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2023 NHL Draft Rankings: Hadi’s Top 100 Part II — The Top 50

Posted on by Hadi Kalakeche

Twelve months in the making. Over 800 games and isolated footage watched for over 700 hours spent scouting. All culminating in a list that won’t please everybody.

After our previous article counting down picks 100-51 of my rankings, it’s time to get into my top 50 of this year’s draft to help you follow along with the action in Nashville.

As a reminder, these rankings aren’t for the purpose of predicting what happens on draft day, but rather an evaluation of this year’s prospects based on my personal draft philosophy, which values smarts, skill and intensity (ideally in combination) above all things, with a slight emphasis on upside over certainty. Each player’s profile comes accompanied with a list of their strengths and weaknesses, and a player comparison.

In my full rankings list on Twitter, I have picks 26 to 46 in the same tier as prospects who are first-round calibre; with the Habs owning two picks in that range and the assets to add one or two more, if there’s any year to go all in on early second-round picks, it’s this one.

Let’s start off with pick number 50.

#50 – Matthew Mania, D — Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

Size: 6’0, 187 pounds
Shoots: Right
Strengths: Puck control, creativity, deception
Weaknesses: Decision-making, patience, positioning
Comparable: Kristopher Letang


Everything in Mania’s game flows through his ability to carry the puck. He’s creative, deceptive and manipulative in transition, finding multiple ways to cut through defensive structures and get set up in the offensive zone. Oftentimes, though, he can take himself out of position by trying to force a skating lane. Adding more delegation to his game and learning when to be more passive defensively would go a long way in making him a solid top-four defenceman.

#49 – Alex Čiernik, LW/RW — Södertälje SK (Allsvenskan)

Size: 5’10, 179 pounds
Shoots: Left
Strengths: Skating, hands, creativity
Weaknesses: Physicality, defensive game, play selection
Comparable: Max Domi

Electric with the puck, Čiernik loves to challenge defencemen off the rush and push the pace. He has great hands and feet, which help him create speed differentials in transition and set up play in the offensive zone. His play selection has been the biggest inconsistency in his game; low-percentage shots and high-risk passes devoid of setup touches to open up the lane makes him a raw but exciting talent. There’s a pathway to a top six for him but it’s not as concrete as other similar but higher-ranked prospects on this list.

#48 – David Edström, C — Frölunda HC (SHL)

Size: 6’3, 187 pounds
Shoots: Left
Strengths: Defensive maturity, character, physicality
Weaknesses: Skating, transition impact, lack of standout skill
Comparable: Worse-skating Philip Danault

A very responsible and mature centre who loves to kill plays, Edström took some time to climb up to 48 in my rankings. Impressive viewings in April and May caused him to rocket up due to how projectable and useful his game is. He might lack any standout offensive attributes, but he strings his plays together well and blends his effort level and physical game into every element of his skill set. He’s got potential as your average play-killing middle-six centre.

#47 – Luca Pinelli, C — Ottawa 67’s (OHL)

Size: 5’9, 161 pounds
Shoots: Left
Strengths: Intelligence, shot, playmaking
Weaknesses: Skating, physical game
Comparable: Anthony Beauvillier


The intelligence on Pinelli is off the charts; he anticipates play on both sides of the puck extremely well and this feeds into his goal-scoring ability as he reads defences and finds space to work with. His playmaking went largely unnoticed due to being used as a trigger man on Ottawa’s power play, but his smarts really show when he gets an opportunity to dish the puck. However, he’s small and not a great skater so he probably isn’t going to be picked as high as I have him ranked.

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#46 – Koehn Ziemmer, RW — Prince George Cougars (WHL)

Size: 6’0, 194 pounds
Shoots: Right
Strengths: Shot, hands, puck protection
Weaknesses: Skating, decision-making, awareness
Comparable: Jason Zucker

Ziemmer’s shot is his favourite weapon. His curl-and-drag shot and his in-stride wrister have some zip and precision to them, and he finds space well off the puck to work his goal-scoring magic. His hands aren’t bad either, but his lack of pre-scanning and awareness restricts his playmaking ability. His skating is also a major weakness, which limits how much transition value he can bring. Still, 30 NHL goals are well within his reach if he continues to work on his spatial awareness.

#45 – Nick Lardis, RW — Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL)

Size: 5’10, 174 pounds
Shoots: Left
Strengths: Shot, skating, awareness
Weaknesses: Puck protection, playmaking, defensive value
Comparable: Alex Debrincat


Lardis’s release is phenomenal. He can zip pucks through screens and into corners easily and has refined mechanics. Top arm extended, perfect weight transfer and fleet footwork combine to put a surprising amount of weight on his release for a prospect his size. His skating combined with that release makes him a deadly rush scorer and he seems to anticipate back pressure well and evade it before it occurs. He grew a lot on me as the year went on and I now believe in his second-line upside — although he doesn’t have much to fall back on if his scoring doesn’t translate.

