Post your 2023 Draft List

[QJL]

Longer list coming but here is my top 50 at the moment:

1. Connor Bedard
2. Matvei Michkov
3. Adam Fantilli
4. Dalibor Dvorsky
5. Leo Carlsson
6. Nate Danielson
7. Kasper Halttunen
8. Lukas Dragicevic
9. Mikhail Gulyayev
10. Brayden Yager
11. Matthew Wood
12. Calum Ritchie
13. William Smith
14. Charlie Stramel
15. Zachary Benson
16. Cameron Allen
17. Eduard Sale
18. Koehn Ziemmer
19. Daniil But
20. Otto Stenberg
21. Quentin Musty
22. Ryan Leonard
23. Dmitri Simashev
24. Yegor Zavragin
25. Riley Heidt
26. Colby Barlow
27. Lenni Hameenaho
28. Alex Ciernik
29. Danny Nelson
30. Hunter Brzustewicz
31. Theo Lindstein
32. Coulson Pitre
33. Gavin Brindley
34. Jesse Kiiskinen
35. Kalle Carlsson
36. Ethan Miedema
37. Oliver Moore
38. Kimo Gruber
39. Etienne Morin
40. Aram Minnetian
41. Ivan Remezovsky
42. Tanner Adams
43. William Whitelaw
44. Connor Levis
45. Mathieu Cataford
46. Arttu Karki
47. Tyler Peddle
48. Paul Fischer
49. Caden Price
50. Maxim Strbak

 

[NotProkofievian]

I thought Nate Danielson looked like a first rounder at the WJC 20 camp.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

I thought Nate Danielson looked like a first rounder at the WJC 20 camp.

Agreed. He has been really good for TC for some time now. I am usually left impressed with his game.

 

[JotAlan]

Take this with a boulder of salt. I've seen a handful of these guys quite a few times, but there are just as many takes based a little too heavily on Twitter highlights and opinions I've read or heard from various sources around the internet. Players lumped in tiers are basically on the same level for me. You could push me in any direction on those guys. Also note that this is a personal ranking and not a mock draft.

1. RW Matvei Michkov
2. RC Connor Bedard
   ---
3. LC Leo Carlsson
4. LC Adam Fantilli
5. RW Brayden Yager
6. LW Zachary Benson
7. LC Dalibor Dvorsky
   ---
8. RC Charlie Stramel
9. LD Mikhail Gulyayev
10. LW Alex Čiernik
11. RC Calum Ritchie
12. RD Cameron Allen
13. LC Oliver Moore
14. LD Tanner Moledyk
    ---
15. RW Kasper Halttunen
16. RW Nate Danielson
17. LW Daniil But
18. LW Eduard Šalé
19. LW Kalan Lind
20. RC Ethan Gauthier
21. RW Matthew Wood
22. LW Otto Stenberg
23. LD Daniil Karpovich
24. LC Ryan Leonard
25. LW Roman Kantserov
26. RC Bradley Nadeau
27. RW Jaden Perron

*updated: 2022.07.29 - Kasper Halttunen ↑​

I don't understand why Riley Heidt is so devalued. Garoto led in points a horrible team (average 0.9ppg) is a good two-way center and a monster on faceoff. To me, he's clearly talented enough for the top 10.

 

[simonedvinsson]

I don't understand why Riley Heidt is so devalued. Garoto led in points a horrible team (average 0.9ppg) is a good two-way center and a monster on faceoff. To me, he's clearly talented enough for the top 10.

Scott Wheeler had him in his top ten a few months back, and most lists I've seen have him in that 10-20 range, so I'm not sure he's all that devalued. Personally, I'm not a fan of his compete level. When he goes into beast mode, he's great, but his effort level is not very consistent game-to-game. That said, the draft is a year away, so that can change drastically. He certainly has a lot of skill, and he seems to think the game at a pretty high level as well.

 

[Dominance]

I don't understand why Riley Heidt is so devalued. Garoto led in points a horrible team (average 0.9ppg) is a good two-way center and a monster on faceoff. To me, he's clearly talented enough for the top 10.

Agreed, no Heidt is disqualifying at this point.

 

[QJL]

I don't understand why Riley Heidt is so devalued. Garoto led in points a horrible team (average 0.9ppg) is a good two-way center and a monster on faceoff. To me, he's clearly talented enough for the top 10.

In a normal draft, I’d have Heidt around 15-20. This isn’t a normal draft at all.

 

[landy92mack29]

I don't understand why Riley Heidt is so devalued. Garoto led in points a horrible team (average 0.9ppg) is a good two-way center and a monster on faceoff. To me, he's clearly talented enough for the top 10.

