2023 NHL Draft Rankings: Gabriel Foley’s Mid-Season Top 50

The World Juniors have finally past, marking the perfect time for me to revisit some 2023 NHL Draft rankings. My first set of rankings for this class came in October, shared as a graphic on my Twitter, coinciding with my early American rankings. This time around, I wanted to give viewers a bit more of the reasoning behind what I like and dislike in each player. But before we dive in, let’s hammer out a few disclaimers…

1. First and foremost, these rankings are not indicative of where I think these players will actually land come draft day. These are my rankings of where I think each player deserves to go, based on current talent and future potential.
2. While the World Juniors have formally concluded, these rankings were written prior to the tournament. The tourney did not change my rankings in any major way, so don’t worry if you see pre-World Juniors language!
3. Some players have Editor’s Notes attached to their ranking. These notes were added in as I was going through the final touches of this article and felt there were pieces that deserved to be added but didn’t fit in exactly.

Alright, with all of that prep out of the way, let’s dive into my Top 50 players in the 2023 NHL Draft!

Gabriel Foley’s Mid-Season 2023 NHL Draft Rankings

1.) Connor Bedard

The top name on my board is absolutely no shock. Connor Bedard has been ranked #1 on every ranking released into the public sphere this season, and for good reason. Bedard has shown an incredible ability to put the puck into the net, riding an 30-game point streak and totaling 36 goals and 41 assists for 77 points on the season. Unfathomable numbers. He’s an incredible shooter with the confidence to dominate every area of the ice. Make no mistake, Connor Bedard is going to be a generational talent.

2.) Adam Fantilli

There is a certain way that truly elite players carry themselves in games. They have a unique way of carrying the puck up the ice, making moves on defenders, and attacking lanes; all underlaid with an overwhelming amount of confidence. Adam Fantilli’s play exudes that confidence. He’s become a main play-driver for Michigan, showing an incredible ability to enter the zone with clean possession. Fantilli’s smooth skating and crisp speed fits him perfectly into neutral zone systems and regroups, giving Michigan a momentum boost any time he’s on the ice. Not much needs to be said about the NCAA’s highest-scoring freshman… he simply looks the part of a future top-tier NHL star. In any other year, Fantilli would go #1 overall. This year, he’s stumped by the generational Connor Bedard.

3.) Matvei Michkov

Matvei Michkov is a frustrating player to watch. He is bubbling over with raw skill and has continued to improve his puck-protecting ability, integrating more-and-more physicality into how he shields off the puck. Watching Michkov’s shooting, passing, and stickhandling abilities all corroborate the fact that he simply has a perfect feel for the puck on his stick. And that turns him into he dominant attacker that the world has come to know.

But… I’m not sure where he goes from here. Michkov is rapidly approaching the ‘boom-or-bust’ category, on the back on questionable effort and hockey IQ. When he doesn’t have the puck on his stick, I find that Michkov can tend to float around, failing to make himself a proper passing option or driving into open ice. It puts a significant limit on a skillset that could make Michkov a star. While his scoring in Russia certainly supplements those woes, a more compact North American ice will bring out positioning concerns more. I fear that rapid development will be needed to give Michkov the confidence to thrive in North America. If he can pull it off, we’ll be talking about a generational, historic top-three. But my confidence that he can do it is waning.

4.) Zach Benson

Zach Benson is a player I have struggled to see the light with. But as the season has dragged on, I realize that’s not because of Benson’s style. It’s because of how Winnipeg uses him. Benson is a phenomenally quick player in every direction. This makes him not only great at winning puck races but also at matching the movements of his opponents to continuously apply pressure on the forecheck. Benson’s ability to rattle his opponents is boosted by how quickly he controls the puck and can make things happen.

Unfortunately, most of these traits are muted by Winnipeg’s north-south style. It leaves Benson looking much more one-dimensional than his skillset warrants. It’s a bit strange… it seems Winnipeg’s offensive systems are one of the only that don’t properly prop up Benson’s traits. If he can get into a more east-west-focused system, or even a cycle-based system, at the professional level, he’ll almost certainly slot in beautifully as a speedy, dynamic winger whose efforts make those around him better. At least, that’s the bet I’m making with this ranking.

