1 or No. He looks like he could be a hard-working top-six winger who complements your top guys really well while providing real offensive value on his own. 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. Bedards statistical profile speaks for itself: 28 points in 15 games as a 15-year-old in the WHL, two points per game at U18 worlds as a double underager, 51 goals and 100 points on a dreadful team at 16, six goals in four games at U18 Worlds as an underager this time (in what wasnt even his best hockey), 13 goals and 31 points in 14 world juniors games (after forcing his way onto the first of those three teams by torching the selection camp), and now, as a 17-year-old who wont turn 18 until July (we can almost forget that! He passes the eye test. 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. The 2022 WHL Prospects Draft Pre-Show begins with co-hosts Chris Wahl and Taylor Rocca at 8:30 a.m. PDT, with live draft coverage beginning at 9 a.m. PDT. 3 in advance of any draft and the best Russian prospect since Alex Ovechkin. 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. They are: 1, 2-4, 5-6, 7-22, 23-33, 34-64+. 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). 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. 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. He has been off to a hot start this season, averaging just under a goal per game. Early results are extremely positive with Wood being one of the top rookie point scorers and one of the top scorers on his team despite being the youngest player in all of mens NCAA hockey. 2 pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection and an OHL First All-Rookie Team member. Kalan Lind, C/LW, Red Deer Rebels (WHL), 46. 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). Sign up for EP Premium to create your own ranking. The pro build, mentality and scoring tools are very appealing though and there will be teams that fall in love with his game/makeup. Honourable mentions (sorted alphabetically): Beau Akey, RHD (Barrie) 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. (other than Brad Lambert who's half Sask) but we'll see how the kids develop. He has also shown a little more fire. He gets shots off extremely fast and without bobbles in catch-and-release sequences. The Scouting News. Bedard has crushed all expectations this year and has firmly planted himself in the first overall position. He plans things out on the ice at speed and then finds ways to make his desired play. With a hot start in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) as a 17-year-old Leo Carlsson has shot up draft boards and quickly made the top tier of the draft a four-player group. Hes got really good edges and mobility, though he doesnt have the speed in straight lines to pull away from faster chasers. 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. One of my favourites in this class, Cristall isa creative, slippery playmaker who isnt afraid to try things and possesses a rare ability to hang onto pucks, pull eyes and bodies towards him, and then expose opposing structures to the weak side of coverage. Arttu Karki, LD, Tappara U20 (U20 SM-sarja), 49. Oscar Fisker Molgaard, C (HV71) 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. 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. 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. Koehn Ziemmer is another pro-built winger who loves to shoot the puck hard whenever given the chance. 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). 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 Mike Glemser (F) Germany3. 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. Carson Rekhopf, C/LW, Kitchener Rangers (OHL), 60. Hes just a rock-solid, projectable two-way defenceman. He too often looks like the third guy on his line. Without further ado, lets get into the January edition of my 2023 NHL Draft Rankings. 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 not the hardest-working working player defensively, nor the fastest skater, but he always seems to be lurking around the play (and the puck) anyways and his skill level pops from there. Birch Hills' Ravndahl enjoying WHL experience 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). 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. 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. And despite suffering a lower-body injury in a KHL preseason game, Michkov (who played to a goal a game last year in the MHL) played to a goal a game in Russias second-tier VHL and has been very productive for his age since the move to Sochi in the KHL. I think its only a matter of time until he starts to produce more consistently. 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 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. Jakub Vrna (F) NHL. 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. 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. Scott Wheeler. 2023 is obviously way far out but 8 Sask . 2022 NHL Draft: WHL Players to Watch - FCHockey 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. The draft's top player this season is a borderline generational talent. His head is always up and on a swivel and he does a good job pre-surveying the ice when hes going back to get pucks through frequent shoulder checks. 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. 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. 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. That will limit concerns about his height (he certainly hasnt played small in his freshman year so far). pic.twitter.com/OOjR1KDavy Thibaud Chatel (@Thibaud_Chatel) January 24, 2023, David Reinbacher (#64 blue) (Draft 2023) just overskating former NHLer Alex Formenton, following up on his shots, winning a puck against Formenton and Former NHler Tim Heed before serving his teammate on a plate. The way he wheels across the top of the circles and then play-makes from the high slot is special. 