whl bantam draft rankings 2023
Sports Apr 22, 2020 Winnipeg Ice select B.C. Mazden Leslie, RHD (Vancouver) Hes got smooth hands. Scouts are drawn to him because of his size-skill combo and while he can look a little uncoordinated out there at times, that draw is real and theres some definite tools there. And he just always seems to play well, no matter the role/usage/stage. WHL News. 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. Wood is a rangy, goal-scoring forward who has silky hands for his size (considering the long stick he uses, hes got great control on the toe of his blade out wide and the heel in tight to his feet), a marksmans shot inside the offensive zone (both through a natural shooting motion and his one-timer), and a sixth sense for arriving around the net/slot at the right time. The SHL demands a lot of players when it comes to physicality and defensive effort, both of which Carlsson has excelled at. He can beat you on the perimeter with his skill (highlighted by excellent one-on-one hands-on defenders). They are: 1, 2-4, 5-6, 7-22, 23-33, 34-64+. Gauthier has cooled off following an incredibly hot start to the QMJHL season production-wise, but his smart and reliable habits have not changed. Before the season began, many people saw Otto Stenberg as a top-10 prospect for this draft following his incredible performance for Team Sweden at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Im not sure hes got the soft skill to become the true No. . And yet most believe hes the third-most compelling and projectable prospect on USAs top line. WHL Network 7 overall in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft and he made his debut in 2019-20 playing in four games. Final Thoughts: John Reid Memorial Tournament 2023 Joel Henderson. He currently leads the Giants in scoring and is among the top scorers in the WHL at large. 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. Calgary, Alta. When he plays with pace and intention, hes both effective and flashes his skill in all three zones. 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. Continue with Recommended Cookies. 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. Heidt, taken No. 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). The draft's top player this season is a borderline generational talent. Ziemmer is a December 2004 who was selected with the No. NHL Entry Draft -3004 - full list of selections with facts and stats. 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. 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. Jacob Fowler, G (Youngstown) 2002 Rankings. 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. Scott Wheeler. 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). He has every physical tool you could hope for, and uses each of them well, with the speed, strength, and reach to be a really great top-four defender in the NHL. WHL Prospects 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). 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). whl bantam draft rankings 2023 - Htnewsindia.com Roman Kantserov, LW/C, Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk (MHL_, 53. 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. January 2023 WHL Draft Ranking update | Top-80 Joel Henderson. Western Hockey League makes changes to upcoming draft Wood is 6-foot-3 so his ability to make plays in tight to his skates at speed while maintaining control is very impressive for his size. The WHL Bantam Draft is only one step in this process. For some, it will be. 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). The pro build, mentality and scoring tools are very appealing though and there will be teams that fall in love with his game/makeup. 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. The original owner of the team was Terry Simpson, the original . Melker Karlsson (F) SHL. He has also taken a step forward in terms of production, placing him firmly as one of the top-20 scorers in the WHL. Hell make plays through seams. He was theCHL Rookie of the Year (on 34 goals). 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. That is, of course . 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. This kid is as prolific from long distance as any shooter Ive ever scouted. We also invite you to ask us about our policies or feel free to let us know how we can better serve your privacy concerns. I think hell stick at centre, too (nice to see him at 53 percent in the circle so far this year). Reinbacher is looking like a potential top-four mainstay in the NHL with exciting defensive potential. Chloe Primerano was the Giants final selection in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft. 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. 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). Luke Mittelstadt, LHD (U. of Minnesota) Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Calgary, Alta. Slick. WHL Draft 2022: Prospects, Rankings, Predictions, Results - Sportsbugz Of course, there are also some prospects who dropped in this edition of my rankings, including Brayden Yager and David Reinbacher. He has also begun to fill out his frame, which has helped turn him into a diligent, relied-upon two-way player off the puck. 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. I wondered if my thoughts were altered by the late start and had an effect on how I viewed. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. 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. When they got to the 2007-born player class, many had admitted to me that they had understandably focused all their attention on the 2006-born class from September to December so after a few. Thank you for your interest in our network of websites, newsletters, and other services. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 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. . He could suffer from the Russian factor, but the lack of top-end defensive prospects and his impressive offensive toolset leads me to believe hes got a good shot at being drafted in the top-20. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. After the season, the WHL holds a draft specifically to allow teams to add bantam players in an orderly manner to their protected lists. Auston Matthews had Patrik Laine, Jack Hughes had Kaapo Kakko, and Alexis Lafreniere had Quinton Byfiled, its hard for top prospects to separate themselves from the pack but Bedard has done just that.WELCOME TO THE BEDARD SHOW! 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). Wins it in OT for !!! Benson has been electric for the Western Hockey Leagues (WHL) Winnipeg Ice this year, and has been the teams best player more often than not even though teammates Conor Geekie and Matthew Savoie were both selected in the top-11 of the 2022 Draft. 