#44 – Felix Nilsson, C — Rögle BK (SHL)

Size: 6’0, 179 pounds
Shoots: Left
Strengths: Maturity, intelligence, playmaking
Weaknesses: Strength, skating
Comparable: Marco Kasper

A refined game on and off the puck makes Nilsson stand out as a play-creator and play-killer. He constantly looks to create advantages with his passing, has great scanning habits that allows him to quickly play pucks to open teammates, and he has the awareness to know when to hold on to pucks and when to precipitate them. If he can get quicker and slightly stronger to make his board game even more refined, he’s got middle-six upside and a safe floor.

#43 – Beau Akey, D — Barrie Colts (OHL)

Size: 6’0, 170 pounds
Shoots: Right
Strengths: Skating, rush defending, transition ability
Weaknesses: Puck skills, retrievals
Comparable: Noah Hanifin


Akey’s game took a while for me to grasp. I saw a player with great skating, but a game that was way too simple and straightforward to outsmart NHL forwards. As the year went on, I quickly realized that what I had mistaken for simplicity was, in fact, efficiency. Akey barely moves his feet while defending the rush but somehow always gets stick on puck due to great lateral pushes and technique. He resembles Tanner Molendyk a lot, who was outside of the top 50, except Akey’s puck skills are slightly more interesting.

#42 – Felix Unger Sörum, RW/LW — Leksands IF (SHL/J20 Nationell)

Size: 5’11, 172 pounds
Shoots: Right
Strengths: Defensive game, maturity, playmaking
Weaknesses: Physicality, skating
Comparable: Andre Burakovsky

The youngest player in the draft (he was born literally on the last day of eligibility for 2023), Unger Sörum has some of the best playmaking metrics in the J20 Nationell, and even played seven games in the SHL against men this year. He also has a surprising amount of defensive acumen and a refined, mature game founded in strong off-puck habits. He’s not the fastest, nor the most physically built, but he could very well add the required strength as he develops. The playmaking is good enough to give him some fringe second-line upside.

#41 – Daniil But, LW — Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)

Nationell)

Size: 6’5, 203 pounds
Shoots: Right
Strengths: Shot, playmaking, stick-handling
Weaknesses: Awareness, skating, physical play
Comparable: Pavel Zacha


This is low, I know as But is often seen in first rounds. However, the big issue with But is that you never know what version of him you’re getting in a given game. Some days he looks like a playmaker. Others, he looks like a goal-scoring checker, or a two-way winger, and in many games I had trouble seeing what the big deal was. Most of the time, there are some big concerns with his skating and ability to anticipate play. On top of that, I’ve seen him get out-muscled by 5’10 defencemen in the MHL. The lack of consistency and projectability keeps him low, but the tools are exciting. He’s a high risk pick, one I’d shy away from in the first round, but anywhere past the forties is worth the swing.

#40 – Michael Hrabal, G — Omaha Lancers (USHL)

Size: 6’6, 201 pounds
Catches: Left
Strengths: Size, technique, composure
Weaknesses: Athleticism, puck-tracking
Comparable: Devan Dubnyk

Really poised in goal with the best wingspan in the draft, Hrabal’s game is a product of his size — both positively and negatively. On one hand, his technique allows him to lower the amount of moving he needs to do to stay square to the puck, and he can cheat towards the puck-carrier knowing he has the length to get to back-door chances. On the other hand, he drops low and early, trusting his shoulders to cover the top of the net when they don’t always do. He has enough tools to work with, and NHL teams love big goalies, so expect him to be the first one off the board — more on that later.

#39 – Timur Mukhanov, C — Omskie Yastreby (MHL)

Size: 5’8, 170 pounds
Shoots: Right
Strengths: Motor, defensive game, intelligence
Weaknesses: Size, shot
Comparable: Rafaël Harvey-Pinard with better playmaking

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Mukhanov is one of the hardest-working players I’ve scouted, and he has the defensive abilities to back it up. He pesters puck-carriers on the back-check, constantly floors the pedal on the forecheck, and wins his fair share of battles as a result. On top of that, he is a decent skater with high-end playmaking abilities. His shot is unreliable, however, so he defaults to passing more often than not. Mukhanov’s intelligence on the puck is also a great asset, which helps him invade and occupy space in the offensive zone. He has some risk about him, with the small frame and lack of goal-scoring ability, but the motor alone should see him become a great pro.

