When he tries things and he often does hes never trying them out of desperation but rather intention. WHL Draft 2022: Prospects, Rankings, Predictions, Results - Sportsbugz He was an alternate captain and second-leading scorer at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and isan alternate captain and leading scorer with Moose Jaw. 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. The six lowest-place teams involved in the lottery include the Swift Current Broncos, Moose Jaw Warriors,. I love the way he shields pucks and waits for his opportunities to attack. I like the way he has learned to hunt and come up with pucks, too. Nobody can defend his inside-out cut into that low, hard wrister of his at the junior level. forward. 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 It often takes two to take the puck off of him when hes twisting and turning, too. Tyler Peddle, LW (Drummondville) Mazden Leslie, RHD (Vancouver) There were also five more goalies who were among the final cuts for this list and I fully expect each will be on my final draft board. Hes got unbelievably quick hands and the loose grip that all great handlers have. 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. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. I think hes going to be a star regardless. 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. Hes got a great release. He stays on pucks, hes got good instincts and takes smart routes around the ice, hes sound positionally, he applies pressure off of the puck and comes up with possession despite not being very physical, and he just always seems to be involved in positive things inside the offensive zone. 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). Hes also outscoring most of the WHL for that matter, dominating the opposition when he has possession. 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. Id eagerly bet on him. 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. 2002 Rankings. The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) cares about your privacy. WHL Network Tigers sign Gavin McKenna, first overall selection in 2022 WHL Prospects Draft 9 months ago Ethan Gauthier is one of the most consistent players in this draft class in terms of effort and habits, not just production. 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. Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. 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. Hes not just the energy guy though either. Hes got superb vision and ranks among the best in the class at dissecting coverage as a passer. 2021 Draft Rankings: Final 65-96 (May) : The Draft Analyst WHL Bantam Draft: December Top 22 - #5 - #1 January 1, 2021 | In General, WHL Draft | By Ashley It's The Final Countdown!!!! Im prepared to stick my neck out on Perreault at this point. 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. The drafts order of selection depends on where the team finishes in the League standings. Updated: Feb 16/2023 - Welcome to the Top 500 Prospect Rankings List plus Additions/Watch List/Players To Be Evaluated list. 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. Michael Hrabal, G, Omaha Lancers (USHL), 61. Ravndahl was selected by Portland in the fourth round, 83 rd overall in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft. WHL bantam draft: A foot in the door, but not the be-all and - Yahoo! He can beat you carrying the puck in rotations around the perimeter of the offensive zone. 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 got smooth hands. His release is lightning-quick. Adam Fantilli is an absolute monster with the puck, with the skill, skating, and strength to beat defenders no matter how they attack him. He has learned to use some clever movement patterns to make defencemen miss and get to his spots as a shooter. 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. pic.twitter.com/ZNwH9wYcC0 Pavel Barber (@HeyBarber) January 3, 2023, WELCOME TO THE BEDARD SHOW! Melker Karlsson (F) SHL. 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. 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. Adam Gajan, G (Chippewa/Green Bay) 2022 NHL Draft Tracker: Matthew Seminoff - FCHockey 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. He hasnt looked out of place against men and looks very comfortable dictating play from the flanks at even strength and on the power play. Im not sure there has ever been a player Connor Bedards age in the history of hockey who has been able to shoot the puck like he can. Theres a lot to work with though. Players from non-North American countries are allowed to be added in the CHL Import Draft which is held in June. Hunter Brzustewicz, RD, Kitchener Rangers (OHL), 43. WHL Club Protected Player Lists - WHL Prospects 2023 NHL draft - Rankings, FAQs and how to watch He too often looks like the third guy on his line. His gifts in control of the puck are undeniable. Only Hughes. Go Premium for Elite Prospects Support. 2023 NHL Draft: Breaking down the WHL Defensemen in the CHL Top Prospects game Joel Henderson. Lenni Hameenaho has been an early riser this year, establishing himself as a prospect to watch while playing in the Finnish Liiga where he has scored at roughly a half point per game pace as a draft year player. Final Thoughts: John Reid Memorial Tournament 2023 Joel Henderson. There have been Lane Hutson (2022 Draft), Olen Zellweger (2021 Draft), Logan Stankoven (2020 Draft), and Cole Caufield (2019 Draft), to name a few. The Scouting News So far, his offense has only improved, even considering the increased competition. 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). On February 5, 1992, the Rebels selected Mike McBain as their first player in the Bantam Draft. Smith is an incredibly shifty playmaker who can create high danger plays at will by threading passes through traffic, stickhandling around pressure, or taking a shot of his own. Of course, there are also some prospects who dropped in this edition of my rankings, including Brayden Yager and David Reinbacher. 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. 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. Only time will tell if they can do the same for him as a pro. 2 that you take inside the top 10, but hes got everything needed to become a good second-pairing guy and maybe slightly more than that. 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. I think hes going to play in the NHL next year and be successful on raw ability from the jump. Hes always moving. Theres a lot of belief out there that hes going to be a good, well-rounded NHLer. Hes still got room to get stronger, too, so its not as though hes a finished product. Western Hockey League completes 2022 WHL Prospects Draft Hell make the soft play to the middle of the ice from the perimeter, or go there to get to rebounds or position himself on screens/tips. 