Hes not just the energy guy though either. This season, after noticeably adding some needed muscle and rounding out his game nicely, I think he has shown folks that hell be able to stick down the middle. 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. Sign up for EP Premium to create your own ranking. 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). 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). The draft's top player this season is a borderline generational talent. Within his movement patterns, he can handle the puck on a string. 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. Without further ado, lets get into the January edition of my 2023 NHL Draft Rankings. 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. His performance at the 2023 World Juniors helped his draft stock a bit, though Austria was dominated by every team they played against. When hes around it, he can be a handful. Michael Hrabal, G, Omaha Lancers (USHL), 61. Dvorsky is a highly-talented and intelligent playmaker who can threaten defenders and coverage in a variety of ways, whether thats carving them up in control and finishing cleanly from the home plate area, or sliding off of coverage to find pockets of space to get open into. 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. Chloe Primerano was the Giants final selection in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft. Michael Hrabal, G (Omaha) He was theNo. Ethan Gauthier is one of the most consistent players in this draft class in terms of effort and habits, not just production. At this point I think his offensive abilities will at least make him a power play threat even if his skating never catches up. Scott Wheeler covers the NHL draft and prospects nationally for The Athletic. 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). Gauthier, the No. WHL Behind The Scenes - 2023 Road to Nashville. 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). 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. The . WHL Clubs prepare for deep 2022 WHL Prospects Draft 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. I love the way he slows down the game, adjusts and maneuvers his frame and shades pucks. Caden Price, LD, Kelowna Rockets (WHL), 35. But even when things arent going his way and the points arent falling, Ive always liked his involvement level, so its hard to get too down on him. Calum Ritchie has great puck skills and sometimes it looks like he has glued the puck to his stick while carving through defenders or when hes on a breakaway. Sports Apr 22, 2020 Winnipeg Ice select B.C. Tristan Bertucci, LHD (Flint) Denver Barkey, C, London Knights (OHL), 63. 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. He doesnt have any one skill that really pops out at you, but I find that hes good at pretty much everything. 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. Hes got everything else you look for in a dynamic play creator, too. It will be followed by my midseason top 64 (released in February), an updated top 32 following U18 Worlds. Elite Prospects - CCHL Bantam Protected Draft 2023 Hes got quick hands and instincts, with standout puck control and shading. To say he has met those expectations would be a profound understatement. Elite Prospects - WHL Bantam Draft 2023 He has also learned to use the attention his shot gets as a tool to open up passing and find linemates at the backdoor with blind passes through seams. One of the most skilled and slippery players in this draft is Andrew Cristall, the only draft eligible player in the WHL who has been able to roughly keep pace with Bedard in terms of production this year. Hameenaho has the strength and stick skills to not just battle well, but win puck battles and keep possession alive for his team. 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. 2008 Born for the 2023 WHL Draft | HFBoards - NHL Message Board and Western Hockey League makes changes to upcoming draft Its impossible not to. Gabriel Perrault looks like someone who could be a power play specialist at the next level with great skill and smarts in the offensive zone. Kalan Lind, C/LW, Red Deer Rebels (WHL), 46. Gauthier brings a lot to the table. On the puck, hes a multi-faceted playmaker who often looks like the player who was the No. 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. 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. Carson Rekhopf, C/LW, Kitchener Rangers (OHL), 60. He thrives in the small-area game, using light passes and rapid movements to play in and out of coverage. 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. The show will also include the unveiling of WHL Divisional Award Winners and All-Star Teams for the 2021-22 WHL season. 2022 WHL Prospects Draft Results - First Round #1 - Medicine Hat Tigers Name: Gavin McKenna Position: Forward Hometown: Whitehorse, Yukon Team: Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna U18 Prep Stats: 35 GP - 23G-42A-65 points #2 - Tri-City Americans Name: Jackson Smith Position: Defence Hometown: Calgary, Alta. 