NHL Entry Draft 2023 NHL Draft Thread

[GermanSpitfire]

Figured we could start talking about the 2023 Draft even if the 2022 Draft hasn’t been held yet.

2023, a little over a year out, looks to be a really good year. You have fantastic top end talent with 2 potential generational players and a ton of quality players at the top also. I’m going to go over some players from each league that are poised to go near the top at this point in time.

WHL:
Very strong year for the WHL crop. Alot of talent here and should be one of the best drafts for WHL talent in years.

F’s
Connor Bedard - Regina Pats
Brayden Yager - Moose Jaw Warriors
Nate Danielson - Brandon Wheat Kings
Koehn Zimmer - Prince George Cougars
Zach Benson - Winnipeg Ice
Riley Heidt - Prince Geroge Cougars
Andrew Cristall - Kelowna Rockets
Kalan Lind - Red Deer Rebels
Tanner Howe - Regina Pats
*Matthew Wood - BCHL

D’s
Luca Cagnoli - Portland Winterhawks
Lucas Dragicevic - Tri-City Americans
Tanner Molendyk - Saskatoon Blades
Mazden Leslie - Vancouver Giants
Caden Price - Kelowna Rockets



OHL:
Looking like an above average crop.

F’s
Calum Ritchie - Oshawa Generals
Ethan Miedema - Windsor Spitfires
Colby Barlow - Owen Sound Attack
Carson Rehkopf - Kitchener Rangers
Quinten Musty - Sudbury Wolves
Coulson Pitre - Flint Firebirds
Nick Lardis - Peterborough Petes

D’s
Cameron Allen - Guelph Storm



QMJHL:
Weaker crop around a year out but anything can happen

Mathieau Cataford - Halifax Mooseheads
Tyler Peddle - Drummondville Voltigers
Ethan Gauthier - Sherbrook Phoenix
Vincent Collard - Baie-Comeau Drakkar

D’s
Etienne Morin - Moncton Wildcats



USHL/NCAA:
Looks to be a great year for USHL talent.

F’s
Adam Fantilli - Chicago Steel
Will Smith - USDP
Charlie Stramel - USDP
Ryan Leonard - USDP
Oliver Moore - USDP


D’s
Hunter Brzustewicz - USDP
Aram Minnetain - USDP




Finland:
Couple of the best Finnish talent, at this stage have ties to the Sens organization.

F’s
Emil Jarventie - Ilves
Jesse Nurmi - KooKoo
Jesse Kiiskanen - Pelicans
Kasper Halttunen - HIFK
Lenni Hameenaho - Assat


D’s
Arttu Karki - Tappera



Sweden:
Good year for Swedish talent, could very well have the best defender in the draft.

F’s
Dalibor Dvorsky - AIK
Leo Carlsson - Orebro
Otto Stenberg - Frolunda
Kalle Carlsson - Orebro
Alex Ciernak - Sodertalje
Zeb Forsfjall - Skelleftea


D’s
Theo Lindstein - Brynas
Hugo Hell - Farjestad


Russia:
Best talent to come out of Russia since Ovechkin eligible this year.

F’s
Matvei Michkov
Ivan Remezovsky
Roman Kantserov
Daniil But
Alexander Rykov

D’s
Mikhail Gulyayev


Other Countries:

F’s
Eduard Sale - Czechia
Tommaso De Luca - Italy
Martin Misiak - Slovakia
Dominik Petr - Czechia
Ondrej Molnar - Slovakia
Matvei Laduko - Belarus
Julius Sumpf - Germany
Kimo Gruber - Switzerland


D’s
Maxim Strbak - Slovakia
Daniil Karpovich - Belarus

Click to read more...

 

[Altimus]

We're drafting 15th next year, so gimme the top 65 so I know what to expect.

 

[edguy]

Bedard/Michkov have the potential to be the best 1-2 combo in a draft since Ovi/Malkin.
Just ridiculous talents.

