whl bantam draft rankings 2023

Ravndahl was selected by Portland in the fourth round, 83 rd overall in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft. Connor Bedard, C, Regina (WHL), 5-foot-10, 187 pounds. Hes got good tools all around with solid speed, stick skills, and defensive play. 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. From my first live viewing of him two Octobers ago in St. Catharines when he looked like the Generals most talented forward in just the second game of his OHL career, to his four-goal, seven-point series in Oshawas six-game first-round defeat against the Frontenacs, to his Hlinka performance this summer, to my most recent live viewings of him both in Oshawa and in Langley at the CHL Top Prospects Game, Ritchie has consistently impressed me. 1. When you spend some time watching him and asking around about him, you quickly realize why. Smith has turned the top-four of this draft into a top-five. Zach Benson is one of the most skilled and creative players in this draft, and the only things holding him back from being a true top-five contender is his size and his underwhelming speed. 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. 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. Carlssons ability to find and make space off the puck is also impressive for such a young player playing against grown men. There was a time when folks thought Musty was the best American-born 2005 prospect and while thats no longer the case theres still a lot to get excited about. There arent many players in this draft class whove come along quite like Sandin Pellikka has in the last year or so. 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 . His release is lightning-quick. Increasingly, Ive been impressed by his agility in and out of breaks and cuts (his skating is a real asset for him and particularly impressive through his edges and crossovers, though he can get going the length of the ice too). Hes got smooth skating mechanics. 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. 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. 2023 is obviously way far out but 8 Sask . They are: 1, 2-4, 5-6, 7-22, 23-33, 34-64+. 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. 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. 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. Yager plays a threatening, attacking, puck-dominant game with skill in straight lines and in cutting sequences in transition. He can beat you flying out wide. 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. 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. 2 pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection and an OHL First All-Rookie Team member. Viewed as a mid-round pick by most, Ciernik is a player I diverge from the public and private scouting communities on. Im not sure he has the star power of the names in front of him here, but hes got some unique attributes in this class and hes going to make a heck of an NHL player. Musty is an athletic winger who can beat goalies with his hard shot or by crashing the net and scoring in tight. Hes got really good edges and mobility, though he doesnt have the speed in straight lines to pull away from faster chasers. He can beat you on the perimeter with his skill (highlighted by excellent one-on-one hands-on defenders). 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. He too often looks like the third guy on his line. Elite Prospects - CCHL Bantam Protected Draft 2023. Gauthier, the No. His skating is excellent, and his high energy level makes him a possession monster. 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. 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). We seldom see them play big minutes in a good league, though even when theyre on the older side, like Reinbacher is with his October birthday. Carson Bjarnason, G (Brandon) He has the potential to change the trajectory of an NHL franchise and will likely score a ton of goals along the way. Nobody can defend his inside-out cut into that low, hard wrister of his at the junior level. He is on the younger side of the draft class with a July birthday so he has plenty of time to grow into the potential that he has shown thus far and increase his draft stock. Reinbacher had a solid tourney on a bad team despite dealing with an illness the entire time. 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 also hunts pucks and applies pressure with the best of them, and his motor doesnt stop, bouncing from one won battle to the next. I expect him to become a top point producer in college at the University of North Dakota, too. I love the way he slows down the game, adjusts and maneuvers his frame and shades pucks. 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). 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. 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 eager physically. Gavin McCarthy, RHD (Muskegon) 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. 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. Sign up for EP Premium to create your own ranking. 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. 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. Tomas Suchanek, G, Tri-City Americans (WHL), 59. Hes got some poise and processing under pressure, even if his play with the puck on his stick isnt dynamic per se. 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. Still, I would argue hes been a more consistent offensive player for Moose Jaw this season than Kraken prospect Jagger Firkus has been, while playing an off-puck game that is inarguably stronger than Firkus (he has also been a dangerous penalty killer and is decently-strong in the faceoff circle). . That is, of course . Hes a big, strong, sturdy, athletic net-driven winger with slick puckhandling skill one-on-one and a balanced skaters stride. Hes excellent in puck protection twisting away from coverage to make things happen along the boards. The way he walks through coverage and hangs onto pucks is special. 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. Hes a strong, pro-built, physically mature winger (some of which is a benefit of his 2004 birthday, but some of which is obviously a credit to the work he has put into filling out his frame he really does look sturdy) who likes to shoot the puck and shoots it hard, but also regularly beats defenders and goalies one-on-one with a slick set of hands across his body so that they cant plan for the shot. Scott Ratzlaff, G (Seattle) "The Mintos program was great. 2002 Rankings. He has been dominating the Swedish J20 league this year and is scoring at a higher pace right now than both Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Noah Ostlund did last year (who were drafted 15th and 16th respectively in the 2022 NHL Draft). Hes going to be a transition monster. 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. And even at 6-foot-2 and about 200 pounds, hes one of the best skaters in this draft. Hes got an impressive one-timer from the right flank and can really lean into and rip his catch-and-release or in-stride wrister. He is a very intelligent offensive player and can make these great reads and plays at full speed. 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. 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). he wants the puck in the offensive zone and has the skill and shot to make things happen when teammates find him off the point or as the trailer off the rush. 