There arent many players in this draft class whove come along quite like Sandin Pellikka has in the last year or so. 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. Only time will tell if they can do the same for him as a pro. Eventually, when the points pile up like they have, and they happen making the kinds of plays that he does, you cant ignore them. 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. I love the way he slows down the game, adjusts and maneuvers his frame and shades pucks. 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. Hes got superb vision and ranks among the best in the class at dissecting coverage as a passer. 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. Priority Draft 10 months ago 44 players were selected by the 22 WHL member Clubs in Wednesday's U.S. He can slow it down and pick things apart or hurry up his passes through holes. 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. He profiles similarly to David Jiricek physically, but with a more defensive tilt to his game. Fantilli is currently authoring one of the most impressive draft eligible NCAA seasons in recent memory with the only competition being Jack Eichels dominant 2014-15 season where he put up 71 points in 40 games. On the puck, hes a multi-faceted playmaker who often looks like the player who was the No. Within his movement patterns, he can handle the puck on a string. 2023 WHL Draft Rankings - Elite Prospects 2023 WHL Draft Rankings Add to Favorites This is a custom user-submitted ranking. Sign up for EP Premium to create your own ranking. Thats three more defencemen than my preliminary ranking, and while none still rank in the top 10 (which would be a first if it holds), theres a trio in the conversation for the 11-20 range and a ton of worthwhile second-round options behind them. Hunter Brzustewicz, RD, Kitchener Rangers (OHL), 43. Hes got good tools all around with solid speed, stick skills, and defensive play. He skates quite well for his size, hes got good hands and dexterity, hes got great feel and sense for the pressures that exist on the ice, and hes by all accounts a great teammate and kid who is coachable and pays attention to the details of the game. Hes a big, strong, sturdy, athletic net-driven winger with slick puckhandling skill one-on-one and a balanced skaters stride. The . Im not talking about him compared to other prospects in this draft. Michkovs brilliance comes primarily from his ability to read and process the play at an extremely advanced level, make his decisions quickly, and execute on them with incredible proficiency, whether thats ripping a patterned shot (his one-timer, his standstill wrister, his curl-and-drag, etc. Michkov is, without question or hesitation, the best prospect Ive ever ranked at No. Name. Hes gotdecent hands when he pushes through the middle. 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. 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. If this werent a draft that also featured Bedard and Benson, he was in the midst of one of the most productive draft-eligible seasons in recent WHL history (pacing to outproduce, for example, the 106 in 69 that 2011 No. Hes a big winger whose game really fit right from the get-go on North American ice, quickly establishing himself as a a go-to player in all-situations for the Giants (even though he was an underager, Slovakia was playing him a ton early on in the world juniors, too). When you spend some time watching him and asking around about him, you quickly realize why. Reinbacher had a solid tourney on a bad team despite dealing with an illness the entire time. Honzek was on one of the steeper ascents in the draft this season when he suffered a leg injury in Slovakias second game of the world juniors. Of course, there are also some prospects who dropped in this edition of my rankings, including Brayden Yager and David Reinbacher. Adam Fantilli is an absolute monster with the puck, with the skill, skating, and strength to beat defenders no matter how they attack him. While there are some great prospects in the top-five of the draft, theres no doubt that Bedard is the reason teams are tanking. He walks the line and bends coverage as an impressive and tactical power-play quarterback. Its impossible not to. I wondered if my thoughts were altered by the late start and had an effect on how I viewed. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. 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. And he just always seems to play well, no matter the role/usage/stage. Hes great at changing speeds in transition to separate himself from defenders before either making a move around them or passing to an open teammate. 2022 NHL Draft Tracker: Matthew Seminoff Matthew Seminoff has made quite the name for himself on a talented Kamloops Blazers roster that boasts three potential draft picks at the 2022 NHL draft. After the season, the WHL holds a draft specifically to allow teams to add bantam players in an orderly manner to their protected lists. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. 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. 