GermanSpitfire's Final 2023 NHL Draft Ranking - Top 100

[jfhabs]

I'd probably switch Leonard and Sale, because of Sale's inconsistent effort and Leonard very projectable pro game. I lie your take on the defenders. Reinbacher, Wallinder, Dragivevic and Morin are all guys I like a lot too.

Bonk seems a bit low however. He might not have the offensive tools, but skates well and has decent size.

I like the prospect of having a guy like Honzek available in the late first for the Habs with Florida's pick.

 

[BerthMania]

You're super high on Reinbacher, that's encouraging since I'm a Habs fan and they seem to like him at the 5th spot.

I have a hard time seeing a bigger upside in Reinbacher then in Smith or Carlsson, but he might have a higher floor.

 

[Czechboy]

I counted 3 Czechs. How many Slovaks, Germans, Swiss, Latvians and Danes?

Without counting, looks like Slovaks are leading the way here this year.

 

[Pazucha]

35. Axel Sandin Pelikka (D) AIK, SHL

 

[GermanSpitfire]

I counted 3 Czechs. How many Slovaks, Germans, Swiss, Latvians and Danes?

Without counting, looks like Slovaks are leading the way here this year.

One Dane, Mølgaard.

One Norwegian, Vesterheim

One Italian, Clara

One Swiss, Dionicio.

Six Slovaks, Honzek, Dvorsky, Strbak, Ciernik, Gajan, and Pekarcik

Zero Germans Or Latvians.

 

[Lavar Ball]

Four Slovaks, Dvorsky, Strbak, Gajan, and Pekarcik

+ Ciernik no?

 

[GermanSpitfire]

+ Ciernik no?

Yep! I’m Still hoping he joins the DEB lmaoo

 

[Czechboy]

One Dane, Mølgaard.

One Norwegian, Vesterheim

One Italian, Clara

One Swiss, Dionicio.

Five Slovaks, Dvorsky, Strbak, Ciernik, Gajan, and Pekarcik

Zero Germans Or Latvians.

No Germans? Bit surprised by that.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

No Germans? Bit surprised by that.

We got relegated for a reason.

 

[pgfan66]

+ Ciernik no?

+ Honzek

We got relegated for a reason.

Panocha would make my top 100

 

[GermanSpitfire]

+ Honzek

Panocha would make my top 100

He’s the # 1 German no doubt. I’m a believer now - I would be shocked if he goes undrafted.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

One Dane, Mølgaard.

One Norwegian, Vesterheim

One Italian, Clara

One Swiss, Dionicio.

Six Slovaks, Honzek, Dvorsky, Strbak, Ciernik, Gajan, and Pekarcik

Zero Germans Or Latvians.

Is Vesterheim even going to be drafted? Maybe as a 7th rounder.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Is Vesterheim even going to be drafted? Maybe as a 7th rounder.

I’m higher on him than most - wouldn’t surprise me if he goes unselected, but I hope he doesn’t. He is the type of player that will do anything to help his team win - I think that’s worth a late round pick at least, and then you hope to develop the rest of his game. You can’t teach a hard work, and this kid has that in spades.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

I’m higher on him than most - wouldn’t surprise me if he goes unselected, but I hope he doesn’t. He is the type of player that will do anything to help his team win - I think that’s worth a late round pick at least, and then you hope to develop the rest of his game. You can’t teach a hard work, and this kid has that in spades.

Hope Sens draft him with one of their 7 rounders, and in a few years he surprises and becomes an excellent 3rd liner.

 

[TK 421]

Heck yeah @GermanSpitfire, Team Strbak all the way.

 

[JT3]

I hope Reinbacher falls right into Detroit's lap at the 9th pick and they take him.
How is this for a top 4 in a few years:
Edvinsson/Seider
Wallinder/Reinbacher

Not happening, he's coming to the Habs

Solid rankings, even better effort. Well done.

 

[toddkaz]

I can appreciate the hard work but just not on board with your rankings. Just can't do It.

Nice to see a different opinion though

 

[Hale The Villain]

Biggest disagreement with the list is the Honzek ranking at the end of the 1st

I think hockey IQ is one of his biggest strengths and is far from a weakness. He consistently makes smart plays all over the ice. That combined with good hands, a powerful shot (that he doesn't use enough), and sneaky good skating for his size makes me think his upside is quite high.

