2023 NHL draft prospects

[james12]

I read the posts and think - at first there are no more than two Russian players in any rating, and then we see at the next U18 world tournament how the top prospects from these ratings cannot compete on the same level with the guys that no one knew before. Why is this happening? You must understand that the levels of junior leagues differ, so the top prospect of Slovakia in CSKA U16 or Dynamo U16, playing in the Moscow championship, will be an ordinary player of the 4th line. Therefore, all ratings are just sand castles that will be destroyed when these guys meet face to face on the ice and we really see who is who.

You're saying that before we assess players we shall rather wait until they face each other, but at the same time you're implying that top Slovak prospects would be 4th liners in some Russian provincial teams? Kinda contradicting.

Really hope HGC takes place and shows us that hype around Slovak 04 and 05 generation isnt just some wishful debate.

 

[Defender71]

I saw Dvorsky in person in Moscow in 2018. He was part of the Select Sweden U14 at the Tretiak Cup Tournament. That tournament was won by the usual CSKA team. Dalibor did not show anything special in that tournament, Sweden select together with Dvorsky did not even make it to the semifinals. That's the fact.

 

[Defender71]

You're saying that before we assess players we shall rather wait until they face each other, but at the same time you're implying that top Slovak prospects would be 4th liners in some Russian provincial teams? Kinda contradicting.

Really hope HGC takes place and shows us that hype around Slovak 04 and 05 generation isnt just some wishful debate.

I agree, let's wait. But today we have one indisputable fact - Canada U18 vs Sweden U18 20: 2 in two games. This is what I was talking about - you need to correlate the potential of each top-prospect with its ability to play with maximum opposition and pressure at the highest level.

 

[james12]

I saw Dvorsky in person in Moscow in 2018. He was part of the Select Sweden U14 at the Tretiak Cup Tournament. That tournament was won by the usual CSKA team. Dalibor did not show anything special in that tournament, Sweden select together with Dvorsky did not even make it to the semifinals. That's the fact.

And I saw him play this season against Czech U18 and even U20 and he showed up pretty well. You must admit that some tourney 3 years ago has nothing to do with his current quality similarly as his current quality has nothing to do with his quality 2 years on. Progress is fundamental.

 

[Dirtyf1ghter]

Dvorsky is no ordinary player. He was the best forward born in 2005 playing in Sweden.

He has the profile of a top 10 player. No other Russian forward other than Michkov will be selected before him in 2023.

 

[VictorLustig]

Dvorsky is no ordinary player. He was the best forward born in 2005 playing in Sweden.

He has the profile of a top 10 player. No other Russian forward other than Michkov will be selected before him in 2023.

That's a ridiculous thing to say at this point. Best 05 born forward in Sweden? Highly debatable.

 

[Dirtyf1ghter]

That's a ridiculous thing to say at this point. Best 05 born forward in Sweden? Highly debatable.

The interest of the site is to talk about the talents of tomorrow. Know who is best at 12-13-14-15-16-17 years old. Observe the evolutions. It has been since 2018 that I have classified Dvorsky as the No.1 forward born in 2005 playing in Sweden. The more time passes, the stronger the trend. This year, its lead has increased.

I don't see which other player can dispute it currently. He is a player who will be selected very high. Round 1 certain, Top 15 probable, Top 5 maybe.

 

[KohoPai66]

First of all, I don’t see the connection between WJC U-18 and draft 2023?! There are mostly players born 2003-2004, so what’s the point comparing Slovak 2005 born players with CSKA and Dynamo if you didn’t saw them play there?

True, Canada has beaten Sweden quite badly, but it’s also true, that our Sweden players didn’t play games since Nov/Dec 2020. I’m sure results would be different if our leagues would be open like in Finland or Russia for instance.

And I agree, Dvorsky is not an ordinery player, but I saw so many tournaments/games with him and in general he was not among the best. On all WSI Elite tournaments with Sweden, he was never among the best. Bedard, Petr, Lalkin, Sisik were way better on those tournaments. On Folke Filbyter Cup he was not even close to Stockselius or Kopac performance. He is very good player when he has good players around him, but by my opinion, he is not a player, who can make other players around him better. And to say he is best 2005 forward in Sweden is highly doubtful, when you have players like Dower Nilsson, Stenberg, Svensson, Stockselius, Kopac, Ståhlberg... and all these players have not been playing so much this year as he has, because it’s much harder to enter and play J18 team in Frölunda or Färjestad, then in AIK.

 

[Dirtyf1ghter]

First of all, I don’t see the connection between WJC U-18 and draft 2023?! There are mostly players born 2003-2004, so what’s the point comparing Slovak 2005 born players with CSKA and Dynamo if you didn’t saw them play there?

