Hes also got an accurate shot from midrange, and regularly picks corners. He thrives in the small-area game, using light passes and rapid movements to play in and out of coverage. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. He can slow it down and pick things apart or hurry up his passes through holes. Once he refines his game some more and adds more muscle as he ages, watch out. Eventually, when the points pile up like they have, and they happen making the kinds of plays that he does, you cant ignore them. 2 pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection and an OHL First All-Rookie Team member. ), but he has shown that his timing and puck protection skills are strong enough for him to succeed in college. And this season theres no doubt: Hes the best forward on arguably the CHLs most talented team at forward. I love him on the half-wall/point on the PP with his ability to hit east-west seams (he just seems to see every lane and opening). 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. 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. 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 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. 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 too often looks like the third guy on his line. 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. 2020 All rights reserved to Puck Preps. About 2023 Draft Nhl Prospects . Hes going to be an NHLer. Emil Jarventie, LW, Ilves U20 (U20 SM-sarja, 64. I have questions about his talent level, though. 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. Get access to our unique free agency lists and many more premium features. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Hes a pro-sized, hardworking pivot who can skate and excels in driving through the middle of the ice, pushing tempo, and playing with energy. Hes got some of the quickest hands in the draft. Leonard is a prospect thateveryonelikes. 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). Jakub Vrna (F) NHL. 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. Fantilli is currently authoring one of the most impressive draft eligible NCAA seasons in recent memory with the only competition being Jack Eichels dominant 2014-15 season where he put up 71 points in 40 games. 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. Hes a first-round talent. Hes great along the wall on the cycle, but he can also occasionally make a play that pulls you out of your seat. 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) When hes on, he can completely take over a game. 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). When he tries things and he often does hes never trying them out of desperation but rather intention. 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. If he can keep up that pace then he could very well lock himself in as the second best prospect in the draft. Not Cole Caufield. 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. 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). I watch him and I see an NHL player with the kind of well-rounded, high-effort skill set that could see him move around an NHL lineup (in a good way) someday. 2020 All rights reserved to Puck Preps. Hunter Brzustewicz, RD, Kitchener Rangers (OHL), 43. 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. 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. Hell of a performance from Slovakia especially their Tendy! 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.. . (other than Brad Lambert who's half Sask) but we'll see how the kids develop. 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 gets shots off extremely fast and without bobbles in catch-and-release sequences. Hes got quick hands one-on-one, he drops pucks back into his shooting stance effortlessly, and hes got a beautiful curl-and-drag motion. 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. The top 50 drafted NHL prospects ranking, 2023 edition:1. Players from non-North American countries are allowed to be added in the CHL Import Draft which is held in June. Sign up for EP Premium to create your own ranking. Manage Settings 1. 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). His skating is average in my eyes and so is his defending, but his offensive skill and smarts package could get him a look even higher on draft day as theres not a single NHL team who wouldnt love an offensive defender as dynamic as Dragicevic. Hes also highly creative despite his goal-scoring tilt. 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. He uses his body to gain inside positioning on defenders and shields pucks effectively. 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. 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. 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 has the potential to change the trajectory of an NHL franchise and will likely score a ton of goals along the way. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Hell make plays through seams. 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. 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. 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). The Scouting News. 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. 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). He has now impressed me wherever Ive watched him (NCAA, USHL, Five Nations, U18 Worlds, world juniors, etc.) Michael Hrabal, G (Omaha) Theres the pinpoint accuracy from impossible angles. Hes gotdecent hands when he pushes through the middle. Hes strong. 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. 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). 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. Check out his skating and awareness! It will be followed by my midseason top 64 (released in February), an updated top 32 following U18 Worlds. He can beat you carrying the puck in rotations around the perimeter of the offensive zone. His skating is balanced. Updated hourly, with analysis, commentary and features from hundreds writers worldwide, our articles are read over 5 million times every month. Ziemmer is a December 2004 who was selected with the No. . Connor McDavid (F) Sign up for EP Premium to create your own ranking. His ability to make plays offensively both off the rush and inside the zone (where hes got slick skill in traffic, great instincts off of the puck, and a lunch-pale approach) also gives me a lot of confidence that hell continue to progress. Hes got some of the best soft skill in the draft. David Edstrom, C (Frolunda) 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. 