Because people don't watch PG....well most just watch highlights tbh but especially not PG. He's a definite top 10 guy even in this class heading into the year, just hope he continues unlike past PG prospects. It's kinda funny seeing so little WHL respect on early lists when it's by far the best WHL class I've ever seen....while last year was the weakest and still had 6 1st rounders.

 

[Dominance]

Because people don't watch PG....well most just watch highlights tbh but especially not PG. He's a definite top 10 guy even in this class heading into the year, just hope he continues unlike past PG prospects. It's kinda funny seeing so little WHL respect on early lists when it's by far the best WHL class I've ever seen....while last year was the weakest and still had 6 1st rounders.

Yep. It’s just a fact of the 2023 draft that the top end will be dominated by the WHL.

Going into the year, the following are not arguable IMO:

1st overall: Bedard

Top-5: Yager

Top-10: Heidt

Top-20: Benson, Danielson, Dragicevic, Wood (if he joins the Pats)

Strong cases can also be made for Molendyk, Ziemmer, Leslie, Lind, Price, Levis - just off the top of my head - as first rounders at present.

 

[landy92mack29]

Yep. It’s just a fact of the 2023 draft that the top end will be dominated by the WHL.

Going into the year, the following are not arguable IMO:

1st overall: Bedard

Top-5: Yager

Top-10: Heidt

Top-20: Benson, Danielson, Dragicevic, Wood (if he joins the Pats)

Strong cases can also be made for Molendyk, Ziemmer, Leslie, Lind, Price, Levis - just off the top of my head - as first rounders at present.

Yeah for me it's
1-Bedard
Top 5-Yager
Top 10-Heidt, Danielson, Dragicevic(not making Hlinka won't help even if it was another stupid HC decision)
Top 20-Benson, Christall, Ziemmer
Potential 1st-Lind, Molendyck, Leslie, Price, Levis
See what guys like Oremba, Cagnoni, Sawchyn, Myatovic and the goalies do but Seattle guys might struggle to put up points because of how deep that team will be. Then see what the imports do, Honzek is already a intriguing one

 

[Dominance]

Yeah for me it's
1-Bedard
Top 5-Yager
Top 10-Heidt, Danielson, Dragicevic(not making Hlinka won't help even if it was another stupid HC decision)
Top 20-Benson, Christall, Ziemmer
Potential 1st-Lind, Molendyck, Leslie, Price, Levis
See what guys like Oremba, Cagnoni, Sawchyn, Myatovic and the goalies do but Seattle guys might struggle to put up points because of how deep that team will be. Then see what the imports do, Honzek is already a intriguing one

I have it the exact same. I’m not sure if Drago is a top-10 prospect in this stacked draft, but I think he’s up there for top defenseman with Allen and is therefore a strong candidate to go top-10.

 

[wetcoast]

If Michkov arrives in the NHL with the same level of dominance Kaprizov demonstrated, the wait will have been well worth it.

Maybe maybe not as the 2nd pick that year was Jack Eichel and the guy who goes 3rd in the 23 draft could be that caliber of player or a Mitch Marner....

The 2026 contract is one thing the situation in Ukraine adds another layer.

 

[QJL]

Yep. It’s just a fact of the 2023 draft that the top end will be dominated by the WHL.

Going into the year, the following are not arguable IMO:

1st overall: Bedard

Top-5: Yager

Top-10: Heidt

Top-20: Benson, Danielson, Dragicevic, Wood (if he joins the Pats)

Strong cases can also be made for Molendyk, Ziemmer, Leslie, Lind, Price, Levis - just off the top of my head - as first rounders at present.

I just don’t understand how the bolded are “not arguable”.

After Bedard and Michkov, Yager isn’t definitively a better talent than Fantilli, Dvorsky, and Halttunen. You can argue he’s as high as 3rd, but you can’t say it’s not arguable that he’s top 5.

Heidt isn’t definitively better than Dragicevic, Wood, Carlsson, Gulyayev, Benson, Ritchie, Danielson, Stramel, etc. Sure you can argue he falls in the top 10 range, but you can’t say it’s not arguable that’s he’s top 10.

The best part of 2023 is that so many players carry a strong argument to go Top 10 in just about any other draft. I plan on enjoying the magical race of these juggernauts. This isn’t a draft to draw clear lines of separation (outside of the top 2).

 

[Dominance]

I just don’t understand how the bolded are “not arguable”.

After Bedard and Michkov, Yager isn’t definitively a better talent than Fantilli, Dvorsky, and Halttunen. You can argue he’s as high as 3rd, but you can’t say it’s not arguable that he’s top 5.

