whl bantam draft rankings 2023

The show will also include the unveiling of WHL Divisional Award Winners and All-Star Teams for the 2021-22 WHL season. (Maksim Konstantinov / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images), how strong the 2022 draft class was for Slovakia. 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. He passes the eye test. That will limit concerns about his height (he certainly hasnt played small in his freshman year so far). This draft class marks a decade of me doing this work, and I still believe this 2023 group is rivalled only by 2015 among the talent pools Ive scouted to date. 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. If he were a little bigger, hed be a scouts dream. During every draft cycle there are a handful of prospects who are 5-foot-10 or shorter who get a ton of praise in public scouting circles before unceremoniously sliding on draft day. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. I think theres a small chance he becomes a star or close with the right development, too. Im less and less convinced of that. 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. 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. His statistical profile is really strong and continued progress in his skating (which has also noticeably improved this year) will keep it that way into the NHL. 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). They are: 1, 2-4, 5-6, 7-22, 23-33, 34-64+. Not Cole Caufield. So far, his offense has only improved, even considering the increased competition. 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. He has even driven results at both ends in those minutes, with a positive goal differential on an under-.500 team that has been outscored pretty significantly on the whole this season. This ranking follows my way-too-early top 26, my preseason top 32 (released in August), and my preliminary top 64 (released in November). 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. 2023 NFL Mock Draft . Everywhere he plays, Bedard just oozes poise and talent unlike any other player on the ice. You want the play to run through his hands and brain. He was the No. And he just always seems to play well, no matter the role/usage/stage. 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. Yager plays a threatening, attacking, puck-dominant game with skill in straight lines and in cutting sequences in transition. And yet most believe hes the third-most compelling and projectable prospect on USAs top line. 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. His June birthday makes him one of the younger players on this list and he has already accomplished a lot, including leading a Slovak Hlinka Gretzky Cup team that featured Juraj Slafkovsky and Filip Mesar in scoring as an underager, producing well above a point per game in Swedens J20 level last year, and now producing in his draft year in the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan (while clicking at two points per game in stints back down at J20). An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. He can beat you flying out wide. 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. Heidt, taken No. 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). Im prepared to stick my neck out on Perreault at this point. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Scouts are drawn to him because of his size-skill combo and while he can look a little uncoordinated out there at times, that draw is real and theres some definite tools there. 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. 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. 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. When they got to the 2007-born player class, many had admitted to me that they had understandably focused all their attention on the 2006-born class from September to December so after a few. David Edstrom, C (Frolunda) Hes got poise and patience on the puck. 2020 All rights reserved to Puck Preps. I think hes going to be a star regardless. And even at 6-foot-2 and about 200 pounds, hes one of the best skaters in this draft. Carson Bjarnasson, G, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL), 47. When you think youve got him trapped, you usually dont. With the 268th overall selection (Round 13) the Vancouver Giants have selected 2007-born defender Chloe Primerano (North Vancouver, BC) in the 2022 @TheWHL Prospects Draft. 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. 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. 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. 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. . 2023 WHL Draft Rankings - TOP 50 - Elite Prospects 2023 WHL Draft Rankings - TOP 50 Add to Favorites This is a custom user-submitted ranking. Nobody can defend his inside-out cut into that low, hard wrister of his at the junior level. - 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. He skates quite well for his size, hes got good hands and dexterity, hes got great feel and sense for the pressures that exist on the ice, and hes by all accounts a great teammate and kid who is coachable and pays attention to the details of the game. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. 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. Ziemmer often seems to have the puck on a string and thats part of why he has been one of the leading scorers in the WHL this year as a 17-year-old. Reinbacher is looking like a potential top-four mainstay in the NHL with exciting defensive potential. The Bantam Draft Lottery will determine the order of selection for the first six picks. 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. The Scouting News. 