2023 NHL Entry Draft

[Bure_Pavel]

13 minutes ago, HighOnHockey said:

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1. Connor Bedard - What more is there to say at this point? The best prospect since Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews.

2. Leo Carlsson - I still think he's probably a center long-term, but he's gonna be a bit of a project to reach his full potential. Needs to work on his attention to details and intensity off the puck, particularly on the defensive side of play. He also tends to try to be an offensive driver more than a possession player; he'll need to learn that sometimes in the NHL just working around the outside is the better decision than the play to the net. Not as NHL-ready or translatable as Fantilli or Dvorsky, but I'm trying to rank for when they're 25, and if he pans out the upside is tremendous. The way he seamlessly blends skill and power carrying the puck is reminiscent of a young Jack Eichel and Mika Zibanejad.

3. Adam Fantilli - Always in the middle of things defensively, constantly disrupting all over the ice. Elite skating and 200-foot IQ combined with a physical, hard-hitting mentality and a well-rounded offensive toolkit make Fantilli about as safe a pick as you can get to be at least a 2nd line center, with potential for a lot more.

4. Dalibor Dvorsky - Even though Fantilli and Carlsson are quicker, more dynamic skaters, Dvorsky's intensity and ferocity down low in puck battles and on the forecheck can make the former two seem lackadaisical by comparison. Not to say Fantilli lacks intensity, but he often seems more inclined to read the play and let it come to him, whereas Dvorsky is a rabid dog after a bone. I just think even at his floor, you're getting a hell of a player that every team will covet come playoffs, and the ceiling could be pretty special. Remember what Kopitar was down low for the Kings' on their two Cup runs?

5. Will Smith - Controls the pace of the game. Has this uncanny knack for casually gliding into soft spots in coverage with the puck on his stick, drawing defenders into him where he can burn them with a deke or find the open pass. Particularly with Perreault and Leonard on his flanks, defenders would often show too much respect to his dynamic skating ability and his passing game, and he could sometimes just walk up the open lane.

6. Daniil But - I've been saying I think he's a center, but in that regard it would be nice to see him pass the puck a little more often. I suppose at the MHL level if you can dominate entire opposing teams yourself, why not go for it? Could still use his frame better, but already the combination of stick skills and brute power is electrifying. Stick skill and shot are his best attributes, but I don't mind his skating at all. Looks lanky and awkward, but the control, balance and evasiveness he has on his edges suggests his skating could help him to be an offensive gamebreaker in the long run.

7. Ryan Leonard - Power forward with smarts, skills and combativeness. Sometimes you forget how good his hands are until he does something extraordinary one-on-one, as he's more often looking to keep things simple and use his teammates. Only question I have is how's the upper end vision / play-creation? Can seem to have a little tunnel-vision at times.

8. Mikhail Gulyayev - Highest offensive upside defenseman in the draft. Might not end up being the best all-around defenseman out of the class (if someone like Simashev or Willander develops into a 26 minute matchup and two-way monster), but he'll be an analytic darling the way he dominates zone exits and drives zone possession and scoring chances for. He's always pushing play forward for his team, out of any kind of jam. It just so often seems like he only needs one touch in his own zone before he fires it up ice for a quick break, but it's when he decides to skate it himself that opposing defenses really need to look alive.

9. Nate Danielson - Smooth-skating power center. A true "coach's dream," he attacks north-south, he drives the net, he plays heavy, he plays fast, he's responsible defensively and strong on draws.

10. Matvei Michkov - I said I'd always go purely by hockey in my rankings, but even the KHL website has him listed at 148 lbs and he wasn't at the combine. So many red flags and too many phenomenal prospects at the top of this draft. When we start talking about which players follow who on instagram, I just can't be bothered anymore.

 

11. David Reinbacher - Looks like a surefire two-way top four D, with some room for offensive upside.

12. Eduard Sale - Comparison: Bobby Ryan. Despite the questions about intensity, the combination of tools (speed, shot, hands), IQ, vision in a 6'2 frame makes the upside just too good to pass up after the sure-things are gone. Even when he doesn't look involved in the game for long stretches, you blink and he's scored a couple goals.