Editor’s Note: I have to come back to just continue praising his forechecking ability. It’s hard to find players that forecheck as hard, or as well, as Zach Benson. That tenacity will carry him through professional hockey.

5.) Brayden Yager

Brayden Yager’s stock is plummeting, with some recent public rankings placing him outside of the Top 10 and Top 20 respectfully in their recently-released rankings. But I’ve got to stick with my guns on Yager. The concerns raised are completely valid. He shows a lack of care when off of the puck and can cost his team with how slow he makes those little decisions.

But it’s rare that you find a player with the game-breaking tempo that he possesses. Yager has the ability to gain possession and break up the wing with enough speed to completely blow by opposing defensemen. And when he’s caught, Yager’s ability to control the weight in his hips to make quick cuts on his edges makes him incredibly elusive. He’s also showed a fantastic ability to feel the weight of the puck on his stick, making him capable of manipulating the puck in any direction to beat defensemen and make plays.

When Yager is ‘on’, he is a game-breaking forward with the poise to play at an incredibly high tempo. When he’s off, he’s lackluster to say the least. But I can’t help but see an incredibly dangerous NHL prospect. And it’s that gut feeling that locks him into the top of my draft board, even with obvious and concerning flaws.

6.) Will Smith

Will Smith’s draft stock has grown hand-in-hand with his rapid development this season. He entered the season as a player with a ton of raw skill but a lack of poise to really make it work. But as the 2022-23 season has advanced, Smith has turned into a dominant play-creator. He has a keen ability to maintain a top-speed, while keeping his head up and scanning for options, in a way that’s rare to see. It allows him to stay fully aware of the open areas of the ice and find ways to get the puck into them, whether that be through a nifty pass or his own determined skating. His speed benefits him off of the puck as well, with Smith growing more-and-more in his ability to consistently pressure opponents on the forecheck.

Smith is as much of an ‘attacker’ as I’ve seen, with video game-like agility and overwhelming poise. Those talents alone are enough to boost him up any rankings. But the potential for growth after a player leaves the NTDP only adds to the excitement. The unique teachings of the Program have continuously set players up to take charge of wherever they wind up next – case in point being Logan Cooley’s dominant freshman season with the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis. Smith’s skillset sets him up to take charge in a similar way; which is to say, his climb up the prospect world is only just beginning. 

7.) Leo Carlsson

I don’t know what to do with Leo Carlsson. Starting with the positives, Carlsson is a heavy-built two-way center with a good instinct. He plays the puck into open space well and scans the ice cleanly, finding passing options and creating plays well. He also knows how to utilize his frame to his advantage, staying sturdy on his feet to protect the puck and throw his body around in the defensive zone. In theory, Carlsson has all of the pieces needed to be a strong, two-way, playmaking center with top-line upside at the NHL level. And that’s where I think he’s most likely to land.

But it’s hard to say that with total confidence. Carlsson faces skating flaws that are common with many players his size. Most notably, he fails to hold his weight into his hips and stay low. Instead, he carries himself up top, causing him to fan on the puck when pressured. He also has challenges with properly getting deep onto his edges, making hard cuts and stops-and-starts difficult.

These flaws aren’t debilitating to Carlsson’s game as it currently exists but they’re rooted in how Carlsson feels when he’s on the ice, making them tough habits to break. Luckily, his skillset and top-tier hockey IQ give him a promising floor as a high-end, middle-six center. But the little details in his technicalities could cost him that boundless-upside.

Editor’s Note: It’s a small thing but playing Carlsson in the middle-lane is definitely the way to go. He’s a center at the next level and I think the security that brings could help take focus off of some of Carlsson’s weaknesses. That in-and-of-itself is reason to bump him up the rankings.

8.) Oliver Moore

There is so much to say about Oliver Moore. He’s fast. Just so, so fast. He’s gritty, tireless, and determined in how he works. But above all else, Moore is consistent. He brings his trademark tenacity to every single shift, playing with an underlying speed in everything he does that catches opponents off-guard and forces teammates to paly up to his ability, effectively lifting up everyone on the ice with him. I like Moore a lot. To see such a determined forechecking ability encased in such a speedy, playmaking center isn’t common. And that work ethic will drive Moore up the ranks of professional hockey.

