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. 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. Sign up for premium. Im less and less convinced of that. They are: 1, 2-4, 5-6, 7-22, 23-33, 34-64+. In order to get away from scouting peewees, the WHL instituted a bantam draft. by. Carson Bjarnasson, G, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL), 47. I think hes going to be a star regardless. ), but he has shown that his timing and puck protection skills are strong enough for him to succeed in college. 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. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Id eagerly bet on him. 2022-2023 regular season player stats for CSDHL 13U, including top goal scorers, most games played, PPG leaders and more. Check out his skating and awareness! Jake Leschyshyn (/ l s n / leh-SIH-shuhn; born March 10, 1999) is an American-born Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Id like to see him go past effective and really take over more, but he makes his fair share of plays, hes a sub-.500 teams leading scorer, and it does feel like he has middle-six centre written all over him. Jesse Kiiskinen, RW, Pelicans (Liiga), 36. While there are some great prospects in the top-five of the draft, theres no doubt that Bedard is the reason teams are tanking. 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. He is very intentional with his routes, offensively and defensively, which should help him stick at the centre position long term. A few of the players who have moved up substantially on this board are Zach Benson, Oliver Moore, and Colby Barlow. 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. Reinbacher has fallen slightly on my list through no fault of his own, but because of the excellent play of prospects around him. Hes eager physically. Axel Sandin Pellikka is a right-handed offensive defenseman who has put up points at a remarkable rate in J20 Nationell, the top Swedish junior league. WHL announces details for 2022 WHL Prospects Draft Lottery and 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. One of the USHLs most talented players, Perron got off to a hot start, was briefly halted by an eight-game December stretch that saw him register justone assist, and has really turned it back on to play his best hockey of late. 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. 2022 NHL Draft: Zator's Top 64 February Rankings - The Hockey Writers Tom Willander, RD, Rgle BK J20 (J20 Nationell), 57. Oscar Fisker Molgaard, C (HV71) Hes the kind of player who fills the stat sheet andelevates his linemates in subtle ways. With the puck on his stick, hes a treat to watch. 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. 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. Related: Early Look at the 2024 NHL Draft. Hes got poise and patience on the puck. Cameron Allen, RD, Guelph Storm (OHL), 62. And while hell fade in stretches, the talent level is clear. 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). And while hes probably not going to be a star at the next level, I like Ziemmer as a potential second-line winger who can contribute offensively in a variety of ways. Evasive. Dvorsky has shown solid defensive play so far against men and his vision and puck skills have looked right at home, especially on the power play. Some scorers tunnel-vision the net and even though the goalie is his focus, theres a lot to his game between the offensive-zone blue line and the shot he takes thats inventive. February 2023 OHL Draft Ranking Update Jordan Malette 2023 Canada Winter Games Recap - Eastern Canada Brayden Olafson 2023 Canada Winter Games: Gold Medal Game Report - Team Saskatchewan Joel Henderson 2023 Canada Winter Games: Gold Medal Game Report - Team Ontario Jordan Malette Four 2005-born standout defenders in the CHL Sam McGilligan He currently leads the Giants in scoring and is among the top scorers in the WHL at large. 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. 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. close. WHL bantam draft: A foot in the door, but not the be-all and - Yahoo! 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. 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. Although he is just 5-foot-9, Perron is earning more and more buzz as a potential first rounder due to his excellent skating, playmaking, and offensive awareness. Still, though he is a dominant junior player and could chase down a 50-goal season this year, its also fair to ask if his advanced growth gives him less runway for improvement (he really does look like a man already). Ravndahl was selected by Portland in the fourth round, 83 rd overall in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft. Related: The NHLs Best Farm Systems Ranked Midseason Update. And while his game is bullish, hes also got surprising soft skill. 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. I expect him to become a top point producer in college at the University of North Dakota, too. Martin Misiak, RW/LW (Youngstown) Still, I would argue hes been a more consistent offensive player for Moose Jaw this season than Kraken prospect Jagger Firkus has been, while playing an off-puck game that is inarguably stronger than Firkus (he has also been a dangerous penalty killer and is decently-strong in the faceoff circle). This year, though he has struggled defensively in his limited minutes in the KHL, he has looked dominant at both ends in his returns to the MHL and comfortable in the second-tier VHL. I wondered if my thoughts were altered by the late start and had an effect on how I viewed. 