Hedid that after notching five points in five games at lastyears Hlinka Gretzky Cup as a young 16-year-old, too. He has also taken a step forward in terms of production, placing him firmly as one of the top-20 scorers in the WHL. This top 64 is made up of 46 forwards, 17 defencemen and one goaltender. 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. He is very intentional with his routes, offensively and defensively, which should help him stick at the centre position long term. I have questions about his talent level, though. 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. Sign up for EP Premium to create your own ranking. He too often looks like the third guy on his line. 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. Check out his skating and awareness! 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. 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. Adam Gajan, G (Chippewa/Green Bay) I expect him to become a top point producer in college at the University of North Dakota, too. The Kamloops Blazers drafted the former Burnaby Winter Club star No. One of the more impressive 2005s in the CHL last season, Barlow scored 35 goals in 66 combined regular-season and playoff games as a rookie in the OHL and was named captain of the Attack for his draft year (both rare goal scoring for a player his age, and a rare honour for a player his age). 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. The six lowest-place teams involved in the lottery include the Swift Current Broncos, Moose Jaw Warriors,. Smith has turned the top-four of this draft into a top-five. 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. 2023 WHL Draft Rankings - TOP 50 - Elite Prospects 2023 WHL Draft Rankings - TOP 50 Add to Favorites This is a custom user-submitted ranking. 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. He walks the line and bends coverage as an impressive and tactical power-play quarterback. WHL Network. Theres a lot of belief out there that hes going to be a good, well-rounded NHLer. 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. 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. Beckett Hendrickson, C (NTDP) They are: 1, 2-4, 5-6, 7-22, 23-33, 34-64+. 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). Hes eager physically. 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. 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). Once he refines his game some more and adds more muscle as he ages, watch out. 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. Selected first overall in the WHL bantam draft that year, he played 22 games with the Winnipeg Ice in 2019-20 when he became . With the World Junior Hockey Championship coming. He draws tons of attention in the offensive zone and is great at making smart plays under pressure to help open teammates up to make their jobs easier. He can run the wall or the point on the PP, effortlessly picking coverage apart and feathering pucks through seams. 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). 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. Gauthier, the No. Last added: Carter Joo. His strength complements a competitive, physical, forechecking, middle-lane style that makes good use of his length and hard wrister from midrange. I like the way he has learned to hunt and come up with pucks, too. 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). His production has been disappointing so far this year, but his talent as a high-skill puck carrier is still clear.Otto Stenberg scores his first SHL goal and point! Hell of a performance from Slovakia especially their Tendy! Musty is an athletic winger who can beat goalies with his hard shot or by crashing the net and scoring in tight. Reinbacher is looking like a potential top-four mainstay in the NHL with exciting defensive potential. And yet most believe hes the third-most compelling and projectable prospect on USAs top line. The real question will be if he can make a difference in his own end as his defending has been a bit too relaxed for my liking. Not Logan Cooley. pic.twitter.com/ZNwH9wYcC0 Pavel Barber (@HeyBarber) January 3, 2023, WELCOME TO THE BEDARD SHOW! 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. 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. The way he wheels across the top of the circles and then play-makes from the high slot is special. 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). Thank you for your interest in our network of websites, newsletters, and other services. However, his offensive production has left much to be desired, leaving many questions about if he will have much offense to provide in the NHL someday. Scott Wheeler. Auston Matthews had Patrik Laine, Jack Hughes had Kaapo Kakko, and Alexis Lafreniere had Quinton Byfiled, its hard for top prospects to separate themselves from the pack but Bedard has done just that.WELCOME TO THE BEDARD SHOW! Publishing date 2022-10-13 User Anonymous Views 18875 Favorited 3 Share Embed 2023 WHL Draft Rankings Few centers in junior hockey enter their draft year as well-rounded as Nate Danielson. I think theres a small chance he becomes a star or close with the right development, too. 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 Alexa Potack (@alexa_potack) January 24, 2023, Otto Stenberg scores his first SHL goal and point! 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. 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. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. With a little more consistency and some maturity, theres a top-six playmaking winger there. Hes got smooth skating mechanics. 