While he benefits from playing with talented linemates, Bensons a driver in every sense. He can beat you along the wall on the cycle. There are the little delays and stutters he uses to create separation and get to his spots. 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). 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. His consistent game-to-game impact, whenever Ive sat down to do watch the 2005s at the NTDP on tape, has struck me as well. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. He can definitely drift a little at five-on-five but his eyes light up and his head swivels when the puck lands on his stick, and skill plays against the grain usually follow. In order to get away from scouting peewees, the WHL instituted a bantam draft. League. He credited the Mintos for helping prepare him to make the jump to Major Junior hockey. The way he walks through coverage and hangs onto pucks is special. After the 1st round, the Clubs select in order from fewest to most regular season points. When hes around it, he can be a handful. So far, his offense has only improved, even considering the increased competition. Hell make plays through seams. 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. Sign up for EP Premium to create your own ranking. 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. Scott Ratzlaff, G (Seattle) Hes the go-to center for the Cougars in the faceoff circle. Hes a smooth skater who is noticeable in transition for both his ability to weave up ice and facilitate and also his ability to create breakaways for himself and beat goalies one-on-one. 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. Connor Bedard, C, Regina (WHL), 5-foot-10, 187 pounds. Sign up for premium. Dylan McLaughlin (F) AHL. Go Premium for Elite Prospects Support. 2002 Rankings. Jesse Nurmi, LW (KooKoo) Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. While that bent-sideways cannon that he has off of his right hip is his defining quality, its not the only tool he has that is singular, either. 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. He walks the line and bends coverage as an impressive and tactical power-play quarterback. 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). 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. Hes consistent shift-to-shift and game-to-game and while he might lack the dynamism of some of the players in front of him here, he can make plays in a variety of ways on and off the puck and the ice usually tilts in his teams favor when hes out there. He has been off to a hot start this season, averaging just under a goal per game. Dalibor Dvorsky is another player who has been impressive this season against men, playing in HockeyAllsvenskan, the second-tier Swedish professional league, for most of this season. He could use a bit more speed (who couldnt? And even at 6-foot-2 and about 200 pounds, hes one of the best skaters in this draft. You want the play to run through his hands and brain. Chloe Primerano was the Giants final selection in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft. He looks like he could be a hard-working top-six winger who complements your top guys really well while providing real offensive value on his own. 2023 is obviously way far out but 8 Sask . Logan Cooley, C, U.S. National U18. He was an alternate captain and second-leading scorer at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and isan alternate captain and leading scorer with Moose Jaw. 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. Ryan Leonard is a high energy winger who never takes his foot off the gas in terms of both speed and effort. He can slow it down and pick things apart or hurry up his passes through holes. 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. Heidt, taken No. There are times when he can wait too long to make his decisions and I wouldnt call him creative, but he makes good choices more often than hes careless with it and he has progressed really rapidly for a kid who doesnt turn 18 until a couple of weeks from now. Ritchie is the complete package. 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. I think hes going to be a star regardless. Brindley is a 5-foot-9 forward who has been quite good in the NCAA as an 18-year-old, a very impressive feat. Im talking nobody. I expect him to become a top point producer in college at the University of North Dakota, too. He too often looks like the third guy on his line. Michkov is, without question or hesitation, the best prospect Ive ever ranked at No. Reinbacher is looking like a potential top-four mainstay in the NHL with exciting defensive potential. Hes always moving. He has scored some highlight-reel goals in the WHL but he also excels at finding pockets of space off of coverage and remaining involved on offence and defence. 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) 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. 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. Once the true cream of the crop in this class are gone, hes the kind of talent Id swing on in the second round. 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). Bedard has crushed all expectations this year and has firmly planted himself in the first overall position. He goes to the front of the net and will bail out to make effort plays. 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. Eventually, when the points pile up like they have, and they happen making the kinds of plays that he does, you cant ignore them. His gifts in control of the puck are undeniable. He gets shots off extremely fast and without bobbles in catch-and-release sequences. Its all there. Maxim Strbak, RD, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL), 40. Brindleys a plus-level skater who gets through his extensions quickly (including from a standstill), excels on his edges, rounds corners sharply, and darts around the ice, hunting pucks and pushing through holes. Kalan Lind, C/LW, Red Deer Rebels (WHL), 46. The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) cares about your privacy. Gauthier, the No. Related: Every NHL Teams Top Prospect Midseason Update. Hes got time to put it all together given his summer birthday, too. 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. When he plays with pace and intention, hes both effective and flashes his skill in all three zones. 