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. He was the No. He plans things out on the ice at speed and then finds ways to make his desired play. He excels in puck battles, whether along the boards or in front of the net, even against grown men in Finland. The Scouting News. 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. 3 pick in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft. He goes to the front of the net and will bail out to make effort plays. by. After playing on Russias Hlinka Gretzky team twosummers ago, But played to a point-per-game level in the MHL as one of its top 2005s last season and began his draft year on a tear in the MHL, scoring 11 goals in his first 15 games of the season before earning a mid-October promotion to the KHL for the first time (he has since scored his first two pro goals and has bounced between the KHL and MHL). He can run the wall or the point on the PP, effortlessly picking coverage apart and feathering pucks through seams. Continue with Recommended Cookies. 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. Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Welcome to my March ranking of the top 64 prospects eligible for the 2023 NHL Draft. Hes a player who has earned the respect of those around the USHL amongst both rival players and staff. And he always seems to be around it. Hell make plays to the inside from the perimeter on one shift, and then go right to the guts of the ice to make something happen in a congested area the next. Shane Wright, C, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) 2. 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. When you think youve got him trapped, you usually dont. He has the potential to change the trajectory of an NHL franchise and will likely score a ton of goals along the way. Its all there. His playmaking vision is solid but will likely never be his calling card. However, his real calling card is his shot which ranks near the top of the draft class in terms of deception and power. The annual Western Hockey League bantam draft coming on May 7 will be full of mixed emotions for hundreds of Grade 9 kids in Western Canada and parts of the United States. 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. Hes going to be an NHLer. 2023 NHL Draft top 64 prospects: Scott Wheeler's March ranking. My best guess at a player who has great skill but might slide on draft day due to his height is Gavin Brindley. And he likes to try to take D one-on-one, which can result in some high-end plays but also some turnovers. Hes a strong, pro-built, physically mature winger (some of which is a benefit of his 2004 birthday, but some of which is obviously a credit to the work he has put into filling out his frame he really does look sturdy) who likes to shoot the puck and shoots it hard, but also regularly beats defenders and goalies one-on-one with a slick set of hands across his body so that they cant plan for the shot. He can beat you carrying the puck in rotations around the perimeter of the offensive zone. He has a high floor and should safely become a strong third-line player but also has the upside to become more if things really click in his north-south game at the next level. 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. 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. He is a special player and looks like he will become a franchise-defining player for whoever selects him, when he finally makes it to North America that is. 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. Database: 1 002 208 players . 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). 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. 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. 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. 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). Koehn Ziemmer is another pro-built winger who loves to shoot the puck hard whenever given the chance. Calgary, Alta. 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 learned to use some clever movement patterns to make defencemen miss and get to his spots as a shooter. 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. Roman Kantserov, RW (Magnitogorsk) That will limit concerns about his height (he certainly hasnt played small in his freshman year so far). Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. 7 overall in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft and he made his debut in 2019-20 playing in four games. 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. This may be a little low given that, but also underscores the strength of this draft. with the Wolverines). 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. Ive seen him create breakaways with ease, win races he should, and send defenders sliding when he stops up on them with a head of steam. Hes got quick hands and instincts, with standout puck control and shading. 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. Denver Barkey, C, London Knights (OHL), 63. The drafts order of selection depends on where the team finishes in the League standings. While Bedard scores by trying to shoot a wrister as hard as possible, trying to punch a hole through the goalie, Michkov will outsmart the defense and score by finding holes in coverage. Hes sound positionally defensively. 