Western Hockey League completes 2022 WHL Prospects Draft Expectations were unfairly high for Connor Bedard coming into his draft year, with the generational talent label floating around in many draft conversations. Sandin Pellikka had a great showing for Sweden at the World Juniors, and is now probably the favourite to be the first defenseman drafted in 2023. Caden Price, LD, Kelowna Rockets (WHL), 35. He provides a ton of offense in transition as well as in the offensive zone where he seems to create scoring chances at will. 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. Welcome to my March ranking of the top 64 prospects eligible for the 2023 NHL Draft. Hes a commanding offensive defenceman who is at his best when hes looking to take charge with his feet. Hes a crafty handler who hangs onto pucks to spin away from pressure, attacks in and out of crowds, makes plays into space for himself, and can comfortably make plays through layers to others. - The Western Hockey League announced today the results of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft Lottery will be broadcast in a free WHL Live event Thursday, April 21 at 2 p.m. MT. 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. 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.
WHL Bantam Draft | News, Videos & Articles Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. 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. 33. He is a mobile defenseman who fits the mold of the modern puck-moving defender and power play quarterback.
Elite Prospects - WHL Bantam Draft 2023 Priority Draft including defenceman Blake Fiddler, picked first-overall by the Edmonton Oil Kings. 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. 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. 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. Add in the strength and power that comes with his physically mature frame, an ability to drive and shed contact when he gets bumped, and a defensive conscience, and theres more than just a hands-shot-worker skill set. 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). Hunter Brzustewicz, RD, Kitchener Rangers (OHL), 43. If he can add another gear (or two) to his max speed, Benson would be an absolute force in transition. 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. He was more impressive than his already-impressive 61-points-in-68-games season last year (where he led the Cougars in scoring), and the same is true in his strong production on a middle-of-the-pack Cougars team this year. Ryan Leonard is a high energy winger who never takes his foot off the gas in terms of both speed and effort. as a small but highly-involved forward who plays the game with energy and pace, making little skill plays between coverage. WHL Network. 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. Hes excellent on the wall in puck protection and also has some outside-in skill so that he can attack off of holds into the middle third. 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. Alex Ciernik, LW/RW, Sdertlje SK J20 (J20 Nationell), 37. 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. Carlssons one of the smartest players in the draft, a very heady player who understands spacing and timing on and off the puck at an advanced level for his age. Fantilli is a big, strong, powerful kid who takes pucks from the wall to the interior with force, and ease, and speed. 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.
2021 Draft Rankings: Final 65-96 (May) : The Draft Analyst forward. I think hes going to play in the NHL next year and be successful on raw ability from the jump. 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! Roman Kantserov, LW/C, Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk (MHL_, 53. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. He has learned to use some clever movement patterns to make defencemen miss and get to his spots as a shooter. And while his game is bullish, hes also got surprising soft skill. Mix in a multi-dimensional shooting arsenal and I see top-six upside. 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. All 22 WHL Clubs participated in the four-phase lottery . I expect him to become a top point producer in college at the University of North Dakota, too. The 2022 WHL Prospects Draft Pre-Show begins with co-hosts Chris Wahl and Taylor Rocca at 8:30 a.m. PDT, with live draft coverage beginning at 9 a.m. PDT. NHL Entry Draft -3004 - full list of selections with facts and stats. 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. Hes got really good edges and mobility, though he doesnt have the speed in straight lines to pull away from faster chasers. 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. When he plays with pace and intention, hes both effective and flashes his skill in all three zones. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent.
Elite Prospects - NHL Entry Draft -2998 Selected first overall in the WHL bantam draft that year, he played 22 games with the Winnipeg Ice in 2019-20 when he became . Catton is the early front runner for 1st overall in next years WHL bantam draft and has recently been granted exceptional player status to play up in Midget AAA next year for the Saskatoon Contacts as a underage player. 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 currently leads the Giants in scoring and is among the top scorers in the WHL at large. Everywhere he plays, Bedard just oozes poise and talent unlike any other player on the ice. Publishing date 2022-12-21 User Anonymous Views 12926 Favorited 2 Share Embed 2023 WHL Draft Rankings - TOP 50 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. Roman Kantserov, RW (Magnitogorsk) 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! Chloe Primerano was the Giants final selection in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft. 1. 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. Bradly Nadeau, C, Penticton Vees (BCHL), 39. 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. Priority Draft 10 months ago 44 players were selected by the 22 WHL member Clubs in Wednesday's U.S. 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. If he were a little bigger, hed be a scouts dream. Nicknamed Big Rig when he was at the program, Stramel is a heavy but not doughy kid whoseathletic, muscular build jumps out at you right away. Related: Early Look at the 2024 NHL Draft. 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) Ziemmer is a December 2004 who was selected with the No. Martin Misiak, RW/LW (Youngstown) He has also shed some of the selfishness and force-it plays that could frustrate me and others at lower levels (hes making better decisions onshot selection, overhanding less, utilizing his linemates better, etc. 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).
