For those of us who were lucky enough to catch even a glimpse of the 2023 World Junior Championship, we were able to witness something never seen before. At no time in the event’s long history has a 17-year-old player dominated the tournament the way Connor Bedard did.
Heading into December, the race for first overall was Connor’s to lose, but Sweden’s Leo Carlsson and University of Michigan freshman Adam Fantilli were pleading their cases to give Bedard a run. The debate ended with Bedard’s 23-point, record-setting effort in Halifax. Carlsson and Fantilli remain in a two horse race to see who will go second overall in Nashville.
Overall, the world juniors provided a glimpse into the talented 2023 draft class. A number of first-year draft eligibles played prominent roles on their respective teams — I can’t remember a world juniors were there was so much reliance on young talent.
We’re in the midst of the busiest time of the scouting season. With the world juniors in the rearview mirror and the Biosteel All-American game in the books, the next major event is the CHL/NHL Top Prospects game on January 25. It’s fitting that Langley, B.C., will host the game, considering it’s Bedard’s home province.
Most NHL teams will have had or will hold their mid-season scouting meetings around this time, and respective team lists are starting to take shape. Area scouts have conducted interviews with players and are well into the process of gathering off-ice information about potential draftees.
Head scouts are planning their second half travel, either trying to catch-up with players who may have been injured or those who have been difficult to track. Area scouts are looking ahead to various league playoffs and making sure they see players on non-playoff teams, while working ahead and anticipating which potential playoff match-ups will allow for the most number of viewings in the most efficient travel schedule.
After mid-season meetings, GMs have a better sense of the draft landscape, and in some cases will have had input based on whatever viewings they’ve been able to glean in the first half. Most NHL GMs will now stay close to their teams, preparing for the trade deadline, and leaving the heavy lifting to their scouting staffs.
When it comes to single events such as a prospects game, much can be learned. Typically, on-ice testing will occur, with the results being made available to all 32 teams by NHL Central Scouting. Not every scout gets to see every player, so prospect games allow for area scouts to get a sense of what prospects in a different geographical region look like. This information, albeit a small sample, allows for teams to have more intelligent discussions on players. The viewing helps to give context and enables scouts to better compare their region against players from other areas.
Just about every scout and GM will tell you that one game doesn’t allow a player to raise his draft ranking, but it can have a negative impact and move a player down the list. Most will opine that a prospect game may be weighted slightly heavier than a regular season game based on the level of competition and the pressure of performing in a high-stress environment, but one game is not a make it or break it proposition.
Keep in mind, there’s still plenty of work to be done. The most prominent events left on the schedule include the Frozen Four, the Memorial Cup and most importantly, the World U18 Championship in Switzerland this April. And then it’s likely we will see at least a few draft eligibles participate in the Men’s World Championship in May. The NHL Combine goes in early June and will put a bow on the scouting season.
Before you know it, we’ll be at the NHL Draft.
Here are the Sportsnet NHL Draft rankings for the month of January.
1. Connor Bedard, C, Regina Pats (WHL): The hockey world hasn’t been this much abuzz about a prospect since the last Connor came through.
2. Leo Carlsson, C, Orebro (SHL): Did nothing to hurt his stock with his performance and usage at the WJC, where he had three goals and six points in seven games.
3. Adam Fantilli, C, U of Michigan (NCAA): He adjusted and adapted to a completely different role and position at the world juniors and did so with a smile on his face.
4. Matvei Michkov, RW, Sochi (KHL): Next to Bedard, Michkov may be the most talented player available, but he doesn’t possess the same size as the two others currently ranked ahead of him.
5. Will Smith, C, USNTDP: Controls the ice with his ability to pace the game and make plays. Has plenty of finish to his game to make him a top offensive prospect.
6. Ryan Leonard, RW, USNTDP: Plays the game with skill and power. Shoots the puck extremely well with a lightning quick release.
7. Brayden Yager, C, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL): Has built his reputation on being a shooter. He moves around the ice well and is even showing a willingness to be a distributor.
8. Zachary Benson, LW, Winnipeg Ice (WHL): Has been on a ridiculous tear since December, with twice as many multi-point efforts as single-point performances.
