 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. 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. Hes a smooth skater. pic.twitter.com/ZNwH9wYcC0. Ive liked the progress Ive seen in how strong he is over pucks and getting up and under sticks to take them back in pursuit, or go to the net for tips (which hes actually quite dexterous on) instead of always trying to free himself for his shot. 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 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. Wood is 6-foot-3 so his ability to make plays in tight to his skates at speed while maintaining control is very impressive for his size. 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. WHL Bantam Draft: December Top 22 - #5 - #1 January 1, 2021 | In General, WHL Draft | By Ashley It's The Final Countdown!!!! 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. 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. Hes also not fast despite his strength, although he has made progress in his skating and does at times look powerful in straight lines. There have been Lane Hutson (2022 Draft), Olen Zellweger (2021 Draft), Logan Stankoven (2020 Draft), and Cole Caufield (2019 Draft), to name a few. 4 pick in the 2019 Bantam draft (a year ahead of when most of the plethora of other top WHL names on this list were selected). Ziemmer often seems to have the puck on a string and thats part of why he has been one of the leading scorers in the WHL this year as a 17-year-old. January 2023 WHL Draft Ranking update | Top-80 Joel Henderson. His consistent game-to-game impact, whenever Ive sat down to do watch the 2005s at the NTDP on tape, has struck me as well. Hesa clever beyond belief, maneuverable facilitator and playmaker who plays the game with a light touch and a heady spatial awareness of not only where his teammates are, but where he is in the flow of play (and relative to defenders). Hes got some of the best soft skill in the draft. The drafts order of selection depends on where the team finishes in the League standings. 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. Problem-solving. It will be followed by an updated top 32 after U18 Worlds (new this year in May), and my final top 100 (released in June). Continue with Recommended Cookies. NHL Entry Draft -3005 - full list of selections with facts and stats. Not Phil Kessel. Hes the kind of player who fills the stat sheet andelevates his linemates in subtle ways. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. One of the USHLs most talented players, Perron got off to a hot start, was briefly halted by an eight-game December stretch that saw him register justone assist, and has really turned it back on to play his best hockey of late. Publishing date 2022-10-13 User Anonymous Views 18875 Favorited 3 Share Embed 2023 WHL Draft Rankings The midseason ranking divides into six tiers. Nobody can defend his inside-out cut into that low, hard wrister of his at the junior level. Hes different than Bedard in tools and approach. Connor McDavid (F) His actual statistical profile is good without being great, though. Bedard has crushed all expectations this year and has firmly planted himself in the first overall position. Hes great along the wall on the cycle, but he can also occasionally make a play that pulls you out of your seat. 5 pick into the WHL, was a point-per-game player and one of Brandons top producers last season before being named captain for his draft year. He is a mobile defenseman who fits the mold of the modern puck-moving defender and power play quarterback. Not Logan Cooley. Dmitri Simashev is a very intriguing prospect with the size/skating combo (6-foot-4) that is so coveted in the modern NHL. Luca Cagnoni, LD, Portland Winterhawks (WHL), 38. 33. Hes still got room to get stronger, too, so its not as though hes a finished product. 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. After the season, the WHL holds a draft specifically to allow teams to add bantam players in an orderly manner to their protected lists. 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. A Maine Black Bears commit, Nadeau creates offence in a variety of ways, bursting wide or pulling away from defenders in transition with his quick feet, taking the puck right at or through coverage with his maneuverability, or leaning into a pinpoint shot (whether off of catch-and-releases, standstill shooting mechanics off the flank on the power play or through his one-timer which the Vees have tried to open by playing him, a right-handed shot, on his off-wing this season). Cameron Allen, RD, Guelph Storm (OHL), 62. 2023 NHL Draft: Breaking down the WHL Defensemen in the CHL Top Prospects game Joel Henderson. pic.twitter.com/ZNwH9wYcC0 Pavel Barber (@HeyBarber) January 3, 2023, WELCOME TO THE BEDARD SHOW! They are: 1, 2-4, 5-6, 7-22, 23-33, 34-64+. Jesse Kiiskinen, RW, Pelicans (Liiga), 36. Hes also highly creative despite his goal-scoring tilt. 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. 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. 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. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. The Rebels' first game was on September 25, 1992, in Red Deer against the Prince Albert Raiders (the Rebels won 6 to 3 in front of 5,240 fans). Still, though he is a dominant junior player and could chase down a 50-goal season this year, its also fair to ask if his advanced growth gives him less runway for improvement (he really does look like a man already). But after looking like one of the most talented players in Germany for U18 worlds, and then in Red Deer for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and now producing in the Czech Extraliga, he looks closer to a special Czech talent with real top-10 aspirations than he does to interesting prospect-who-torched-a-bad-league. 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. His play in transition leaves something to be desired, but once hes in the offensive zone his ability to maintain control of the puck and make smart passes at an efficient rate makes him a consistent threat. Not Cole Caufield. 3 pick in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft. Hedid that after notching five points in five games at lastyears Hlinka Gretzky Cup as a young 16-year-old, too. 