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. Selected first overall in the WHL bantam draft that year, he played 22 games with the Winnipeg Ice in 2019-20 when he became . 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. But for now, here are my top-64 prospects for the 2022 Draft. Fantilli is a big, strong, powerful kid who takes pucks from the wall to the interior with force, and ease, and speed. with the Wolverines). 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. 3 in advance of any draft and the best Russian prospect since Alex Ovechkin. 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. The top 50 drafted NHL prospects ranking, 2023 edition:1. Players from non-North American countries are allowed to be added in the CHL Import Draft which is held in June. There arent many players in this draft class whove come along quite like Sandin Pellikka has in the last year or so. Western Hockey League makes changes to upcoming draft Arttu Karki, LHD (Tappara) Hesa clever beyond belief, maneuverable facilitator and playmaker who plays the game with a light touch and a heady spatial awareness of not only where his teammates are, but where he is in the flow of play (and relative to defenders). Hes also well-regarded as a great kid who is easy to coach and understands whats required of a centre. Hell make plays through seams. Mix in a multi-dimensional shooting arsenal and I see top-six upside. 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. If he can become a second-pairing offensively-inclined defenceman at even strength, and a PP1 QB, that has value in the middle of the first round. He walks the line and bends coverage as an impressive and tactical power-play quarterback. His statistical profile is really strong and continued progress in his skating (which has also noticeably improved this year) will keep it that way into the NHL. This is a multi-part series which we will be releasing over the next couple weeks to give you the readers some insight on whom we feel is the cream of the crop for 2023. 2020 All rights reserved to Puck Preps. He uses his body to gain inside positioning on defenders and shields pucks effectively. In the 2021-22 season, Gulyayev set a new MHL (the top Russian junior league) record for points by a 16-year-old defenseman with 35 points in 54 games. I dont think hes going to become the kind of star that youre hoping to get when you draft him in the 5-7 range that some expected him to land in this year, but hes got 2C, PP1 upside if he can fill out his game and continue to add dimension. 2023 NHL Draft top 32 prospects: Scott Wheeler's preseason rankings Denver Barkey, C, London Knights (OHL), 63. whl - PuckPreps 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. Riley Heidt C, Prince George Cougars, 5-foot-11. Luke Mittelstadt, LHD (U. of Minnesota) 2023 whl bantam draft prospects - bfa.tamc.info When you spend some time watching him and asking around about him, you quickly realize why. 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. Its not just his dominant, record-breaking performance at the World Juniors, dragging an underperforming Canada team to the gold medal, and its not just his 12 goals and 16 points in five games since returning to the WHL. 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. 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). Hes a classic example of a jack of all trades, master of none, with solid scores across the board when it comes to defensive play, playmaking, skating and shooting, with none of those individual skills popping off the page at you. After the draft is completed, all the remaining bantams become eligible to be listed by teams, and many will be added as spots become available on Clubs PPLs, or as a players talents improve or are more noticeable at a later date or at a higher level of hockey. as a small but highly-involved forward who plays the game with energy and pace, making little skill plays between coverage. Brayden Yager has been talked about in the public scouting sphere for nearly as long as Connor Bedard, being drafted third overall in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft and winning the CHL Rookie of the Year award last year on the back of a remarkable 34-goal, 59-point rookie season. Hes a natural scorer and creator, but hes also got plus vision and deft touch (though I wouldnt say his creativity is necessarily a strength). close. The biggest arguments against him are his size and skating, since a 5-foot-10 winger often needs to be an above average skater to make an impact in the NHL and Cristall is not quite there. On talent, and upside, and pedigree, his game checks all three boxes. 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. I love the way he shields pucks and waits for his opportunities to attack. The WHL Bantam Draft is only one step in this process. 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 also a dexterous player who has good size (which will fill out). Alex Ciernik, LW/RW, Sdertlje SK J20 (J20 Nationell), 37. Hes a marvel, with legit 50-goal upside at the next level. He provides a ton of offense in transition as well as in the offensive zone where he seems to create scoring chances at will. Elite Prospects - NHL Entry Draft -3004 Elite Prospects - NHL Entry Draft -2998 Honourable mentions (sorted alphabetically): Beau Akey, RHD (Barrie) Ryan Leonard is a high energy winger who never takes his foot off the gas in terms of both speed and effort. 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, January Top-80 2023 OHL Draft Ranking Update, 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, 14 2008-born Defensemen profiles from Sask First Top-160, 2022 WHL Draft Review: From Prince George to Winnipeg, 2023 NHL Draft: Breaking down the WHL Defensemen in the CHL Top Prospects game. 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. Hes a rare kind of player where hes got A-grade tools across the board, and star talent in spades, but hes also got an efficiency to his game that is incrediblyrare for a skilled player (especially one his age). Evasive. Ondrej Molnar, LW (Erie) Hes always moving. The bantam draft allows for the orderly transfer of players to WHL Protected Player Lists (PPL) from the bantam ranks (13-14 year-olds). Barlow was also named Captain of the Owen Sound Attack at just 17 which speaks to his maturity and leadership abilities. It has been a few rough age groups for Russian defencemen but Gulyayevs got a chance to flip the script. 