whl bantam draft rankings 2023


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. Bedards statistical profile speaks for itself: 28 points in 15 games as a 15-year-old in the WHL, two points per game at U18 worlds as a double underager, 51 goals and 100 points on a dreadful team at 16, six goals in four games at U18 Worlds as an underager this time (in what wasnt even his best hockey), 13 goals and 31 points in 14 world juniors games (after forcing his way onto the first of those three teams by torching the selection camp), and now, as a 17-year-old who wont turn 18 until July (we can almost forget that! Hes the kind of player who fills the stat sheet andelevates his linemates in subtle ways. Hes got superb vision and ranks among the best in the class at dissecting coverage as a passer. 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. 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. I expect him to become a top point producer in college at the University of North Dakota, too. The best way to define Fantilli is the way one USHL source once described him to me: Hes a horse.. After the season, the WHL holds a draft specifically to allow teams to add bantam players in an orderly manner to their protected lists. One of three draft eligibles on this list playing college hockey this season, Brindley hasnt just settled in at the University of Michigan, he has looked anywhere from comfortable to impactful in every game, including at centre and on the wing. 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. Im less and less convinced of that. This may be a little low given that, but also underscores the strength of this draft. Im not sure hes got the soft skill to become the true No. Kalan Lind, C/LW, Red Deer Rebels (WHL), 46. 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! pic.twitter.com/ZNwH9wYcC0 Pavel Barber (@HeyBarber) January 3, 2023, WELCOME TO THE BEDARD SHOW! 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. It will be followed by an updated top 32 after U18 Worlds (new this year in May), and my final top 100 (released in June). Hes a treat to watch in possession and processes the game at such an advanced and rapid level. 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. 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. 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. 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. Carlssons ability to find and make space off the puck is also impressive for such a young player playing against grown men. Michael Hrabal, G, Omaha Lancers (USHL), 61. 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. Gauthier, the No. 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. 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. Tyler Bertuzzi (F) NHL. Related: Early Look at the 2024 NHL Draft. 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. WHL Bantam Draft: December Top 22 - #5 - #1 January 1, 2021 | In General, WHL Draft | By Ashley It's The Final Countdown!!!! He shows off his edgework and hands best while playing through traffic as he just seems to be nearly impossible to nail down and knock off the puck. Hell of a performance from Slovakia especially their Tendy! 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. 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). 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). Updated hourly, with analysis, commentary and features from hundreds writers worldwide, our articles are read over 5 million times every month. Hes still got room to get stronger, too, so its not as though hes a finished product. Chiefs prepare for two drafts, including first overall pick in WHL 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. League. The six lowest-place teams involved in the lottery include the Swift Current Broncos, Moose Jaw Warriors,. Leonard is a prospect thateveryonelikes. 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. Sign up for EP Premium to create your own ranking. Nobody can defend his inside-out cut into that low, hard wrister of his at the junior level. Sweden's best prospect for the 2023 draft, Carlsson dominated the J20 level with his size and skill last season, playing at nearly two points per game (35 in 18) and adding nine points in 35. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Gabriel Szturc, C (Kelowna) Reinbacher is looking like a potential top-four mainstay in the NHL with exciting defensive potential. Bedard has crushed all expectations this year and has firmly planted himself in the first overall position. Jayden Perron is an excellent play-driving winger with tons of offensive talent. After scoring 30 goals as a rookie in the OHL last season, Colby Barlow has been on my radar as a pro-sized winger with a legit NHL-caliber shot. 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. I love the way he shields pucks and waits for his opportunities to attack. Wins it in OT for !!! Name. 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). The 18-year-old has accumulated 54 points (25 goals, 29 assists) in 60 games so far this season. Mix in a multi-dimensional shooting arsenal and I see top-six upside. 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 has also begun to fill out his frame, which has helped turn him into a diligent, relied-upon two-way player off the puck. "The Mintos program was great. Chloe Primerano was the Giants final selection in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft. Manipulation. Im not all that worried about either (5-foot-9, 160 pounds) because he has the tenacity and elusiveness that smaller players need to have to make a difference at the NHL level these days. 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. Elite Prospects - Erste Liga Stats 2023-2024 We sometimes see draft-eligible D play their full draft year in a professional league. 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. Barlows size, strength, and maturity as a teenager lead me to believe he could have a real shot at making the NHL out of training camp for whichever team selects him, hes that talented and reliable. 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. William Whitelaw, C, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL), 56. I wondered if my thoughts were altered by the late start and had an effect on how I viewed. close. Priority Draft including defenceman Blake Fiddler, picked first-overall by the Edmonton Oil Kings. If he develops a bit more as a creator, Hameenaho could easily out-perform his draft slot. 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. 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. Thats three more defencemen than my preliminary ranking, and while none still rank in the top 10 (which would be a first if it holds), theres a trio in the conversation for the 11-20 range and a ton of worthwhile second-round options behind them.

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