pic.twitter.com/OOjR1KDavy. If this werent a draft that also featured Bedard and Benson, he was in the midst of one of the most productive draft-eligible seasons in recent WHL history (pacing to outproduce, for example, the 106 in 69 that 2011 No. There has been a lot of hockey since my last rankings and tons of prospects are on the move as a result. Hes got superb vision and ranks among the best in the class at dissecting coverage as a passer. When he tries things and he often does hes never trying them out of desperation but rather intention. Hes got gallops, cutbacks, crossovers, all of it. Sign up for premium. I believe Michkov could still easily be the second overall pick even though hes playing in Russia and has a contract that will keep him playing in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) for three full seasons following the draft. Hes a treat to watch in possession and processes the game at such an advanced and rapid level. He is agile enough that I expect hell be very successful on zone entries in the NHL some day, giving his team a chance to control play in the offensive zone whenever he touches the puck. Arttu Karki, LD, Tappara U20 (U20 SM-sarja), 49. He has even driven results at both ends in those minutes, with a positive goal differential on an under-.500 team that has been outscored pretty significantly on the whole this season. 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. He doesnt have any one skill that really pops out at you, but I find that hes good at pretty much everything. Hedid that after notching five points in five games at lastyears Hlinka Gretzky Cup as a young 16-year-old, too. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. When you think youve got him trapped, you usually dont. Without further ado, let's get to the 2023 draft board. He can beat you on the perimeter with his skill (highlighted by excellent one-on-one hands-on defenders). This year, after getting off to a bit of a slow start (one goal and five points in his first eight games), he has really come on. Hes a good skater and should pick up another step as he gets stronger. After a solid showing at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer, Quentin Musty was considered by many to be the best U.S. born prospect in this draft class. He can pick apart opposing defenses with pin-point passes and sly fakes, and his effort level is admirable. Fantilli is currently averaging about one and a half points per game on a University of Michigan team filled to the brim with talent. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. When hes on, he can completely take over a game. NHL Entry Draft -3004 - full list of selections with facts and stats. 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. 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. 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. 17, is one of the top prospects for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft , even though he was denied exceptional status by the WHL in 2019. Thank you for your interest in our network of websites, newsletters, and other services. Without further ado, lets get into the January edition of my 2023 NHL Draft Rankings. 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. Eventually, when the points pile up like they have, and they happen making the kinds of plays that he does, you cant ignore them. With a little more consistency and some maturity, theres a top-six playmaking winger there. Tyler Peddle, LW (Drummondville) Benson is currently outscoring two of his teammates in Matthew Savoie and Conor Geekie who were both drafted in the top-11 of the 2022 Draft. So far, his offense has only improved, even considering the increased competition. 2022 NHL Entry Draft Rankings First Round 1. 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. Hes also well-regarded as a great kid who is easy to coach and understands whats required of a centre. 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. He can beat you along the wall on the cycle. Related: The NHLs Top 100 Prospects Midseason Update. 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. Stenberg is never the biggest guy on the ice, but hell drop a shoulder and push his way to the dangerous areas of the ice without hesitation. Arttu Karki, LHD (Tappara) WHL Network. 2023 WHL Draft Ranking Update: . 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. 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. Ethan Gauthier is one of the most consistent players in this draft class in terms of effort and habits, not just production. 1 pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins posted). Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. The bantam draft allows for the orderly transfer of players to WHL Protected Player Lists (PPL) from the bantam ranks (13-14 year-olds). 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. Note: Though I consult scouts, coaches, general managers, team staff, and agents in building my draft boards, the following evaluations are strictly my own. 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. Team management chose the name "Rebels". Moore has identified himself as the second best prospect out of the NTDP this season, behind only Will Smith (and the gap isnt that big in my mind). 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. Hes as fun to watch with the puck on his stick as almost anyone in this draft. Hes got an impressive one-timer from the right flank and can really lean into and rip his catch-and-release or in-stride wrister. Beckett Hendrickson, C (NTDP) That is, of course . 2023 is obviously way far out but 8 Sask . 3 pick in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft. If he can add another gear (or two) to his max speed, Benson would be an absolute force in transition. This had many drawbacks including the need for extensive scouting systems along with the related expense, as well the added pressure on peewee-aged players (12-13 year-olds). 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. Barlow plays a direct, intentional game built around great hands, a physically mature pro frame, and an NHL shot (he can cleanly beat goalies from mid-range). 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, 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, 2022 WHL Draft Review: From Prince George to Winnipeg, 2023 NHL Draft: Breaking down the WHL Defensemen in the CHL Top Prospects game, Rocky Mountain Classic 2022: Rambling Part Two, 9 forwards who impressed at the Graham Tuer U15 Challenge, Preliminary Top 25 2023 WHL Draft Rankings Released. However, his real calling card is his shot which ranks near the top of the draft class in terms of deception and power. Ive seen him create breakaways with ease, win races he should, and send defenders sliding when he stops up on them with a head of steam. Hes a strong, pro-built, physically mature winger (some of which is a benefit of his 2004 birthday, but some of which is obviously a credit to the work he has put into filling out his frame he really does look sturdy) who likes to shoot the puck and shoots it hard, but also regularly beats defenders and goalies one-on-one with a slick set of hands across his body so that they cant plan for the shot. 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. 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. 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. 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. The draft's top player this season is a borderline generational talent. 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 Problem-solving. We sometimes see draft-eligible D play their full draft year in a professional league. Catton is the early front runner for 1st overall in next years WHL bantam draft and has recently been granted exceptional player status to play up in Midget AAA next year for the Saskatoon Contacts as a underage player. Hes also got an accurate shot from midrange, and regularly picks corners. Tuomas Uronen, RW (HIFK), (Illustration: John Bradford / The Athletic; photos: Jamie Crawford, Minas Panagiotakis, Dennis Pajot / Getty Images). If he can keep up that pace then he could very well lock himself in as the second best prospect in the draft. Hes gotdecent hands when he pushes through the middle. Maxim Strbak, RD, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL), 40. I expect him to become a top point producer in college at the University of North Dakota, too. His transition play and wicked shot make him the most important player on his team on many nights. 2023-2024 relegation player stats for Erste Liga, including top goal scorers, most games played, PPG leaders and more. The U18 teams first line of Smith, Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault has been piling up points and attention (deservedly so) this year, but Ive been as impressed by Moore and the offence he has created as the focal point of its second line. 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. Hes got time to put it all together given his summer birthday, too. 2023 NFL Mock Draft . Hes different than Bedard in tools and approach. Hes the go-to center for the Cougars in the faceoff circle. 33. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Wood is 6-foot-3 so his ability to make plays in tight to his skates at speed while maintaining control is very impressive for his size. Hes just a natural creator for himself and others who manufactures offence in a variety of ways. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. 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.