#38 – Trey Augustine, G — USNTDP (USHL)

Size: 6’1, 179 pounds
Catches: Left
Strengths: Mobility, positioning, technique
Weaknesses: Puck-tracking
Comparable: Juuse Saros

When scouting smaller goaltenders, I look for two key strengths: mobility and how they’ve adapted their positioning to their size. Augustine ranks highly in both of those areas. The most mobile netminder in this draft, Augustine flows effortlessly between positions, can move laterally in both controlled shuffles and huge pushes, and rarely gets caught flat-footed on bounces and rebounds. He also uses his positioning extremely well to close holes left by his smaller stature. He needs to work on keeping track of where the puck is at all times, but if he does, the ceiling is sky-high. He is the highest-upside goaltender in this draft and the first one off my board if I’m looking for a netminder.

#37 – Anton Wahlberg, C — Malmö Redhawks (SHL)

Size: 6’3, 185 pounds
Shoots: Left
Strengths: Speed, hands, defensive game
Weaknesses: Playmaking, awareness, agility
Comparable: Charlie Coyle


A surprisingly fast and skilled centre for his size, Wahlberg took some time to grow on me. His J20 tape was hit-or-miss but once he started playing regular minutes in the SHL, I started seeing what the hype was about. His stick-handling is raw but immensely promising, with bright flashes of inside-out moves and ankle-breaking ability. He isn’t the type to anticipate teammates’ routes and play pucks into space for them, but he works the boards and the defensive zone well, giving his teammates more puck touches than they’d have with a different linemate. He has second-line upside if he continues to refine his agility, hand-eye coordination and scanning habits.

#36 – Denver Barkey, C — London Knights (OHL)

Size: 5’8, 174 pounds
Shoots: Left
Strengths: Intensity, defensive game, playmaking
Weaknesses: Size, top speed,  goal-scoring projectability
Comparable: Playmaking Brendan Gallagher

Barkey outworks everyone in the OHL. He compensates extremely well for his lack of size with a high-end motor, some of the best defensive habits in the draft, and great board-battle mechanics to leverage his short stature. On top of that, his playmaking is well above-average — usually, a player with this type of profile lacks standout puck skills, but Barkey doesn’t. He also drives the middle at all costs, creating great opportunities for himself in high-danger areas. If he adds a gear or two to his skating, his whole game would be elevated to a level that makes him hard to ignore as an early second-round option.

#35 – Will Whitelaw, C — Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)

Size: 5’9, 172 pounds
Shoots: Right
Strengths: Adaptability, puck skills, skating
Weaknesses: Size, character, defensive game
Comparable: Jeff Skinner


The single most toolsy forward outside of my first round, Whitelaw has the trifecta of goal-scoring, playmaking and stick-handling nailed down. His offensive game is also highly adaptable, as he can mould his game at will to fit the circumstances. In the Phantoms’ Clark Cup-winning playoff run, there were times where he was being double-teamed by opponents. He went from being a straight-line rush creator to a give-and-go, off-puck wizard to get around that problem. His lack of defensive game and reported character issues kept him from being a first-rounder, but he has the skill set of one.

#34 – Caden Price, D — Kelowna Rockets (WHL)

Size: 6’1, 181 pounds
Shoots: Left
Strengths: Playmaking, awareness, transition game
Weaknesses: Consistency, defensive play, shot
Comparable: Seth Jones

There isn’t a more wildly inconsistent defenceman in this draft than Price. At his best, there were moments where I thought he could be the best defenceman out of this draft. Solid in-zone interventions, quick and intelligent breakout passes, and perfectly-timed activations made him so alluring to watch. At his worst, however, he was flirting with Do-Not-Draft status. Mistakes left and right, poor reads, aggressive pinches… I often had to check the number on his jersey to make sure I was watching the same player from one game to the next. Still, those good performances keep him high, as consistency is easier to develop than the things he is currently capable of.

#33 – Colby Barlow, LW — Owen Sound Attack (OHL)

Size: 6’1, 187 pounds
Shoots: Left
Strengths: Shot, physicality, board play
Weaknesses: Awareness, defensive game, transition impact
Comparable: Brock Boeser


Another guy I’m lower on than consensus, Barlow has a top-five shot in the draft. His release is lightning-quick and insanely heavy, and he finds space well off the puck to give himself even more of an advantage. The big concern for me is that goal-scoring and puck protection is all he can do. He doesn’t offer much defensive value, isn’t a good playmaker, isn’t good in transition, isn’t particularly smart in possession, and is highly peripheral with the puck — he only really goes to the middle without it. He also looks like a 30-year-old, so I worry that the runway for physical and technical development isn’t as long as other prospects in this draft. He might outscore some of the players ranked above him, but I don’t think he’ll be as impactful as them at the NHL level.