2023 whl bantam draft prospects - bfa.tamc.info Gauthier brings a lot to the table. 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. Try a week on us. His performance at the 2023 World Juniors helped his draft stock a bit, though Austria was dominated by every team they played against. 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. The Chiefs hold the first-overall selection, as determined by the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft Lottery on June 2, 2021. 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. I think the bigger question is whether hes going to be more of a middle-six or a top-six one? . Hell of a performance from Slovakia especially their Tendy! Tomas Suchanek, G, Tri-City Americans (WHL), 59. Final Thoughts: John Reid Memorial Tournament 2023 Joel Henderson. Updated: Feb 16/2023 - Welcome to the Top 500 Prospect Rankings List plus Additions/Watch List/Players To Be Evaluated list. 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). 7 overall in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft and he made his debut in 2019-20 playing in four games. Its impossible not to. 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. 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. Connor McDavid (F) Related: Every NHL Teams Top Prospect Midseason Update. Gabriel Szturc, C (Kelowna) Im a big fan of his and hes still my top ranked defenseman in this draft, it has just become harder to rank him above certain forward prospects who have really begun to establish themselves. He credited the Mintos for helping prepare him to make the jump to Major Junior hockey. 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. Hes got a great release. The six lowest-place teams involved in the lottery include the Swift Current Broncos, Moose Jaw Warriors,. 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. Bradly Nadeau, C, Penticton Vees (BCHL), 39. Hes also outscoring most of the WHL for that matter, dominating the opposition when he has possession. 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 got everything else you look for in a dynamic play creator, too. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. 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. After being selected 10th overall in the 2022 CHL Import Draft by the Vancouver Giants, Samuel Honzek has done nothing but impress in his first season in North America. 2023-2024 playoffs qc player stats for Poland, including top goal scorers, most games played, PPG leaders and more. This may be a little low given that, but also underscores the strength of this draft. He currently leads the Giants in scoring and is among the top scorers in the WHL at large. 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. His skills make him very well suited as a center at the next level with good size, a coveted right-handed shot, good defensive habits (kills penalties quite well), and solid faceoff results. Hes got smooth skating mechanics. He has also taken a step forward in terms of production, placing him firmly as one of the top-20 scorers in the WHL. Luca Cagnoni, LD, Portland Winterhawks (WHL), 38. 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. You can also find an additional 32 honourable mentions below. ), but he has shown that his timing and puck protection skills are strong enough for him to succeed in college. As always, Ive broken down the full ranking into tiers to give you a better sense for the fluidity within groupings and the drop-offs between them. 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. Hes different than Bedard in tools and approach. For some, it will be. Dmitri Simashev is a very intriguing prospect with the size/skating combo (6-foot-4) that is so coveted in the modern NHL. 2021 Draft Rankings: Final 65-96 (May) : The Draft Analyst Holding steady at about two points per game, Cristall has already shown improvements following his impressive 69-point WHL rookie season last year. Sports Apr 22, 2020 Winnipeg Ice select B.C. Elite Prospects - NHL Entry Draft -3005 If he were a little bigger, hed be a scouts dream. All 22 WHL Clubs participated in the four-phase lottery . And while hell fade in stretches, the talent level is clear. Im less and less convinced of that. WHL News. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Last season was certainly a strange one for WHL scouts as they anticipated the task of two drafts in one calendar year. 2022 NHL Draft Tracker: Matthew Seminoff - FCHockey Go Premium for Elite Prospects Support. He problem-solves his way out of trouble as well as anyone in this age group. 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. Carlssons ability to find and make space off the puck is also impressive for such a young player playing against grown men. Matvei Michkov might just be the smartest player in this draft class, with an incredible ability to manipulate opposing defenses. Hes a marvel, with legit 50-goal upside at the next level. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. The way he drops the puck into the middle of his stance and then explodes it off of his blade almost without any forward motion to indicate the shots coming is remarkable. WHL Clubs prepare for deep 2022 WHL Prospects Draft 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. WHL Network Theres a lot to work with though. Honzek has played and succeeded on both special teams this year and his size and strength have made him too much for opposing defenders to handle on more than a few occasions. WHL Bantam Draft | News, Videos & Articles David Edstrom, C (Frolunda) This year, he has already broken past both of those marks and sits top 10 in the WHL in scoring (though he has regressed a little after a hot start). 