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). The drafts order of selection depends on where the team finishes in the League standings. He is a mobile defenseman who fits the mold of the modern puck-moving defender and power play quarterback. 2023 NFL Mock Draft . Its impossible not to. Axel Sandin Pellikka is a right-handed offensive defenseman who has put up points at a remarkable rate in J20 Nationell, the top Swedish junior league. There he excelled as the team's number one d-man . Theres a lot to work with though. Connor Bedard, C, Regina (WHL), 5-foot-10, 187 pounds. 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. Melker Karlsson (F) SHL. 2023 is obviously way far out but 8 Sask . Youll commonly see him activate to lead plays into the offensive zone and create something. 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. 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. 2023 NHL Draft: Breaking down the WHL Defensemen in the CHL Top Prospects game Joel Henderson. Scott Wheeler. He can pick apart opposing defenses with pin-point passes and sly fakes, and his effort level is admirable. 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. 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). 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. The WHL Bantam Draft is only one step in this process. 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. Each of those guys played quite well at the tournament for draft eligible players, but nobody at the tournament of any age could hand the offensive pressure of Bedard. I think its only a matter of time until he starts to produce more consistently. Hell make plays through seams. Yager plays a threatening, attacking, puck-dominant game with skill in straight lines and in cutting sequences in transition. Western Hockey League completes 2022 WHL U.S. 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. Barlow was also named Captain of the Owen Sound Attack at just 17 which speaks to his maturity and leadership abilities. 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). On top of it all, hes physical, hes strong in the faceoff circle, hell get after it on forecheck and track pucks, he plays with energy, hell pounce on turnovers and be opportunistic. Sign up for EP Premium to create your own ranking. 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. Publishing date 2023-01-18 User Anonymous Views 922 Favorited 0 Share Embed 2023 Whl 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. Chloe Primarano is the first ever female to be selected in a WHL Bantam Draft. Hes great at changing speeds in transition to separate himself from defenders before either making a move around them or passing to an open teammate. Charlie Stramel, C, University of Wisconsin (NCAA), 34. . Gavin McCarthy, RHD (Muskegon) Id like to see him go past effective and really take over more, but he makes his fair share of plays, hes a sub-.500 teams leading scorer, and it does feel like he has middle-six centre written all over him. Riley Heidt C, Prince George Cougars, 5-foot-11. 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. Tom Willander, RD, Rgle BK J20 (J20 Nationell), 57. Ive seen him create breakaways with ease, win races he should, and send defenders sliding when he stops up on them with a head of steam. hes patient under pressure and can find his way out of trouble weaving and swerving through holes or away from sticks. 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. Hes got smooth hands. 2023 NHL Draft: Baracchini's Top 64 January Rankings January 13, 2023 by Peter Baracchini Welcome back to my 2023 NHL Draft Rankings. Eventually, when the points pile up like they have, and they happen making the kinds of plays that he does, you cant ignore them. 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. 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. 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. Evasive. On February 5, 1992, the Rebels selected Mike McBain as their first player in the Bantam Draft. 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. He uses his body to gain inside positioning on defenders and shields pucks effectively. Sign up for EP Premium to create your own ranking. He started to come on before the world juniors, though, and then he was good in a bottom-six role for Team USA and he has played quite well in his return to college hockey. 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. Max Domi (F) 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. He looks like he could be a hard-working top-six winger who complements your top guys really well while providing real offensive value on his own. pic.twitter.com/OOjR1KDavy Thibaud Chatel (@Thibaud_Chatel) January 24, 2023, David Reinbacher (#64 blue) (Draft 2023) just overskating former NHLer Alex Formenton, following up on his shots, winning a puck against Formenton and Former NHler Tim Heed before serving his teammate on a plate. Although he is just 5-foot-9, Perron is earning more and more buzz as a potential first rounder due to his excellent skating, playmaking, and offensive awareness. During the bantam draft (typically held in early May), players from the four Western Provinces and the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming are eligible to be selected. Narrowly my top-ranked defenceman in the draft at this stage, Gulyayev put together the most productive 16-year-old season by a defenceman in the MHLs modern history (13 seasons dating back to 2009) when he posted 35 points in 54 games last year, regularly playing 20 minutes per game in a league famous for typically relying on older players. Follow Scott on Twitter @scottcwheeler, Matvei Michkov. - The Western Hockey League announced today the results of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft Lottery will be broadcast in a free WHL Live event Thursday, April 21 at 2 p.m. MT. Honourable mentions (sorted alphabetically): Beau Akey, RHD (Barrie) Despite his diminutive size, hes also a smart player off of the puck and Ive been struck by how often hes in the right position above the puck to hold play inside the offensive zone (I absolutely get why he was named an alternate captain). Hes also going to be an able penalty killer, which should give him all-situations upside at the next level. We sometimes see draft-eligible D play their full draft year in a professional league. Hes going to be a transition monster. 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. 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). Logan Cooley2. I think hes going to play in the NHL next year and be successful on raw ability from the jump. 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. Slick. Last added: Carter Joo. Ill be shocked if he doesnt become a playmaking top-six centre and PP1 creator. 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. Hes got smooth skating mechanics. This ranking follows my way-too-early top 26 and my preseason top 32 (released in August). 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. Manipulation. After no Manitobans were selected in the opening round of the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft, five players from the province were picked in round two. 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. 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. With the puck on his stick, hes a treat to watch. There arent many players in this draft class whove come along quite like Sandin Pellikka has in the last year or so. 2023 WHL Draft Rankings - Elite Prospects 2023 WHL Draft Rankings Add to Favorites This is a custom user-submitted ranking. He hasnt looked out of place against men and has scored points at an excellent rate so far for a draft eligible player. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. - 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. Jesse Kiiskinen, RW, Pelicans (Liiga), 36. 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. 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. Im prepared to stick my neck out on Perreault at this point. 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. Sign up for premium. Hes got good tools all around with solid speed, stick skills, and defensive play. Go Premium for Elite Prospects Support. Because of his genetics, he should add the necessary weight and strength eventually. Dylan McLaughlin (F) AHL. Good habits away from the puck lead me to believe he will be a reliable NHLer with top-six forward upside. DraftPro's #1 prospect for the 2023 NHL entry draft, Connor Bedard finished the 2021/22 .