Also curious what makes you so low on Koehn Ziemmer?

 

[Garl]

ASP is roughly on par as a prospect with guys like Brannstrom, Lundqvist, Boqvist, Liljegren. He is not falling to 2nd round.

Leo Carlsson at #6 would be a steal of the draft. It is not a fluke that he scored 36 pts in SHL this season and made swedish WC team as a 1st year draft eligible player first time since Backstrom in 2006.
Not everyone has to be a superfast skater to be a star in NHL. Look at Draisaitl, Barkov, Kopitar, Backstrom, Stone, Tkachuk, Tavares, Robertson, Thornton etc

 

[Joka12]

I’m higher on him than most - wouldn’t surprise me if he goes unselected, but I hope he doesn’t. He is the type of player that will do anything to help his team win - I think that’s worth a late round pick at least, and then you hope to develop the rest of his game. You can’t teach a hard work, and this kid has that in spades.

About Vesterheim, NHL published an article about him today (about his participation for Norway in the WC), so he is at least getting some attention:

Vesterheim under radar for 2023 Draft, trying to raise stock at Worlds | NHL.com

Forward facing potential top-10 picks hoping to become 9th player from Norway to skate in NHL

www.nhl.com

 

[GermanSpitfire]

About Vesterheim, NHL published an article about him today (about his participation for Norway in the WC), so he is at least getting some attention:

Vesterheim under radar for 2023 Draft, trying to raise stock at Worlds | NHL.com

Forward facing potential top-10 picks hoping to become 9th player from Norway to skate in NHL

www.nhl.com

What an awesome read, I’m so glad they did this. thanks for bringing it to my attention.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Biggest disagreement with the list is the Honzek ranking at the end of the 1st

I think hockey IQ is one of his biggest strengths and is far from a weakness. He consistently makes smart plays all over the ice. That combined with good hands, a powerful shot (that he doesn't use enough), and sneaky good skating for his size makes me think his upside is quite high.

Also curious what makes you so low on Koehn Ziemmer?

Touched on Ziemmer earlier in the thread, but skating is the big one - I have doubts about his transition to pro hockey because of it, he also doesn’t drive the play as much as I would want out of a slower guy. I think it’s a combination that is ripe for disappointment in the first two rounds.

I disagree with Honzek, he makes good plays near the goal crease, as you’d expect for a player that is 6’4” but doesn’t anticipate play very well, and prefers to hover in the middle of the ice awaiting the play, rather than actively searching for a better lane to play. Every player has good and bad games, not saying your wrong just in my viewings of him I have come away unimpressed. It’s why I used Zacha as a comparison, big centre that is maybe a little soft but in the right situation can really thrive, I think that’s the key for Honzek.

 

[Hale The Villain]

Touched on Ziemmer earlier in the thread, but skating is the big one - I have doubts about his transition to pro hockey because of it, he also doesn’t drive the play as much as I would want out of a slower guy. I think it’s a combination that is ripe for disappointment in the first two rounds.

I disagree with Honzek, he makes good plays near the goal crease, as you’d expect for a player that is 6’4” but doesn’t anticipate play very well, and prefers to hover in the middle of the ice awaiting the play, rather than actively searching for a better lane to play. Every player has good and bad games, not saying your wrong just in my viewings of him I have come away unimpressed. It’s why I used Zacha as a comparison, big centre that is maybe a little soft but in the right situation can really thrive, I think that’s the key for Honzek.

In all my viewings of Honzek he's made great plays in transition and along the wall. My biggest gripe with him is that he doesn't use his size enough, which may be because he's a bit of a bean pole right now (listed at 6'4, 185lbs) and his compete level isn't as strong as I'd like.

I think once he fills out he'll be a handful. Feel pretty safe projecting him as a top 6 forward.

Agree to disagree I guess.

