Gauthier has cooled off following an incredibly hot start to the QMJHL season production-wise, but his smart and reliable habits have not changed. I think the bigger question is whether hes going to be more of a middle-six or a top-six one? He has been impressive thus far, scoring six points in 14 games with Sochi, with four of those points being goals. 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 Hes just a rock-solid, projectable two-way defenceman. Hes got one of the best shooting actions in motion Ive ever seen. Reinbacher is a 6-foot-2 defender with a right-handed shot and great mobility who is playing lots of minutes in the National League (NL), Switzerlands top professional mens league. Hes got a great release. Hes strong. Alex Ciernik, LW/RW, Sdertlje SK J20 (J20 Nationell), 37. And this season theres no doubt: Hes the best forward on arguably the CHLs most talented team at forward. The SHL demands a lot of players when it comes to physicality and defensive effort, both of which Carlsson has excelled at. Smith is an incredibly shifty playmaker who can create high danger plays at will by threading passes through traffic, stickhandling around pressure, or taking a shot of his own. Denver Barkey, C, London Knights (OHL), 63. 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 goes to the front of the net and will bail out to make effort plays. The following WHL stars were not selected in the WHL Bantam Draft but were added to a WHL Club PPL at a later date: Jarome Iginla, Darcy Tucker, Dan Hamhuis, Scottie Upshall, Joffrey Lupul, Jeff Woywitka, and Shane Doan, just to name a few. He has been utterly dominant at the J20 level, played big minutes when things mattered most as an underager at the world juniors (including in three overtimes) and looked himself in spot usage in the SHL. It has been a few rough age groups for Russian defencemen but Gulyayevs got a chance to flip the script. Heidt, taken No. Yager plays a threatening, attacking, puck-dominant game with skill in straight lines and in cutting sequences in transition. After the 1st round, the Clubs select in order from fewest to most regular season points. During every draft cycle there are a handful of prospects who are 5-foot-10 or shorter who get a ton of praise in public scouting circles before unceremoniously sliding on draft day. Honourable mentions (sorted alphabetically): Beau Akey, RHD (Barrie) 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. He can slow it down and pick things apart or hurry up his passes through holes. Ive said it before and Ill say it again: Bedard can do things with the puck that nobody else in the sport can replicate. 2023 WHL Draft Ranking Update: . He was the No. Adam Gajan, G (Chippewa/Green Bay) He problem-solves his way out of trouble as well as anyone in this age group. He gets shots off extremely fast and without bobbles in catch-and-release sequences. Jesse Nurmi, LW, KooKoo U20 (U20 SM-sarja), 58. 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. All 22 WHL Clubs participated in the four-phase lottery . Jayden Perron is an excellent play-driving winger with tons of offensive talent. Oliver Moore is one of the best skaters in this draft class with blazing speed and solid agility. Timur Mukhanov, LW (Omsk) Chloe Primarano is the first ever female to be selected in a WHL Bantam Draft. Kalan Lind, C/LW, Red Deer Rebels (WHL), 46. 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. William Whitelaw, C, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL), 56. I expect hell be the first defenceman picked when all is said and done, and he may be my top-ranked one too even though Gulyayev excites me a little more and remains there for now. Ethan Gauthier is one of the most consistent players in this draft class in terms of effort and habits, not just production. When he does go there, too, Ive seen him show that dexterity he has getting sticks on tips and redirects. Barlow was also named Captain of the Owen Sound Attack at just 17 which speaks to his maturity and leadership abilities. Though hes not big, he plays hard and engages in battles in the defensive zone with some sneaky strength. 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. Hes a very responsible defender who shuts down tons of rush attempts with an active stick and stellar positioning.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. 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. There has been a lot of hockey since my last rankings and tons of prospects are on the move as a result. He walks the line and bends coverage as an impressive and tactical power-play quarterback. 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). The best way to define Fantilli is the way one USHL source once described him to me: Hes a horse.. 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). Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. NHL Entry Draft -3004 - full list of selections with facts and stats. Fantilli is currently averaging about one and a half points per game on a University of Michigan team filled to the brim with talent. Cam Squires, RW (Cape Bretton) Carlssons ability to find and make space off the puck is also impressive for such a young player playing against grown men. 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. Elite Prospects - CCHL Bantam Protected Draft 2023. 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). His release is lightning-quick. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. close. He was an alternate captain and second-leading scorer at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and isan alternate captain and leading scorer with Moose Jaw. Not Logan Cooley. He has learned to use some clever movement patterns to make defencemen miss and get to his spots as a shooter. If he were a little bigger, hed be a scouts dream. He hasnt looked out of place against men and has scored points at an excellent rate so far for a draft eligible player. Hes just a natural creator for himself and others who manufactures offence in a variety of ways. 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. He has also shed some of the selfishness and force-it plays that could frustrate me and others at lower levels (hes making better decisions onshot selection, overhanding less, utilizing his linemates better, etc. Matvei Michkov might just be the smartest player in this draft class, with an incredible ability to manipulate opposing defenses. 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). 10 Puck Touches: . We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Evasive. Michael Hrabal, G (Omaha) And he likes to try to take D one-on-one, which can result in some high-end plays but also some turnovers. He has now impressed me wherever Ive watched him (NCAA, USHL, Five Nations, U18 Worlds, world juniors, etc.) Noah Dower Nilsson is purely an offensive player at this point, but hes a very skilled one. Scouts are having a tough time slotting him due primarily to so-so production this season (though staff with Frolunda insist he has been better than his numbers at the J20 level and that has been reflected in several stints with the SHL. Hes also outscoring most of the WHL for that matter, dominating the opposition when he has possession. He does a good job maintaining gaps and matching opposing forwards step-for-step skating backwards. 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. Theres a lot to work with though. 1 or No. Bradly Nadeau, C, Penticton Vees (BCHL), 39. 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. 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. 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. 2023 WHL Draft Rankings - Elite Prospects 2023 WHL Draft Rankings Add to Favorites This is a custom user-submitted ranking. There are many whove settled on Perreault as more of a mid-to-late-round first because of the combination of his skinny frame and the linemates he plays with. 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. Leschyshyn played junior hockey for the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Regina Pats in the Western Hockey League, serving as . His long stick can limit him catching and handling pucks in his feet at times, and he doesnt have a great shot, but those things should come and hes got great dexterity and reflexes. 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. Tristan Bertucci, LHD (Flint) 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. Roman Kantserov, RW (Magnitogorsk) Calgary, Alta. 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). That will limit concerns about his height (he certainly hasnt played small in his freshman year so far). 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. 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. Manipulation. Wins it in OT for !!! ), but he has shown that his timing and puck protection skills are strong enough for him to succeed in college. His skating also continues to improve (hes not fast, but hes an above-average skater for his size by my measure and it shouldnt be preventative in him reaching his NHL upside). Hes an entry machine driving play through the neutral zone and across the line in control. 2023 NHL Draft top 64 prospects: Scott Wheeler's March ranking. While there are some great prospects in the top-five of the draft, theres no doubt that Bedard is the reason teams are tanking. 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. This may be a little low given that, but also underscores the strength of this draft. Tyler Bertuzzi (F) NHL. Once he refines his game some more and adds more muscle as he ages, watch out. The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) cares about your privacy. Im prepared to stick my neck out on Perreault at this point. 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. Because of his genetics, he should add the necessary weight and strength eventually. His strength complements a competitive, physical, forechecking, middle-lane style that makes good use of his length and hard wrister from midrange. 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. Hell of a performance from Slovakia especially their Tendy! 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. Carlssons one of the smartest players in the draft, a very heady player who understands spacing and timing on and off the puck at an advanced level for his age. 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. There has been a lot of hockey since my. Sign up for EP Premium to create your own ranking. The 2021 WHL Prospects Draft is scheduled for Thursday, December 9, 2021. The . Im talking nobody. Nobody can defend his inside-out cut into that low, hard wrister of his at the junior level. Related: Every NHL Teams Top Prospect Midseason Update. A number of years ago, WHL Clubs were allowed to list first-year bantam players as of a set date in September. 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. 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. Hes quick side-to-side on little jumps and drags. With the World Junior Hockey Championship coming. He stays on pucks, hes got good instincts and takes smart routes around the ice, hes sound positionally, he applies pressure off of the puck and comes up with possession despite not being very physical, and he just always seems to be involved in positive things inside the offensive zone. Hes a versatile, high-RPM player who makes things happen when hes on the ice and pulls teamates into the fight with his scrappy, competitive, never-stop style. Few centers in junior hockey enter their draft year as well-rounded as Nate Danielson. While that bent-sideways cannon that he has off of his right hip is his defining quality, its not the only tool he has that is singular, either. 