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. 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. January 2023 WHL Draft Ranking update | Top-80 Joel Henderson. Bradly Nadeau, C, Penticton Vees (BCHL), 39. Hes got a great release. I think theres a small chance he becomes a star or close with the right development, too. He was the No. Brindley is a 5-foot-9 forward who has been quite good in the NCAA as an 18-year-old, a very impressive feat. Hes got really quick side-to-side hands, a hardshot that rattles off of his stick, and quick crossover patterns that allow him to use those hands to get to places where he can look to shoot. 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. 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. The SHL demands a lot of players when it comes to physicality and defensive effort, both of which Carlsson has excelled at. Its not often we see players his size who can move like him. He provides a ton of offense in transition as well as in the offensive zone where he seems to create scoring chances at will. Jacob Fowler, G (Youngstown) We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 2023 NHL Draft: Baracchini's Top 64 January Rankings January 13, 2023 by Peter Baracchini Welcome back to my 2023 NHL Draft Rankings. Michael Hrabal, G, Omaha Lancers (USHL), 61. Michael Hrabal, G (Omaha) 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). Hes also a strong skater who is light on his edges, builds speed quickly into flight to put defenders on their heels and/or create separation, leads a lot of neutral-zone carries into entries, and makes plays into space for himself or his linemates at pace. The show will also include the unveiling of WHL Divisional Award Winners and All-Star Teams for the 2021-22 WHL season. Michkov wasnt earning regular minutes in the KHL earlier this year, so he was loaned to HK Sochi which is one of the KHLs bottom feeders so that he could get substantial ice time. WHL Draft Territory Alberta - British Columbia - Manitoba - Northwest Territories - Saskatchewan - Yukon Alaska - Arizona - California - Colorado - Hawaii - Idaho - Kansas - Minnesota - Montana - Nebraska - Nevada - New Mexico - North Dakota - Oklahoma - Oregon - South Dakota - Texas - Utah - Washington - Wyoming He is a very intelligent offensive player and can make these great reads and plays at full speed. We seldom see them play big minutes in a good league, though even when theyre on the older side, like Reinbacher is with his October birthday. Not Clayton Keller. 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. Chloe Primerano was the Giants final selection in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft. His transition play and wicked shot make him the most important player on his team on many nights. His near point-per-game production at the top of the Huskies stat sheet comes a year after he led the BCHL in goals (45 in 46 games) and points (85) for a 1.85 points-per-game clip that stands as the most productive 16-year-old season in the league in decades, besting Alex Newhook(1.47), Kyle Turris (1.26), Tyson Jost (0.98), and Kent Johnson (0.81) while being four months younger than Johnson was at the time. This ranking follows my way-too-early top 26, my preseason top 32 (released in August), and my preliminary top 64 (released in November). Sign up for EP Premium to create your own ranking. 2023 whl bantam draft prospects - bfa.tamc.info Hes got one of the best shooting actions in motion Ive ever seen. Before the season began, many people saw Otto Stenberg as a top-10 prospect for this draft following his incredible performance for Team Sweden at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. 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. When he does go there, too, Ive seen him show that dexterity he has getting sticks on tips and redirects. Check out his skating and awareness! 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. Ferrari's 2023 NHL Draft Rankings: Mid-Season Top 50 NHL Entry Draft -3004 - full list of selections with facts and stats. 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. He walks the line and bends coverage as an impressive and tactical power-play quarterback. Perron, who didnt go the popular prep school route in Western Canada, was a terror in Manitobas minor hockey ranks who stepped right into the titanic Steel last season and immediately flashed his skill with the puck, producing 48 points in 63 games to earn USHL All-Rookie Second Team honours. He plans things out on the ice at speed and then finds ways to make his desired play. A number of years ago, WHL Clubs were allowed to list first-year bantam players as of a set date in September. 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. 