True, Canada has beaten Sweden quite badly, but it’s also true, that our Sweden players didn’t play games since Nov/Dec 2020. I’m sure results would be different if our leagues would be open like in Finland or Russia for instance.

And I agree, Dvorsky is not an ordinery player, but I saw so many tournaments/games with him and in general he was not among the best. On all WSI Elite tournaments with Sweden, he was never among the best. Bedard, Petr, Lalkin, Sisik were way better on those tournaments. On Folke Filbyter Cup he was not even close to Stockselius or Kopac performance. He is very good player when he has good players around him, but by my opinion, he is not a player, who can make other players around him better. And to say he is best 2005 forward in Sweden is highly doubtful, when you have players like Dower Nilsson, Stenberg, Svensson, Stockselius, Kopac, Ståhlberg... and all these players have not been playing so much this year as he has, because it’s much harder to enter and play J18 team in Frölunda or Färjestad, then in AIK.

WSI tournaments are starting to date and if you observe well, year after year his performance improves. He ended up leading the Swedish team in 2018.

In club his progress is even more dazzling. All the players who were ahead of him when he was 12 are dumped.

You quote Samuel Sisik. This player is very far from Dvorsky today.

This year, he started the season in Sweden U18, finishing by far, No. 1 in scoring. Let's say this is because the others are crossed out by older players. Dvorsky went on to earn a place in Slovak D1 at 15 and establish himself as one of the leaders of the Slovak U18 team. If Slovakia had been able to defend his luck, he would surely participate in the U18 tournament. In a team that would be about as strong as the Czech Republic.

All the Swedish players you mention are very far from his current references.

If you want, I can change the title. He is the best Slovakian prospect born in 2005 and he is ahead of Slafkovsky who is an indisputable round 1 Draft 2022 prospect.

So it comes down to the same thing.

 

[KohoPai66]

WSI tournaments are starting to date and if you observe well, year after year his performance improves. He ended up leading the Swedish team in 2018.

In club his progress is even more dazzling. All the players who were ahead of him when he was 12 are dumped.

You quote Samuel Sisik. This player is very far from Dvorsky today.

This year, he started the season in Sweden U18, finishing by far, No. 1 in scoring. Let's say this is because the others are crossed out by older players. Dvorsky went on to earn a place in Slovak D1 at 15 and establish himself as one of the leaders of the Slovak U18 team. If Slovakia had been able to defend his luck, he would surely participate in the U18 tournament. In a team that would be about as strong as the Czech Republic.

All the Swedish players you mention are very far from his current references.

If you want, I can change the title. He is the best Slovakian prospect born in 2005 and he is ahead of Slafkovsky who is an indisputable round 1 Draft 2022 prospect.

So it comes down to the same thing.

well, like I said, saw few his games in AIK this season and I was not impressed. Yes, he was by far leading 2005 scorer in J18 but he was also playing much more then the others. By points he was also in front of Bedard; so you’re saying he is better then?! And you cannot compare his J18 Region to Region South and West in Sweden, teams in his Region are much weaker - he would never play as much and also score much less in those regions. He tried in Linköping and we saw how it ended. Slafkovsky?! Again, not sharing your opinion. I see Slaf as more complete player.
And we will see coming season in J18 SM slutspel who is wright and if he will still have such a big references.

 

[Antiillafire]

well, like I said, saw few his games in AIK this season and I was not impressed. Yes, he was by far leading 2005 scorer in J18 but he was also playing much more then the others. By points he was also in front of Bedard; so you’re saying he is better then?! And you cannot compare his J18 Region to Region South and West in Sweden, teams in his Region are much weaker - he would never play as much and also score much less in those regions. He tried in Linköping and we saw how it ended. Slafkovsky?! Again, not sharing your opinion. I see Slaf as more complete player.
And we will see coming season in J18 SM slutspel who is wright and if he will still have such a big references.

Slafkovsky is no where close to the player Dvorsky has become in the past 4-5 months. I do agree with you that dvorsky has lots to prove but he took a big step since December. Let’s wait to see how he plays at HGC this august. Player development is not linear, it has ups and downs. And Kopac better? That’s a good joke. Kopac would not even make Slovak u18 project despite its catch all method.