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 . There has been a lot of hockey since my last rankings and tons of prospects are on the move as a result. Hes just a rock-solid, projectable two-way defenceman. While there are some great prospects in the top-five of the draft, theres no doubt that Bedard is the reason teams are tanking. 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. 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. I expect him to become a top point producer in college at the University of North Dakota, too. The Scouting News He too often looks like the third guy on his line. 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. WHL Network. 2023 NHL Draft: Baracchini's Top 64 January Rankings January 13, 2023 by Peter Baracchini Welcome back to my 2023 NHL Draft Rankings. Subscribe Now. Matvei Michkov might just be the smartest player in this draft class, with an incredible ability to manipulate opposing defenses. 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. This ranking follows my way-too-early top 26, my preseason top 32 (released in August), and my preliminary top 64 (released in November). 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. 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. He is so difficult for defenders to pin down because of the way he manipulates defenders movements (like waiting for them to turn their skates in one direction before darting in the other), and him being a right-handed centerman doesnt hurt either. Without further ado, lets get into the January edition of my 2023 NHL Draft Rankings. He has learned to use some clever movement patterns to make defencemen miss and get to his spots as a shooter. 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. Tomas Suchanek, G, Tri-City Americans (WHL), 59. 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. His average SHL TOI is around 4:30, so this should be a confidence boost for the 2023 top prospect.In the J20 Nationell, Stenberg has 20pts (8G, 12A) through 23 games.pic.twitter.com/H36RVcNC4H Alexa Potack (@alexa_potack) January 24, 2023, Otto Stenberg scores his first SHL goal and point! "The Mintos program was great. Updated hourly, with analysis, commentary and features from hundreds writers worldwide, our articles are read over 5 million times every month. Hes got time to put it all together given his summer birthday, too. Emil Jarventie, LW, Ilves U20 (U20 SM-sarja, 64. Reinbacher has fallen slightly on my list through no fault of his own, but because of the excellent play of prospects around him. Hes not the most cerebral player and he can be a little too net-focussed at times, but hes the kind of player who will score, add physicality to a line, and slide up and down a top nine in an NHL lineup while endearing himself to his coaches. He plans things out on the ice at speed and then finds ways to make his desired play. Priority Draft including defenceman Blake Fiddler, picked first-overall by the Edmonton Oil Kings. 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! We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. 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. 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. Will Smith has established himself as one of the very best prospects in this draft with his continued dominance as a member of the United States National Team Development Program where he is scoring just under two points per game. Tristan Bertucci, LHD (Flint) Theres the pinpoint accuracy from impossible angles. Shane Wright, C, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) 2. Adam Gajan, G (Chippewa/Green Bay) 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. 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. For all the talk about how strong the 2022 draft class was for Slovakia, Dvorsky leads another excellent group into 2023. Bedard has crushed all expectations this year and has firmly planted himself in the first overall position. After no Manitobans were selected in the opening round of the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft, five players from the province were picked in round two. 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. 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). In fact, its not even the only element of his shooting arsenal that is one of one. 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). This draft class marks a decade of me doing this work, and I still believe this 2023 group is rivalled only by 2015 among the talent pools Ive scouted to date. Moore has identified himself as the second best prospect out of the NTDP this season, behind only Will Smith (and the gap isnt that big in my mind). Id eagerly bet on him. 2020 All rights reserved to Puck Preps. 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. 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. Scott Wheeler covers the NHL draft and prospects nationally for The Athletic. 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. Maxim Strbak, RD, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL), 40. 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 regularly makes difficult plays as a passer, demonstrating high-end spatial awareness and often finding second or even third options (constantly pre-scanning and shoulder-checking). 2023 WHL Draft Rankings - TOP 50 - Elite Prospects 2023 WHL Draft Rankings - TOP 50 Add to Favorites This is a custom user-submitted ranking. Hes got some poise and processing under pressure, even if his play with the puck on his stick isnt dynamic per se. 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. As in, you could put him on the icewith the worlds best shooters (say, Auston Matthews, Nikita Kucherov, Patrik Laine, Alex Ovechkinand Steven Stamkos) and they wouldnt be able to load up just off of their lead skate and fire it off balance like he does. But hes also sturdy for his size, which allows him to extend plays, hang onto pucks when a quick attack isnt there, or delay for his linemates. Hes got smooth skating mechanics. He does a good job maintaining gaps and matching opposing forwards step-for-step skating backwards. He has a high floor and should safely become a strong third-line player but also has the upside to become more if things really click in his north-south game at the next level. After conversations with scouts or folks at the national program about Stramel last year, I always felt I wasnt quite where they were in terms of their belief in the player and his upside.