#32 – Ethan Gauthier, RW — Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL)

Size: 5’11, 176 pounds
Shoots: Right
Strengths: Adaptability, offensive versatility, physicality
Weaknesses: Skating, lack of high-end offensive upside
Comparable: Jean-Gabriel Pageau

Gauthier is the ultimate line-glue player. He might not ever lead his line in scoring, but he will get both of his linemates an extra 20 points that they wouldn’t have with another teammate. Exceptionally adaptable and great at building play incrementally and creating space on the ice, Gauthier has both the forechecking motor and the physical mindset to disrupt pucks for his teammates to pick up, on top of having really good puck skills in-tight around the net. He’s a shoo-in for a middle-six role, where he will make his line better than it would be without him.

#31 – Nate Danielson, C — Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

Size: 6’1, 185 pounds
Shoots: Right
Strengths: Defensive game, awareness, skating
Weaknesses: Transition play, lack of high-end offensive upside
Comparable: Christian Dvorak


Everything about Danielson just screams “middle-six, two-way centre”. He has a solid skating base with high-end defensive awareness and anticipation. He mans the cycle well, intercepting passes in the offensive zone and quickly playing them out of trouble. He also pins players along the boards in a calculated, measured fashion, forcing them to cut their losses and give up on the offensive play. However, he isn’t particularly skilled in any offensive element. Maybe his playmaking becomes a standout tool down the line, but as he stands, he’s a classic contender’s pick — as safe as you get.

#30 – Oscar Fisker Mølgaard, LW — HV71 (SHL)

Size: 6’0, 163 pounds
Shoots: Left
Strengths: Skating, defensive awareness, intensity
Weaknesses: Shot, playmaking, physicality
Comparable: Mikael Bäcklund

Known endearingly as OFM in the scouting sphere, Fisker Mølgaard is another contender’s pick: safe, smart, defensively responsible and mature. He pesters opponents on dump-ins and forechecks, moves off the puck well using his solid edgework, and can stick-handle his way out of trouble fairly well. He does lack some of that playmaking and goal-scoring pop that gives others the upside he lacks, but his game is projectable and efficient making him a safe bet to become a middle-six option down the road.

#29 – Bradly Nadeau, C — Penticton Vees (BCHL)

Size: 5’10, 163 pounds
Shoots: Right
Strengths: Shot, hockey sense, hands
Weaknesses: Defensive game, playmaking, strength
Comparable: less toolsy Cole Caufield


After Connor Bedard and Matvei Michkov, Bradly Nadeau’s name starts to enter the conversation for the best shot in the draft. Almost perfect mechanics and an uncanny ability to read defences and pounce into open pockets of space make Nadeau a deadly finisher. He reads plays at such a high speed that his projection becomes easier that other similarly-sized and equally-gifted prospects in this draft. The main concern with Nadeau is whether he can play a delay game with the puck; he precipitates a lot of plays, which evidently works in the BCHL, but the NCAA is a different beast, and so is the NHL. He has the tools to become a top-line scorer, but carries some risk due to his lack of a fallback game.

#28 – Samuel Honzek, C — Vancouver Giants (WHL)

Size: 6’4, 185 pounds
Shoots: Left
Strengths: Shot, physicality, hockey sense
Weaknesses: Skating, stick-handling, consistency
Comparable: Tomas Hertl

Looking back, probably the only player who I would have wanted to rank higher than I did — Honzek really brought his A game as the season rolled on, showcasing how dominant he can be in all three zones. A surprisingly smart and toolsy centre for his size, Honzek loves to show off his release, but doesn’t do so to the detriment of his teammates. He knows when to delegate, play give-and-go, and pop up behind defencemen off the pass. A bit more consistency would’ve helped solidify him as a borderline top-20 prospect.

#27 – Brayden Yager, C/RW — Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)

Size: 6’0, 165 pounds
Shoots: Right
Strengths: Shot, hands, skating
Weaknesses: Consistency, hockey sense, defensive game
Comparable: Mark Scheifele, but less reliable


Yager is a poacher at his core. He mans the rush with great skating patterns, and his in-stride wrister is among the best in this class. He can one-time the puck well, too, and his playmaking improved from a weakness to an average element of his game. However, he ranks lower than consensus on my list due to a lack of effort, a struggling defensive game, and a lot of inconsistencies in his reads. He fits the high-risk, high-reward description well, but the scoring upside keeps him in my first round.

#26 – Gabe Perreault, LW — USNTDP (USHL)

Size: 5’10, 154 pounds
Shoots: Left
Strengths: Playmaking, hockey sense, hands
Weaknesses: Size, skating, defensive game
Comparable: Clayton Keller with poor skating

Perreault is among the smartest and most tactical forwards in this draft. He picks apart defences with calculated hold-up plays, delays and a variety of passes that will get you out of your seat. The issue is that outside of his vision and playmaking, there are many areas of concern for the top NTDP scorer in the Program’s history. Poor skating, a distinct lack of defensive engagement and little to no physical strength make him a risky grab. Still, his combination of vision and passing is just so tantalizing that he could end up being a superstar.