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. Hes the kind of player who fills the stat sheet andelevates his linemates in subtle ways. The Rebels' first game was on September 25, 1992, in Red Deer against the Prince Albert Raiders (the Rebels won 6 to 3 in front of 5,240 fans). Last year, he led Prince George in goals (30) and finished second in points (57, one back of Heidt). Arttu Karki, LHD (Tappara) Ziemmer often seems to have the puck on a string and thats part of why he has been one of the leading scorers in the WHL this year as a 17-year-old. Michael Hrabal, G, Omaha Lancers (USHL), 61. Hes excellent in puck protection twisting away from coverage to make things happen along the boards. Without further ado, let's get to the 2023 draft board. Increasingly, Ive been impressed by his agility in and out of breaks and cuts (his skating is a real asset for him and particularly impressive through his edges and crossovers, though he can get going the length of the ice too). With the World Junior Hockey Championship coming. If he were a little bigger, hed be a scouts dream. Im not sure hes got the soft skill to become the true No. 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. 3 in advance of any draft and the best Russian prospect since Alex Ovechkin. 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. No, you haven't accidentally clicked a lyrics page add and been directed to an eighties anthem, it's DubNetwork Scouting's LAST REVEAL for our December Top 22 - WHL Bantam Draft prospect breakdown. The midseason ranking divides into six tiers. 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). However, his offensive production has left much to be desired, leaving many questions about if he will have much offense to provide in the NHL someday. 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 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. There are some whod like to see him get to the guts of the ice and battle a little more (he glides a little too much off of the puck offensively and defensively). Reinbacher had a solid tourney on a bad team despite dealing with an illness the entire time. 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. Danielson is great at attacking the middle of the ice which makes up for his lack of a finishing touch because it leads to a plethora of chances that good line mates could finish at a solid clip. Hes also highly creative despite his goal-scoring tilt. Koehn Ziemmer is another pro-built winger who loves to shoot the puck hard whenever given the chance. Good luck taking the puck away from him because he can easily move around you with his excellent skating or truck through you with his solid 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame. He can unload from his hip into a heavy snapshot (which hes probably owed a few more goals off of this year) or drop and drive the net into a tuck play in tight. Wins it in OT for !!! 1. It has been a few rough age groups for Russian defencemen but Gulyayevs got a chance to flip the script. Sweden's best prospect for the 2023 draft, Carlsson dominated the J20 level with his size and skill last season, playing at nearly two points per game (35 in 18) and adding nine points in 35. 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. 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. 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. 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. Oliver Bonk, RD, London Knights (OHL), 48. Honourable mentions (sorted alphabetically): Beau Akey, RHD (Barrie) Gavin McCarthy, RHD (Muskegon) Perron is so agile that his lack of size and strength dont often hinder his game, however he will need to develop a bit of a physical game (like Logan Stankoven) if he wants to grow into his full potential as a top-six forward in the NHL. Hes a smooth skater. 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. Leschyshyn played junior hockey for the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Regina Pats in the Western Hockey League, serving as . Hes got some poise and processing under pressure, even if his play with the puck on his stick isnt dynamic per se. DraftPro's #1 prospect for the 2023 NHL entry draft, Connor Bedard finished the 2021/22 . 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. 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. Etienne Morin, LD, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL), 50. 2023-2024 playoffs qc player stats for Poland, including top goal scorers, most games played, PPG leaders and more. 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. Aiden Fink, RW, Brooks Bandits (AJHL), HM: Ian Scherzer, C, Rgle BK J20 (J20 Nationell), HM: Gracyn Sawchyn, C, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL), HM: Isac Born, C, Frlunda J20 (J20 Nationell), HM: David Edstrom, C, Frlunda J20 (J20 Nationell), HM: Noel Nordh, LW/RW, Bryns IF J20 (J20 Nationell), HM: Zeb Forsfjll, C, Skellefte AIK J20 (J20 Nationell), HM: Jakub Dvorak, LD, Bl Tygri Liberec (Czechia). 4 pick in the 2019 Bantam draft (a year ahead of when most of the plethora of other top WHL names on this list were selected). Last added: Carter Joo. Arttu Karki, LD, Tappara U20 (U20 SM-sarja), 49. 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. Carey Terrance, C (Erie) Calgary, Alta. Luke Mittelstadt, LHD (U. of Minnesota) One of three draft eligibles on this list playing college hockey this season, Brindley hasnt just settled in at the University of Michigan, he has looked anywhere from comfortable to impactful in every game, including at centre and on the wing. Im prepared to stick my neck out on Perreault at this point. WHL Bantam Draft: December Top 22 - #5 - #1 January 1, 2021 | In General, WHL Draft | By Ashley It's The Final Countdown!!!! 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. Of course, there are also some prospects who dropped in this edition of my rankings, including Brayden Yager and David Reinbacher. 2023 WHL bantam draft prospects December 15, 2022 by Thu L 6 lt xem 5289 t bo co - Xem xt cc trin vng c chn trong vng 1 v 2 ca quy trnh d tho Giai on I ca USHL - Matthew Frost, Reid Varkonyi, Aidan Park, Mac Swanson, Lukas Fischer, Geno Carcone, Tory Pitner,. Hes got some of the quickest hands in the draft. 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. The 2023 draft is led by three maybe four A-plus (or close) prospects at the very top, a superb collection of high-end talents at forward behind them that will run deep into the first round and produce additional stars, and better depth on defence and in net than I anticipated when the year started. Hes got a great release. 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. Only time will tell if they can do the same for him as a pro. (other than Brad Lambert who's half Sask) but we'll see how the kids develop. . 