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). Updated hourly, with analysis, commentary and features from hundreds writers worldwide, our articles are read over 5 million times every month. When he tries things and he often does hes never trying them out of desperation but rather intention. 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. Maxim Strbak, RD, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL), 40. Scott Wheeler. Smith is flanked by the two best wingers in the program while Moore has found incredible success without that level of supporting talent. Cam Squires, RW (Cape Bretton) 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. And while we dont often see smaller defenceman taken as high as I have him ranked here, he doesnt play small and I like his game at both ends of the ice because of his mobility and the confidence with which he reads the play. Riley Heidt C, Prince George Cougars, 5-foot-11. Jake Leschyshyn (/ l s n / leh-SIH-shuhn; born March 10, 1999) is an American-born Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. He can beat you carrying the puck in rotations around the perimeter of the offensive zone. His skill and power combination make him a nightmare for defenders as he can beat you with his hands or by tossing his large frame into you to protect the puck. 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. 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. 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. Hedid that after notching five points in five games at lastyears Hlinka Gretzky Cup as a young 16-year-old, too. 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) The drafts order of selection depends on where the team finishes in the League standings. His playmaking skills either at full speed or after settling in the offensive zone are impressive and make him a very mobile and skilled threat whenever he has the puck. Hes got really quick side-to-side hands, a hardshot that rattles off of his stick, and quick crossover patterns that allow him to use those hands to get to places where he can look to shoot. 2023-2024 playoffs qc player stats for Poland, including top goal scorers, most games played, PPG leaders and more. 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. Priority Draft 10 months ago 44 players were selected by the 22 WHL member Clubs in Wednesday's U.S. Scouts are fascinated by his power forward package and size down the middle (following a move to centre from the wing as a 16-year-old). He can run the wall or the point on the PP, effortlessly picking coverage apart and feathering pucks through seams. Martin Misiak, RW/LW (Youngstown) 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 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. The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) cares about your privacy. 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. He walks the line and bends coverage as an impressive and tactical power-play quarterback. 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. This year, after getting off to a bit of a slow start (one goal and five points in his first eight games), he has really come on. 2023 Whl Bantam Draft - Elite Prospects 2023 Whl Bantam Draft Add to Favorites This is a custom user-submitted ranking. 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 Fantilli is a big, strong, powerful kid who takes pucks from the wall to the interior with force, and ease, and speed. Charlie Stramel, C, University of Wisconsin (NCAA), 34. 2020 All rights reserved to Puck Preps. Arttu Karki, LD, Tappara U20 (U20 SM-sarja), 49. Hes also got an accurate shot from midrange, and regularly picks corners. The top 50 drafted NHL prospects ranking, 2023 edition:1. 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. Team management chose the name "Rebels". While there are some great prospects in the top-five of the draft, theres no doubt that Bedard is the reason teams are tanking. WHL Bantam Draft: December Top 22 - #5 - #1 January 1, 2021 | In General, WHL Draft | By Ashley It's The Final Countdown!!!! Hes got one of the best shooting actions in motion Ive ever seen. The Kamloops Blazers drafted the former Burnaby Winter Club star No. 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. The Bantam Draft Lottery will determine the order of selection for the first six picks. He looks to take instead of give in the neutral zone, regularly stepping up to try to bump puck carriers off possession and force dumps (though there are times when that style can leave him chasing if his timings off or hes flatfooted). But getting around it consistently enough at higher paces has proven to be a bit of a challenge and his decision-making can look a little slow. However, first-year bantams had been playing at the peewee level the previous year, and in order to list first-year bantams, WHL Clubs needed to scout the peewee ranks. with the Wolverines). Ondrej Molnar, LW (Erie) His combination of speed and effort will make him a very flexible player who can fill in whatever role is needed of him, which has earned him the second-line center spot for a stacked University of Michigan team. 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. Hes also well-regarded as a great kid who is easy to coach and understands whats required of a centre. There he excelled as the team's number one d-man . 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. Hes got superb vision and ranks among the best in the class at dissecting coverage as a passer. Mix in a multi-dimensional shooting arsenal and I see top-six upside. Priority Draft including defenceman Blake Fiddler, picked first-overall by the Edmonton Oil Kings. 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 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. I think theres a small chance he becomes a star or close with the right development, too. Database: 1 002 208 players . 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. Michael Hrabal, G (Omaha) 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. 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. If he can add another gear (or two) to his max speed, Benson would be an absolute force in transition. Oliver Moore is one of the best skaters in this draft class with blazing speed and solid agility. 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. 1 or No. 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. Check out his skating and awareness! 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. 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). When hes on, he can completely take over a game. Because of his genetics, he should add the necessary weight and strength eventually. Michael Hrabal, G, Omaha Lancers (USHL), 61. Adam Fantilli is an absolute monster with the puck, with the skill, skating, and strength to beat defenders no matter how they attack him. Im less and less convinced of that. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 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 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. 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. The bantam draft allows for the orderly transfer of players to WHL Protected Player Lists (PPL) from the bantam ranks (13-14 year-olds).

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