13. Zach Benson - High IQ and average skating on a small frame always reminds me of Mikael Granlund. He was a good player for a long stretch. Benson is expected to be a better defensive forward with maybe a little more offensive upside.

14. Dimitri Simashev - Some of the most impressive skating I've seen from a prospect at this size at this age. Has all the tools you could wish for, but as of now he doesn't have anything close to the kind of impact on a game Gulyayev does at the MHL level.

15. Matthew Wood

16. Colby Barlow

17. Gabe Perreault

18. Oliver Moore

19. Tom Willander

 

20. Axel Sandin-Pellikka

21. Samuel Honzek

22. Lukas Dragicevic

23. Brayden Yager

24. David Edstrom

25. Calum Ritchie

26. Quentin Musty

27. Otto Stenberg

28. Riley Heidt

29. Andrew Cristall

30. Kasper Halttunen

31. Max Strbak

32. Theo Lindstein

 

Alright well I've been watching a ton of footage the past couple weeks and I've made some adjustments toward the top. I guess this is my finals ranking.

A little surprised with Michkov in your ranking, would be awesome if he somehow made it to us at 11. Big risk involved with him but I think if he does come over he has 50 goal scorer potential and would be hard not to bite. 

[canuckwings]

37 minutes ago, -Vintage Canuck- said:

 

I'm surprised to see we actually have 7 picks this year. Really hope we can find a gem in the later rounds. 

[Petey Castiglione]

33 minutes ago, canuckwings said:

I'm surprised to see we actually have 7 picks this year. Really hope we can find a gem in the later rounds. 

If we can scoop up a 2nd rounder or by some miracle another 1st, this seems like the draft to do so.

[22Sedinery33]

6 minutes ago, Petey Castiglione said:

If we can scoop up a 2nd rounder or by some miracle another 1st, this seems like the draft to do so.

I'd also argue next years draft as well. I am hoping the Canucks do acquire more picks. 

[Brock BOeser]

Nhl trying to be woke by making a boy sing Barbie girl 

[Off_The_Schneid!]

3 hours ago, Bure_Pavel said:

Below is a consensus ranking by Habs Eyes on the Prize. I would be really happy with anyone in that top 12, but realistically our pick could be anyone of those guys from 6-20.

 

https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/2023-nhl-draft-rankings-consensus-bedard-michkov-smith-bob-mckenzie-athletic-prospects-elite/

2023 Draft Rankings

RK	NAME	POS	HT	WT	DOB	S	LEAGUE	AVG	DROP	RANGE	BEST
1	CONNOR BEDARD	C	5'10"	185	2005-07-17	R	WHL	1.00	NA	0	1
2	ADAM FANTILLI	C	6'2"	187	2004-10-12	L	NCAA	2.00	1.00	1	2
3	LEO CARLSSON	C/W	6'3"	194	2004-12-26	L	SHL	3.46	1.46	2	2
4	MATVEI MICHKOV	RW	5'10"	148	2004-12-09	L	KHL	3.54	0.08	3	2
5	WILL SMITH	C	6'0"	172	2005-03-17	R	USDP	5.38	1.85	4	4
6	ZACH BENSON	F	5'10"	159	2005-05-12	L	WHL	7.08	1.69	12	5
7	RYAN LEONARD	C	5'11"	181	2005-01-21	R	USDP	8.69	1.62	17	5
8	DALIBOR DVORSKÝ	C	6'1"	201	2005-06-15	L	ALLSVENSKAN	10.31	1.62	15	6
9	OLIVER MOORE	C	5'11"	176	2005-01-22	L	USDP	10.62	0.31	19	6
10	AXEL SANDIN PELLIKKA	D	5'11"	181	2005-03-11	R	SHL	12.00	1.38	21	5
11	DAVID REINBACHER	D	6'2"	187	2004-10-25	R	NL	12.54	0.54	17	6
12	MATTHEW WOOD	F	6'3"	190	2005-02-06	R	NCAA	15.77	3.23	30	7
13	COLBY BARLOW	LW	6'1"	187	2005-02-14	L	OHL	16.23	0.46	27	6
14	GABE PERREAULT	RW	5'11"	165	2005-05-07	L	USDP	16.46	0.23	20	7
15	DMITRI SIMASHEV	D	6'4"	201	2005-02-04	L	KHL	17.23	0.77	33	5
16	NATE DANIELSON	C	6'1"	185	2004-09-27	R	WHL	18.62	1.38	24	7
17	EDUARD SALE	RW	6'1"	168	2005-03-10	L	CZECHIA	19.85	1.23	25	7
18	SAMUEL HONZEK	C	6'4"	185	2004-11-12	L	WHL	20.15	0.31	32	12
19	BRAYDEN YAGER	C	6'0"	165	2005-01-03	R	WHL	20.54	0.38	23	10
20	TOM WILLANDER	D	6'1"	179	2005-02-09	R	J20 NATIONELL	20.62	0.08	29	8