 

[Malmo79]

well, like I said, saw few his games in AIK this season and I was not impressed. Yes, he was by far leading 2005 scorer in J18 but he was also playing much more then the others. By points he was also in front of Bedard; so you’re saying he is better then?! And you cannot compare his J18 Region to Region South and West in Sweden, teams in his Region are much weaker - he would never play as much and also score much less in those regions. He tried in Linköping and we saw how it ended. Slafkovsky?! Again, not sharing your opinion. I see Slaf as more complete player.
And we will see coming season in J18 SM slutspel who is wright and if he will still have such a big references.

i agree he is very good player but he is also overrated and to say he is better then all mantioned Sweden players is at least daubtful

 

[KohoPai66]

Slafkovsky is no where close to the player Dvorsky has become in the past 4-5 months. I do agree with you that dvorsky has lots to prove but he took a big step since December. Let’s wait to see how he plays at HGC this august. Player development is not linear, it has ups and downs. And Kopac better? That’s a good joke. Kopac would not even make Slovak u18 project despite its catch all method.[/

and from which angle can you say he is better then mentioned players? Have you seen any game from Svensson, Dower Nilsson or Forsfjäll this season? If Dvorsky improved himself since December, maybe they did too. Can’t speak about Slovak project, because I don’t know anything about it, but I saw some Kopac games and he is not a joke, especially after injury he had. And like I said about Slaf, different eyes see different things, for me he is more complete player and it will be really interested to track HGC this year and see how corona effected some players.

 

[Rusty7550]

Slafkovsky is no where close to the player Dvorsky has become in the past 4-5 months. I do agree with you that dvorsky has lots to prove but he took a big step since December. Let’s wait to see how he plays at HGC this august. Player development is not linear, it has ups and downs. And Kopac better? That’s a good joke. Kopac would not even make Slovak u18 project despite its catch all method.

Slafkovsky is no where close? What? Dvorsky had good games in Slovak U18 national team but it wasn't a dominance like Slafkovsky showed against Czech U20. And he's playing great also in senior team. He was probably our best forward against Czechs few days ago. Dvorsky is very talented, I believe that there is TOP 10 potential but he's not on Jurajs level yet.

 

[Dirtyf1ghter]

Slafkovsky is no where close? What? Dvorsky had good games in Slovak U18 national team but it wasn't a dominance like Slafkovsky showed against Czech U20. And he's playing great also in senior team. He was probably our best forward against Czechs few days ago. Dvorsky is very talented, I believe that there is TOP 10 potential but he's not on Jurajs level yet.

It is obvious since Slafkovsky is 15 months older. But Dvorsky is further ahead.

 

[Antiillafire]

Slafkovsky is no where close? What? Dvorsky had good games in Slovak U18 national team but it wasn't a dominance like Slafkovsky showed against Czech U20. And he's playing great also in senior team. He was probably our best forward against Czechs few days ago. Dvorsky is very talented, I believe that there is TOP 10 potential but he's not on Jurajs level yet.

I should have added that I mean at the age of 15, Dvorsky is ahead of Slafkovsky when he was 15. Much better skater, puck handler and creator. Watching Dvorsky for Bystrica this year it is clear. But yeah he is not at Slafkovsky’s level yet, when not looking at age. Slafkovsky also has the advantage of being 6’4 220 lbs compared to Dvorsky with the smaller frame

 

[Antiillafire]

@KohoPai66.
I never said that he was definitively better than those Swedish kids. I haven’t seen them play so I can’t comment on them. I have seen Kopac play though and that is why I commented only on him. When have you seen Slafkovsky play recently? At the WJC? That was 5 months ago. When have you seen Dvorsky play recently? Did you watch him in Tipos league? Only Dvorsky’s nimble frame right now prevents him from being better than Slafkovsky, despite being a year younger.

 

[The Swede]

well, like I said, saw few his games in AIK this season and I was not impressed. Yes, he was by far leading 2005 scorer in J18 but he was also playing much more then the others. By points he was also in front of Bedard; so you’re saying he is better then?! And you cannot compare his J18 Region to Region South and West in Sweden, teams in his Region are much weaker - he would never play as much and also score much less in those regions. He tried in Linköping and we saw how it ended. Slafkovsky?! Again, not sharing your opinion. I see Slaf as more complete player.
And we will see coming season in J18 SM slutspel who is wright and if he will still have such a big references.

It´s very hard to compare them at this time. With the pandemic going on. And you need to know the standard of the different leauges. As you say the Stockholm region (U16 and U18) is easier to score points in and for an example U16 väst or U18 väst. And that also changes from time to time. it seems like long back when i watched Färjestad -Linköping in Folke Filbyter. And in that game Dalibor was ok, but the two guys who impressed me the most was defender Noel Fransén and Forward Gustav Ling of Färjestad. It will be very interesting when the seasons starts and hopefully we can watch a lot of hockey. If i compare the the Swedish 2003, 2004 and 2005 the 2005 group is wider but not really sure who is going to be the top prospect. A lot of good forwards. Not that many defenders.