#25 – Mikhail Gulyayev, D — Avangard Omsk (KHL)

Size: 5’10, 170 pounds
Shoots: Left
Strengths: Mobility, transition game, rush defending
Weaknesses: Physicality, anticipation, scanning habits
Comparable: Shea Theodore


The four-way mobility on Gulyayev is a treat to watch. Forward, backwards, or to either side, the Russian blue-liner has an effortlessness to his stride that gives him the edge on almost any forward he faces. Superb in transition going both ways, he rolls his wrists through his dekes and breaks ankles regularly offensively while using his quick but strong skating bursts to close gaps early defensively. His awareness is raw and he doesn’t scan all that well, but the skill set with Gulyayev is undeniable; there’s a realistic pathway to a second-pair role for him in the NHL.

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#24 – Otto Stenberg, C/LW — Frölunda HC J20 (J20 Nationell)

Size: 5’11, 181 pounds
Shoots: Left
Strengths: Hockey sense, hands, playmaking
Weaknesses: Strength, top speed, forechecking
Comparable: Tomas Tatar

Stenberg took a while to get on my good side. Another Swede whose J20 and SHL tape were wildly different, he seemed to up the ante every time the competition got fiercer. A tremendous stick-handler with soft hands and lots of smarts, Stenberg’s lateral mobility boosts his ability to deke through opponents. He was one of Sweden’s best players in international competition, and with some work on adding some top speed and improving his impact without the puck, he could be a solid second-liner.

#23 – Matthew Wood, RW/LW — U. of Connecticut (NCAA)

Size: 6’3, 190 pounds
Shoots: Right
Strengths: Hockey sense, shot, playmaking
Weaknesses: Skating, defensive involvement
Comparable: Tyler Toffoli


The things that scare me about Colby Barlow are no concern with Wood, despite the two playing similar styles. He is incredibly intelligent, has high-end puck skills when using his heavy shot isn’t an option, and he can impact the game in transition despite his poor skating. I was initially low on the rest of his on-puck game, but his shot has always been a weapon. He reminds me a whole lot of Toffoli in terms of skill set and the way he impacts the game.

#22 – Eduard Šalé, RW — HC Kometa Brno (Czech Extraliga)

Size: 6’1, 170 pounds
Shoots: Left
Strengths: Skating, puck skills, off-puck movement
Weaknesses: Defensive involvement, physical play
Comparable: Pavel Buchnevich

Once seen as a top-10 lock, Šalé started dropping down a bunch of rankings after repeated poor performances at the Czech pro level. Keeping him out of the first round would be an overcorrection if you ask me. Fluid on his edges and not afraid to use them to make space on and off the puck, there might not be a better winger in this draft at opening up his hips and firing off reception. He is raw, especially defensively, but could develop into a top-six winger if he’s provided with the right environment.

#21 – Tom Willander, D — Rögle BK J20 (J20 Nationell)

Size: 6’1, 179 pounds
Shoots: Right
Strengths: Skating, dependability, effort level
Weaknesses: Lack of shooting mindset, offensive upside
Comparable: Better-skating Mackenzie Weegar


Willander rocketed up draft rankings in the latter half of the season, to the point that there is chatter in the industry of him being picked up in the top 15 by a team with a need for a right-handed D. Extremely reliable defensively, hard-nosed with great intensity and one of the best skaters in this draft, Willander regularly kills plays by being in the right place at the right time. He rarely shoots and is only a decent passer, but he’s a lock to become a second-pair defenceman.

#20 – Gracyn Sawchyn, C — Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)

Size: 5’11, 165 pounds
Shoots: Right
Strengths: Hands, motor, hockey sense, defensive game
Weaknesses: Skating, shot
Comparable: Robert Thomas

Sawchyn was buried in a deep Seattle lineup, not really getting the chance to showcase what makes him such a solid top-20 option in this draft. It took me a while to understand his skill set, but once I did, there was no leaving him out of this range. Incredibly skilled with the puck and relentless in pursuit of it, Sawchyn is a one-man forecheck at times. He is also tremendous in his own zone and in defending the rush, which gives him a decent fallback game but enough upside to become a solid second-line forward down the line.

