WHL Behind The Scenes - 2023 Road to Nashville. It was tricky evaluating and contextualizing Sale last season, when he was above two points per game (99 in 44) in Czechias top junior league, doing things that had never been done and smashing (and even doubling in some cases) the production of recent top Czech players at the same age (including first-rounders like Jakub Voracek and Tomas Hertl). 1 pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins posted). Logan Cooley, C, U.S. National U18. It often takes two to take the puck off of him when hes twisting and turning, too. Hes a multi-dimensional forward who has quick acceleration, can handle the puck at speed and change tempos in control, can shape play by opening up his hips to go heel-to-heel, thrives in traffic, is a dual shot-pass threat, plays one step ahead of the game in possession, supports the play effectively, problem-solves as well as anyone in this class (in an age group that is full of intelligent playmakers), works his tail off off the puck to keep his energy up (he plays heavier and scrappier than he looks, too), and sets the pace for his line (whether by picking it up or slowing it down to use his creativity). 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. Narrowly my top-ranked defenceman in the draft at this stage, Gulyayev put together the most productive 16-year-old season by a defenceman in the MHLs modern history (13 seasons dating back to 2009) when he posted 35 points in 54 games last year, regularly playing 20 minutes per game in a league famous for typically relying on older players. Of course, there are also some prospects who dropped in this edition of my rankings, including Brayden Yager and David Reinbacher. Hes great at changing speeds in transition to separate himself from defenders before either making a move around them or passing to an open teammate. 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. 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. He is a mobile defenseman who fits the mold of the modern puck-moving defender and power play quarterback. Michkovs brilliance comes primarily from his ability to read and process the play at an extremely advanced level, make his decisions quickly, and execute on them with incredible proficiency, whether thats ripping a patterned shot (his one-timer, his standstill wrister, his curl-and-drag, etc. Sign up for EP Premium to create your own ranking. 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. 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. 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 can run the wall or the point on the PP, effortlessly picking coverage apart and feathering pucks through seams. 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). 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). 2022 NHL Draft Tracker: Matthew Seminoff Matthew Seminoff has made quite the name for himself on a talented Kamloops Blazers roster that boasts three potential draft picks at the 2022 NHL draft. Publishing date 2023-01-18 User Anonymous Views 922 Favorited 0 Share Embed 2023 Whl Bantam Draft Hunter Brzustewicz, RD, Kitchener Rangers (OHL), 43. Bedard has crushed all expectations this year and has firmly planted himself in the first overall position. Hes as fun to watch with the puck on his stick as almost anyone in this draft. Only Hughes. Carson Bjarnason, G (Brandon) Once he refines his game some more and adds more muscle as he ages, watch out. 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. I like the way he has learned to hunt and come up with pucks, too. 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. When hes on, he can completely take over a game. Check out his skating and awareness! Honzek has played and succeeded on both special teams this year and his size and strength have made him too much for opposing defenders to handle on more than a few occasions. He credited the Mintos for helping prepare him to make the jump to Major Junior hockey. Final Thoughts: John Reid Memorial Tournament 2023 Joel Henderson. Its not often we see players his size who can move like him. I dont see a lot to nitpick in either his tools or his approach. Sign up for EP Premium to create your own ranking. He has now impressed me wherever Ive watched him (NCAA, USHL, Five Nations, U18 Worlds, world juniors, etc.) 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. 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). Youll commonly see him activate to lead plays into the offensive zone and create something. Hes strong. His strength complements a competitive, physical, forechecking, middle-lane style that makes good use of his length and hard wrister from midrange. 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. Note: Though I consult scouts, coaches, general managers, team staff, and agents in building my draft boards, the following evaluations are strictly my own. He gets shots off extremely fast and without bobbles in catch-and-release sequences. He can pick apart opposing defenses with pin-point passes and sly fakes, and his effort level is admirable. Get the inside scoop on the top prospects in the world with our comprehensive grading system and access to career stats, data, and news stories . He excels in puck battles, whether along the boards or in front of the net, even against grown men in Finland. 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 doesnt have any one skill that really pops out at you, but I find that hes good at pretty much everything. Etienne Morin, LD, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL), 50. After the season, the WHL holds a draft specifically to allow teams to add bantam players in an orderly manner to their protected lists. The big question with Dvorsky for a while was whether or not hed be a centre or a winger long term. Im not sure hes got the soft skill to become the true No. Hes a commanding offensive defenceman who is at his best when hes looking to take charge with his feet. 