whl bantam draft rankings 2023 whl bantam draft rankings 2023

Some scorers tunnel-vision the net and even though the goalie is his focus, theres a lot to his game between the offensive-zone blue line and the shot he takes thats inventive. After the season, the WHL holds a draft specifically to allow teams to add bantam players in an orderly manner to their protected lists. Denver Barkey, C (London) The raw potential is there in spades and the production is starting to catch up to it. The way he wheels across the top of the circles and then play-makes from the high slot is special. 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. NHL Entry Draft -3005 - full list of selections with facts and stats. Hes got good tools all around with solid speed, stick skills, and defensive play. And while he creates a lot off the rush, he also has the finer skills to play the flank on the power play, create inside the offensive zone, finish from mid-range (hes got a nifty release) and dice up coverage. He can get a little ahead of the play, and hes got work to do on his game defensively if he doesnt want to get hemmed in at the next level, but those are things you live with with a talent as singular as his. My best guess at a player who has great skill but might slide on draft day due to his height is Gavin Brindley. Hes got a great release. He loves attacking defenders and beating them in one-on-one skill battles. WHL Bantam Draft: December Top 22 - #5 - #1 January 1, 2021 | In General, WHL Draft | By Ashley It's The Final Countdown!!!! And he always seems to be around it. 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. This ranking follows my way-too-early top 26, my preseason top 32 (released in August), and my preliminary top 64 (released in November). 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. 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. Ravndahl was selected by Portland in the fourth round, 83 rd overall in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft. He passes the eye test. 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. 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. 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. Hes got some of the quickest hands in the draft. 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). I think hes going to play in the NHL next year and be successful on raw ability from the jump. Hes a smooth skater. 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. Hes not just the energy guy though either. Publishing date 2022-10-13 User Anonymous Views 18875 Favorited 3 Share Embed 2023 WHL Draft Rankings He takes smart routes with and without the puck, he has become a reliable three-zone player, and the skill is there (hes got superb puck control skill). 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 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. He excels in puck battles, whether along the boards or in front of the net, even against grown men in Finland. Its powerful when it needs to be and light and adjustable when it needs to be. 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). 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. Ondrej Molnar, LW (Erie) Hes got really good edges and mobility, though he doesnt have the speed in straight lines to pull away from faster chasers. 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). Eventually, when the points pile up like they have, and they happen making the kinds of plays that he does, you cant ignore them. Priority Draft including defenceman Blake Fiddler, picked first-overall by the Edmonton Oil Kings. 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. I like the way he has learned to hunt and come up with pucks, too. Scott Wheeler. He uses his speed and skill to blow by defenders in the neutral zone and pressure in-zone defenders who struggle to anticipate his next move. 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 a first-round talent. The six lowest-place teams involved in the lottery include the Swift Current Broncos, Moose Jaw Warriors,. Jakub Vrna (F) NHL. You can also find an additional 32 honourable mentions below. Dmitri Simashev is a very intriguing prospect with the size/skating combo (6-foot-4) that is so coveted in the modern NHL. 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 Network. He has shown a knack for making big plays at big moments. 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. The Clubs that miss the playoffs are placed into a lottery for the 1st round only. Calgary, Alta. I think the bigger question is whether hes going to be more of a middle-six or a top-six one? 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. If he can add another gear (or two) to his max speed, Benson would be an absolute force in transition. Follow Scott on Twitter @scottcwheeler, Matvei Michkov. 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. A number of years ago, WHL Clubs were allowed to list first-year bantam players as of a set date in September. There have been Lane Hutson (2022 Draft), Olen Zellweger (2021 Draft), Logan Stankoven (2020 Draft), and Cole Caufield (2019 Draft), to name a few. Carson Rekhopf, C/LW, Kitchener Rangers (OHL), 60. Roman Kantserov, RW (Magnitogorsk) . Hes the kind of player who fills the stat sheet andelevates his linemates in subtle ways. Scott Ratzlaff, G (Seattle) Only Hughes. Hes got poise and patience on the puck. Chloe Primarano is the first ever female to be selected in a WHL Bantam Draft. Emil Jarventie, LW, Ilves U20 (U20 SM-sarja, 64. Leonard is a prospect thateveryonelikes. He can run the wall or the point on the PP, effortlessly picking coverage apart and feathering pucks through seams. With the World Junior Hockey Championship coming. One of my favourites in this class, Cristall isa creative, slippery playmaker who isnt afraid to try things and possesses a rare ability to hang onto pucks, pull eyes and bodies towards him, and then expose opposing structures to the weak side of coverage. WHL Bantam Draft 2023 - full list of selections with facts and stats. 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 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. In fact, its not even the only element of his shooting arsenal that is one of one. The way he patrolled the blue line for Sweden on the powerplay was very impressive and the trust that he earned from his coaches as a 17-year-old spoke volumes. 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). I think its only a matter of time until he starts to produce more consistently. "The Mintos program was great. Welcome to my March ranking of the top 64 prospects eligible for the 2023 NHL Draft. 2020 All rights reserved to Puck Preps. 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). 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. 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 different than Bedard in tools and approach. Oliver Bonk, RD, London Knights (OHL), 48. He was the CHL Rookie of the Year (on 34 goals). He provides a ton of offense in transition as well as in the offensive zone where he seems to create scoring chances at will. 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) Once he refines his game some more and adds more muscle as he ages, watch out. 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. He does a good job maintaining gaps and matching opposing forwards step-for-step skating backwards. 