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. NHL. Player Rankings - PuckPreps I think hes going to be a star regardless. Hunter Brzustewicz, RD, Kitchener Rangers (OHL), 43. Welcome to Draft Prospects Hockey's introduction to the 2023 NHL Draft Class series. Of course, there are also some prospects who dropped in this edition of my rankings, including Brayden Yager and David Reinbacher. WHL Draft 2022: Prospects, Rankings, Predictions, Results - Sportsbugz I like the way he has learned to hunt and come up with pucks, too. 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 started to come on before the world juniors, though, and then he was good in a bottom-six role for Team USA and he has played quite well in his return to college hockey. Cameron Allen, RD, Guelph Storm (OHL), 62. . 2023 NHL Draft: Baracchini's Top 64 January Rankings January 13, 2023 by Peter Baracchini Welcome back to my 2023 NHL Draft Rankings. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. WHL Network. Hes different than Bedard in tools and approach. Hes also outscoring most of the WHL for that matter, dominating the opposition when he has possession. If he were a little bigger, hed be a scouts dream. 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. 2023 is obviously way far out but 8 Sask . Manage Settings Continue with Recommended Cookies. He sustained an injury during the World Juniors that has kept him out of play for a while, but hopefully he can return to dominating the WHL soon. Sign up for EP Premium to create your own ranking. His June birthday makes him one of the younger players on this list and he has already accomplished a lot, including leading a Slovak Hlinka Gretzky Cup team that featured Juraj Slafkovsky and Filip Mesar in scoring as an underager, producing well above a point per game in Swedens J20 level last year, and now producing in his draft year in the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan (while clicking at two points per game in stints back down at J20). Hes an up-tempo playmaker and dynamic skater (in straight lines, through his three-step acceleration from a standstill, and around corners through his crossovers) who looks to involve himself more than you might expect at his size. Expectations were unfairly high for Connor Bedard coming into his draft year, with the generational talent label floating around in many draft conversations. Gabriel Szturc, C (Kelowna) Jake Leschyshyn - Wikipedia 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. 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) We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. He doesnt have any one skill that really pops out at you, but I find that hes good at pretty much everything. 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. His skating is average in my eyes and so is his defending, but his offensive skill and smarts package could get him a look even higher on draft day as theres not a single NHL team who wouldnt love an offensive defender as dynamic as Dragicevic. Team management chose the name "Rebels". Without further ado, let's get to the 2023 draft board. Jayden Perron is an excellent play-driving winger with tons of offensive talent. 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. Connor Levis, RW (Kamloops) He shows off his edgework and hands best while playing through traffic as he just seems to be nearly impossible to nail down and knock off the puck. 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. His skill and power combination make him a nightmare for defenders as he can beat you with his hands or by tossing his large frame into you to protect the puck. 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. He just has a unique ability to impose his will on the game. Noah Dower Nilsson is purely an offensive player at this point, but hes a very skilled one. Connor Bedard has made the competition for first overall a one horse race, absolutely dominating at the World Juniors where he clearly looked several steps ahead of his competitors Adam Fantilli and Leo Carlsson. Im not talking about him compared to other prospects in this draft. He was the CHL Rookie of the Year (on 34 goals). ), a quick move into a pass, a sudden stop-up, or an attacking cut. When he does go there, too, Ive seen him show that dexterity he has getting sticks on tips and redirects. . But at this point in time theres also only one player in the history of the U.S. NTDP who has produced at a higher points per game clip in their draft year than Perreault has this season: Jack Hughes. David Edstrom, C (Frolunda) 7 overall in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft and he made his debut in 2019-20 playing in four games. I wondered if my thoughts were altered by the late start and had an effect on how I viewed. Theres a lot to work with though. Oliver Bonk, RD, London Knights (OHL), 48. Scott Wheeler covers the NHL draft and prospects nationally for The Athletic. Ziemmer is a December 2004 who was selected with the No. 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. While he benefits from playing with talented linemates, Bensons a driver in every sense. 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). Few centers in junior hockey enter their draft year as well-rounded as Nate Danielson. Despite his diminutive size, hes also a smart player off of the puck and Ive been struck by how often hes in the right position above the puck to hold play inside the offensive zone (I absolutely get why he was named an alternate captain). Bedard has crushed all expectations this year and has firmly planted himself in the first overall position. 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. He loves attacking defenders and beating them in one-on-one skill battles. 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. Mike Glemser (F) Germany3. Chloe Primerano was the Giants final selection in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft. Preliminary Top 25 2023 WHL Draft Rankings Released I see clear, projectable top-six tools as a play-creating winger and Im not the least bit worried about him doing it against NHL defences because of how hard he is to pin down. I dont see a lot to nitpick in either his tools or his approach. Elite Prospects - Poland Stats 2023-2024 Carlssons ability to find and make space off the puck is also impressive for such a young player playing against grown men. Now that the 2023 World Juniors are firmly in the rearview mirror, its time to take another deep-dive into the top prospects for the 2023 Draft. pic.twitter.com/ZNwH9wYcC0 Pavel Barber (@HeyBarber) January 3, 2023, WELCOME TO THE BEDARD SHOW! His consistency, effort, speed, and skill make him a coachs dream even though he doesnt have the dynamic offensive qualities of some of his peers. 