This is my preliminary top 32 rankings for the 2023 NHL draft. Expect changes between now and the draft.
00:00 intro
00:28 17-32
00:48 16 Brayden Yager
1:27 15 Mikhail Gulyayev
2:17 14 Colby Barlow
3:22 13 Riley Heidt
4:32 12 Nate Danielson
5:44 11 Andrew Cristall
6:54 10 Axel Sandin Pellikka
8:19 9 Dmitri Simashev
9:38 8 Ryan Leonard
11:11 7 Oliver Moore
12:31 6 Zach Benson
13:57 5 Will Smith
15:31 4 Leo Carlsson
17:02 3 Matvei Michkov
18:24 2 Adam Fantilli
19:44 1 Connor Bedard
20 Comments
The Dobber draft team youtube page! https://www.youtube.com/@DobberProspectsDraftTeam
Dalibor Dvorsky on 24 is a crime.
Mostly my list. I'm a good bit higher on Leonard and Dvorsky than you are.
Leonard's case: I'm higher on his power game than you are. I could have swore I read that his updated weight is around 190 and I believe it. He's a truck. I'm also higher on his speed. I haven't seen many examples of him failing to get a step on someone when he really wants to, and he's basically the center in all but name of that NTDP line.
Plus I love his ability to get off the wall and into the middle of the ice, either through cuts and dekes on his own, or through threading a pass to a teammate deiving the middle lane.
Dvorsky: His puck protection game is pretty ridiculous. Hard to put that on display as a 17 year old against men. But all of his junior games, he's ridiculous at putting defenders in his hip pocket and making his plays through contact. Just great hands and puck control. I do think his top-6 upside is a BIT of a gamble, cause he'll need to be 215lb or so to play that game at the NHL level
Someone over at FtF went to a few of the WHL finals games in Seattle and was giving a bit of a scouting report on Benson. He noted that he seemed immature and a bit dirty (took a two handed ankle slash after the whistle in one game, had to be held back by a linesman from going after a ref)
"He's a smaller version of Marchand but only in the sense that he's dirty, a prick and boy has he got a mouth. Got away with a egregious ankle slash/borderline slew foot. After Ice had a penalty called on them he shot it in the net several seconds late. Ref separated him and another player, he hit the refs arm away. Mouth never stops running. Period ended later and he tried fighting the biggest player on Seattle. Either brave or just stupid. Would have been pounded.
Little man syndrome; tries to engage whoever, whenever which can be good if controlled but he doesn't know when to pick his spot.
He can skate but gets pushed around and knocked down easily. Even in a Jr. League he looks small."
Graham!!!!!!!!!!!!! Missed ya buddy!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOW! Dvorsky at 24!!!!!!!!!!
It would be nice to see the Canucks keep their pick, and use it to draft 1 of the top 2 defensemen from this list.
AYYY HE BACK
Seeing Dvorsky at #24 saves me the time of watching the rest of the vid 😂
The disrespect to Yager is unreal.
Seen Leo Carlsson play a lot, he's so complete for his age it's insane. He's gonna be SO good I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up in the hall of fame. He's first center this world cup for Sweden between Raymond and Berggren, that would not be a bad line for the wings going forward if they can get their hands on him.
Leo Carlson has been one of Swedens top players and leading scorers at men’s world championships and Fantilli for Canada has no points and hasn’t done much with 7 games so far for Canada. I wonder if Carlson will jump to 2nd overall in draft after impressive tournament
Danielson, Cristall and Heidt are too high. I like heidt as a player but no way he’s 5’11, he’s closer to 5’8 which is why he and Cristall will fall a bit
Are we not going to discuss the picture of Fantilli looking like a psycho? 🤷😁
There's a gap big gap beetween McDavid and Eichel, regarding Fantilli, but Eichel was the first to be in a Stanley cup final, just saying.
I want the red wings too take axel sandin pellikka
Heidt at 13? Never.
They rigged this draft so Columbus and Anaheim wouldn't win. Columbus should draft a center matter what.
How would you feel if our Sharks take Smith at 4 like many are predicting?
As a Ducks fan I watched every minute of both Sweden and Canada for Leo and Adam. I still Like Adam better even though Leo is impressive. A shoot first center should do wonders w the Ducks. Terry almost passes to much, Zegras likes to make crazy good passes as much as he likes to shoot, and McTavish is just do it all Johnny lunchbox at soon to be elite level. With all the young stud D comin up this season, should be nicccce. Go Ducks!