#19 – Dalibor Dvorský, C — AIK (Allsvenskan)

Size: 6’1, 201 pounds
Shoots: Left
Strengths: Shot, physical play, hands
Weaknesses: Effort level, consistency, transition impact
Comparable: Bo Horvat


Seeing Dvorský this low probably made you raise an eyebrow at best, and let out an expletive at worst. Let me explain: on his day, Dvorský is solid in all three zones, can outmuscle a lot of grown men, and has a release from the hashmarks that’ll beat goaltenders clean. However, he is one of the more inconsistent players in the draft — both in intensity and performances — and I have a hard time seeing him having the sort of impact that you expect from a top-line centre. Still, he will almost certainly be a good middle-six centre, and that puts him in this range for me.

#18 – Calum Ritchie, C — Oshawa Generals (OHL)

Size: 6’2, 187 pounds
Shoots: Right
Strengths: Hockey sense, nastiness, hands
Weaknesses: Skating, transition impact
Comparable: Brady Tkachuk

Ritchie is this draft’s pest. He loves to get under opponents’ skin and finds creative ways to do so on a nightly basis. Despite this pestilent nature, he has incredible hockey sense, knowing instinctively when, where, and how to make plays, and does it all at high speeds. His playmaking is high-end, his stick-handling is solid, and he blends his tools together incredibly well. His skating needs work to make him even more impactful than he is on the forecheck, but he has the makings of a middle-six centre with room to add more to his game.

#17 – Luca Cagnoni, D — Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

Size: 5’10, 172 pounds
Shoots: Left
Strengths: Hockey sense, puck skills, lateral mobility
Weaknesses: Top speed, physicality
Comparable: Adam Boqvist


I’m sticking my neck out here, but Cagnoni’s upside is top three in the class. His offensive awareness and toolkit are superb; he can read opponents’ feet exceptionally well and exploits the tiniest of breaches and mistakes to make a deadly pass through a lane or two, has great shooting habits from the point, and is manipulative to no end at the blue line due to his great lateral mobility. There isn’t much of a market for smaller, less physical and not exceptionally speedy defencemen, but I think we look back in a couple years and wonder how Cagnoni fell out of the first round, à la Olen Zellweger.

#16 – David Reinbacher, D — EHC Kloten (Swiss NL)

Size: 6’2, 187 pounds
Shoots: Right
Strengths: Defensive refinement, skating, breakout passing
Weaknesses: Offensive upside
Comparable: Jaccob Slavin

How high of a pick would you trade for a second-pairing defenceman? Because in all likelihood, that’s what Reinbacher projects to be. I have a hard time seeing him become anything less, and just as hard a time seeing him become anything more. Rock-solid defensively, smart in transition, and a fluid skater, Reinbacher has all the makings of an NHLer, but a lot of the habits in his offensive game are a result of playing against collapsing defensive structures on larger ice. That’s what keeps him just outside of my top 15.

#15 – Riley Heidt, C/LW — Prince George Cougars (WHL)

Size: 5’11, 179 pounds
Shoots: Left
Strengths: Motor, skating, playmaking
Weaknesses: Shot, strength
Comparable: Yanni Gourde with better playmaking


Heidt has been in this range for me since the start of the year. A superb playmaker with high-end off-puck habits and a strong motor, he pushes the pace often, but does it intelligently. He also has a mean streak to him, sneaking in a punch after the whistle or behind the play, never missing a chance to finish his hits, and making his presence known on every shift. He needs some defensive refinement and isn’t the strongest on his feet, but the skill set and mindset are second-line centre worthy.

#14 – Gavin Brindley, RW — U. of Michigan (NCAA)

Size: 5’9, 157 pounds
Shoots: Right
Strengths: Motor, skating, defensive game
Weaknesses: Strength, shot
Comparable: Artturi Lehkonen with better playmaking

For small players to make their way into my top-15, they need to have developed the adaptive tools to compensate for their lack of size and strength. That’s Gavin Brindley to a T. Relentless on the forecheck, smart with his application of leverage in board battles and one of the most defensively sound forwards in this class, Brindley defends the rush better than most defencemen in this draft and, after Michigan’s struggle with injuries pushed him up the lineup, he showed that he has the playmaking and skill set to have a second-line impact in the future.

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#13 – Quentin Musty, LW/C — Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

Size: 6’2, 205 pounds
Shoots: Left
Strengths: Puck skills, hockey sense, strength
Weaknesses: Skating, consistency
Comparable: Nick Suzuki


It was a tale of two seasons for Musty. The first half of his draft year was a headache, with repeated bouts of bad reads and turnovers that made him difficult to project. By the end of the year, though, it was clear that his hockey sense was not just a strength, but his biggest strength. On top of that, his skill set with the puck is arguably top-five in this draft class, and he has all the individual pieces of a power forward — he just needs to put them together. Refining his game and making him more complete and consistent could land you a top-line forward outside of the top 10, which is fantastic value.