Heidt isn’t definitively better than Dragicevic, Wood, Carlsson, Gulyayev, Benson, Ritchie, Danielson, Stramel, etc. Sure you can argue he falls in the top 10 range, but you can’t say it’s not arguable that’s he’s top 10.

The best part of 2023 is that so many players carry a strong argument to go Top 10 in just about any other draft. I plan on enjoying the magical race of these juggernauts. This isn’t a draft to draw clear lines of separation (outside of the top 2).

It’s a superlative draft class, hence why I also added “not arguable IMO.”

I guess that is somewhat of an oxymoron, but I meant that, for me, Yager is a clear top-5 guy and Heidt is a clear top-10 guy, such that I would sort other guys in and around them.

 

[Jukurit]

So, who are the players who could end up being fallers in their draft years? Looking at McKenzie's pre-season 2022 rankings and comparing them to final rankings, Wright fell from consensus 1st to 4th, Lambert fell from 3rd to 30th.
Michkov could end up being a faller, but that's probably because of that contract situation, so we already know that.
As an example, Lambert outside of WJC was pretty poor in his D-1 year. So he was already trending down going into his draft season.

On the other hand, who could be a riser like Slafkovsky and Nemec?

 

[scoutman1]

1. Connor Bedard—C—Regina 5’09/181 62 51 49 100
2. Matvey Michkov—RW—SKA MHL 5’10/159 13 02 03 05
3. Dalibor Dvorsky—C—AIK J20 6’00/187 33 20 20 40
4. Adam Fantilli—C—Chicago Steel USHL 6’02/190 54 37 37 74
5. Brayden Yager—F—Moose Jaw 6’00/165 61 33 24 57
6. Leo Carlsson—C—Orebro SHL 6’02/185 35 03 06 09
7. Calum Ritchie—F—Oshawa 6’01/174 62 19 24 43
8. Charlie Stramel—F—NTDP U18 6’03/216 18 08 08 16
9. Quentin Musty—LW—Sudbury 6’03/180 50 12 19 31
10. Riley Heidt—F—Prince George 5’11/178 65 21 37 58
11. Lukas Dragicevic—D—Tri City 6’02/181 62 06 26 32
12. Eduard Sale—F—HC Kometa U20 6’01/165 39 42 47 89
13. Will Smith—F—NTDP U17 6’00/172 35 17 20 37
14. Zachary Benson—C—Winnipeg 5’10/150 58 25 38 63
15. Otto Stendberg—C—Frolunda J20 5’11/172 38 16 19 35
16. Cameron Allen—D—Guelph 5’11/190 65 13 24 37
17. Colby Barlow—F—Owen Sound 6’01/185 59 30 17 47
18. Hunter Brzustewicz—D—NTDP U18 0’00/000 55 02 18 20
19. Matthew Wood—F—Vancouver BCHL 6’03/181 46 45 40 85
20. Andrew Cristall—F—Kelowna 5’09/150 25 10 14 24
21. Kasper Halttunen—F—Jokerit U20 6’03/192 41 24 14 38
22. Mathieu Cataford—C—Halifax 5’11/183 62 17 29 46
23. Mikhail Gulyayev—D—Omskie MHL 5’11/170 54 07 28 35
24. Theo Lindstein—D—Brynas SHL 6’01/181 12 00 01 01
25. Ethan Miedema—LW—Windsor 6’04/180 63 14 24 38
26. Daniil But—RW—Loko MHL 6’04/194 46 17 25 42
27. Gabe Perreault—F—NTDP U17 5’09/145 51 18 32 50
28. Ethan Gauthier—F—Sherbrooke 5’10/160 65 18 22 40
29. Nate Danielson—C—Brandon 6’01/181 53 23 34 57
30. Alex Ciernik—RW—Sodertalje J20 5’10/172 43 20 27 47
31. Oliver Moore—C—NTDP U17 0’00/000 43 24 15 39

honorable mentions: Tyler Peddle, Koehn Ziemmer, Luca Cagnoni, Roman Kantserov, Emil Jarventie

 

[Lavar Ball]

Forwards:
1. Connor Bedard
2. Matvei Michkov
3. Adam Fantilli
4. Leo Carlsson
5. Brayden Yager
6. Dalibor Dvorsky
7. Calum Ritchie
8. Zach Benson
9. Charlie Stramel
10. Eduard Sale
11. Otto Stenberg
12. Matthew Wood
13. Riley Heidt
14. Nate Danielson
15. Kasper Haltunnen
16. Will Smith
17. Alex Ciernik
18. Quentin Musty
19. Colby Barlow
20. Oliver Moore