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 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. Musty is an athletic winger who can beat goalies with his hard shot or by crashing the net and scoring in tight. Preliminary Top 25 2023 WHL Draft Rankings Released 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. Paul Fischer, LHD (NTDP) Hes eager physically. Id eagerly bet on him. He problem-solves his way out of trouble as well as anyone in this age group. Manage Settings Its not that he plays poorly (he rarely does) but I dont see enough playmaking to warrant a top-20 slotting and hes a little sluggishfrom a standstill through his first few strides (once he gets moving, his stride actually has good power and hes a decent skater for his size on the whole). That will limit concerns about his height (he certainly hasnt played small in his freshman year so far). 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. WHL News. NHL Draft History 2021 Draft Rankings: Final 65-96 (May) Enter Player 2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Final 65-96 (May) Steve Kournianos | 5/25/2021 | [hupso] 1-32 | 33-64 | 65-96 | 97-128 | 129-160 | 0 replies Stanley Cup Playoffs: Round 1 Notebook (East and Central Divisions) 2021 Draft Rankings: Final 97-128 (May) ), but he has shown that his timing and puck protection skills are strong enough for him to succeed in college. 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. 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. Draftpro - an Introduction to The 2023 Draft Class - Whl His production has been disappointing so far this year, but his talent as a high-skill puck carrier is still clear.Otto Stenberg scores his first SHL goal and point! 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. NHL Draft Rankings: Horn's Top 64 for January Add in the strength and power that comes with his physically mature frame, an ability to drive and shed contact when he gets bumped, and a defensive conscience, and theres more than just a hands-shot-worker skill set. Alex Ciernik, LW/RW, Sdertlje SK J20 (J20 Nationell), 37. This kid is as prolific from long distance as any shooter Ive ever scouted. 2022 NHL Draft: WHL Players to Watch - FCHockey 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. 2023 Whl Bantam Draft - Elite Prospects 2023 Whl Bantam Draft Add to Favorites This is a custom user-submitted ranking. 2023 WHL bantam draft prospects - Toptin.org If he develops a bit more as a creator, Hameenaho could easily out-perform his draft slot. It often takes two to take the puck off of him when hes twisting and turning, too. Last year, he led Prince George in goals (30) and finished second in points (57, one back of Heidt). On February 5, 1992, the Rebels selected Mike McBain as their first player in the Bantam Draft. While hes got some work to do to get a little quicker from the jump in the games 10-foot races, he does have some power and balance through his stride to build upon and skates pretty well for his size and age. Theres his variety of shooting stances above and beyond that pop off of his hip (right down to his curl-and-drag, his one-timer, and his feel off of his backhand). The SHL demands a lot of players when it comes to physicality and defensive effort, both of which Carlsson has excelled at. So far, his offense has only improved, even considering the increased competition. 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. WHL Network Tigers sign Gavin McKenna, first overall selection in 2022 WHL Prospects Draft 9 months ago 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. The bantam draft allows for the orderly transfer of players to WHL Protected Player Lists (PPL) from the bantam ranks (13-14 year-olds). Players from non-North American countries are allowed to be added in the CHL Import Draft which is held in June. 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. Hes a good skater and should pick up another step as he gets stronger. Barlow was also named Captain of the Owen Sound Attack at just 17 which speaks to his maturity and leadership abilities. Because of his genetics, he should add the necessary weight and strength eventually. Jesse Kiiskinen, RW, Pelicans (Liiga), 36. Dylan McLaughlin (F) AHL. He just has a unique ability to impose his will on the game. And after how good he looked as an underager at U18 worlds in Germany last April, nobody has been surprised by his near goal-per-game breakout this season (in fact, I wrote I wont be surprised if he challenges Smith and Moore on the stat sheet this year while providing all of the energy that he does in my preseason ranking). Few centers in junior hockey enter their draft year as well-rounded as Nate Danielson. Hes a smooth skater. 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). He could use a bit more speed (who couldnt? He has shown a knack for making big plays at big moments. Eventually, when the points pile up like they have, and they happen making the kinds of plays that he does, you cant ignore them. When hes on, he can completely take over a game. He was more impressive than his already-impressive 61-points-in-68-games season last year (where he led the Cougars in scoring), and the same is true in his strong production on a middle-of-the-pack Cougars team this year. 