#12 – Jayden Perron, RW/C — Chicago Steel (USHL)

Size: 5’8, 157 pounds
Shoots: Right
Strengths: Puck skills, hockey sense, defensive game
Weaknesses: Top speed, strength
Comparable: Jonathan Marchessault

It took some nitpicking to fill out a weaknesses section of Perron’s profile; he is exceptionally well-rounded for a USHL player of his size — a typical Chicago Steel product. Exceptional stick-handling and playmaking make Perron’s offensive abilities shine, but he also has the shot to back it up. As with Brindley, Perron has perfectly tailored his game to his size. Great defensively with solid leverage mechanics in board battles, he has the skill to become a first-liner, with a fallback game as a buzzsaw third-line winger.

#11 – Andrew Cristall, LW — Kelowna Rockeys (WHL)

Size: 5’10, 165 pounds
Shoots: Left
Strengths: Hockey sense, shot, hands
Weaknesses: Skating, consistency
Comparable: Tim Stützle with poor skating


Cristall’s hockey sense is absurd; Connor Bedard himself called him the smartest player he’s ever played with. He sees the game three or four steps ahead of everyone, has the vision to connect with passes that seem outside of his field of view, and can read opponents well when deking to the slot. He’s also a magician with the puck, having a great base of stick-handling, shooting, and playmaking. If his skating and consistency can be improved, he could be a top-five scorer out of this draft class.

#10 – Axel Sandin Pellikka, D — Skellefteå AIK (SHL)

Size: 5’11, 181 pounds
Shoots: Right
Strengths: Hockey sense, skating, playmaking
Weaknesses: Defensive refinement, strength
Comparable: John Klingberg


Offensively, there is much to love about Sandin Pellikka. His handling moves, his lateral movement from the point, his timely offensive activations… Everything about ASP’s game shows he has the highest offensive upside among defencemen in this draft. He needs some work defensively, but his foundation of four-way mobility and stickwork could be developed into a strength with time. There’s legitimate #2/3 power-play specialist upside in his game, which puts him in this range.

#9 – Ryan Leonard, C/LW — USNTDP (USHL)

Size: 6’0, 190 pounds
Shoots: Right
Strengths: Shot, power forward game, playmaking
Weaknesses: Defensive involvement, agility
Comparable: Less toolsy Matthew Tkachuk

If you’re looking for a power forward outside of the top five, look no further. Leonard is a hard-hitting, drop-the-shoulder type of winger who also boasts some high-end goal-scoring abilities and a playmaking game that went overlooked due to playing on the same line with two of the best playmakers in the draft in Will Smith and Gabe Perreault. He has upside as a 65-point bulldozer, and wouldn’t be the worst shout for Montreal at fifth overall.

#8 – Dmitri Simashev, D — Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)

Size: 6’4, 201 pounds
Shoots: Left
Strengths: Rush defending, skating, physical play
Weaknesses: Raw offensive game
Comparable: Moritz Seider


Simashev, to me, is what people think David Reinbacher is. Among defencemen in this class, he’s the best skater, the best rush defender, and one of the most physical. But he also has some untapped offensive upside that just needs refining and consistency. There are hints of high-end abilities; give-and-go plays from the point, ankle-breaking stick-handling moves, and the occasional cross-ice pass make you salivate at what a player this big, this mobile, and this defensively sound could do with some offensive refinement. He’s the only defenceman in this class with true #1 upside.

#7 – Oliver Moore, C — USNTDP (USHL)

Size: 5’11, 176 pounds
Shoots: Left
Strengths: Skating, defensive game, character, puck skills
Weaknesses: Physicality
Comparable: Dylan Larkin

There wasn’t an easier comparable for any of the prospects in my top 100 than this one. Moore is basically Dylan Larkin. The best skater in this draft by a decent margin, Moore’s stride is effortless, but his game is far from it. Pedal to the metal in all three zones, chasing down defenders like a bulldog and suffocating them with pressure, Moore has the character, intensity, hockey sense, and puck skills that the Habs are keen on adding to their lineup, on top of being one of the best defensive forwards in the class. He’s incredibly refined and might be the most impactful NHLer out of the NTDP’s Big Four from this class.

#6 – Will Smith, C — USNTDP (USHL)

Size: 6’0, 172 pounds
Shoots: Right
Strengths: Playmaking, hockey sense, hands
Weaknesses: Physicality, defensive game
Comparable: Trevor Zegras


In terms of pure skill, Will Smith is up there with Bedard, Michkov and Fantilli. Incredibly talented with the puck and exceptionally good at dictating the pace of play, Smith can shoot, pass and stick-handle off receptions, making him much more dynamic and unpredictable. Off the puck, some warts begin to show; his defensive involvement isn’t good, he relies a lot on spacing offensively, and his skating combined with his style of play isn’t a good match. He plays like Zegras without the footspeed of Zegras. Still, the talent is undeniable and he leads this fourth tier of the draft.