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. That continued to start this year as he struggled to have a real impact with the Badgers early on as a freshman (albeit it a young one, and albeit on a bad/at-times lost team). This past season, he played for the Chicago Cougars of the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) and scored 11 points (two goals, nine assists) 10 games. 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. 4 and has had a tremendous age-adjusted season between his play with Orebro in the SHL and at the world juniors (where he was one of Swedens top forwards despite playing sick), even considering his December 2004 birthday and a year after playing to virtually two points per game at the J20 level (he looked good in an important role as a top-nine centre for Sweden at U18 worlds before an injury kept him out of their medal round run to a gold medal, too). Reinbachers a solid forward and backwards skater (though he can look a little stilted at times) who gaps well and defends the rush effectively with a noticeably long stick. 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. Yager is a prospect that I fully expect to still be drafted very early on draft day, I just havent been that impressed with his game this year. 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. 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. Finally, Barlow has been one of the best goal scorers in junior hockey so far this year, scoring 36 goals in just 42 Ontario Hockey League (OHL), a 56-goal pace over the rest of the season. 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). Its all there. 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. Hes also a strong skater who is light on his edges, builds speed quickly into flight to put defenders on their heels and/or create separation, leads a lot of neutral-zone carries into entries, and makes plays into space for himself or his linemates at pace. 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. Reinbacher is a 6-foot-2 defender with a right-handed shot and great mobility who is playing lots of minutes in the National League (NL), Switzerlands top professional mens league. His skating is a bit of a weakness with less-than-ideal speed, but he more than makes up for it with his offensive creativity and hands. 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. Tuomas Uronen, RW (HIFK), (Illustration: John Bradford / The Athletic; photos: Jamie Crawford, Minas Panagiotakis, Dennis Pajot / Getty Images). 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). I believe Austrian defender David Reinbacher is the best defenseman in the 2023 Draft class right now and an argument could be made that he could be ranked as high as the top-10. 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. In the 2021-22 season, Gulyayev set a new MHL (the top Russian junior league) record for points by a 16-year-old defenseman with 35 points in 54 games. 3 in advance of any draft and the best Russian prospect since Alex Ovechkin. The Bantam Draft Lottery will determine the order of selection for the first six picks. Hes great along the wall on the cycle, but he can also occasionally make a play that pulls you out of your seat. Regardless, it is always impressive to see a draft-year player earning serious minutes in the KHL, especially a defenseman, and Simashev might just have the highest defensive potential in the whole draft. 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. NHL Entry Draft -3004 - full list of selections with facts and stats. Benson is currently outscoring two of his teammates in Matthew Savoie and Conor Geekie who were both drafted in the top-11 of the 2022 Draft. 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. You want the play to run through his hands and brain. Priority Draft 10 months ago 44 players were selected by the 22 WHL member Clubs in Wednesday's U.S. Leschyshyn played junior hockey for the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Regina Pats in the Western Hockey League, serving as . 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 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. 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. Theres a lot to work with though. Hes a good skater and should pick up another step as he gets stronger. 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. 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. 2023 NHL Draft: Baracchini's Top 64 January Rankings January 13, 2023 by Peter Baracchini Welcome back to my 2023 NHL Draft Rankings. Gauthier, the No. Hes going to be a transition monster. If he can keep up that pace then he could very well lock himself in as the second best prospect in the draft. Expectations were unfairly high for Connor Bedard coming into his draft year, with the generational talent label floating around in many draft conversations. For some, it will be. The way he dodges checks and evades pressure is impressive, but the way he attacks the middle of the ice is what I like most about him. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. 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. Team management chose the name "Rebels". January 2023 WHL Draft Ranking update | Top-80 Joel Henderson Final Thoughts: John Reid Memorial Tournament 2023 Joel Henderson 10 Puck Touches: Day Three and Four - 2023 John Reid Memorial Tournament Joel Henderson 10 Puck Touches: Day Two, 2023 John Reid Memorial Tournament Joel Henderson Not Logan Cooley. 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. He too often looks like the third guy on his line. Related: The NHLs Top 100 Prospects Midseason Update. Not Clayton Keller. Related: Early Look at the 2024 NHL Draft. 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. (other than Brad Lambert who's half Sask) but we'll see how the kids develop. 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 superb vision and ranks among the best in the class at dissecting coverage as a passer. 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. 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. But youll also see him make the heady escape play out of his own zone under pressure at five-on-five, or slide into a passing line to intercept a pass, or disrupt an opposing carrier with a tight gap and active stick. Dower Nilsson doesnt have Lekkerimakis shot or Ostlunds passing ability, but his offensive IQ is terrific and he has shown the ability to produce at an incredible pace without any other high-end scorers around him to help him pick up a few points here and there. Only time will tell if they can do the same for him as a pro. Go Premium for Elite Prospects Support. The best way to define Fantilli is the way one USHL source once described him to me: Hes a horse.. This ranking follows my way-too-early top 26 and my preseason top 32 (released in August). Id like to see him pick up a bit more of an acceleration gear from a standstill (his stride can look a little short/stunted/heavy), and fill the scoresheet a little more (though the talent around him has something to do with that too), but theres a lot to like. - The Western Hockey League announced today the Spokane Chiefs will select first overall in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft following the completion of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft Lottery. The top pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, Musty is one the focal points of the Wolves offence and would be their leader in shots on goal, assists and points were it not for a few weeks lost in January to a hand injury (following up on a strong showing at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup this summer).