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. This kid is as prolific from long distance as any shooter Ive ever scouted. All-Time Trophies & Winners. Yager plays a threatening, attacking, puck-dominant game with skill in straight lines and in cutting sequences in transition. 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. 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. Adam Gajan, G (Chippewa/Green Bay) 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. Last added: Carter Joo. Adam Fantilli is an absolute monster with the puck, with the skill, skating, and strength to beat defenders no matter how they attack him. 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. 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. WHL Network. . 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). When hes on, he can completely take over a game. 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. Martin Misiak, RW/LW (Youngstown) 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. Hes also got an accurate shot from midrange, and regularly picks corners. Carson Bjarnasson, G, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL), 47. Spokane Chiefs to select first overall in 2021 WHL Prospects Draft He can beat you on the perimeter with his skill (highlighted by excellent one-on-one hands-on defenders). 2023 WHL bantam draft prospects December 15, 2022 by Thu L 6 lt xem 5289 t bo co - Xem xt cc trin vng c chn trong vng 1 v 2 ca quy trnh d tho Giai on I ca USHL - Matthew Frost, Reid Varkonyi, Aidan Park, Mac Swanson, Lukas Fischer, Geno Carcone, Tory Pitner,. 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. You want the play to run through his hands and brain. He is very intentional with his routes, offensively and defensively, which should help him stick at the centre position long term. Id eagerly bet on him. Hameenaho has the strength and stick skills to not just battle well, but win puck battles and keep possession alive for his team. Thank you for your interest in our network of websites, newsletters, and other services. After conversations with scouts or folks at the national program about Stramel last year, I always felt I wasnt quite where they were in terms of their belief in the player and his upside. Trending Players. In the 2021-22 season, Gulyayev set a new MHL (the top Russian junior league) record for points by a 16-year-old defenseman with 35 points in 54 games. Hes great along the wall on the cycle, but he can also occasionally make a play that pulls you out of your seat. 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. Hes also highly creative despite his goal-scoring tilt. And yet most believe hes the third-most compelling and projectable prospect on USAs top line. Hes got smooth hands. Hes a slick one-on-one player. 2022 WHL Prospects Draft Tracker - Vancouver Giants Check out his skating and awareness! 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 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. That continued to start this year as he struggled to have a real impact with the Badgers early on as a freshman (albeit it a young one, and albeit on a bad/at-times lost team). Smith has turned the top-four of this draft into a top-five. 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 shows off his edgework and hands best while playing through traffic as he just seems to be nearly impossible to nail down and knock off the puck. he wants the puck in the offensive zone and has the skill and shot to make things happen when teammates find him off the point or as the trailer off the rush. 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 has a good shot but hasnt been encouraged to use it much in Liiga yet. 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. Leonard is a prospect thateveryonelikes. Charlie Stramel, C, University of Wisconsin (NCAA), 34. 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). Without further ado, let's get to the 2023 draft board. 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. William Whitelaw, C, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL), 56. Hes got time to put it all together given his summer birthday, too. WHL Clubs send scouts to watch first-year bantams from the start of the minor hockey season. Players from non-North American countries are allowed to be added in the CHL Import Draft which is held in June. Hes got superb vision and ranks among the best in the class at dissecting coverage as a passer. Publishing date 2022-10-13 User Anonymous Views 18875 Favorited 3 Share Embed 2023 WHL Draft Rankings Elite Prospects - CCHL Bantam Protected Draft 2023. One of my favourites in the 2005 age group, Wood is the youngest player in college hockey this season (he was, for a moment, its only 17-year-old) and has stepped right in to become an impactful player on a good UConn team (albeit as a winger after playing mostly centre at the Jr. A level). He provides a ton of offense in transition as well as in the offensive zone where he seems to create scoring chances at will. Scott Ratzlaff, G (Seattle) 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). Ravndahl spent parts of three seasons with the Prince Albert Mintos program, recording 25 points in 50 games played. 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! I love him on the half-wall/point on the PP with his ability to hit east-west seams (he just seems to see every lane and opening). Caden Price, LD, Kelowna Rockets (WHL), 35. 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).