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. - The Western Hockey League announced today the Spokane Chiefs will select first overall in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft following the completion of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft Lottery. Ravndahl was selected by Portland in the fourth round, 83 rd overall in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft. 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. Hes a slick one-on-one player. Publishing date 2022-12-21 User Anonymous Views 12926 Favorited 2 Share Embed 2023 WHL Draft Rankings - TOP 50 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. 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. 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. 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. 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). 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. 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. 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. 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. Holding steady at about two points per game, Cristall has already shown improvements following his impressive 69-point WHL rookie season last year. 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. 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. I think theres a small chance he becomes a star or close with the right development, too. The 2021 WHL Prospects Draft is scheduled for Thursday, December 9, 2021. 1 or No. Publishing date 2022-10-13 User Anonymous Views 18875 Favorited 3 Share Embed 2023 WHL Draft Rankings 33. The annual Western Hockey League bantam draft coming on May 7 will be full of mixed emotions for hundreds of Grade 9 kids in Western Canada and parts of the United States. WHL Bantam Draft 2023 - full list of selections with facts and stats. 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. 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. Manipulation. ), the CHLs leader in goals per game, assists per game, points per game, and shots per game. The bantam draft allows for the orderly transfer of players to WHL Protected Player Lists (PPL) from the bantam ranks (13-14 year-olds). The way that Fantilli plays wouldnt really fly in the SHL where you need to be dependable at all times, and Carlssons maturity, reliability, and his clear understanding of what makes him great are the reasons he has succeeded in a top pro league as a teenager. 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. A Maine Black Bears commit, Nadeau creates offence in a variety of ways, bursting wide or pulling away from defenders in transition with his quick feet, taking the puck right at or through coverage with his maneuverability, or leaning into a pinpoint shot (whether off of catch-and-releases, standstill shooting mechanics off the flank on the power play or through his one-timer which the Vees have tried to open by playing him, a right-handed shot, on his off-wing this season). Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. I think its only a matter of time until he starts to produce more consistently. Hes a versatile, hard-working player who excels in pretty much every facet of the game, gets to the middle of the ice, and makes plays around the net through skill and timing. Last season was certainly a strange one for WHL scouts as they anticipated the task of two drafts in one calendar year. Follow Scott on Twitter @scottcwheeler, Matvei Michkov. The best way to define Fantilli is the way one USHL source once described him to me: Hes a horse.. After playing on Russias Hlinka Gretzky team twosummers ago, But played to a point-per-game level in the MHL as one of its top 2005s last season and began his draft year on a tear in the MHL, scoring 11 goals in his first 15 games of the season before earning a mid-October promotion to the KHL for the first time (he has since scored his first two pro goals and has bounced between the KHL and MHL). He can run the wall or the point on the PP, effortlessly picking coverage apart and feathering pucks through seams. All-Time Trophies & Winners. 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. Hes gotdecent hands when he pushes through the middle. Hes an entry machine driving play through the neutral zone and across the line in control. Hes going to be a transition monster. This ranking follows my way-too-early top 26 and my preseason top 32 (released in August). Priority Draft including defenceman Blake Fiddler, picked first-overall by the Edmonton Oil Kings. Jakub Vrna (F) NHL. 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. And this season theres no doubt: Hes the best forward on arguably the CHLs most talented team at forward. But after looking like one of the most talented players in Germany for U18 worlds, and then in Red Deer for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and now producing in the Czech Extraliga, he looks closer to a special Czech talent with real top-10 aspirations than he does to interesting prospect-who-torched-a-bad-league. If he can keep up that pace then he could very well lock himself in as the second best prospect in the draft. There has been a lot of hockey since my last rankings and tons of prospects are on the move as a result. And while his game is bullish, hes also got surprising soft skill. The raw potential is there in spades and the production is starting to catch up to it. He can beat you on the perimeter with his skill (highlighted by excellent one-on-one hands-on defenders). 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 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 Everywhere he plays, Bedard just oozes poise and talent unlike any other player on the ice. He has been dominating the Swedish J20 league this year and is scoring at a higher pace right now than both Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Noah Ostlund did last year (who were drafted 15th and 16th respectively in the 2022 NHL Draft). Calgary, Alta. 2 pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection and an OHL First All-Rookie Team member. Hes also not fast despite his strength, although he has made progress in his skating and does at times look powerful in straight lines. There are many whove settled on Perreault as more of a mid-to-late-round first because of the combination of his skinny frame and the linemates he plays with. 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). His skating also continues to improve (hes not fast, but hes an above-average skater for his size by my measure and it shouldnt be preventative in him reaching his NHL upside).