 

 

What are your consensus rankings based on ? Season rankings or just the latest rankings ?

[Alflives]

3 hours ago, Bure_Pavel said:

Below is a consensus ranking by Habs Eyes on the Prize. I would be really happy with anyone in that top 12, but realistically our pick could be anyone of those guys from 6-20.

 

https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/2023-nhl-draft-rankings-consensus-bedard-michkov-smith-bob-mckenzie-athletic-prospects-elite/

2023 Draft Rankings

RK	NAME	POS	HT	WT	DOB	S	LEAGUE	AVG	DROP	RANGE	BEST
1	CONNOR BEDARD	C	5'10"	185	2005-07-17	R	WHL	1.00	NA	0	1
2	ADAM FANTILLI	C	6'2"	187	2004-10-12	L	NCAA	2.00	1.00	1	2
3	LEO CARLSSON	C/W	6'3"	194	2004-12-26	L	SHL	3.46	1.46	2	2
4	MATVEI MICHKOV	RW	5'10"	148	2004-12-09	L	KHL	3.54	0.08	3	2
5	WILL SMITH	C	6'0"	172	2005-03-17	R	USDP	5.38	1.85	4	4
6	ZACH BENSON	F	5'10"	159	2005-05-12	L	WHL	7.08	1.69	12	5
7	RYAN LEONARD	C	5'11"	181	2005-01-21	R	USDP	8.69	1.62	17	5
8	DALIBOR DVORSKÝ	C	6'1"	201	2005-06-15	L	ALLSVENSKAN	10.31	1.62	15	6
9	OLIVER MOORE	C	5'11"	176	2005-01-22	L	USDP	10.62	0.31	19	6
10	AXEL SANDIN PELLIKKA	D	5'11"	181	2005-03-11	R	SHL	12.00	1.38	21	5
11	DAVID REINBACHER	D	6'2"	187	2004-10-25	R	NL	12.54	0.54	17	6
12	MATTHEW WOOD	F	6'3"	190	2005-02-06	R	NCAA	15.77	3.23	30	7
13	COLBY BARLOW	LW	6'1"	187	2005-02-14	L	OHL	16.23	0.46	27	6
14	GABE PERREAULT	RW	5'11"	165	2005-05-07	L	USDP	16.46	0.23	20	7
15	DMITRI SIMASHEV	D	6'4"	201	2005-02-04	L	KHL	17.23	0.77	33	5
16	NATE DANIELSON	C	6'1"	185	2004-09-27	R	WHL	18.62	1.38	24	7
17	EDUARD SALE	RW	6'1"	168	2005-03-10	L	CZECHIA	19.85	1.23	25	7
18	SAMUEL HONZEK	C	6'4"	185	2004-11-12	L	WHL	20.15	0.31	32	12
19	BRAYDEN YAGER	C	6'0"	165	2005-01-03	R	WHL	20.54	0.38	23	10
20	TOM WILLANDER	D	6'1"	179	2005-02-09	R	J20 NATIONELL	20.62	0.08	29	8

 

 

Thanks for posting. IMHAO the four centres go first. Then the Habs will have a tough choice. If the choose Michkov I think they’re getting a future star, which they now obviously lack. But they might take any of 10 guys. Their spot is terrible. If they don’t take Michkov then the guy they do select will very likely be passed by on how good he becomes by several players drafted soon after. 

