Will Scouch (Scouching Report) Top 32 for the 2023 NHL Draft

[MichaelFarrell]

Thoughts? Lot of hot takes. I’m a fan of Will Scouch but this is a tough list imo.

1. Connor Bedard; C
2. Adam Fantilli; C
3. Zach Benson; F
4. Leo Carlsson; F
5. Eduard Sale; RW
6. Andrew Cristall; LW
7. Matvei Michkov; RW
8. Jayden Perron; F
9. Otto Stenberg; C
10. Mikhail Gulyayev; D
11. Gavin Brindley; RW
12. Will Smith; C
13. William Whitelaw; C
14. Riley Heidt; C
15. Axel Sandin-Pellikka; D
16. Ondrej Molnár; LW
17. Dmitri Simahev; D
18. Michael Hrabal; G
19. Nate Danielson; C
20. Luca Pinelli; C
21. Calum Ritchie; C
22. Timur Mukhanov; C
23. Luca Cagnoni; D
24. Aydar Suniev; F
25. Bradley Nadeau; C
26. Jakub Dvorak; D
27. Caden Price; D
28. Brayden Yager; C
29. Oliver Moore; C/LW
30. Martin Misiak; C
31. Matthew Wood; RW
32. Trey Augustine; G

Notable Emissions from 1st round:
33. Ryan Leonard; RW
34. Dalibor Dvorsky; C
37. Koehn Ziemmer; RW
42. Quenton Musty; LW
49. Lukas Dragicevic; D
53 Cam Allen; D
56. Charlie Stramel; F
59. Colby Barlow; LW
65. Hunter Brzustewicz; D
Ethan Gauthier is not in the top 70

 

[Maplebeasts]

Michkov at 7 is the worst take I've ever seen from him, and I usually like his lists and insight. Not his best list.

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

I get people stick up for this guy, but this list is completely amateurish. How can people actually take this person seriously for scouting advice is beyond me. Will is known for having random unknowns ranked better than some players that are actually known in other leagues.

Stick with the professionals folks!

 

[DemidovSZN]

Me trying to understand this list

I get people stick up for this guy, but this list is completely amateurish. How can people actually take this person seriously for scouting advice is beyond me. Will is known for having random unknowns ranked better than some players that are actually known in other leagues.

Stick with the professionals folks!

Hey, he made us look up new players we didn’t know about lol

 

[Xirik]

Does he not put Goalies in his rankings or is it just that there aren't any 1st round goalies this year?

 

[DemidovSZN]

Does he not put Goalies in his rankings or is it just that there aren't any 1st round goalies this year?

He put two goalies in his first round

Hrabal #18
Augustine #32

 

[Xirik]

He put two goalies in his first round

Hrabal #18
Augustine #32

 

[Goon42]

its a no from me dawg

 

[ThorNton Apologist]

Dvorsky not in the first round? lol wut

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

With someone like this, you know the overall list is going to look insane, but he might have one or two hot takes that end up looking good in hindsight.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

I don't mind Benson, but ranking him at 3??? C'mon

I keep hearing how unbelievable of a draft this 2023 draft is but if it's so damn good, Benson has no business being a top 3 pick

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

Michkov at 7 is the worst take I've ever seen from him, and I usually like his lists and insight. Not his best list.

I'd wait for his video explaining the ranking, he isn't a hot takes type guy.

 

[Frk It]

Dvosky not in the first is even more crazy than Michkov at 7…. IMO

 

[Jukurit]

Scouching would have Lambert ranked #1 overall in this draft.

 

[THUNDERBURST]

Another drunken list of drunken Scouch

 

[Stewie Griffin]

I used to really like Scouch, but he falls in love with a player and then you will see that player getting extremely high praise from there on out. Last year it was Lambert, Hutson, and Trikozov. He hasn't made a podcast since June which I find dissappointing, because even though he has his takes, he will talk about almost any draft eligible player there is.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Scooch is so whack

 

[Lavar Ball]

One of his worst lists ever IMO, I don't even understand how some of these conclusions could be reached

 

[57special]

Michkov at 7th, Yager at 28th, Wood 31st, no Dvorsky, Allan and Stramel in the 50's?

Seems to be trying too hard to stick out.

With someone like this, you know the overall list is going to look insane, but he might have one or two hot takes that end up looking good in hindsight.

And you will hear about those two till the end of time

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

I'm unsure how to approach a list like this, but I actually don't mind it since it's actually something worth talking about. Usually these rankings devolve into nitpicky contests about why someone like this guy more than the other; Mr. Scouch is just flat out saying some of your favs aren't worth that much.

Some observations I've noted from his broadcast last night:

1. His ranking of Michkov seems primarily based on question marks he has as a 5-on-5 player in pro hockey. Dominant on the powerplay, but is it the best way to maximize a, say, top 2 pick in this draft when you have guys like Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson and even Benson?

2. His Yager take: his motor isn't fantastic, and he has good skills in isolation but you can find other guys who do more on any given night.

3. Dvorsky is a really good shooter, but that's pretty much the only thing he has going for him. Everything else is a mixed bag based on his observation.

4. In general, if he thinks you are a good scorer but do not offer other aspects to the game/lack dynamic ability, he is likely not as high on the player as the rest of us are.

5. His view on the Q is really low, and based on recent results I cannot blame him. Quebec prospects are constantly busting and disappointing, and I think it starts from the grassroots who are behind the curve in developing younger players. But this is now sounding like me going off rather than him specifically.

6. Finally, he really don't like the defense, but that's probably in line with everyone else.

 

[Satan]

Holy shit!!!! This list!!!!!!!! Got me buggin!!!!!!!!!

 

[SimGrindcore]

Is his full ranking available somewhere?

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

Is his full ranking available somewhere?

You can catch a glimpse on his live video from last night. He mentions it is not his true, official first list as it will be shipped closer to December and/or WJC:

Scouching 5.1

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I guess the irony is he will likely be more right than wrong with how these players pan out.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

I guess the irony is he will likely be more right than wrong with how these players pan out.

What makes that so "likely?"