 

[Garl]

I saw Dvorsky in person in Moscow in 2018. He was part of the Select Sweden U14 at the Tretiak Cup Tournament. That tournament was won by the usual CSKA team. Dalibor did not show anything special in that tournament, Sweden select together with Dvorsky did not even make it to the semifinals. That's the fact.

Mighty Russia stronk!

Now, russian domination for U15 U16 levels is smth that is going on for ever. The end result does not corellate with this at all, Sweden has way more NHL players, and is more successful internationally.

Russia has a bigger pool, and has more acess to early developers who will give them advantage at early ages.

 

[Garl]

I agree, let's wait. But today we have one indisputable fact - Canada U18 vs Sweden U18 20: 2 in two games. This is what I was talking about - you need to correlate the potential of each top-prospect with its ability to play with maximum opposition and pressure at the highest level.

Yes, also this team Sweden won vs USA and Finland with combined score 13-2, americans and finns are horrible I guess. What does it tell about Russia though, who struggled with them both?

 

[Garl]

I read the posts and think - at first there are no more than two Russian players in any rating, and then we see at the next U18 world tournament how the top prospects from these ratings cannot compete on the same level with the guys that no one knew before. Why is this happening? You must understand that the levels of junior leagues differ, so the top prospect of Slovakia in CSKA U16 or Dynamo U16, playing in the Moscow championship, will be an ordinary player of the 4th line. Therefore, all ratings are just sand castles that will be destroyed when these guys meet face to face on the ice and we really see who is who.

First of all, no one is saying that junior leagues are equal or smth. Dvorsky is not playing in Slovakian junior league. He played in slovak mens league and in swedish juniors. And swedish juniors have a really good track at producing NHLers.

 

[slovakiasnextone]

First of all, no one is saying that junior leagues are equal or smth. Dvorsky is not playing in Slovakian junior league. He played in slovak mens league and in swedish juniors. And swedish juniors have a really good track at producing NHLers.

Yeah, as you say, bringing Slovak junior leagues into the discussion seems like a moot point when discussing Slovak top prospects. Even more so this season since the league wasn't even properly played. This season most of Slovak prospects either played SWE / FIN juniors (both of which have a good track record of developing players), Slovak top league or at least on the u18 team in Slovak second-tier league. Granted, the last one is a not very good semi-pro league, bu the training etc. for the players from the u18 is much better than in most teams from Slovak juniors.

 

[alko]

This is very nice to read. Skill fight between Slafkovsky and Dvorsky. Its just a little bid under the level of Shane Wright vs Connor Bedard.

 

[KohoPai66]

@KohoPai66.
I never said that he was definitively better than those Swedish kids. I haven’t seen them play so I can’t comment on them. I have seen Kopac play though and that is why I commented only on him. When have you seen Slafkovsky play recently? At the WJC? That was 5 months ago. When have you seen Dvorsky play recently? Did you watch him in Tipos league? Only Dvorsky’s nimble frame right now prevents him from being better than Slafkovsky, despite being a year younger.

I saw Slafkovsky and Sisik in Finland and Dvorsky and Kopac in Sweden. All of them latest approx. half a year ago, when hockey league was still vivid. Like I said, Slaf is for me definitely more complete player. I think it’s almost impossible to compare “he at that age”. You would have them to play at the same league. Not sure where you have seen Kopac playing this year in Sweden, because he was playing mostly friendly matches, but I can assure you - he is not a joke. And again, we will see all these boys ( hopefully) playing J18 SM slut ( some of them maybe even J20 ) in coming ( whole ) season and then we will see who is who. This will be first real long test before 2023.

 

[KohoPai66]

Slafkovsky is no where close? What? Dvorsky had good games in Slovak U18 national team but it wasn't a dominance like Slafkovsky showed against Czech U20. And he's playing great also in senior team. He was probably our best forward against Czechs few days ago. Dvorsky is very talented, I believe that there is TOP 10 potential but he's not on Jurajs level yet.

Slafkovsky is no where close to the player Dvorsky has become in the past 4-5 months. I do agree with you that dvorsky has lots to prove but he took a big step since December. Let’s wait to see how he plays at HGC this august. Player development is not linear, it has ups and downs. And Kopac better? That’s a good joke. Kopac would not even make Slovak u18 project despite its catch all method.

Slovak u18 project?? and Ciernik is a part of this project? how many times u saw him played lately? talking about jokes