[Nucker 67]

9 minutes ago, Alflives said:

Thanks for posting. IMHAO the four centres go first. Then the Habs will have a tough choice. If the choose Michkov I think they’re getting a future star, which they now obviously lack. But they might take any of 10 guys. Their spot is terrible. If they don’t take Michkov then the guy they do select will very likely be passed by on how good he becomes by several players drafted soon after. 

If MTL takes Michkov at #5, they'll have Michkov, Caufield and Mesar as wingers.

 

Those are some small bodies, gentlemen (and ladies)

 

Can we interest you in some Garland? 

 

 

Edited June 27, 2023 by NUCKER67

[Alflives]

1 minute ago, NUCKER67 said:

If MTL takes Michkov at #5, they'll have Michkov, Caufield and Mesar as wingers.

 

Those are some small bodies, gentlemen (and ladies)

 

And then trade for Garlsnd!  They’d have the fearsome foursome! 

[Nucker 67]

Can we expect anything crazy and out of the blue from Allvin, like selecting (C) Otto Stenberg?

[KirkSave]

Sam Cosentino thinks we likely draft a RD like Reinbacher (if he slips) or Willander. If we go with a forward, he thinks it could be Honzek (LW) cause he plays for the giants in Van. I agree with the RD projections, should either Willander or Reinbacher be available but man alive, we don't need another winger if we draft a forward. We need some C prospects (high end) like Moore or Danielson.

 

I still think we might go off board and snag Simashev-at least that is my preference. At least there will be no shortage of intriguing options for us at 11 come draft day!

[Off_The_Schneid!]

12 minutes ago, KirkSave said:

Sam Cosentino thinks we likely draft a RD like Reinbacher (if he slips) or Willander. If we go with a forward, he thinks it could be Honzek (LW) cause he plays for the giants in Van. I agree with the RD projections, should either Willander or Reinbacher be available but man alive, we don't need another winger if we draft a forward. We need some C prospects (high end) like Moore or Danielson.

 

I still think we might go off board and snag Simashev-at least that is my preference. At least there will be no shortage of intriguing options for us at 11 come draft day!

Consentino has some of the worst takes. He didn’t even know the draft order in one the last radio hits I heard. Take what he says with a grain of salt. If you have regular viewings of a guy your just as likely not to draft him because your more aware of his faults 

[hammertime]

Ritchie opens up about shoulder injury that hindered draft year

Calum Ritchie played with a torn labrum during his entire NHL draft season. It prevented the Oshawa Generals centre from being as physical as usual and shooting as much. It also may explain why the Oakville, Ont. native dropped from No. 6 to No. 21 on Bob McKenzie's list of top prospects. Ritchie, who recently had surgery, appreciated the chance to clear the air with teams at the combine.

[Off_The_Schneid!]

1 minute ago, hammertime said:

Ritchie opens up about shoulder injury that hindered draft year

Calum Ritchie played with a torn labrum during his entire NHL draft season. It prevented the Oshawa Generals centre from being as physical as usual and shooting as much. It also may explain why the Oakville, Ont. native dropped from No. 6 to No. 21 on Bob McKenzie's list of top prospects. Ritchie, who recently had surgery, appreciated the chance to clear the air with teams at the combine.

Why wouldn’t you just have surgery earlier ?

[hammertime]

4 minutes ago, Off_The_Schneid! said:

Why wouldn’t you just have surgery earlier ?