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 natural scorer and creator, but hes also got plus vision and deft touch (though I wouldnt say his creativity is necessarily a strength). Tyler Peddle, LW (Drummondville) He problem-solves his way out of trouble as well as anyone in this age group. He has shown a knack for making big plays at big moments. Hes a treat to watch in possession and processes the game at such an advanced and rapid level. Hes got superb vision and ranks among the best in the class at dissecting coverage as a passer. 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. A hand injury kept Moore out of action late last year and prevented him from likely playing at U18 worlds as an underager, but he impressed me on three trips down to Plymouth these last two years (last November when he was already playing up, this fall for U18 Five Nations, and this winter for the BioSteel All-American Game. And he always seems to be around it. 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. forward. The WHL Bantam Draft is an annual outing, in which the Club's of the Western Hockey League select players who have graduated from bantam. Its all there. Tyler Bertuzzi (F) NHL. My best guess at a player who has great skill but might slide on draft day due to his height is Gavin Brindley. One of the USHLs most talented players, Perron got off to a hot start, was briefly halted by an eight-game December stretch that saw him register justone assist, and has really turned it back on to play his best hockey of late. This top 64 is made up of 46 forwards, 17 defencemen and one goaltender. Hes got gallops, cutbacks, crossovers, all of it. He has the tools to be a top-16 player in the draft easily, but I want to see some more offense from him in the OHL before I increase his ranking that much. Carlssons a big kid who has begun to come into his body (hes 6-foot-3 and 198 pounds), buthes also got slick handling and finesse for a forward his size, regularly finding his way through traffic or around it by out-waiting defenders one-on-one in shielded puck protection off of his hip. 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 does go there, too, Ive seen him show that dexterity he has getting sticks on tips and redirects. Mikhail Gulyayev is an intelligent offensively minded defenseman who has found moderate success in the top Russian pro leagues this year while dominating the Russian junior circuit whenever he plays against his peers. 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). The big question with Dvorsky for a while was whether or not hed be a centre or a winger long term. Carson Bjarnasson, G, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL), 47. Danielson plays a well-rounded two-way game, is a proficient penalty killer, wants to make a difference in all areas when hes on the ice and blends good overall skill with his effort. Riley Heidts excellent acceleration and edge work make him a natural choice as the lead puck carrier for zone entries and he has excelled in that role. 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. He was the CHL Rookie of the Year (on 34 goals). He can beat you along the wall on the cycle. Jesse Kiiskinen, RW, Pelicans (Liiga), 36. Hes also dangerous inside the offensive zone from the top of the circles in, with a quick-release wrister (one of the faster releases in the draft) that comes off of his blade hard and with a slight, goalie-fooling adjustment pre-shot, impressive puck skill in congested areas, an ability to attack in bursts and make something happen out of dead plays, and an equal ability to play off of coverage and make himself available for his linemates. Tristan Bertucci, LHD (Flint) Beyond his natural skill in possession, he also impresses with his smarts with the puck, his cerebral play style, and his ability to play to his linemates. He buzzes around the ice and does such a good job releasing from one battle or chance to hunting or getting open for the next one. Alex Ciernik, LW/RW, Sdertlje SK J20 (J20 Nationell), 37. 1 pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins posted). Id eagerly bet on him. 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. Mike Glemser (F) Germany3. 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. 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. His long stick can limit him catching and handling pucks in his feet at times, and he doesnt have a great shot, but those things should come and hes got great dexterity and reflexes. Carson Bjarnason, G (Brandon) The Kamloops Blazers drafted the former Burnaby Winter Club star No. Without further ado, lets get into the January edition of my 2023 NHL Draft Rankings. Hes also going to be an able penalty killer, which should give him all-situations upside at the next level. The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) cares about your privacy. It often takes two to take the puck off of him when hes twisting and turning, too. 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,. The way he wheels across the top of the circles and then play-makes from the high slot is special. 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. Hes also got some of the quicker hands and better touch on this list. If he can become a second-pairing offensively-inclined defenceman at even strength, and a PP1 QB, that has value in the middle of the first round. I dont see a lot to nitpick in either his tools or his approach. Theres just this elusiveness to his game where you never know where hes going with the puck. Roman Kantserov, LW/C, Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk (MHL_, 53. 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).