HM: Danny Nelson, Andrew Cristall, Mathieu Cataford, Tyler Peddle, Ethan Gauthier, Gavin Brindley, Kalle Carlson, Samuel Honzek, Ryan Leonard, Emil Jarventie, Koehn Ziemmer, Gracyn Sawchyn, Jayden Perron, Nick Lardis, Kalan Lind, Gabe Perreault, Roman Kantserov, Daniil But, Tuomas Uronen

Defenseman:
1. Cameron Allen
2. Mikhail Gulyayev
3. Theo Lindstein
4. Lukas Dragicevic
5. Hunter Brzustewicz
6. Caden Price
7. Ivan Remezovsky
8. Gavin McCarthy
9. Arttu Karki
10. Tanner Molendyk

HM: Dmitri Simashev, Maxim Strbak, Luca Cagnoni, Beau Akey, Jordan Tourigny, Aram Minnetian

 

[teravaineSAROS]

Many say that the 2023 is real deep.

But is it due to Bedard and Michkov bringing up the the average? Plus some solid prospects from 3 to 7. And then a flatline?

Where would for example Slafkovsky, Lafreniere slot in the 2023 draft?

I wonder if Dvorsky could be a better prospect than Slafkovsky?

 

[rocketdan9]

I wonder if Dvorsky could be a better prospect than Slafkovsky?

Its an interesting test case

Or if Fantilli is better

Slafkovsky is a world class power winger imo. But also has soft hands to thread the needle(passing)

 

[wetcoast]

It’s a superlative draft class, hence why I also added “not arguable IMO.”

I guess that is somewhat of an oxymoron, but I meant that, for me, Yager is a clear top-5 guy and Heidt is a clear top-10 guy, such that I would sort other guys in and around them.

I can buy that as of right now but things can change this year as there are enough guys close enough who might develop more than them this year.

All that I'm really sure of is the 1 and 2 guys in terms of talent and projection then there are a ton of super high end forwards and not many high end Dmen for 23.

 

[Leviathan899]

Longer list coming but here is my top 50 at the moment:

1. Connor Bedard
2. Matvei Michkov
3. Adam Fantilli
4. Dalibor Dvorsky
5. Lukas Dragicevic
6. Kasper Halttunen
7. Mikhail Gulyayev
8. Nate Danielson
9. Brayden Yager
10. Matthew Wood
11. Calum Ritchie
12. Leo Carlsson
13. William Smith
14. Charlie Stramel
15. Zachary Benson
16. Cameron Allen
17. Eduard Sale
18. Koehn Ziemmer
19. Daniil But
20. Otto Stenberg
21. Quentin Musty
22. Ryan Leonard
23. Dmitri Simashev
24. Yegor Zavragin
25. Riley Heidt
26. Colby Barlow
27. Lenni Hameenaho
28. Alex Ciernik
29. Danny Nelson
30. Hunter Brzustewicz
31. Theo Lindstein
32. Coulson Pitre
33. Gavin Brindley
34. Jesse Kiiskinen
35. Kalle Carlsson
36. Ethan Miedema
37. Oliver Moore
38. Kimo Gruber
39. Etienne Morin
40. Aram Minnetian
41. Ivan Remezovsky
42. Tanner Adams
43. William Whitelaw
44. Connor Levis
45. Mathieu Cataford
46. Arttu Karki
47. Tyler Peddle
48. Paul Fischer
49. Caden Price
50. Maxim Strbak

First list I’ve seen with Pitre, I like it. He’s going to be on everyone’s list by the end of the year imo, could sneak into the first round. Andrew Strathman is another kid I think is a first rounder, likely in the 20-32 range. Ethan Gauthier is another I would have top 25. I think an under the radar kid who didn’t get much talk is Anthony Romani in North bay. I could see him putting up a good season and going in the second round. Kumpulainen is a kid I’d have in the first round as well.

I thought Nate Danielson looked like a first rounder at the WJC 20 camp.

Ya I think as long as the production is there this year, he’s a potential top 10-15 pick. Liked him more than Fantilli there actually. Fantilli is a Clydesdale on skates and is very good, but I do think he’s a bit overrated. I have some concerns about his hockey sense. I think he’ll go top 3 but down the road will be passed by some of these other kids. Ziemmer is another kid I think goes in the first round, later in the first though

 

[Leviathan899]

I don't understand why Riley Heidt is so devalued. Garoto led in points a horrible team (average 0.9ppg) is a good two-way center and a monster on faceoff. To me, he's clearly talented enough for the top 10.