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/ritchie-opens-up-about-shoulder-injury-that-hindered-draft-year~2715202

[Canucks Curse]

To NSH

Garland

11OA

Hoglander

 

TO VAN

15 OA

46 OA

68 OA

Sissons

[Canucks Curse]

650 sports net says a lot of talk around NSH and VAN with trade proposals such as:

 

To VAN

15 OA

46 OA

 

To NSH

Garland 

11OA

 

Or 

 

To VAN

Fabbro

15 OA

late pick

 

To NSH

11 OA 

Garland

 

I love the first one actually, solves so many problems and at 15 one of wood, Danielson, Barlow, simashev, benson, Wallander will be there at 15

[204CanucksFan]

43 minutes ago, Canucks Curse said:

650 sports net says a lot of talk around NSH and VAN with trade proposals such as:

 

To VAN

15 OA

46 OA

 

To NSH

Garland 

11OA

 

Or 

 

To VAN

Fabbro

15 OA

late pick

 

To NSH

11 OA 

Garland

 

I love the first one actually, solves so many problems and at 15 one of wood, Danielson, Barlow, simashev, benson, Wallander will be there at 15

I preder the first one as well. Most people here will probably think it's too much of a reach but I'd be targeting Cameron Allen with the 46th. I don't think he'll be there for our third rounder.

 

I think his struggles this year was more trying to do too much on a bad team. But he was captain for Team Canada at the U18's and the Hlinka for a reason. 

 

The other big factor for me is at the combine, out of the 106 prospects that attended, Cameron finished in the top 10 in 10 out of 14 fitness events.

[Gawdzukes]

6 hours ago, R3aL said:

Yager going in the middle of the first will be so good for him. Less expectations, more patience. I could see him landing in Nashville or pits. 
 

i agree he has sneaky big potential for that point of the draft 

Here's my hot take on Sale, since it's so close to the draft it will hopefully get forgotten quickly. 

 

I know you keep going back on Sale and wondering what it is everyone sees. The thing is with him being Czech, and playing in the men's league there he kind of gets forgotten about. We look at Benson, or Woods, and people question their skating ... next day there are 20 articles published, people are asking their coaches from junior, skating coaches, teacher's, friend's, Bedard, etc., then we get info on these guys, told it's inconsequential or being addressed, and feel we're better informed. With these Czech's and even formerly Slovak, Russian's, German's etc., I sometimes just bump up the top guys a little bit due to lack of information. One thing I do know is the Czech's are a tough out, and a strong hockey nation. Their best often go unnoticed I find until you see a guy come out of nowhere to be better than his peers, or a player I vaguely remember from world jnrs. I mean there is a big difference between playing in North America junior or college hockey, and playing in the Czech men's league at 17.  I have a feeling a lot of his teammates who are fighting to put bread on the table don't give two shakes about how good this kid may or will be, and neither do the reporters there to some extent. Not the way we do over here anyway. Like Simashev, it's hard to get a good read when you don't have all the information you are used to having.

 

Pretty scientific eh? Even funnier is when I decided to check out who this Sale was, as he was always seemingly rated at the 7th overall draft position, where we hovered for a good portion of the year. Anyways when I checked out the footage I kept looking for him and didn't identify him on the ice but I thought, my goodness, this Chalet player they mention every other second is really, really good.  Haha, true story. My eyesight for reading nametags is not great. Long story short, the little bits of footage I saw, especially with his peers he simply dominated the ice with his ability to read the play, know exactly where to be, and be involved in nearly every single play. Looked a notch above everyone on the ice. His speed and skill at that size is enticing if he adds some weight, which seems logical in this case.

[TopChed]

1 hour ago, Canucks Curse said:

650 sports net says a lot of talk around NSH and VAN with trade proposals such as:

 

To VAN

15 OA

46 OA

 

To NSH

Garland 

11OA

 

Or 

 

To VAN

Fabbro

15 OA

late pick

 

To NSH

11 OA 

Garland

 

I love the first one actually, solves so many problems and at 15 one of wood, Danielson, Barlow, simashev, benson, Wallander will be there at 15

only if we keep Garland and they throw in Prokop