TIER 3

#5 – Zach Benson, C — Winnipeg ICE (WHL)

Size: 5’10, 160 pounds
Shoots: Left
Strengths: Playmaking, hockey sense, two-way game
Weaknesses: Skating
Comparable: Brayden Point


Benson edges out Will Smith comfortably in my top-five, for a very simple reason: he impacts every area of the game. Benson is the best playmaker in this draft (that’s right, the best — it’s not Bedard, nor Fantilli, nor anyone else), the best two-way forward in this draft, and he has character and skill in spades. He’s small and a below-average skater, but he has perfectly tailored his game to his size and speed. Incredibly smart and aware, Benson made every line he played on the top line, both at the club and international levels. He played most of the year on the wing in Winnipeg, but has all the makings of an elite first-line centre. I’d be ecstatic if the Habs went with him at fifth overall.

#4 – Leo Carlsson, C — Örebro HK (SHL)

Size: 6’3, 194 pounds
Shoots: Left
Strengths: Playmaking, hockey sense, stick-handling
Weaknesses: Skating, shot
Comparable: Anze Kopitar


Carlsson is one of the best prospects to come out of Sweden in recent years; his 25 points in 42 games are fifth all-time among SHL draft-eligibles, and for good reason: he is supremely skilled and smart with the puck. He dominates transition play with great skating routes and elite hands, has some of the best vision in this draft, and offers great support to his defencemen on the breakout. At the very least, Carlsson projects to be a second-line centre, and will likely be a perennial first-liner, oscillating between 70 and 90 points a year. The fact that he could be available at fourth overall is a testament to the upside in this draft.

TIER 2

#3 – Matvei Michkov, RW — SKA Saint Petersburg (KHL)

Size: 5’10, 160 pounds
Shoots: Left
Strengths: Hockey sense, goal-scoring, hands
Weaknesses: Defensive game, physicality
Comparable: Nikita Kucherov


If this was a ranking of pure skill, Michkov would be second overall. He has this absurd sixth sense for danger, flairing goals before they even begin to materialize. He has an elite shot, as well — there isn’t a better player in this draft at finding nooks and crannies to jam pucks into from around the net than Michkov. He has fantastic hands as well, making him an even more lethal offensive player. His move to Sochi mid-season quelled a lot of doubts I had about his habits, as he went from working off pure adrenaline and frustration while hopping on the ice every 10-15 minutes, to showing more patience and composure knowing he’d be back on the ice in two minutes. He has Hall of Fame potential if a team is willing to wait his contract out and bring him over on an ELC in 2026-27.

#2 – Adam Fantilli, C — U. of Michigan (NCAA)

Size: 6’2, 187 pounds
Shoots: Left
Strengths: Hockey sense, forechecking, shot
Weaknesses: Offensive spacing
Comparable: Nathan MacKinnon


There are just way too many elements in Fantilli’s game that project as elite to rank Michkov ahead of him. A great skater with one of the best shots in the draft, fantastic defensive habits, and a non-stop motor, Fantilli can mould his game to whatever role the circumstances demand. A lot of teams are looking for the next Tage Thompson, but in my opinion, if you’re not picking second overall, you’re not getting the next Tage Thompson. Fantilli has all the makings of a franchise centre, and could step into a second-line role today and do a great job. A no-brainer with the second pick.

TIER 1

#1 – Connor Bedard, C — Regina Pats (WHL)

Size: 5’10, 185 pounds
Shoots: Right
Strengths: Shot, hockey sense, adaptability
Weaknesses: None
Comparable: Patrick Kane with Auston Matthews’s shot


What a surprise.

In all seriousness, we all know by now just how skilful Bedard is, how great his release is, and all of that. Instead, I want to focus on what makes him special: his adaptability. Oftentimes, prospects with this level of sheer skill don’t really change how they play based on the circumstances — they just outplay everyone. Bedard, however, is more than willing to adapt his game.

When he started getting triple-teamed in the playoffs, you saw him make a noticeable adjustment in his passing game, going from a creator to a connector. Give-and-gos, off-puck assists, and retrieval plays got more frequent as competition tightened around him. That’s more important to me than having a sick release or great hands, or even the improvements that have come in his defensive game. His adaptability is what makes him the best prospect since Connor McDavid. A point per game in his rookie year is not out of the realm of possibility, and he fits the definition of a generational talent perfectly.

***

Thanks for reading — follow me on Twitter @HadiK_Scouting to follow along with my scouting work, and to keep up with the action on Draft Day!

Hadi also joined Patrik Bexell for his thoughts on the 2023 Draft. You can listen below or in your favourite podcast app.


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