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 midseason ranking divides into six tiers. 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 was an alternate captain and second-leading scorer at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and isan alternate captain and leading scorer with Moose Jaw. Bedards statistical profile speaks for itself: 28 points in 15 games as a 15-year-old in the WHL, two points per game at U18 worlds as a double underager, 51 goals and 100 points on a dreadful team at 16, six goals in four games at U18 Worlds as an underager this time (in what wasnt even his best hockey), 13 goals and 31 points in 14 world juniors games (after forcing his way onto the first of those three teams by torching the selection camp), and now, as a 17-year-old who wont turn 18 until July (we can almost forget that! Jesse Kiiskinen, RW, Pelicans (Liiga), 36. He keeps his head up in the neutral and defensive zones and is a confident puck carrier on exits and entries. I love the way he slows down the game, adjusts and maneuvers his frame and shades pucks. Publishing date 2022-12-21 User Anonymous Views 12926 Favorited 2 Share Embed 2023 WHL Draft Rankings - TOP 50 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. The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) cares about your privacy. With the puck on his stick, hes a treat to watch. Sign up for EP Premium to create your own ranking. Connor Bedard, C, Regina (WHL), 5-foot-10, 187 pounds. Because of his genetics, he should add the necessary weight and strength eventually. Fantilli is currently averaging about one and a half points per game on a University of Michigan team filled to the brim with talent. 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. 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. He looks to take instead of give in the neutral zone, regularly stepping up to try to bump puck carriers off possession and force dumps (though there are times when that style can leave him chasing if his timings off or hes flatfooted). Spokane Chiefs to select first overall in 2021 WHL Prospects Draft 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). Wins it in OT for !!! by. 5 pick into the WHL, was a point-per-game player and one of Brandons top producers last season before being named captain for his draft year. He has been impressive thus far, scoring six points in 14 games with Sochi, with four of those points being goals. Jaden Lipinski, C (Vancouver) Thank you for your interest in our network of websites, newsletters, and other services. 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 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). The way he wheels across the top of the circles and then play-makes from the high slot is special. His head is always up and on a swivel and he does a good job pre-surveying the ice when hes going back to get pucks through frequent shoulder checks. Hes still got room to get stronger, too, so its not as though hes a finished product. Last season was certainly a strange one for WHL scouts as they anticipated the task of two drafts in one calendar year. Beyond his natural skill in possession, he also impresses with his smarts with the puck, his cerebral play style, and his ability to play to his linemates. After being selected 10th overall in the 2022 CHL Import Draft by the Vancouver Giants, Samuel Honzek has done nothing but impress in his first season in North America. 1 or No. He passes the eye test. I think the bigger question is whether hes going to be more of a middle-six or a top-six one? 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. 2022 NHL Draft: Zator's Top 64 February Rankings - The Hockey Writers Hes just a rock-solid, projectable two-way defenceman. 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 too often looks like the third guy on his line. He has a great release on his shot, and he has a knack for manipulating shooting lanes or goalie positioning in just a split second to give himself a better scoring chance. The way he patrolled the blue line for Sweden on the powerplay was very impressive and the trust that he earned from his coaches as a 17-year-old spoke volumes. The SHL demands a lot of players when it comes to physicality and defensive effort, both of which Carlsson has excelled at. 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. 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. Try a week on us. 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. Hes got gallops, cutbacks, crossovers, all of it. And he likes to try to take D one-on-one, which can result in some high-end plays but also some turnovers. 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. He is a very intelligent offensive player and can make these great reads and plays at full speed. Nico Myatovic, LW (Seattle) Note: Though I consult scouts, coaches, general managers, team staff, and agents in building my draft boards, the following evaluations are strictly my own. . 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. He projects as a pass-first playmaking centre with a middle-six floor, first-line potential, and clear PP value (in multiple roles, too, because hes great around the net and below the goal line but can also run it from the flank). 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. Related: The NHLs Top 100 Prospects Midseason Update. Wins it in OT for !!! 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). Follow Scott on Twitter @scottcwheeler, Matvei Michkov. There was a time when folks thought Musty was the best American-born 2005 prospect and while thats no longer the case theres still a lot to get excited about. Youll commonly see him activate to lead plays into the offensive zone and create something. Moores game is defined by his skating (both in straight lines, where he turns defenders with ease out wide, and in quick bursts from explosive stops and starts) and presence on the ice. 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 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. There have been Lane Hutson (2022 Draft), Olen Zellweger (2021 Draft), Logan Stankoven (2020 Draft), and Cole Caufield (2019 Draft), to name a few.