 

[Realgud]

About Vesterheim, NHL published an article about him today (about his participation for Norway in the WC), so he is at least getting some attention:

Vesterheim under radar for 2023 Draft, trying to raise stock at Worlds | NHL.com

Forward facing potential top-10 picks hoping to become 9th player from Norway to skate in NHL

www.nhl.com

My hot take is that he has a top 5 defensive iq in the draft. Such a smart, mature and extremely aware player. Can't wait to see how he develops. I think he can easily be a bottom-6 NHLer and I think there's some upside for a top-6 role but that part is a little unclear for now. He has very good playnaking and goalscoring instincts but the results are a little behind for now.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

One thing i'd like to highlight is how my ranking has fluctuated throughout the season. It’s crazy to look back on and it really paints a picture of who really has risen throughout the season, and what I was thinking in certain points in time.

Don’t know if anyone else is interested in this but I thought i’d share anyway.


Here was my first ranking in June of 2022:

#1: Connor Bedard
#2: Matvei Michkov
#3: Adam Fantilli
#4: Dalibor Dvorsky
#5 Brayden Yager
#6:Charlie Stramel
#7: Cameron Allen
#8: Theo Lindstein
#9: Riley Heidt
#10: Otto Stenberg
#11 Leo Carlsson
#12: Matthew Wood
#13: Nate Danielson
#14: Eduard Sale
#15: Zach Benson
#16: Calum Ritchie
#17: Will Smith
#18: Lucas Dragicevic
#19: Kasper Halttunen
#20: Oliver Moore
#21: Mikhail Gulyayev
#22: Colby Barlow
#23: Ethan Gauthier
#24: Tyler Peddle
#25: Danila Karpovich
#26: Kohen Zimmer
#27: Ryan Leonard
#28: Tommaso De Luca
#29: Mathieu Cataford
#30: Quentin Musty
#31: Hunter Brzustewicz
#32: Kalle Carlsson

Then my next ranking in September 2022 looked like this:

1	Connor Bedard (F)	Regina Pats
2	Matvei Michkov (F)	SKA St. Petersburg
3	Brayden Yager (F)	Moose Jaw Warriors
4	Adam Fantilli (F)	Univ. of Michigan
5	Leo Carlsson (F)	Örebro HK
6	Cameron Allen (D)	Guelph Storm
7	Charlie Stramel (F)	Univ. of Wisconsin
8	Dalibor Dvorský (F)	AIK
9	Calum Ritchie (F)	Oshawa Generals
10	Otto Stenberg (F)	Frölunda HC
11	Eduard Sale (F)	HC Kometa Brno
12	Riley Heidt (F)	Prince George Cougars
13	Zach Benson (F)	Winnipeg Ice
14	Mikhail Gulyayev (D)	Avangard Omsk
15	Kasper Halttunen (F)	HIFK
16	Matthew Wood (F)	Univ. of Connecticut
17	Will Smith (F)	Boston College
18	Oliver Moore (F)	Univ. of Minnesota
19	Nate Danielson (F)	Brandon Wheat Kings
20	Colby Barlow (F)	Owen Sound Attack
21	Carson Rehkopf (F)	Kitchener Rangers
22	Caden Price (D)	Kelowna Rockets
23	Theo Lindstein (D)	Brynäs IF
24	Andrew Cristall (F)	Kelowna Rockets
25	Alex Ciernik (F)	Södertälje SK
26	Ethan Gauthier (F)	Sherbrooke Phoenix
27	Dmitri Simashev (D)	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
28	Lukas Dragicevic (D)	Tri-City Americans
29	Ryan Leonard (F)	Boston College
30	Hunter Brzustewicz (D)	Kitchener Rangers
31	Tyler Peddle (F)	Drummondville Voltigeurs
32	Jordan Tourigny (D)	Shawinigan Cataractes
33	Quentin Musty (F)	Sudbury Wolves
34	Daniil But (F)	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
35	Jayden Perron (F)	Univ. of North Dakota
36	Maxim Strbak (D)	Michigan State Univ.
37	Kalle Carlsson (F)	Örebro HK J20
38	Tuomas Uronen (F)	HIFK
39	Gavin Brindley (F)	Univ. of Michigan
40	William Whitelaw (F)	Univ. of Wisconsin
41	David Reinbacher (D)	EHC Kloten
42	Mathieu Cataford (F)	Halifax Mooseheads
43	Roman Kantserov (F)	Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk
44	Jayson Shaugabay (F)	Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth
45	Ivan Remezovsky (D)	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg
46	Emil Kuusla (F)	Jokerit U20
47	Tommaso De Luca (F)	HC Ambrì-Piotta
48	Noel Nordh (F)	Brynäs IF J20
49	Daniil Karpovich (D)	Avto Yekaterinburg
50	Connor Levis (F)	Kamloops Blazers
51	Saige Weinstein (D)	Spokane Chiefs
52	Kalan Lind (F)	Red Deer Rebels
53	Emil Järventie (F)	KOOVEE
54	Luca Cagnoni (D)	Portland Winterhawks
55	Aram Minnetian (D)	Boston College
56	Noah Dower Nilsson (F)	Frölunda HC J20
57	Gracyn Sawchyn (F)	Seattle Thunderbirds
58	Koehn Ziemmer (F)	Prince George Cougars
59	Oscar Fisker Mølgaard (F)	HV71
60	Bradly Nadeau (F)	Univ. of Maine
61	Tom Willander (D)	Rögle BK J20
62	Gabe Perreault (F)	U.S. National U18 Team
63	Étienne Morin (D)	Moncton Wildcats
64	Alexander Rykov (F)	Chelmet Chelyabinsk
65	Matthew Mania (D)	Sudbury Wolves
66	Nico Myatovic (F)	Seattle Thunderbirds
67	Dylan MacKinnon (D)	Halifax Mooseheads
68	Jakub Dvorak (D)	Bili Tygri Liberec
69	Mazden Leslie (D)	Vancouver Giants
70	Gavin McCarthy (D)	Boston Univ.
71	Andrew Gibson (D)	Soo Greyhounds
72	Arttu Kärki (D)	Tappara U20
73	Andrew Strathmann (D)	Univ. of North Dakota
74	Tanner Molendyk (D)	Saskatoon Blades
75	Beau Akey (D)	Barrie Colts
76	Ian Scherzer (F)	Rögle BK J20
77	Lenni Hämeenaho (F)	Ässät
78	Tanner Adams (F)	Providence College
79	Zeb Forsfjäll (F)	Skellefteå AIK
80	Nick Lardis (F)	Hamilton Bulldogs
81	Danny Nelson (F)	USNTDP Juniors
82	Felix Nilsson (F)	Rögle BK
83	Kalem Parker (D)	Victoria Royals
84	Leo Braillard (F)	Shawinigan Cataractes
85	Oliver Bonk (D)	London Knights
86	Jakub Stancl (F)	Växjö Lakers HC J20
87	Emil Pieniniemi (D)	Kärpät
88	Cole Miller (F)	Edmonton Oil Kings
89	Dominik Petr (F)	Lukko U20
90	Jonathan Fauchon (F)	Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
91	Alex Pharand (F)	Sudbury Wolves
92	Linus Brandl (F)	Straubing Tigers
93	Jesse Kiiskinen (F)	Pelicans
94	David Edstrom (F)	Frölunda HC J20
95	Luca Pinelli (F)	Ottawa 67's
96	Ondrej Molnár (F)	Erie Otter

My mid-term ranking in January looked like this:

1	Connor Bedard (F)	Regina Pats
2	Matvei Michkov (F)	SKA St. Petersburg
3	Adam Fantilli (F)	Univ. of Michigan
4	Leo Carlsson (F)	Örebro HK
5	Will Smith (F)	Boston College
6	David Reinbacher (D)	EHC Kloten
7	Brayden Yager (F)	Moose Jaw Warriors
8	Zach Benson (F)	Winnipeg Ice
9	Eduard Sale (F)	HC Kometa Brno
10	Nate Danielson (F)	Brandon Wheat Kings
11	Dalibor Dvorský (F)	AIK
12	Matthew Wood (F)	Univ. of Connecticut
13	Colby Barlow (F)	Owen Sound Attack
14	Oliver Moore (F)	Univ. of Minnesota
15	Dmitri Simashev (D)	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
16	Lukas Dragicevic (D)	Tri-City Americans
17	Riley Heidt (F)	Prince George Cougars
18	Andrew Cristall (F)	Kelowna Rockets
19	Quentin Musty (F)	Sudbury Wolves
20	Calum Ritchie (F)	Oshawa Generals
21	Mikhail Gulyayev (D)	Avangard Omsk
22	Ethan Gauthier (F)	Sherbrooke Phoenix
23	Jayden Perron (F)	Univ. of North Dakota
24	Ryan Leonard (F)	Boston College
25	Samuel Honzek (F)	Vancouver Giants
26	Felix Nilsson (F)	Rögle BK
27	Carson Rehkopf (F)	Kitchener Rangers
28	Kalan Lind (F)	Red Deer Rebels
29	Oliver Bonk (D)	London Knights
30	Axel Sandin Pellikka (D)	Skellefteå AIK
31	Noah Dower Nilsson (F)	Frölunda HC J20
32	Nick Lardis (F)	Hamilton Bulldogs
33	Gabe Perreault (F)	U.S. National U18 Team
34	Maxim Strbak (D)	Michigan State Univ.
35	Oscar Fisker Mølgaard (F)	HV71
36	Beau Akey (D)	Barrie Colts
37	Carson Bjarnason (G)	Brandon Wheat Kings
38	Koehn Ziemmer (F)	Prince George Cougars
39	Tom Willander (D)	Rögle BK J20
40	Gavin Brindley (F)	Univ. of Michigan
41	Caden Price (D)	Kelowna Rockets
42	Alex Ciernik (F)	Södertälje SK
43	Damian Clara (G)	Färjestad BK J20
44	Theo Lindstein (D)	Brynäs IF
45	Matthew Mania (D)	Sudbury Wolves
46	Jordan Tourigny (D)	Shawinigan Cataractes
47	Charlie Stramel (F)	Univ. of Wisconsin
48	Michael Hrabal (G)	Omaha Lancers
49	Bradly Nadeau (F)	Univ. of Maine
50	Lenni Hämeenaho (F)	Ässät
51	Quinton Burns (D)	Kingston Frontenacs
52	Hunter Brzustewicz (D)	Kitchener Rangers
53	Kasper Halttunen (F)	HIFK
54	Cameron Allen (D)	Guelph Storm
55	Otto Stenberg (F)	Frölunda HC
56	Luca Pinelli (F)	Ottawa 67's
57	Jakub Dvorak (D)	Bili Tygri Liberec
58	Scott Ratzlaff (G)	Seattle Thunderbirds
59	Adam Gajan (G)	Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth
60	Gracyn Sawchyn (F)	Seattle Thunderbirds
61	Kalem Parker (D)	Victoria Royals
62	Daniil But (F)	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
63	Mazden Leslie (D)	Vancouver Giants
64	Étienne Morin (D)	Moncton Wildcats
65	Emil Järventie (F)	KOOVEE
66	William Whitelaw (F)	Univ. of Wisconsin
67	Timur Mukhanov (F)	Severstal Cherepovets
68	Trey Augustine (G)	Michigan State Univ.
69	Alexander Rykov (F)	Chelmet Chelyabinsk
70	Mathieu Cataford (F)	Halifax Mooseheads
71	Arttu Kärki (D)	Tappara U20
72	Jacob Fowler (G)	Boston College
73	Alex Pharand (F)	Sudbury Wolves
74	Nico Myatovic (F)	Seattle Thunderbirds
75	Jesse Kiiskinen (F)	Pelicans
76	Tristan Bertucci (D)	Flint Firebirds
77	Andrew Gibson (D)	Soo Greyhounds
78	Coulson Pitre (F)	Flint Firebirds
79	Carey Terrance (F)	U.S. National U18 Team
80	Hoyt Stanley (D)	Cornell Univ.
81	Dylan MacKinnon (D)	Halifax Mooseheads
82	Gavin McCarthy (D)	Boston Univ.
83	Tanner Molendyk (D)	Saskatoon Blades
84	Luca Cagnoni (D)	Portland Winterhawks
85	Noel Nordh (F)	Brynäs IF J20
86	Yegor Zavragin (G)	Mamonty Yugry
87	Tommaso De Luca (F)	HC Ambrì-Piotta
88	Aram Minnetian (D)	Boston College
89	Andrew Strathmann (D)	Univ. of North Dakota
90	Roman Kantserov (F)	Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk
91	Elmeri Laakso (D)	SaiPa
92	Hannes Hellberg (F)	Leksands IF J20
93	Magomed Sharakanov (D)	MHK Dynamo Moskva
94	Tuomas Uronen (F)	HIFK
95	Cole Knuble (F)	Univ. of Notre Dame
96	Kristian Kostadinski (D)	Frölunda HC J2