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. Danielson plays a well-rounded two-way game, is a proficient penalty killer, wants to make a difference in all areas when hes on the ice and blends good overall skill with his effort. Within his movement patterns, he can handle the puck on a string. Theres work to do to get a little quicker from a standstill, and that leaves some believing hes more of a mid-to-late first than an upper-half-of-the-first guy, but hes better suited as a playmaker and finisher than a power forward type anyways. WHL Bantam Draft 2023 - full list of selections with facts and stats. The best way to define Fantilli is the way one USHL source once described him to me: Hes a horse.. And he just always seems to play well, no matter the role/usage/stage. He has the potential to make a real impact in the NHL as soon as next year considering his success on both ends of the ice in Sweden thus far. Hunter Brzustewicz, RD, Kitchener Rangers (OHL), 43. 2023 is obviously way far out but 8 Sask . Scott has written for the Toronto Star, the Globe and Mail, The Toronto Sun, the National Post, SB Nation and several other outlets in the past. 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. 2023 NHL Draft: Baracchini's Top 64 January Rankings Hes got everything else you look for in a dynamic play creator, too. Everett, by virtue of finishing with the third-best overall record in the 2021-22 regular season, will select 20th overall in the first round. He uses his body to gain inside positioning on defenders and shields pucks effectively. Get the inside scoop on the top prospects in the world with our comprehensive grading system and access to career stats, data, and news stories . When hes around it, he can be a handful. 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. Connor McDavid (F) 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). He takes smart routes with and without the puck, he has become a reliable three-zone player, and the skill is there (hes got superb puck control skill). Elite Prospects - CCHL Bantam Protected Draft 2023 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. 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. Scott Wheeler covers the NHL draft and prospects nationally for The Athletic. 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). Hes great along the wall on the cycle, but he can also occasionally make a play that pulls you out of your seat. WHL Draft - WHL Prospects Last year, he led Prince George in goals (30) and finished second in points (57, one back of Heidt). 2023 Whl Draft Projected Rankings - Elite Prospects 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. I think hes going to play in the NHL next year and be successful on raw ability from the jump. 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. 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. Adam Gajan, G (Chippewa/Green Bay) 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. NHL Draft 2023 top 64 prospects: Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli headline Ethan Gauthier is one of the most consistent players in this draft class in terms of effort and habits, not just production. NHL Entry Draft -3005 - full list of selections with facts and stats. His playmaking vision is solid but will likely never be his calling card. Hes excellent in puck protection twisting away from coverage to make things happen along the boards. On February 5, 1992, the Rebels selected Mike McBain as their first player in the Bantam Draft. The . Lenni Hameenaho has been an early riser this year, establishing himself as a prospect to watch while playing in the Finnish Liiga where he has scored at roughly a half point per game pace as a draft year player. He loves attacking defenders and beating them in one-on-one skill battles. Trending Players. 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). Roman Kantserov, LW/C, Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk (MHL_, 53. 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. Jesse Nurmi, LW (KooKoo) I love the way he slows down the game, adjusts and maneuvers his frame and shades pucks. 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. He keeps his head up in the neutral and defensive zones and is a confident puck carrier on exits and entries. Yager is a prospect that I fully expect to still be drafted very early on draft day, I just havent been that impressed with his game this year. Once the true cream of the crop in this class are gone, hes the kind of talent Id swing on in the second round. 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). Theres a lot to work with though. Etienne Morin, LD, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL), 50. The raw potential is there in spades and the production is starting to catch up to it. Hes got really good edges and mobility, though he doesnt have the speed in straight lines to pull away from faster chasers. If he were a little bigger, hed be a scouts dream. 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. WHL Clubs prepare for deep 2022 WHL Prospects Draft He has also shown a little more fire. During the bantam draft (typically held in early May), players from the four Western Provinces and the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming are eligible to be selected. 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. Koehn Ziemmer is another pro-built winger who loves to shoot the puck hard whenever given the chance. pic.twitter.com/ZNwH9wYcC0 Pavel Barber (@HeyBarber) January 3, 2023, WELCOME TO THE BEDARD SHOW!