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. He draws tons of attention in the offensive zone and is great at making smart plays under pressure to help open teammates up to make their jobs easier. For the 2010 bantam draft, players born in 1995 may be selected. He is so difficult for defenders to pin down because of the way he manipulates defenders movements (like waiting for them to turn their skates in one direction before darting in the other), and him being a right-handed centerman doesnt hurt either. Fantilli is currently averaging about one and a half points per game on a University of Michigan team filled to the brim with talent. Because of his genetics, he should add the necessary weight and strength eventually. Hell of a performance from Slovakia especially their Tendy! Im not talking about him compared to other prospects in this draft. Team management chose the name "Rebels". The U18 teams first line of Smith, Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault has been piling up points and attention (deservedly so) this year, but Ive been as impressed by Moore and the offence he has created as the focal point of its second line. 1 pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins posted). Mike Glemser (F) Germany3. The son of longtime NHLer Yanic Perreault and brother of Ducks prospect Jacob, Gabe doesnt have his dads defensive acumen or his brothers build (hes listed at 165 pounds now), but hes an intuitive, highly-intelligent player who sees the play develop offensively at a more advanced level than his two family members did/do and than almost anybody in the draft does. All 22 WHL Clubs participated in the four-phase lottery . 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. Not Logan Cooley. Mazden Leslie, RHD (Vancouver) Ill be shocked if he doesnt become a playmaking top-six centre and PP1 creator. Jayden Perron is an excellent play-driving winger with tons of offensive talent. 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. 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! as a small but highly-involved forward who plays the game with energy and pace, making little skill plays between coverage. Hes different than Bedard in tools and approach. At the time of writing, he leads all defenseman in points per game and is on pace to have one of the most impressive offensive seasons in league history amongst defensemen of any age, not just draft eligible ones. Slick. 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). His playmaking and shot arent exceptional, but theyre both good enough to be reasonably sure that his offense would translate to the NHL some day. 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. Carson Bjarnason, G (Brandon) Get access to our unique free agency lists and many more premium features. However, his real calling card is his shot which ranks near the top of the draft class in terms of deception and power. The best way to define Fantilli is the way one USHL source once described him to me: Hes a horse.. Hes scoring roughly half a point per game there and has spent a few games in the J20 Nationell as well, Swedens top junior league, where he has shown that he is clearly a step above his age group, scoring nearly two points per game there. Evasive. After the season, the WHL holds a draft specifically to allow teams to add bantam players in an orderly manner to their protected lists. That is, of course . Ryan Leonard is a high energy winger who never takes his foot off the gas in terms of both speed and effort. Michkovs brilliance comes primarily from his ability to read and process the play at an extremely advanced level, make his decisions quickly, and execute on them with incredible proficiency, whether thats ripping a patterned shot (his one-timer, his standstill wrister, his curl-and-drag, etc. 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. Hedid that after notching five points in five games at lastyears Hlinka Gretzky Cup as a young 16-year-old, too. Of course, there are also some prospects who dropped in this edition of my rankings, including Brayden Yager and David Reinbacher. Elite Prospects - CCHL Bantam Protected Draft 2023. Priority Draft including defenceman Blake Fiddler, picked first-overall by the Edmonton Oil Kings. The WHL Bantam Draft is only one step in this process. Theres the pinpoint accuracy from impossible angles. 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). Its hard to be a true top-of-the-lineup forward at his size, though, and I think he projects more as a complementary scorer who gives a lineup a bit of a different look. Michkov is, without question or hesitation, the best prospect Ive ever ranked at No. WHL Clubs send scouts to watch first-year bantams from the start of the minor hockey season. Honzek was on one of the steeper ascents in the draft this season when he suffered a leg injury in Slovakias second game of the world juniors. And while he shines in moments, those short moments and the consistency of his execution within them (despite being freakishly talented, he makes very few mistakes with the puck) create a uniquely high-reward, somehow low-risk game. Hes one of the older players on this list (October 2004) but was also one of the most productive under-18 players at the J20 level last year, a top performer on the second line (with Dvorsky) as one of the younger players at his Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and Slovakias leading scorer in their promotion win in the Division 1A U18 world championship (his 12 points were one more than Dvorsky). 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. Holding steady at about two points per game, Cristall has already shown improvements following his impressive 69-point WHL rookie season last year. Four 2005-born standout defenders in the CHL, Breaking down four top 2005 forwards in the WHL, Six WHL Players from the 2021 Draft selected outside of the Top-10 whove had early success, The Five Star Hockey Show: 2023 Canada Winter Games Preview, Western Canada Ramblings: NHL and WHL Draft, The Checklist: 2008-born Manitoba players in the WAAA U15, January 2023 WHL Draft Ranking update | Top-80, Final Thoughts: John Reid Memorial Tournament 2023, 10 Puck Touches: Day Three and Four 2023 John Reid Memorial Tournament, 10 Puck Touches: Day Two, 2023 John Reid Memorial Tournament, 10 Puck Touches: Day One 2023 John Reid Memorial Tournament, The Checklist: Seven 2008-born Western Canadian Players to Watch, 2022 WHL Draft Review: From Prince George to Winnipeg, 2023 NHL Draft: Breaking down the WHL Defensemen in the CHL Top Prospects game, Rocky Mountain Classic 2022: Rambling Part Two, 9 forwards who impressed at the Graham Tuer U15 Challenge, Preliminary Top 25 2023 WHL Draft Rankings Released. When you spend some time watching him and asking around about him, you quickly realize why. Manage Settings Adam Gajan, G, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL), 55. Ziemmer is a December 2004 who was selected with the No. 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. Manipulation. Felix Nilsson, C (Rogle) Caden Price, LD, Kelowna Rockets (WHL), 35. pic.twitter.com/OOjR1KDavy. Hes a first-round talent. 