 

[DJB]

Bedard/Michkov have the potential to be the best 1-2 combo in a draft since Ovi/Malkin.
Just ridiculous talents.

Definitely a bad year for us to likely have a slim to zero chance at a top 2 pick

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Definitely a bad year for us to likely have a slim to zero chance at a top 2 pick

At least if we are terrible again - there is quite the consolation prize to hope for.

 

[RAFI BOMB]

I started collecting some clips on players from this draft and future drafts here:
NHL Entry Draft - Future Draft Watch

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

Definitely a bad year for us to likely have a slim to zero chance at a top 2 pick

Good news is, the draft is looking like 2015 where a handful of elite players will likely be dispersed in the middle like a Barzal, a Chabot, a Connor an Aho, a Hintz.

We must do our homework for next year, might be the last time we are presented the opportunity to draft another vital core piece for the next little while. I'm expecting us to pick ~15th.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

At least if we are terrible again - there is quite the consolation prize to hope for.

We're never terrible when it's an exceptionally strong draft year.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

There are 2 players born in Italy eligible for next years draft that should hear their names called.

Damian Clara at eliteprospects.com

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Damian Clara, 2005-01-13 Brunico, ITA Italy. Most recently in the SHL with Färjestad BK. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Damian Clara should hear his name called next season - 6’6” goalie played for Italy at the U20 D2A WJC at 16 and posted a .942sv%.

Tommaso De Luca - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Tommaso De Luca, 2004-12-29 Aosta, ITA Italy. Most recently in the undefined with Ambrì-Piotta. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Tommaso De-Luca was born in Italy but plans on representing Switzerland internationally. Put up impressive totals in Switzerland’s u-20 league as a underager and even played a game in the NL. Guy to keep an eye on.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

For the goalie lovers out there. Here are some of the better goalies in 2023.

Trey Augustine - USA (6’0”)

Trey Augustine at eliteprospects.com

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Trey Augustine, 2005-02-23 South Lyon, MI, USA USA. Most recently in the NCAA with Michigan State Univ.. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Michael Hrabal - Czechia (6’6”)

Michael Hrabal at eliteprospects.com

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Michael Hrabal, 2005-01-20 Praha, CZE Czechia. Most recently in the NCAA with UMass. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Manu Lukkarinen - Finland (6’1”)

Manu Lukkarinen at eliteprospects.com

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Manu Lukkarinen, 2004-10-04 Vantaa, FIN Finland. Most recently in the U20 SM-sarja with Jokerit U20. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Egor Zavragin - Russia (6’1”)

Yegor Zavragin at eliteprospects.com

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Yegor Zavragin, 2005-08-23 Novosibirsk, RUS Russia. Most recently in the MHL with Mamonty Yugry. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Michael Chambre - USA (6’1”)

Michael Chambre at eliteprospects.com

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Michael Chambre, 2005-01-07 Fort Myers, FL, USA USA. Most recently in the NCAA with Boston Univ.. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Melvin Strahl - Sweden (6’3”)

Melvin Strahl at eliteprospects.com

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Melvin Strahl, 2005-03-18 Sollefteå, SWE Sweden. Most recently in the J20 Nationell with MoDo Hockey J20. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Scott Razlaff - Canada (6’1”)

Scott Ratzlaff at eliteprospects.com

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Scott Ratzlaff, 2005-03-09 Irma, AB, CAN Canada. Most recently in the AHL with Rochester Americans. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Damian Clara - Italy (6’6”)

Damian Clara at eliteprospects.com

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Damian Clara, 2005-01-13 Brunico, ITA Italy. Most recently in the SHL with Färjestad BK. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Noah Erliden - Sweden (5’10”)

Noah Erliden at eliteprospects.com

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Noah Erliden, 2005-09-09 Jönköping, SWE Sweden. Most recently in the J20 Nationell with HV71 J20. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

 

[GCK]

Bedard/Michkov have the potential to be the best 1-2 combo in a draft since Ovi/Malkin.
Just ridiculous talents.

McDavid/Eichel ?