2023 Whl Bantam Draft - Elite Prospects However, his real calling card is his shot which ranks near the top of the draft class in terms of deception and power. Hes a smooth skater. When he does go there, too, Ive seen him show that dexterity he has getting sticks on tips and redirects. Players from non-North American countries are allowed to be added in the CHL Import Draft which is held in June. But thats what the Austrian has done in Switzerlands top flight this season, where he plays over 20 minutes in a game more often than he plays under it. Gabriel Szturc, C (Kelowna) He has shown a knack for making big plays at big moments. The Chiefs hold the first-overall selection, as determined by the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft Lottery on June 2, 2021. 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 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. 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). My best guess at a player who has great skill but might slide on draft day due to his height is Gavin Brindley. He also hunts pucks and applies pressure with the best of them, and his motor doesnt stop, bouncing from one won battle to the next. Once he refines his game some more and adds more muscle as he ages, watch out. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. 17, is one of the top prospects for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft , even though he was denied exceptional status by the WHL in 2019. 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). Heidt, taken No. Hes also got some of the quicker hands and better touch on this list. On February 5, 1992, the Rebels selected Mike McBain as their first player in the Bantam Draft. 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. Arttu Karki, LHD (Tappara) This year, though he has struggled defensively in his limited minutes in the KHL, he has looked dominant at both ends in his returns to the MHL and comfortable in the second-tier VHL. 2023 NHL Draft top 64 prospects: Scott Wheeler's March ranking. 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). He loves attacking defenders and beating them in one-on-one skill battles. His size is obviously a talking point, and theres a boom or bust element to his projection, but hes a first-round talent and a clear play creator on a team with a few of them in Chicago this year. DraftPro's #1 prospect for the 2023 NHL entry draft, Connor Bedard finished the 2021/22 .
2023 WHL Draft Ranking Update: December Edition - PuckPreps For some, it will be.
Draftpro - an Introduction to The 2023 Draft Class - Whl 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.
2023 WHL Draft Rankings - TOP 50 - Elite Prospects 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 also well-regarded as a great kid who is easy to coach and understands whats required of a centre. It often takes two to take the puck off of him when hes twisting and turning, too. 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. Go Premium for Elite Prospects Support. 2022 NHL Entry Draft Rankings First Round 1. He has been impressive thus far, scoring six points in 14 games with Sochi, with four of those points being goals. Hes as fun to watch with the puck on his stick as almost anyone in this draft. He was theCHL Rookie of the Year (on 34 goals). Musty is an athletic winger who can beat goalies with his hard shot or by crashing the net and scoring in tight. To say he has met those expectations would be a profound understatement. 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.
2022 NHL Draft: Zator's Top 64 February Rankings - The Hockey Writers WHL Clubs prepare for deep 2022 WHL Prospects Draft 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.
NHL Draft 2023 top 64 prospects: Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli headline The Bantam Draft Lottery will determine the order of selection for the first six picks. pic.twitter.com/OOjR1KDavy. He draws tons of attention in the offensive zone and is great at making smart plays under pressure to help open teammates up to make their jobs easier. Denver Barkey, C, London Knights (OHL), 63. Not Clayton Keller. The Kamloops Blazers drafted the former Burnaby Winter Club star No. 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. 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. 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 gallops, cutbacks, crossovers, all of it. I think hell stick at centre, too (nice to see him at 53 percent in the circle so far this year). Hes a marvel, with legit 50-goal upside at the next level. 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. 2023 Whl Bantam Draft - Elite Prospects 2023 Whl Bantam Draft Add to Favorites This is a custom user-submitted ranking. The 2021 WHL Prospects Draft is scheduled for Thursday, December 9, 2021. Hes going to be a transition monster. He can push into space. He plans things out on the ice at speed and then finds ways to make his desired play. Hes also outscoring most of the WHL for that matter, dominating the opposition when he has possession. He can run the wall or the point on the PP, effortlessly picking coverage apart and feathering pucks through seams. Tuomas Uronen, RW (HIFK), (Illustration: John Bradford / The Athletic; photos: Jamie Crawford, Minas Panagiotakis, Dennis Pajot / Getty Images). Arttu Karki, LD, Tappara U20 (U20 SM-sarja), 49. Riley Heidt C, Prince George Cougars, 5-foot-11. 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). 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. After the season, the WHL holds a draft specifically to allow teams to add bantam players in an orderly manner to their protected lists. Gabriel Perrault looks like someone who could be a power play specialist at the next level with great skill and smarts in the offensive zone. 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. 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). Michael Hrabal, G (Omaha) Perron, who didnt go the popular prep school route in Western Canada, was a terror in Manitobas minor hockey ranks who stepped right into the titanic Steel last season and immediately flashed his skill with the puck, producing 48 points in 63 games to earn USHL All-Rookie Second Team honours.