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. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. 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. 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). He uses his body to gain inside positioning on defenders and shields pucks effectively. If he can keep up that pace then he could very well lock himself in as the second best prospect in the draft. 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. 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. 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. Hes also well-regarded as a great kid who is easy to coach and understands whats required of a centre. Yager plays a threatening, attacking, puck-dominant game with skill in straight lines and in cutting sequences in transition. Ravndahl spent parts of three seasons with the Prince Albert Mintos program, recording 25 points in 50 games played. I think its only a matter of time until he starts to produce more consistently. Hes got one of the best shooting actions in motion Ive ever seen. 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). Related: The NHLs Best Farm Systems Ranked Midseason Update. Trending Players. I love the way he slows down the game, adjusts and maneuvers his frame and shades pucks. Few centers in junior hockey enter their draft year as well-rounded as Nate Danielson. Beckett Hendrickson, C (NTDP) And while his game is bullish, hes also got surprising soft skill. 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. This season, after noticeably adding some needed muscle and rounding out his game nicely, I think he has shown folks that hell be able to stick down the middle. 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. 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 . Everywhere he plays, Bedard just oozes poise and talent unlike any other player on the ice. 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. The Scouting News. Hes as fun to watch with the puck on his stick as almost anyone in this draft. 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. 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. 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. 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. Publishing date 2022-11-14 User Ryan Crawford Views 1955 Favorited 1 Share Embed 2023 Whl Draft Projected Rankings 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. Selected first overall in the WHL bantam draft that year, he played 22 games with the Winnipeg Ice in 2019-20 when he became . Hes the kind of player who can beat you with a pass, a dangerous wrister (in fact, while he has played facilitator so often in games this year, hes got an excellent wrister while moving), or a deke. 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 impressive shooting mechanics given how long his stick is, and regularly pulls pucks into his feet to change his angle face-up against goalies. Emil Jarventie, LW, Ilves U20 (U20 SM-sarja, 64. Jesse Nurmi, LW (KooKoo) 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. And despite suffering a lower-body injury in a KHL preseason game, Michkov (who played to a goal a game last year in the MHL) played to a goal a game in Russias second-tier VHL and has been very productive for his age since the move to Sochi in the KHL. (other than Brad Lambert who's half Sask) but we'll see how the kids develop. 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. 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. I like the way he supports the puck defensively as a centreman, too, though hell need to get stronger to be reliable defensively at the NHL level. Not Logan Cooley. 2023 WHL Draft Rankings - TOP 50 - Elite Prospects 2023 WHL Draft Rankings - TOP 50 Add to Favorites This is a custom user-submitted ranking. I expect him to become a top point producer in college at the University of North Dakota, too. Its impossible not to. About 2023 Draft Nhl Prospects . Cam Squires, RW (Cape Bretton) Publishing date 2022-10-13 User Anonymous Views 18875 Favorited 3 Share Embed 2023 WHL Draft Rankings When you package all of that skill with a dogged work ethic that keeps him around pucks all the time, and youve gota tremendous player. 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. 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. Mix in a multi-dimensional shooting arsenal and I see top-six upside. Maxim Strbak, RD, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL), 40. Hes got gallops, cutbacks, crossovers, all of it. He has been impressive thus far, scoring six points in 14 games with Sochi, with four of those points being goals. I was eager to see how Matthew Wood would adjust to the college game after dominated the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) where he led the league in goals and points as a 16-year-old. His skating is balanced. 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). Evasive. 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. His strength complements a competitive, physical, forechecking, middle-lane style that makes good use of his length and hard wrister from midrange. 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. 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. 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. Barlow plays a direct, intentional game built around great hands, a physically mature pro frame, and an NHL shot (he can cleanly beat goalies from mid-range). 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). 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. Player Rankings - PuckPreps Slick. And he likes to try to take D one-on-one, which can result in some high-end plays but also some turnovers. Ethan Miedema, LW (Kingston) 2022 WHL Prospects Draft Tracker - Vancouver Giants League. Hes got quick hick hands (hes prolific on breakaways/in the shootout), a cleverness to his game as a passer (whether through seams or often blind), slick skill in traffic sliding pucks under sticks and rotating through coverage or past checks, and a knack for finessing pucks into spots for himself or his linemates to skate onto. 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. He can pick apart opposing defenses with pin-point passes and sly fakes, and his effort level is admirable. 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 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. Related: Early Look at the 2024 NHL Draft. Shane Wright, C, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) 2. Logan Cooley2. 2020 All rights reserved to Puck Preps. 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). Hes unafraid to try things and has the skill to execute difficult plays.