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 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). 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. Calgary, Alta. 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). 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. In order to get away from scouting peewees, the WHL instituted a bantam draft. Adam Fantilli is an absolute monster with the puck, with the skill, skating, and strength to beat defenders no matter how they attack him. Wins it in OT for !!! Carlssons one of the smartest players in the draft, a very heady player who understands spacing and timing on and off the puck at an advanced level for his age. I see clear, projectable top-six tools as a play-creating winger and Im not the least bit worried about him doing it against NHL defences because of how hard he is to pin down. 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 also hunts pucks and applies pressure with the best of them, and his motor doesnt stop, bouncing from one won battle to the next. This kid is as prolific from long distance as any shooter Ive ever scouted. Leschyshyn played junior hockey for the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Regina Pats in the Western Hockey League, serving as . 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. 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. 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. I expect him to become a top point producer in college at the University of North Dakota, 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,. Watch out for Stenberg in the last months of the season, hes been playing better and better and I think hell go in the first round despite his lack of production in the SHL this year. But hes also sturdy for his size, which allows him to extend plays, hang onto pucks when a quick attack isnt there, or delay for his linemates. Connor Bedard, C, Regina (WHL), 5-foot-10, 187 pounds. 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. He can run the wall or the point on the PP, effortlessly picking coverage apart and feathering pucks through seams. 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. 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). If he can keep up that pace then he could very well lock himself in as the second best prospect in the draft. I think its only a matter of time until he starts to produce more consistently. 2022 WHL Prospects Draft Results - First Round #1 - Medicine Hat Tigers Name: Gavin McKenna Position: Forward Hometown: Whitehorse, Yukon Team: Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna U18 Prep Stats: 35 GP - 23G-42A-65 points #2 - Tri-City Americans Name: Jackson Smith Position: Defence Hometown: Calgary, Alta. There were a lot of nights last season, on an Ice team that boasted half a dozen of the better forwards and two of the top defencemen in the WHL, where this kid was the best player on the ice (which included himleadingthem in scoring in the playoffs with 23 points in 15 games) as a 16-year-old. 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. There arent many players in this draft class whove come along quite like Sandin Pellikka has in the last year or so. Noah Dower Nilsson is purely an offensive player at this point, but hes a very skilled one. 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. I think hes going to play in the NHL next year and be successful on raw ability from the jump. 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. 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. If this werent a draft that also featured Bedard and Benson, he was in the midst of one of the most productive draft-eligible seasons in recent WHL history (pacing to outproduce, for example, the 106 in 69 that 2011 No. He has a good shot but hasnt been encouraged to use it much in Liiga yet. 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. William Whitelaw, C, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL), 56. 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. 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. Wins it in OT for !!! All-Time Trophies & Winners. Without further ado, let's get to the 2023 draft board. 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 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. Viewed as a mid-round pick by most, Ciernik is a player I diverge from the public and private scouting communities on. With the World Junior Hockey Championship coming. Hes excellent in puck protection twisting away from coverage to make things happen along the boards. Western Hockey League. Ravndahl was selected by Portland in the fourth round, 83 rd overall in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft. 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. And while he played exclusively as a winger in the SHL the last two seasons, Carlsson came up as a centre and I like the way his game might fit there long term because of his combination of size, detail, and awareness. Hes a slick one-on-one player. Riley Heidt C, Prince George Cougars, 5-foot-11. Early results are extremely positive with Wood being one of the top rookie point scorers and one of the top scorers on his team despite being the youngest player in all of mens NCAA hockey. Hes a player who has earned the respect of those around the USHL amongst both rival players and staff. Kalan Lind, C/LW, Red Deer Rebels (WHL), 46. 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. 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). 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. forward. Cam Squires, RW (Cape Bretton) ), a quick move into a pass, a sudden stop-up, or an attacking cut. The real question will be if he can make a difference in his own end as his defending has been a bit too relaxed for my liking. He currently leads the Giants in scoring and is among the top scorers in the WHL at large. Hes sound positionally defensively. 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). He has every physical tool you could hope for, and uses each of them well, with the speed, strength, and reach to be a really great top-four defender in the NHL. I dont see a lot to nitpick in either his tools or his approach. 3 pick in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft. 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). Thank you for your interest in our network of websites, newsletters, and other services. 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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