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. It has been a few rough age groups for Russian defencemen but Gulyayevs got a chance to flip the script. But youll also see him make the heady escape play out of his own zone under pressure at five-on-five, or slide into a passing line to intercept a pass, or disrupt an opposing carrier with a tight gap and active stick. Check out his skating and awareness! For the 2010 bantam draft, players born in 1995 may be selected. 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. WHL Clubs send scouts to watch first-year bantams from the start of the minor hockey season. . Try a week on us. 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. He can push into space. Elite Prospects - Erste Liga Stats 2023-2024 ), a quick move into a pass, a sudden stop-up, or an attacking cut. 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 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. Hes as fun to watch with the puck on his stick as almost anyone in this draft. Only Hughes. Ive said it before and Ill say it again: Bedard can do things with the puck that nobody else in the sport can replicate. 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. 3 in advance of any draft and the best Russian prospect since Alex Ovechkin. And he just always seems to play well, no matter the role/usage/stage. You want the play to run through his hands and brain. C Berkly Catton - Spokane Chiefs, WHL (2024 Draft) 2023 NHL Draft: Breaking down the WHL Defensemen in the CHL Top Prospects game Joel Henderson. . Hes great along the wall on the cycle, but he can also occasionally make a play that pulls you out of your seat. Elite Prospects - Poland Stats 2023-2024 as a small but highly-involved forward who plays the game with energy and pace, making little skill plays between coverage. Connor McDavid (F) 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. I like the way he has learned to hunt and come up with pucks, too. In order to get away from scouting peewees, the WHL instituted a bantam draft. 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). WHL Prospects 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. Carlssons ability to find and make space off the puck is also impressive for such a young player playing against grown men. Hes also a very selfless player for his age who is quick to change in the offensive zone and will sooner make the right play than trying to overdo it. Its powerful when it needs to be and light and adjustable when it needs to be. Fantilli is currently authoring one of the most impressive draft eligible NCAA seasons in recent memory with the only competition being Jack Eichels dominant 2014-15 season where he put up 71 points in 40 games. 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. 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. 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. 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. The way he walks through coverage and hangs onto pucks is special. Hes the go-to center for the Cougars in the faceoff circle. In fact, its not even the only element of his shooting arsenal that is one of one. Last season was certainly a strange one for WHL scouts as they anticipated the task of two drafts in one calendar year. WHL Bantam Draft: December Top 22 - #5 - #1 - DN Scouting WHL Draft 2022: Prospects, Rankings, Predictions, Results - Sportsbugz (other than Brad Lambert who's half Sask) but we'll see how the kids develop. 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. Jakub Vrna (F) NHL. 2022 WHL Prospects Draft - First Round Order of Selection 1) Medicine Hat Tigers 2) Tri-City Americans 3) Victoria Royals 4) Calgary Hitmen 5) Swift Current Broncos 6) Regina Pats 7) Vancouver Giants 8) Spokane Chiefs 9) Prince George Cougars 10) Prince Albert Raiders 11) Lethbridge Hurricanes 12) Brandon Wheat Kings 13) Saskatoon Blades The 18-year-old has accumulated 54 points (25 goals, 29 assists) in 60 games so far this season. If he were guaranteed to be coming to the NHL next fall, a centre, and an inch or two taller, hed have a nearly perfect profile for me. Facebook; Twitter; Facebook Messenger; Pinterest; Email; print; The 2023 NHL draft will be held June 28 (Round 1) and June 29 (Rounds 2-7) at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. 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 has also proven to be a bit too good for the OHL, scoring over 30 goals in his draft-1 year and not being on pace to eclipse the 50-goal mark. 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. Arttu Karki, LHD (Tappara) 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. 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. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. 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. 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). Sign up for premium. 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. 2020 All rights reserved to Puck Preps. 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).