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! The drafts order of selection depends on where the team finishes in the League standings. With a hot start in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) as a 17-year-old Leo Carlsson has shot up draft boards and quickly made the top tier of the draft a four-player group. Hes got quick hands and instincts, with standout puck control and shading. The show will also include the unveiling of WHL Divisional Award Winners and All-Star Teams for the 2021-22 WHL season. 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. Martin Misiak, RW/LW (Youngstown) If he develops a bit more as a creator, Hameenaho could easily out-perform his draft slot. He has added a ton of strength since arriving at the program so that he can overwhelm junior level players with his power and speed. 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. He has a good shot but hasnt been encouraged to use it much in Liiga yet. He goes to the front of the net and will bail out to make effort plays. He can slow it down and pick things apart or hurry up his passes through holes. Theres the pinpoint accuracy from impossible angles. He could use a bit more speed (who couldnt? The way he drops the puck into the middle of his stance and then explodes it off of his blade almost without any forward motion to indicate the shots coming is remarkable. pic.twitter.com/OOjR1KDavy. He is a special player and looks like he will become a franchise-defining player for whoever selects him, when he finally makes it to North America that is. Nico Myatovic, LW (Seattle) The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. 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). And he just always seems to play well, no matter the role/usage/stage. Shane Wright, C, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) 2. 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). Calgary, Alta. 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 a good skater and should pick up another step as he gets stronger. Emil Jarventie, LW, Ilves U20 (U20 SM-sarja, 64. We sometimes see draft-eligible D play their full draft year in a professional league. At this point I think his offensive abilities will at least make him a power play threat even if his skating never catches up. Eventually, when the points pile up like they have, and they happen making the kinds of plays that he does, you cant ignore them. Its powerful when it needs to be and light and adjustable when it needs to be. Finesse. 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. He can score from mid range consistently with his low-kick wrister, hes got an ability to protect the puck and shade in and out of coverage, hes got a dangerous curl-and-drag wrister, and hes comfortable in traffic. 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. One of my favourites in the 2005 age group, Wood is the youngest player in college hockey this season (he was, for a moment, its only 17-year-old) and has stepped right in to become an impactful player on a good UConn team (albeit as a winger after playing mostly centre at the Jr. A level). When he plays with pace and intention, hes both effective and flashes his skill in all three zones. 2 pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection and an OHL First All-Rookie Team member. He was the No. Go Premium for Elite Prospects Support. The BCHLs leading scorer while playing on a line with his older brother Josh (a playerI vouched for as a worthy late-round flier ahead of last years draft), Nadeau is a multi-dimensional forward whose hands, skating, and shooting all get very high grades. Crafty is the best word to describe his game. This year, wearing an A as a 17-year-old with the Generals, hes been arguably their most consistent forward while playing a key role on the penalty kill and late in games in the faceoff circle (where he is really strong). Connor Bedard, C, Regina (WHL), 5-foot-10, 187 pounds. The . ), a quick move into a pass, a sudden stop-up, or an attacking cut. Id be quite surprised if he slid all the way to 16 (where I have him ranked), because a right-handed centre with his shot has a ton of value to NHL teams. Adam Fantilli is an absolute monster with the puck, with the skill, skating, and strength to beat defenders no matter how they attack him. 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). Expectations were unfairly high for Connor Bedard coming into his draft year, with the generational talent label floating around in many draft conversations. 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. He wants to hang onto the puck and make plays but hell also hurry it up and dominate in and out of give-and-goes. Brindley is a 5-foot-9 forward who has been quite good in the NCAA as an 18-year-old, a very impressive feat. 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). 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. He can push into space. 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. It will be followed by an updated top 32 after U18 Worlds (new this year in May), and my final top 100 (released in June). WHL Bantam Draft 2023 - full list of selections with facts and stats. The best way to define Fantilli is the way one USHL source once described him to me: Hes a horse.. Manipulation. 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.
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