Without further ado, let's get to the 2023 draft board. Michael Hrabal, G (Omaha) Arttu Karki, LHD (Tappara) When you spend some time watching him and asking around about him, you quickly realize why. One of the most surprising junior players so far this year is Lukas Dragicevic who has put up points at well above a point per game rate in the WHL from the back end, making him the highest scoring defender in the league as of writing. Hes got impressive shooting mechanics given how long his stick is, and regularly pulls pucks into his feet to change his angle face-up against goalies. 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. Reinbacher has fallen slightly on my list through no fault of his own, but because of the excellent play of prospects around him. 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. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. 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. 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. Arttu Karki, LD, Tappara U20 (U20 SM-sarja), 49. Jacob Fowler, G (Youngstown) 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. 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. 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. And he always seems to be around it. 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. I wondered if my thoughts were altered by the late start and had an effect on how I viewed. Will Smith has established himself as one of the very best prospects in this draft with his continued dominance as a member of the United States National Team Development Program where he is scoring just under two points per game. Last year, he led Prince George in goals (30) and finished second in points (57, one back of Heidt). A slow start to the OHL season saw his draft stock swing way down, but his production has leveled up significantly of late, and hes beginning to rise again. 10 Puck Touches: . NHL Entry Draft -3004 - full list of selections with facts and stats. Luca Cagnoni, LD, Portland Winterhawks (WHL), 38. He uses his speed and skill to blow by defenders in the neutral zone and pressure in-zone defenders who struggle to anticipate his next move. Calgary, Alta. 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. Alex Ciernik, LW/RW, Sdertlje SK J20 (J20 Nationell), 37. Ferrari's 2023 NHL Draft Rankings: Mid-Season Top 50 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. 2020 All rights reserved to Puck Preps. Brindley is a 5-foot-9 forward who has been quite good in the NCAA as an 18-year-old, a very impressive feat. Though hes currently still nursing a lower-body injury he suffered in early January, before that, it didnt take long watching this years Kelowna Rockets to realize just how much offence he creates for himself and his teammates. Follow Scott on Twitter @scottcwheeler, Matvei Michkov. Mazden Leslie, RHD (Vancouver) Hes got high-end speed with his galloping crossover strides and strong acceleration from a standstill (with continued work to do to take his first two steps up a notch and find an even quicker gear), which help him carry the puck up the ice or join in transition as the trailer whenever he has to play catchup. 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. But hes also sturdy for his size, which allows him to extend plays, hang onto pucks when a quick attack isnt there, or delay for his linemates. 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. The Scouting News Hes going to be a transition monster. 2023 NHL Draft: Baracchini's Top 64 January Rankings He passes the eye test. 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. My best guess at a player who has great skill but might slide on draft day due to his height is Gavin Brindley. 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. The way he walks through coverage and hangs onto pucks is special. Elite Prospects - Erste Liga Stats 2023-2024 Watch out for Stenberg in the last months of the season, hes been playing better and better and I think hell go in the first round despite his lack of production in the SHL this year. The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) cares about your privacy. 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. 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. Zach Benson is one of the most skilled and creative players in this draft, and the only things holding him back from being a true top-five contender is his size and his underwhelming speed. 7 overall in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft and he made his debut in 2019-20 playing in four games. WHL Prospects Connor Levis, RW (Kamloops) Its hard to be a true top-of-the-lineup forward at his size, though, and I think he projects more as a complementary scorer who gives a lineup a bit of a different look. Wins it in OT for !!! He is so difficult for defenders to pin down because of the way he manipulates defenders movements (like waiting for them to turn their skates in one direction before darting in the other), and him being a right-handed centerman doesnt hurt either. 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. Cam Squires, RW (Cape Bretton) 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. Name. 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. 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. Reinbachers got pro size, desired handedness, and a really strong foundation of tools that all but guarantee hell become an NHLer. Denver Barkey, C, London Knights (OHL), 63. Ryan Leonard is a high energy winger who never takes his foot off the gas in terms of both speed and effort. 2023 Whl Bantam Draft - Elite Prospects 2023 Whl Bantam Draft Add to Favorites This is a custom user-submitted ranking. 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. pic.twitter.com/OOjR1KDavy. record-breaking performance at the World Juniors, be the smartest player in this draft class, The NHLs Top 100 Prospects Midseason Update, The NHLs Best Farm Systems Ranked Midseason Update, 10th overall in the 2022 CHL Import Draft, Every NHL Teams Top Prospect Midseason Update, Canucks Acquire Beauvillier & Raty From Islanders For Horvat, Bruins 3-Game Losing Streak Highlights Trade Deadline Needs, 2023 NHL Trade Deadline Tracker Live Updates, NHL Trade Bait List for the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline, NHL Rumors: Bruins, Coyotes, Senators, Maple Leafs, Oilers, Ken Holland Improved the Oilers at the 2023 Trade Deadline, Predators Poile Pulls Off Masterclass in Final Trade Deadline, Oilers Outperform Division Rivals at 2023 Trade Deadline, Will Smith 2023 NHL Draft Prospect Profile, Time for JT Miller to Prove Himself with the Canucks, Connor Bedard 2023 NHL Draft Prospect Profile, Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Murray, Zohorna, OReilly & Woll, Lightning Greatly Overpaid for Tanner Jeannot, 2023 NHL Trade Deadline Was a Wildly Lopsided Arms Race, Devils Didnt Need Flashy Move After Adding Meier, NHL Rumors: Canucks, Penguins, Flyers, Red Wings, Maple Leafs, Canucks Forgotten Ones: Mathieu Schneider, Bruins All-Time Best and Worst Trade Deadlines. 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. Im less and less convinced of that. 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. Nico Myatovic, LW (Seattle) 2022 NHL Draft: Zator's Top 64 February Rankings - The Hockey Writers 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. Jesse Nurmi, LW (KooKoo) He too often looks like the third guy on his line. 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). I think the bigger question is whether hes going to be more of a middle-six or a top-six one? He skates quite well for his size, hes got good hands and dexterity, hes got great feel and sense for the pressures that exist on the ice, and hes by all accounts a great teammate and kid who is coachable and pays attention to the details of the game. Gabriel Szturc, C (Kelowna) He thrives in the small-area game, using light passes and rapid movements to play in and out of coverage. You want the play to run through his hands and brain. 2020 All rights reserved to Puck Preps. 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. 2023 WHL Draft Ranking Update: . 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. Name. 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 the World Junior Hockey Championship coming. He was theNo. C Berkly Catton - Spokane Chiefs, WHL (2024 Draft)
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