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. Some scorers tunnel-vision the net and even though the goalie is his focus, theres a lot to his game between the offensive-zone blue line and the shot he takes thats inventive. He doesnt have any one skill that really pops out at you, but I find that hes good at pretty much everything. After the 1st round, the Clubs select in order from fewest to most regular season points. He has the tools to be a top-16 player in the draft easily, but I want to see some more offense from him in the OHL before I increase his ranking that much. 2 that you take inside the top 10, but hes got everything needed to become a good second-pairing guy and maybe slightly more than that. Benson has been electric for the Western Hockey Leagues (WHL) Winnipeg Ice this year, and has been the teams best player more often than not even though teammates Conor Geekie and Matthew Savoie were both selected in the top-11 of the 2022 Draft. Check out his skating and awareness! 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. Because of his genetics, he should add the necessary weight and strength eventually. Felix Nilsson, C (Rogle) 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. He has been impressive thus far, scoring six points in 14 games with Sochi, with four of those points being goals. We sometimes see draft-eligible D play their full draft year in a professional league. 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 has been a lot of hockey since my. 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. The bantam draft allows for the orderly transfer of players to WHL Protected Player Lists (PPL) from the bantam ranks (13-14 year-olds). Publishing date 2023-01-18 User Anonymous Views 922 Favorited 0 Share Embed 2023 Whl Bantam Draft Finally, Barlow has been one of the best goal scorers in junior hockey so far this year, scoring 36 goals in just 42 Ontario Hockey League (OHL), a 56-goal pace over the rest of the season. He has added a ton of strength since arriving at the program so that he can overwhelm junior level players with his power and speed. Sweden's best prospect for the 2023 draft, Carlsson dominated the J20 level with his size and skill last season, playing at nearly two points per game (35 in 18) and adding nine points in 35. 3 in advance of any draft and the best Russian prospect since Alex Ovechkin. Mike Glemser (F) Germany3. 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. (other than Brad Lambert who's half Sask) but we'll see how the kids develop. He plans things out on the ice at speed and then finds ways to make his desired play. Ziemmer is a December 2004 who was selected with the No. And this season theres no doubt: Hes the best forward on arguably the CHLs most talented team at forward. The original owner of the team was Terry Simpson, the original . 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). About 2023 Draft Nhl Prospects . And while he shines in moments, those short moments and the consistency of his execution within them (despite being freakishly talented, he makes very few mistakes with the puck) create a uniquely high-reward, somehow low-risk game. Theres just this elusiveness to his game where you never know where hes going with the puck. Scott Wheeler covers the NHL draft and prospects nationally for The Athletic. Finesse. I have questions about his talent level, though. 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). Leonard is a prospect thateveryonelikes. There was a time when folks thought Musty was the best American-born 2005 prospect and while thats no longer the case theres still a lot to get excited about. I think the former outcome is the more likely, which is why Id probably steer clear of him in the teens (where some believe he belongs). He has also proven to be a bit too good for the OHL, scoring over 30 goals in his draft-1 year and not being on pace to eclipse the 50-goal mark. The top pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, Musty is one the focal points of the Wolves offence and would be their leader in shots on goal, assists and points were it not for a few weeks lost in January to a hand injury (following up on a strong showing at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup this summer). 2020 All rights reserved to Puck Preps. When he tries things and he often does hes never trying them out of desperation but rather intention. Hes got gallops, cutbacks, crossovers, all of it. 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). Ritchie is the complete package. Hes a smooth skater who is noticeable in transition for both his ability to weave up ice and facilitate and also his ability to create breakaways for himself and beat goalies one-on-one. Hell make the soft play to the middle of the ice from the perimeter, or go there to get to rebounds or position himself on screens/tips. His size is obviously a talking point, and theres a boom or bust element to his projection, but hes a first-round talent and a clear play creator on a team with a few of them in Chicago this year. That is, of course . WHL Clubs send scouts to watch first-year bantams from the start of the minor hockey season. Hes going to be an NHLer. 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. Good habits away from the puck lead me to believe he will be a reliable NHLer with top-six forward upside. During the bantam draft (typically held in early May), players from the four Western Provinces and the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming are eligible to be selected. 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. This season, after noticeably adding some needed muscle and rounding out his game nicely, I think he has shown folks that hell be able to stick down the middle. Of course, there are also some prospects who dropped in this edition of my rankings, including Brayden Yager and David Reinbacher. Hes a natural scorer and creator, but hes also got plus vision and deft touch (though I wouldnt say his creativity is necessarily a strength). The SHL demands a lot of players when it comes to physicality and defensive effort, both of which Carlsson has excelled at. 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 could suffer from the Russian factor, but the lack of top-end defensive prospects and his impressive offensive toolset leads me to believe hes got a good shot at being drafted in the top-20. 