I do think Moore could improve on slowing his play down to really take advantage of defensive lapses and relenting control of play to his teammates. But these are both traits that should come with time. While not a flawless prospect, Moore’s relentless work ethic and speedy playmaking gives him an exciting upside, reminiscent of current NHLer J.T. Miller (stylistically, not in terms of performance).

9.) Dalibor Dvorský

Dalibor Dvorský is at his best when you get the puck on his stick and open a lane for him to skate through. AIK has done a much better job of this lately, so we’ve finally been able to see Dvorský’s style of play come out. He’s a lanky, tempo-based forward who does his best work when play picks up. But Dvorský struggles significantly when play slows down. He’s a simple player who struggles to pick up players if he’s not in a man-to-man assignment, making his work in the defensive zone a bit hard to follow. Similarly, he doesn’t attack danger zones in the offensive end like you might expect from a player who once had the acclaim that Dvorský did.

It’s also worth noting that, while I like Dvorský’s skating overall, he struggles to engage his thighs in his stride, losing out on significant power and flow. I want to stay bullish on Dvorský because when the pace is high, he absolutely excels, carrying the puck beautifully and showing a strong ability to get things done with it. But as soon as things dip, I see a player that I wouldn’t want on my team.

10.) Nate Danielson

I feel bad for Nate Danielson. He is the defensive lifeline to a struggling Brandon Wheat Kings roster… and it looks exhausting. But Danielson makes easy work of it thanks to how well he’s able to activate his stick (among other things that I could go on-and-on about). Danielson keeps his stick engaged in tracking the puck while pressuring opponents and uses open hips to match opponents as they try to pressure down the wing.

Danielson makes easy work of the defensive parts of the game but his prowess there has had a habit of taking away from his offensive skillset. He is a prodigal playmaker, showing off a great ability to transition from the breakout to an offensive scoring chance in the blink of an eye. Once the puck is in the attacking end, Danielson’s heads-up scanning and tremendous passing sets up teammates beautifully.

If there is any glaring fault to Danielson’s game, it’s that his passing ability often takes a hit when he’s tasked with too much defensive responsibility. As he transitions to pro hockey, Danielson will need to focus on controlling his passes a bit more to really reach that next-level playmaking ability.

But even as it stands, Danielson is a ‘jack-of-all, master-of-none’ type that can be the commanding piece in all three zones. His well-rounded skillset might not lend itself to a sky-high ceiling but he will enter professional play as a very reliable center capable of playing both power-play and penalty-kill minutes.

11.) Eduard Šalé

Eduard Šalé is a challenging player to assess. He seems to have all of the raw skill needed to be featured at the top of this draft but he plays a simple game that focuses more on the three lanes of the ice and position-fundamentals than it does on creating chances or scoring goals. And it’s an unfortunate thing to see. If he added a boost of gritty determination, or bold confidence, Šalé could turn into a tremendous scorer.

He’s a large-frame forward that’s able to drive play well with the puck on his stick. He skates with his head up and has the passing ability to hit far-side wingers on the tape and in stride, helping keep plays alive in the face of strong-side traps or 2-1-2 neutral zone pressure. There is some concern with Šalé’s ability to stay on his toes – sometimes his large frame pulls him back onto his heels, similar to Leo Carlsson, which can cause him to falter a bit – but his smooth hands and relatively-impressive agility are usually enough to make up for it.

Czechia hockey is rooted in fundamentals and optimists would claim that North American hockey will instill the confidence and grit that Šalé needs in his game. To some extent, I don’t disagree with them. And if that added layer comes, Šalé will be among the top of this draft class. But I don’t want to stake my ranking solely in the hope that that comes along so, for now, he remains lower.