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. 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. Hes the go-to center for the Cougars in the faceoff circle. The 18-year-old has accumulated 54 points (25 goals, 29 assists) in 60 games so far this season. His skating is excellent, and his high energy level makes him a possession monster. 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. Updated: Feb 16/2023 - Welcome to the Top 500 Prospect Rankings List plus Additions/Watch List/Players To Be Evaluated list. He has been dominating the Swedish J20 league this year and is scoring at a higher pace right now than both Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Noah Ostlund did last year (who were drafted 15th and 16th respectively in the 2022 NHL Draft). For the 2010 bantam draft, players born in 1995 may be selected. 2 pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection and an OHL First All-Rookie Team member. He has now impressed me wherever Ive watched him (NCAA, USHL, Five Nations, U18 Worlds, world juniors, etc.) WHL Behind The Scenes - 2023 Road to Nashville. "The Mintos program was great. I think hes going to play in the NHL next year and be successful on raw ability from the jump. The U18 teams first line of Smith, Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault has been piling up points and attention (deservedly so) this year, but Ive been as impressed by Moore and the offence he has created as the focal point of its second line. He has scored some highlight-reel goals in the WHL but he also excels at finding pockets of space off of coverage and remaining involved on offence and defence. Etienne Morin, LD, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL), 50. This year, wearing an A as a 17-year-old with the Generals, hes been arguably their most consistent forward while playing a key role on the penalty kill and late in games in the faceoff circle (where he is really strong). He doesnt have any one skill that really pops out at you, but I find that hes good at pretty much everything. pic.twitter.com/OOjR1KDavy. Its not often we see players his size who can move like him. 1 pick in the 2021 QMJHL draft and son of former 10-year NHLer Denis Gauthier, followed up a strong showing at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup (where he scored six goals in five games) with a strong start to his draft year at the top of a stacked Sherbrooke lineup, before seeing his production taper off some as they added more talent ahead of the deadline. Finesse. Not Logan Cooley. Tomas Suchanek, G, Tri-City Americans (WHL), 59. Jaden Lipinski, C (Vancouver) Leschyshyn played junior hockey for the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Regina Pats in the Western Hockey League, serving as . Barlows size, strength, and maturity as a teenager lead me to believe he could have a real shot at making the NHL out of training camp for whichever team selects him, hes that talented and reliable. Mike Glemser (F) Germany3. Ondrej Molnar, LW (Erie) Trending Players. Theres a lot of belief out there that hes going to be a good, well-rounded NHLer. 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. League. Martin Misiak, RW/LW (Youngstown) 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). 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. Hes not just the energy guy though either. He has also shown a little more fire. as a small but highly-involved forward who plays the game with energy and pace, making little skill plays between coverage. 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). The bantam draft allows for the orderly transfer of players to WHL Protected Player Lists (PPL) from the bantam ranks (13-14 year-olds). ), a quick move into a pass, a sudden stop-up, or an attacking cut. He has also taken a step forward in terms of production, placing him firmly as one of the top-20 scorers in the WHL. Hes a first-round talent. 1 pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins posted). Now that the 2023 World Juniors are firmly in the rearview mirror, its time to take another deep-dive into the top prospects for the 2023 Draft. David Edstrom, C (Frolunda) Hes a treat to watch in possession and processes the game at such an advanced and rapid level. Reinbacher is looking like a potential top-four mainstay in the NHL with exciting defensive potential. I believe Austrian defender David Reinbacher is the best defenseman in the 2023 Draft class right now and an argument could be made that he could be ranked as high as the top-10. The only player to ever score at a rate of two points per game on the U18 team for a full season is Jack Hughes, you might have heard of him. 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. The WHL Bantam Draft is an annual outing, in which the Club's of the Western Hockey League select players who have graduated from bantam. 