Then my most recent ranking before this current one from March looked like this:

1	Connor Bedard (F)	Regina Pats
2	Matvei Michkov (F)	SKA St. Petersburg
3	Adam Fantilli (F)	Univ. of Michigan
4	David Reinbacher (D)	EHC Kloten
5	Will Smith (F)	Boston College
6	Leo Carlsson (F)	Örebro HK
7	Matthew Wood (F)	Univ. of Connecticut
8	Zach Benson (F)	Winnipeg Ice
9	Brayden Yager (F)	Moose Jaw Warriors
10	Colby Barlow (F)	Owen Sound Attack
11	Eduard Sale (F)	HC Kometa Brno
12	Nate Danielson (F)	Brandon Wheat Kings
13	Oliver Moore (F)	Univ. of Minnesota
14	Dalibor Dvorský (F)	AIK
15	Tom Willander (D)	Rögle BK J20
16	Nick Lardis (F)	Hamilton Bulldogs
17	Lukas Dragicevic (D)	Tri-City Americans
18	Dmitri Simashev (D)	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
19	Riley Heidt (F)	Prince George Cougars
20	Daniil But (F)	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
21	Quentin Musty (F)	Sudbury Wolves
22	Calum Ritchie (F)	Oshawa Generals
23	Ethan Gauthier (F)	Sherbrooke Phoenix
24	Tristan Bertucci (D)	Flint Firebirds
25	Étienne Morin (D)	Moncton Wildcats
26	Otto Stenberg (F)	Frölunda HC
27	Gabe Perreault (F)	U.S. National U18 Team
28	Ryan Leonard (F)	Boston College
29	Samuel Honzek (F)	Vancouver Giants
30	Felix Nilsson (F)	Rögle BK
31	Gracyn Sawchyn (F)	Seattle Thunderbirds
32	Oscar Fisker Mølgaard (F)	HV71
33	Axel Sandin Pellikka (D)	Skellefteå AIK
34	Maxim Strbak (D)	Michigan State Univ.
35	Kalan Lind (F)	Red Deer Rebels
36	Carson Rehkopf (F)	Kitchener Rangers
37	Andrew Cristall (F)	Kelowna Rockets
38	Oliver Bonk (D)	London Knights
39	Charlie Stramel (F)	Univ. of Wisconsin
40	Caden Price (D)	Kelowna Rockets
41	Jakub Dvorak (D)	Bili Tygri Liberec
42	Theo Lindstein (D)	Brynäs IF
43	Mazden Leslie (D)	Vancouver Giants
44	Carson Bjarnason (G)	Brandon Wheat Kings
45	Beau Akey (D)	Barrie Colts
46	Gavin Brindley (F)	Univ. of Michigan
47	Damian Clara (G)	Färjestad BK J20
48	Quinton Burns (D)	Kingston Frontenacs
49	Jayden Perron (F)	Univ. of North Dakota
50	Matthew Mania (D)	Sudbury Wolves
51	Tanner Molendyk (D)	Saskatoon Blades
52	Alex Ciernik (F)	Södertälje SK
53	Michael Hrabal (G)	Omaha Lancers
54	Koehn Ziemmer (F)	Prince George Cougars
55	Bradly Nadeau (F)	Univ. of Maine
56	Jordan Tourigny (D)	Shawinigan Cataractes
57	Coulson Pitre (F)	Flint Firebirds
58	Kasper Halttunen (F)	HIFK
59	Hunter Brzustewicz (D)	Kitchener Rangers
60	Mikhail Gulyayev (D)	Avangard Omsk
61	Luca Pinelli (F)	Ottawa 67's
62	Noah Dower Nilsson (F)	Frölunda HC J20
63	Nico Myatovic (F)	Seattle Thunderbirds
64	Timur Mukhanov (F)	Severstal Cherepovets