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). ), the CHLs leader in goals per game, assists per game, points per game, and shots per game. He buzzes around the ice and does such a good job releasing from one battle or chance to hunting or getting open for the next one. 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. 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. We also invite you to ask us about our policies or feel free to let us know how we can better serve your privacy concerns. 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. Ondrej Molnar, LW (Erie) 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. 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. 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. 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. Hes a smooth skater. WHL Clubs send scouts to watch first-year bantams from the start of the minor hockey season. This ranking follows my way-too-early top 26 and my preseason top 32 (released in August). He has also shown a little more fire. Good luck taking the puck away from him because he can easily move around you with his excellent skating or truck through you with his solid 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame. Hes got some of the best soft skill in the draft. Bedard has crushed all expectations this year and has firmly planted himself in the first overall position. Michael Hrabal, G, Omaha Lancers (USHL), 61. 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. Welcome to Draft Prospects Hockey's introduction to the 2023 NHL Draft Class series. Ritchie is the complete package. His playmaking skills either at full speed or after settling in the offensive zone are impressive and make him a very mobile and skilled threat whenever he has the puck. In order to get away from scouting peewees, the WHL instituted a bantam draft. I was eager to see how Matthew Wood would adjust to the college game after dominated the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) where he led the league in goals and points as a 16-year-old. WHL Bantam Draft: December Top 22 - #5 - #1 January 1, 2021 | In General, WHL Draft | By Ashley It's The Final Countdown!!!! From my first live viewing of him two Octobers ago in St. Catharines when he looked like the Generals most talented forward in just the second game of his OHL career, to his four-goal, seven-point series in Oshawas six-game first-round defeat against the Frontenacs, to his Hlinka performance this summer, to my most recent live viewings of him both in Oshawa and in Langley at the CHL Top Prospects Game, Ritchie has consistently impressed me. He can beat you on the perimeter with his skill (highlighted by excellent one-on-one hands-on defenders). Etienne Morin, LD, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL), 50. They are: 1, 2-4, 5-6, 7-22, 23-33, 34-64+. The drafts order of selection depends on where the team finishes in the League standings. Max Domi (F) 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. . Hes a versatile, hard-working player who excels in pretty much every facet of the game, gets to the middle of the ice, and makes plays around the net through skill and timing. He has produced solid offense so far this year for the USA U-18 team which is made more impressive by the fact that he is usually playing on the second line behind the Smith, Moore, Perreault trio. This draft class marks a decade of me doing this work, and I still believe this 2023 group is rivalled only by 2015 among the talent pools Ive scouted to date. 7 overall in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft and he made his debut in 2019-20 playing in four games. He has a great shot, but more often than not he scores goals because he slipped his defender and managed to find the space and time necessary to score a goal. 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). Updated hourly, with analysis, commentary and features from hundreds writers worldwide, our articles are read over 5 million times every month. 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. The original owner of the team was Terry Simpson, the original . 3 in advance of any draft and the best Russian prospect since Alex Ovechkin. He passes the eye test. Not Cole Caufield. 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. Hes not just the energy guy though either. There are some whod like to see him get to the guts of the ice and battle a little more (he glides a little too much off of the puck offensively and defensively). 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. with the Wolverines). 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. His playmaking vision is solid but will likely never be his calling card. Hes got poise and patience on the puck. 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. He has also taken a step forward in terms of production, placing him firmly as one of the top-20 scorers in the WHL. On talent, and upside, and pedigree, his game checks all three boxes. The Scouting News. Connor McDavid (F) 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). However, first-year bantams had been playing at the peewee level the previous year, and in order to list first-year bantams, WHL Clubs needed to scout the peewee ranks. 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.
Restaurant Impossible Lynn Kegan Married, Articles W