12.) Axel Sandin-Pellikka

I really appreciate Axel Sandin-Pellikka’s style of play. He’s an agile, two-way defender who knows how to start play from his own end. Sandin-Pellikka’s ability to corral the puck and make a quick, heads-up breakout pass with so much consistency is impressive, and makes him an easy teammate to work with. Sandin-Pellikka’s quick and accurate passing also makes him a stellar quarterback in the offensive end, particularly on the power-play.

I will say, with all of his strengths, there’s still a layer of nerves to Sandin-Pellikka’s game that’s shined through in his SHL call-ups. That’s totally normal but it limits his ability to properly defend the rush or to make the right decisions quickly. These should flush out as he continues growing (can you imagine what a strong World Juniors appearance could do?), leaving a highly-capable, pass-heavy, two-way defenseman in the wake. I’m not sure how high Sandin-Pellikka’s ceiling is but his raw skillset at this age is one that’s been shared by many of the top blue-liners in the game. I would confidently draft him high, hoping that his flaws are more a result of age than poor play.

13.) Gavin Brindley

There are two camps for Gavin Brindley. You’re either incredibly bullish on him as a Top 15 talent, or you’re bearish on him sitting outside of the first round. I exist confidently in the former of the two opinions. I simply don’t know how to ignore the incredible pressure and tempo that Brindley brings to his game. He is an incredibly smart forward who plays systems flawlessly in all three zones (at least when his head is properly in the game). He combines those brains with phenomenal skating, to make sure he’s constantly breathing down the opponent’s neck. All of this on top of good heads-up passing and an itch for finding the open areas of the ice.

But above all of this, Brindley’s best ability is his adaptivity. He was a crucial piece of the Tri-City Storm’s exciting playoff run last season. Without Brindley’s ability to move from center to wing with little fret, Tri-City wouldn’t have been able to piece together such a coherent top-six. Brindley is showing that same flexibility at Michigan, taking on the center position in light of Frankie Nazar’s injury and even dominating in the ‘1C’ role when Adam Fantilli was out.

Brindley is not only a smart, high-tempo forward with tremendous fundamentals… he’s all of that on top of being tremendous at either center or wing. It’s easy for any player to do decent in both spots… but it’s hard for them to excel in both. Brindley excels.

Sure he’s short, sure he’s not dominating on the scoresheet. But Brindley’s talent could lead him to a third-line utility role, ala modern-day Brendan Gallagher, and his smarts could lead him to a top-six, two-way scoring role, ala Jaden Schwartz.

14.) David Reinbacher

Both public and private scouts in-and-around Switzerland are going crazy over what David Reinbacher has been able to do in the National League. And I’m very much starting to see why. Reinbacher is such a creative defenseman, showing full confidence in skating the puck up the ice and making risky passes. His excitement over controlling the puck makes him a tremendous quarterback of offensive zone set-ups, arguably the best trait in his bag of tricks.

But more than anything else, I love how Reinbacher is still very clearly learning. There are many times a game where Reinbacher looks uncomfortable or uncertain, particularly on the defensive side of things, but he takes on challenges without hesitation, using every ounce of his skillset to make things work. It’s incredibly admirable to see a player so willing to take on challenges in a league that is very much not made for development.

There is certainly a lot for Reinbacher to improve on. He could improve how he uses his physicality – learning to hit the stick rather than hitting behind players – and he will need to continue feeling out what it’s like to defend the rush against top-tier talent. But his eagerness in such a challenging league is incredibly impressive. His anomaly of a statistical profile is even more impressive. There’s a world where Reinbacher becomes the best defenseman from this draft class.

15.) Colby Barlow

I’m finding it hard to find the exact words for Colby Barlow. One of the most divisive prospects this year, Barlow boasts a small-man’s skillset in a big man’s frame. He’s calm and poised in his movements, skating with a strong stance and clean strides that give him impressive flow in his movements. He also has confident hands and a hardy shot: two traits that have become the hallmark of his play.

But above all else, Barlow is smart. Not ‘thinks quick’-smart but ‘religious to the fundamentals’-smart. He shows beautiful understanding of how to function in a breakout, respect the three lanes of the ice in the neutral zone, and construct attacking positions in the offensive zone. He’s by no means a playmaker – in fact, his lack of ability to create is one of his biggest flaws – but his sheer intelligence is enough to get excited over. Some people are down on Barlow for a variety of reasons but his strong fundamentals give him a tremendous floor and his stellar scoring instincts give him a high ceiling.