 

[edguy]

McDavid/Eichel ?

I fully believe Michkov>Eichel pre draft so far. Still lots of time for that to change but Michkov is just special.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

I fully believe Michkov>Eichel pre draft so far. Still lots of time for that to change but Michkov is just special.

Eichel was special too. If Matthews was eligible for that draft, he would have went #3.

This statline from Eichel in his draft year is INSANE.

2014-15

Boston Univ.

NCAA

40

26

45

71

 

[Lavar Ball]

Corey Pronman Way Too Early Top 23 (From July 11th, 2022)
1. Connor Bedard
2. Matvei Michkov
3. Adam Fantilli
4. Zach Benson
5. Dalibor Dvorsky
6. Kasper Halttunen
7. Nate Danielson
8. Charlie Stramel
9. Cameron Allen
10. Matthew Wood
11. Brayden Yager
12. Mikhail Gulyayev
13. Colby Barlow
14. Eduard Sale
15. Leo Carlsson
16. Calum Ritchie
17. Will Smith
18. Daniil But
19. Riley Heidt
20. Ryan Leonard
21. Oliver Moore
22. Gavin Brindley
23. Gabriel Perreault

 

[GCK]

While I still think McDavid/Eichel or Ovi/Malkin are the top 1 - 2 in any draft, I think this could potentially be the best 1-5 ever. A full development year to come but WOW!!!!

 

[kellmuff96]

Kinda gutted we're going to miss the big hitters in this draft. And the one reason I low key want to miss the playoffs this year. Multiple franchise changing players.

 

[Hale The Villain]

Stramel getting significantly overrated

Tools are there but has rocks for brains and had pretty bad year compared to his fellow '04 birthdays on the USNTDP

 

[ijif]

I have not seen much of this class, but if Leo Carlsson is the 15th best prospect, this draft is going to be the best draft of all time. I think he is a challenger for 3rd overall.

 

[ijif]

Eichel was special too. If Matthews was eligible for that draft, he would have went #3.

This statline from Eichel in his draft year is INSANE.

2014-15

Boston Univ.

NCAA

40

26

45

71

This is good production, but every model I have seen either has Matthews and Eichel tied because they both max out the model or Matthews ahead. NHLe simply prefers Matthews' production in the NLA to Eichel's in the NCAA. Matthews also had better production in the USHL.

I'd guess both players go over Michkov because of size, and that is fair in this case as all players are nearly maxing out how good a prospect can do in terms of production.

 

[NHL Dude 120]

Hopefully there are some good RD.

 

[CornerStone61]

Who's projected to go 32nd?

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

 

[NHL Dude 120]

Assuming we keep our pick

- A top 4 projected RHD

- A top six winger who can complement Stutzle and DeBrincat. I'm thinking of when Giroux will retire.


So for top 6
Colby Barlow: 6"1 190 pounds 30 goals 17 assits for Owen Sound

Matthew Wood: 6"3 185 45 goals + 40 assits for Victoria Grizzlies playing at U of Connecticut.

I don't think either are gonna be available for us but those are the two I'm looking at.

I'd rather trade for a top 4 D-men.

 

[Johnny Hanson]

Assuming we keep our pick

- A top 4 projected RHD

- A top six winger who can complement Stutzle and DeBrincat. I'm thinking of when Giroux will retire.


So for top 6
Colby Barlow: 6"1 190 pounds 30 goals 17 assits for Owen Sound

Matthew Wood: 6"3 185 45 goals + 40 assits for Victoria Grizzlies playing at U of Connecticut.

I don't think either are gonna be available for us but those are the two I'm looking at.

I'd rather trade for a top 4 D-men.

Lukas dragicevic looks like he’s going to be good too

 

[Samsquanch]

Quentin Musty on the Wolves could be a fun one to watch. Seerms like an Ottawa type pick too. Huge kid with a crazy athletic package, late born and very raw but oozing with talent. US born but clearly okay with playing up north.

Could have a big year together with Goyette and fellow draftee Alex Pharand next season.