9. Colby Barlow, RW, Owen Sound Attack (OHL): Continues to forge forward with point production, but his game also continues to improve in all areas.
10. Dalibor Dvorsky, C, AIK (Allsvenskan): Don’t just look at the three points he got at the WJC as a benchmark. Slovakia leaned on him for all the important matchups in a number of key situations.
11. Oliver Moore, C, USNTDP: The type of player who should transition easily to the next level because of his ability to play at a high pace.
12. Eduard Sale, RW, Brno (Czechia): One of the best playmakers available in this draft class. His hands are silky smooth, and his ability to make smart, subtle and soft plays in pressure is impressive.
13. David Reinbacher, D, Kloten (Switzerland): Overworked and wasn’t 100 per cent in the world juniors, so his performance in the tournament didn’t tell the real story about his upside.
14. Calum Ritchie, C, Oshawa Generals (OHL): The type of player you have to watch often to properly appreciate. His consistency the rest of the way will determine his final draft position.
15. Samuel Honzek, LW, Vancouver Giants (WHL): With size as the first attractive element (6-foot-4, 185 pounds), the rest of his game screams pro player. Unfortunately a world junior injury will keep him out for an extended time.
16. Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Skelleftea Jr. (Sweden): It took some time for him to adjust to the world junior pace, but, by the end, he was on the ice for Sweden’s most important minutes with a bronze medal on the line.
17. Mikhail Gulyayev, D, Omsk (MHL): High-end forward skills in a defenceman’s package.
18. Nate Danielson, C, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL): Another player whose numbers don’t jump off the page, but Danielson plays a well-rounded game that is adaptable up and down a lineup.
19. Otto Stenberg, C, Frolunda (SHL): Always around the puck, Stenberg tracks well to lighten his defensive load. Leans more playmaker than shooter on the offensive side.
20. Gabriel Perreault, RW, USNTDP: Seems to grow a bit bigger every time I see him. Takes good angles and has a quick stick to disrupt breakouts. Plenty of offensive upside, too.
21. Quentin Musty, LW, Sudbury Wolves (OHL): Injury will keep him out of the Top Prospects game, and that’s about the only thing that has stopped him lately.
22. Matthew Wood, RW, UConn (NCAA): The obvious comparable is Tage Thompson, but who doesn’t want a sniper with size?
23. Ethan Gauthier, RW, Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL): A fierce, but quiet competitor, Gauthier is brilliant from the top of the circle down.
24. Riley Heidt, C, Prince George Cougars (WHL): Despite heavy point production (57 points in 40 games), Heidt has seemingly fallen in the eyes of scouts.
25. Kasper Halttunen, LW, HIFK (Liiga): Recently he’s looked like a player who has more to give, but Halttunen has built up enough credibility to remain a first-rounder for now.
26. Lukas Dragicevic, D, Tri-City Americans (WHL): What he’s done production-wise as a defenceman (27-game point streak) on a mediocre team should be enough to state his case in the draft order.
27. Maxim Strbak, D, Sioux Falls (USHL): While his play in the USHL has been suspect at times, there’s no doubting what he did at the world juniors for Slovakia. Strbak defends vigorously and has plenty of skill to be part of the offence, too.
28. Noah Dower-Nilsson, C, Frolunda J20 (Sweden): Excellent vision and hockey smarts. He moves effortlessly in all directions with speed and agility.
29. Oliver Bonk, D, London Knights (OHL): A player who’s shown steady progression from the Hlinka-Gretzky summer tournament through to the second half of this season.
30. Andrew Cristall, LW, Kelowna Rockets (WHL): There aren’t many better players from the blue line in. But will Cristall’s slight frame (5-foot-10, 167 pounds) allow him to do those things at the next level?
31. Koehn Ziemmer, RW, Prince George Cougars (WHL): Plays with a power forward mentality and is an elite shooter.
32. Jesse Kiiskinen, RW, Pelicans Jr. (Finland): Too good for the Finnish U20 league, and not quite good enough to get minutes to develop properly in Liiga.