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). Caden Price, LD, Kelowna Rockets (WHL), 35. Western Hockey League. Hes scoring roughly half a point per game there and has spent a few games in the J20 Nationell as well, Swedens top junior league, where he has shown that he is clearly a step above his age group, scoring nearly two points per game there. The way he wheels across the top of the circles and then play-makes from the high slot is special. Hes sound positionally defensively. Musty is an athletic winger who can beat goalies with his hard shot or by crashing the net and scoring in tight. Carlssons ability to find and make space off the puck is also impressive for such a young player playing against grown men. Hes unafraid to try things and has the skill to execute difficult plays. Cam Squires, RW (Cape Bretton) He loves attacking defenders and beating them in one-on-one skill battles. Leschyshyn played junior hockey for the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Regina Pats in the Western Hockey League, serving as . 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 going to be a transition monster. He can beat you carrying the puck in rotations around the perimeter of the offensive zone. The six lowest-place teams involved in the lottery include the Swift Current Broncos, Moose Jaw Warriors,. This top 64 is made up of 46 forwards, 17 defencemen and one goaltender. Tom Willander, RD, Rgle BK J20 (J20 Nationell), 57. Welcome to Draft Prospects Hockey's introduction to the 2023 NHL Draft Class series. Elite Prospects - CCHL Bantam Protected Draft 2023. Few centers in junior hockey enter their draft year as well-rounded as Nate Danielson. Perron is so agile that his lack of size and strength dont often hinder his game, however he will need to develop a bit of a physical game (like Logan Stankoven) if he wants to grow into his full potential as a top-six forward in the NHL. When hes around it, he can be a handful. 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. While hes got some work to do to get a little quicker from the jump in the games 10-foot races, he does have some power and balance through his stride to build upon and skates pretty well for his size and age. Hameenaho has the strength and stick skills to not just battle well, but win puck battles and keep possession alive for his team. Hes excellent on the wall in puck protection and also has some outside-in skill so that he can attack off of holds into the middle third. At this point I think his offensive abilities will at least make him a power play threat even if his skating never catches up. Hes got time to put it all together given his summer birthday, too. Beckett Hendrickson, C (NTDP) This past season, he played for the Chicago Cougars of the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) and scored 11 points (two goals, nine assists) 10 games. Adam Fantilli is an absolute monster with the puck, with the skill, skating, and strength to beat defenders no matter how they attack him. Moores game is defined by his skating (both in straight lines, where he turns defenders with ease out wide, and in quick bursts from explosive stops and starts) and presence on the ice. Youll commonly see him activate to lead plays into the offensive zone and create something. There arent many players in this draft class whove come along quite like Sandin Pellikka has in the last year or so. 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. And he likes to try to take D one-on-one, which can result in some high-end plays but also some turnovers. He is a very intelligent offensive player and can make these great reads and plays at full speed. 2023 WHL Draft Rankings - Elite Prospects 2023 WHL Draft Rankings Add to Favorites This is a custom user-submitted ranking. He has gone from point-per-game U17 season (the only player on that team to do so) to nearly two points per game in his U18 campaign. Carson Bjarnason, G (Brandon) The 2023 draft is led by three maybe four A-plus (or close) prospects at the very top, a superb collection of high-end talents at forward behind them that will run deep into the first round and produce additional stars, and better depth on defence and in net than I anticipated when the year started. Sign up for EP Premium to create your own ranking. Go Premium for Elite Prospects Support. pic.twitter.com/OOjR1KDavy. Michkov is, without question or hesitation, the best prospect Ive ever ranked at No. Its powerful when it needs to be and light and adjustable when it needs to be. Mix in a multi-dimensional shooting arsenal and I see top-six upside. Smith has turned the top-four of this draft into a top-five. He has even driven results at both ends in those minutes, with a positive goal differential on an under-.500 team that has been outscored pretty significantly on the whole this season. 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. Hes always moving. Jacob Fowler, G (Youngstown) He can unload from his hip into a heavy snapshot (which hes probably owed a few more goals off of this year) or drop and drive the net into a tuck play in tight. The BCHLs leading scorer while playing on a line with his older brother Josh (a playerI vouched for as a worthy late-round flier ahead of last years draft), Nadeau is a multi-dimensional forward whose hands, skating, and shooting all get very high grades. While he benefits from playing with talented linemates, Bensons a driver in every sense. So far, his offense has only improved, even considering the increased competition. In fact, its not even the only element of his shooting arsenal that is one of one. 4 and has had a tremendous age-adjusted season between his play with Orebro in the SHL and at the world juniors (where he was one of Swedens top forwards despite playing sick), even considering his December 2004 birthday and a year after playing to virtually two points per game at the J20 level (he looked good in an important role as a top-nine centre for Sweden at U18 worlds before an injury kept him out of their medal round run to a gold medal, too). Hes one of the older players on this list (October 2004) but was also one of the most productive under-18 players at the J20 level last year, a top performer on the second line (with Dvorsky) as one of the younger players at his Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and Slovakias leading scorer in their promotion win in the Division 1A U18 world championship (his 12 points were one more than Dvorsky). Smith is one of the very best slot passers in the draft and uses his unique puckhandling ability to dodge close-outs, weave off of the wall, and make plays through holes in coverage in possession with ease, regularly hanging onto pucks to delay his way into his spots or carve in.
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