Barlow may be overhyped by some but the pieces to a truly strong prospect are there. It’ll be up to an NHL team to piece them together.

Editor’s Note: This note will apply to all OHL players. Many of this year’s OHL crop lost their U16 season to the Covid pandemic. So don’t discount them too quick, they’ve jumped into juniors with little prep. There’s certainly more development to come with these players.

16.) Ryan Leonard

My optimism in Ryan Leonard entering the year was admittedly low. As great of a scorer as he was, he didn’t fight for open space or create chances on his own like you’d expect. It was a major missing piece to what could’ve been a stellar skillset. But at the midpoint of his draft year, I can confidently say that Leonard has added that and more to his game, going from a passive winger to one of the most effective play-drivers on the NTDP’s U18 squad.

Leonard’s style is characterized by a distinct power and keen, methodical movements. His strides, stickhandling, and shooting are all a tad slower than his peers but it allows him to get true strength behind everything he does. It makes him incredibly effective in every aspect of the game from a raw talent and fundamentals standpoint. With his newfound play-driving, the sky is the limit for Ryan Leonard, but my past concerns with his ability to continuously create chances keeps me from placing him too high. If Leonard can continue dominating play like he has this season, he’ll absolutely rise up my board.

17.) Andrew Cristall

Andrew Cristall has a pizzazz to his game that makes him really easy to get excited over. He has nifty hands and a powerful skating stance, allowing him to get onto his edges beautifully to protect the puck, cut around defenders, and get the puck to the net. He attacks defenders head-on and uses quick cuts, cheeky dekes, and heads-up passing to pull opponents out of position and open up space for teammates. His great agility and fundamentals gives him the ability to take the opposing team on all by himself, then play the puck to a linemate for an easy goal. Cristall also has a nice snap to his shot, getting the puck on net with speed and picking corners well.

He’s a creative offensive-dynamo, reminiscent of Trevor Zegras’ flashy ability in his draft year. But Cristall falls short when the tempo slows down. He plays his position well but stretches too far on breakouts and can pull himself into clogged-up lanes. It’s an upsetting damper on what could be a really fun style to watch thrive. But Cristall’s inability to flow with changes in pace makes him reliant on high-risk, high-reward plays or on very clean movements out of the defensive zone.

I don’t want to lose hope with Cristall. Creative-flash is becoming a genuine way to make it into the NHL, in a way that it wasn’t always able to. But I’ll be incredibly interested to see how he spends the next few years. Strong development could turn him into a high-tempo, highlight-reel winger with the ability to turn games on their heads. But if that’s actually what he becomes is hard to determine.

18.) Ethan Gauthier

I was captivated by Ethan Gauthier at the beginning of the season. To see a player with his size driving play so well was incredibly encouraging. But as the season has gone on, the dynamic control of play has slipped away and we’re starting to see some need for maturity hitting Gauthier. He does a great job of engaging his size in the physical aspects of games but needs to be more confident when deciding to throw hits or pinch off opponents. Gauthier also shields the puck well but needs to continue finding out how he can maintain his movements, while using his body to protect; something that will ultimately come with time and facing tougher competition.

His physical accolades aside, Gauthier’s game is relatively simple. He’s not a primary play-driver for Sherbrooke, instead fitting in as a secondary option in systems and the high-man on the forecheck. That role will likely follow him into professional hockey, although I don’t think that’s a detriment. With his strong skating, physicality, and hefty puck movements, Gauthier should slot into pro systems very well. The reliability that’s attached to his raw skills are enough to keep him in my first round. But the decrease in independent play-driving, and overall simplicity, that has emerged in Gauthier’s game recently does dock him a few spots.