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. He can score from mid range consistently with his low-kick wrister, hes got an ability to protect the puck and shade in and out of coverage, hes got a dangerous curl-and-drag wrister, and hes comfortable in traffic. 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. He problem-solves his way out of trouble as well as anyone in this age group. 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. 2023 NHL Draft top 64 prospects: Scott Wheeler's March ranking. Updated hourly, with analysis, commentary and features from hundreds writers worldwide, our articles are read over 5 million times every month. Hes got gallops, cutbacks, crossovers, all of it. Continue with Recommended Cookies. I think its only a matter of time until he starts to produce more consistently. He thrives in the small-area game, using light passes and rapid movements to play in and out of coverage. 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 unafraid to try things and has the skill to execute difficult plays. He hasnt looked out of place against men and has scored points at an excellent rate so far for a draft eligible player. Arttu Karki, LHD (Tappara) Beyond his natural skill in possession, he also impresses with his smarts with the puck, his cerebral play style, and his ability to play to his linemates. Last year, he led Prince George in goals (30) and finished second in points (57, one back of Heidt). 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. Tyler Peddle, LW (Drummondville) 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. 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. There has been souring on him as a top-10 candidate because of the point-per-game clip he has played at (though in saying that scouts still have a lot of respect for his game) but I expect his production to take a big leap next season. Hes a commanding offensive defenceman who is at his best when hes looking to take charge with his feet. Charlie Stramel, C, University of Wisconsin (NCAA), 34. 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 always moving. 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. Though hes not big, he plays hard and engages in battles in the defensive zone with some sneaky strength. 2002 Rankings. Chloe Primerano was the Giants final selection in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft. with the Wolverines). 2023-2024 relegation player stats for Erste Liga, including top goal scorers, most games played, PPG leaders and more. 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. Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. 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. In order to get away from scouting peewees, the WHL instituted a bantam draft. 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. 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. His playmaking vision is solid but will likely never be his calling card. Id eagerly bet on him. 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. He thrives in transition creating breakaways and putting defenders on their heels with his speed and plays with a ton of confidence and swagger on the puck as a deft handler. Hes got time to put it all together given his summer birthday, too. Gauthier brings a lot to the table. If he were guaranteed to be coming to the NHL next fall, a centre, and an inch or two taller, hed have a nearly perfect profile for me. 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. Related: Every NHL Teams Top Prospect Midseason Update. Ethan Miedema, LW (Kingston) There are the little delays and stutters he uses to create separation and get to his spots. Etienne Morin, LD, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL), 50. Im not sure hes got the soft skill to become the true No. close. Carlssons ability to find and make space off the puck is also impressive for such a young player playing against grown men. 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. 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. Of course, there are also some prospects who dropped in this edition of my rankings, including Brayden Yager and David Reinbacher. Michael Hrabal, G (Omaha) The Chiefs hold the first-overall selection, as determined by the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft Lottery on June 2, 2021. 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. Tristan Bertucci, LHD (Flint) 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. 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) Without further ado, let's get to the 2023 draft board. Check out his skating and awareness! Cam Squires, RW (Cape Bretton) 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). 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. 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 first-round talent. Six WHL Players from the 2021 Draft selected outside of the Top-10 who've had early success Joel Henderson The Five Star Hockey Show: 2023 Canada Winter Games Preview Puck Preps Western Canada Ramblings: NHL and WHL Draft Joel Henderson Four 2005-born OHLers trending up Sam McGilligan When he plays with pace and intention, hes both effective and flashes his skill in all three zones. And while he may not be a driver on a top-six line, its not hard to imagine him as a first- or second-line playmaker who makes finishing plays off of a drivers work and does damage on PP1. Hes a marvel, with legit 50-goal upside at the next level. Players from non-North American countries are allowed to be added in the CHL Import Draft which is held in June. Not Phil Kessel. 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.