For sure he’s talented enough, I think with him it’s his lack of explosiveness and quick feet for a bit of a smaller player that holds him back from being a top 10 guy. Now mine you, if he comes out and puts up 90+ points this year and can show some improvement in his acceleration, he’s top 10 for me all day long

Yep. It’s just a fact of the 2023 draft that the top end will be dominated by the WHL.

Going into the year, the following are not arguable IMO:

1st overall: Bedard

Top-5: Yager

Top-10: Heidt

Top-20: Benson, Danielson, Dragicevic, Wood (if he joins the Pats)

Strong cases can also be made for Molendyk, Ziemmer, Leslie, Lind, Price, Levis - just off the top of my head - as first rounders at present.

Agreed on Molendyk and price being potential firsts too. Nolan Allan was a late first and I know this draft is seen as stronger, price is the better prospect. Both him and Molendyk can really skate. Even Weinstein I think could end up a first, similar to a Mateychuk

 

[Leviathan899]

Maybe maybe not as the 2nd pick that year was Jack Eichel and the guy who goes 3rd in the 23 draft could be that caliber of player or a Mitch Marner....

The 2026 contract is one thing the situation in Ukraine adds another layer.

It really is never worth it for the GM and scouting team that’s making the selection though, as good as he is and will be. Even if doesn’t come over until he’s 23-24, you’re not waiting 5-6 years when it’s likely you’re not even with that team by then. I think if it’s known come draft day he’s going to be similar to Kaprizov’s timeline, he’ll go in the 3-5 round range. If it’s 2-3 years before he comes, then I think it’s maybe worth taking him in the first

I just don’t understand how the bolded are “not arguable”.

After Bedard and Michkov, Yager isn’t definitively a better talent than Fantilli, Dvorsky, and Halttunen. You can argue he’s as high as 3rd, but you can’t say it’s not arguable that he’s top 5.

Heidt isn’t definitively better than Dragicevic, Wood, Carlsson, Gulyayev, Benson, Ritchie, Danielson, Stramel, etc. Sure you can argue he falls in the top 10 range, but you can’t say it’s not arguable that’s he’s top 10.

The best part of 2023 is that so many players carry a strong argument to go Top 10 in just about any other draft. I plan on enjoying the magical race of these juggernauts. This isn’t a draft to draw clear lines of separation (outside of the top 2).

Halttunen is certainly a better prospect than Yager imo. I think Yager has the most potential of the top guys to drop a bit and end up a 15-25 guy. He’s not skilled enough to go top 5 imo. Great shot but not a very deceptive shooter or someone who finds open space to get his shot off. I would take a kid like Danielson over Yager

So, who are the players who could end up being fallers in their draft years? Looking at McKenzie's pre-season 2022 rankings and comparing them to final rankings, Wright fell from consensus 1st to 4th, Lambert fell from 3rd to 30th.
Michkov could end up being a faller, but that's probably because of that contract situation, so we already know that.
As an example, Lambert outside of WJC was pretty poor in his D-1 year. So he was already trending down going into his draft season.

On the other hand, who could be a riser like Slafkovsky and Nemec?

Yager will fall IMO. Not out of the first as he’s too good for that, but I think he slides into the late teens

 

[wetcoast]

It really is never worth it for the GM and scouting team that’s making the selection though, as good as he is and will be. Even if doesn’t come over until he’s 23-24, you’re not waiting 5-6 years when it’s likely you’re not even with that team by then. I think if it’s known come draft day he’s going to be similar to Kaprizov’s timeline, he’ll go in the 3-5 round range. If it’s 2-3 years before he comes, then I think it’s maybe worth taking him in the first

Even with a Kaprizov timeline some team is taking Michkov in the top 10 he is that talented.

 

[landy92mack29]

It really is never worth it for the GM and scouting team that’s making the selection though, as good as he is and will be. Even if doesn’t come over until he’s 23-24, you’re not waiting 5-6 years when it’s likely you’re not even with that team by then. I think if it’s known come draft day he’s going to be similar to Kaprizov’s timeline, he’ll go in the 3-5 round range. If it’s 2-3 years before he comes, then I think it’s maybe worth taking him in the first


Halttunen is certainly a better prospect than Yager imo. I think Yager has the most potential of the top guys to drop a bit and end up a 15-25 guy. He’s not skilled enough to go top 5 imo. Great shot but not a very deceptive shooter or someone who finds open space to get his shot off. I would take a kid like Danielson over Yager


Yager will fall IMO. Not out of the first as he’s too good for that, but I think he slides into the late teens

Don't think the bolded will age well...