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. As in, you could put him on the icewith the worlds best shooters (say, Auston Matthews, Nikita Kucherov, Patrik Laine, Alex Ovechkinand Steven Stamkos) and they wouldnt be able to load up just off of their lead skate and fire it off balance like he does. The combination of Michkovs position and the uncertainty around Russias invasion of Ukraine and his contract in the KHL with SKA (which is signed through to the end of the 2025-26 season and has been loaned out to Sochi after he reportedly forced his way out in search of greater opportunity) could complicate where he goes on draft day, but he still belongs here. He wants to hang onto the puck and make plays but hell also hurry it up and dominate in and out of give-and-goes. The WHL Bantam Draft is only one step in this process. The big question with Dvorsky for a while was whether or not hed be a centre or a winger long term. 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. That is, of course . 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. We sometimes see draft-eligible D play their full draft year in a professional league. Hes a smooth skater. He keeps his head up in the neutral and defensive zones and is a confident puck carrier on exits and entries. 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. 2023 is obviously way far out but 8 Sask . 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. Hes a slick one-on-one player. In order to get away from scouting peewees, the WHL instituted a bantam draft. Tyler Peddle, LW (Drummondville) More and more his game has shown dimension inside the offensive zone so that he can make things happen shift after shift out of all of his effort plays up and under sticks. He is a very intelligent offensive player and can make these great reads and plays at full speed. Smith is flanked by the two best wingers in the program while Moore has found incredible success without that level of supporting talent. 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). When he tries things and he often does hes never trying them out of desperation but rather intention. With a little more consistency and some maturity, theres a top-six playmaking winger there. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Crafty is the best word to describe his game. Moore has identified himself as the second best prospect out of the NTDP this season, behind only Will Smith (and the gap isnt that big in my mind). For some, it will be. 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. 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. NHL Entry Draft -3005 - full list of selections with facts and stats. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. No, you haven't accidentally clicked a lyrics page add and been directed to an eighties anthem, it's DubNetwork Scouting's LAST REVEAL for our December Top 22 - WHL Bantam Draft prospect breakdown. 1. Viewed as a mid-round pick by most, Ciernik is a player I diverge from the public and private scouting communities on. WHL Clubs send scouts to watch first-year bantams from the start of the minor hockey season. And while his game is bullish, hes also got surprising soft skill. Carson Bjarnason, G (Brandon) Expectations were unfairly high for Connor Bedard coming into his draft year, with the generational talent label floating around in many draft conversations. 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. . Ive said it before and Ill say it again: Bedard can do things with the puck that nobody else in the sport can replicate. Four 2005-born standout defenders in the CHL, Breaking down four top 2005 forwards in the WHL, Six WHL Players from the 2021 Draft selected outside of the Top-10 whove had early success, The Five Star Hockey Show: 2023 Canada Winter Games Preview, Western Canada Ramblings: NHL and WHL Draft, The Checklist: 2008-born Manitoba players in the WAAA U15, January 2023 WHL Draft Ranking update | Top-80, January Top-80 2023 OHL Draft Ranking Update, Final Thoughts: John Reid Memorial Tournament 2023, 10 Puck Touches: Day Three and Four 2023 John Reid Memorial Tournament, 10 Puck Touches: Day Two, 2023 John Reid Memorial Tournament, 10 Puck Touches: Day One 2023 John Reid Memorial Tournament, The Checklist: Seven 2008-born Western Canadian Players to Watch, 14 2008-born Defensemen profiles from Sask First Top-160, 2022 WHL Draft Review: From Prince George to Winnipeg, 2023 NHL Draft: Breaking down the WHL Defensemen in the CHL Top Prospects game. A hand injury kept Moore out of action late last year and prevented him from likely playing at U18 worlds as an underager, but he impressed me on three trips down to Plymouth these last two years (last November when he was already playing up, this fall for U18 Five Nations, and this winter for the BioSteel All-American Game. 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. . Selected first overall in the WHL bantam draft that year, he played 22 games with the Winnipeg Ice in 2019-20 when he became . 1 or No. Last added: Carter Joo. This top 64 is made up of 46 forwards, 17 defencemen and one goaltender. Bradly Nadeau, C, Penticton Vees (BCHL), 39. 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. 33. Carson Rekhopf, C/LW, Kitchener Rangers (OHL), 60. Oscar Fisker Molgaard, C (HV71)
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Gas Bottle Sizes Australia, Articles W