19.) Maxim Štrbák

I have been fascinated with Maxim Štrbák since he came over to the USHL. His style of play makes him look years older than the rest of his competition, no matter where he’s playing. He’s a beautifully smart defensive-defenseman with all of the classic traits: a long and effective reach, great awareness, playbook knowledge, and big-body strength. He’s able to use each of these strengths in everything he does, shutting down the rush well, overpowering opponents in his own end, and making key plays on the breakout.

Some have echoed concerns with Štrbák’s skating — and he’s certainly slow, set on his heels a bit, and not the best on his edges — but his other strengths are so much so that he’s able to stay incredibly effective in the defensive aspects of the game, speaking to his talent. If a pro-team is able to instill better skating habits into Štrbák, he could become the new era’s defensive-defenseman.

20.) Noah Dower Nilsson

I hung my hat on Miko Matikka as my hot take First Round European last season. This year, that accolade goes to Noah Dower Nilsson. I can’t get enough of how controlled Dower Nilsson is in every movement he makes. He is effortlessly tenacious, playing a fearless physical game and using his big frame, long reach, and smart hip-play to constantly win the puck from opponents. That effortless feeling carries into how Dower Nilsson controls the puck on his stick as well, with the right decisions coming easily to the forward. He has strong skating, clean puck-handling, and a strong shot and uses them all in tandem to drive play up the ice quickly and create chances.

There’s not too much more to say about Dower Nilsson. His confidence is readily apparent watching him play and it turns him into Sweden’s premiere play-controller outside of Leo Carlsson. Dower Nilsson is not only in my First Round, he’s climbing up it quickly. Players with this level of clean control do well in pro hockey, no two ways about it.

21.) Alex Čiernik

Alex Čiernik isn’t going to beat you with one specific tool. None of his skating, shooting, or stickhandling are lights-out. But Čiernik’s fundamentals are incredible. He is always processing, doing a great job of anticipating where play will go and where he needs to be. His work ethic is both physical and mental, with Čiernik clearly putting care into how he’s thinking through the game. It’s an impressive feat that shows Čiernik’s determination well. He’s not the smartest player but works hard to fit into the systems he’s assigned, making him an incredibly effective role player. Čiernik won’t be the star of your line but his workhorse attitude will prop up whoever he’s with, reminiscent of roles players like Ondrej Palat and Yanni Gourde have filled. A confident ceiling of a middle-six winger is certainly one to shoot for in the late-First Round.

22.) Charlie Stramel

I was very quickly beginning to lose hope in Charlie Stramel. As struggles have mounted in his freshman season, he’s forgone the play-driver role we saw him carry with the NTDP in favor of a measly net-front, “big-man” option. It was a disappointing step down for a prospect that seemed to have tons of potential coming into the year. But as the season has gone on, we’re finally seeing a bit of a middle-ground for Stramel. No, he isn’t the Top 10 dynamo we wanted him to be this year, but he’s not a second-rounder either.

Instead, Stramel exists between the two, sitting nicely in my 20’s. He’s found new ways to become impactful for Wisconsin, using his nifty skating and quick hands to work in tandem with his teammates, cycling the puck well and continuously creating options. Stramel has also grown out of the lazy play we witnessed at the start of the year, showing more energy on the defensive side of the puck.

There is still plenty to be worried about with Stramel. His skating is inefficient and he has a tendency to slow both his feet and mind if he doesn’t feel the play is exciting enough. But his ability to battle through a very tough start to the season and find new ways to become effective is incredibly admirable. Stramel has shown an ability to use his raw skills in a variety of ways; a trait that will service him very well at the next level.

23.) Calum Ritchie

Calum Ritchie is a good hockey player. He’s smart, aware, and knows the fundamentals of all three zones. Combined with a good work ethic and some fun passing, he turns into a reliable two-way center. The issue? He’s boring. Ritchie draft stock is rolling down a hill as he’s forgone flashy risks in exchange for safe, position-based hockey. This new style will give Ritchie a great floor as a bottom-six center with all-role capability, but it limits his ceiling. I’m not going to pull the floor out from under Ritchie yet but a lack of creativity is pushing him down the rankings. For now, his comfortable floor and the remnants of what we saw last year keep him in my First Round.

Editor’s Note: This note will apply to all OHL players. Many of this year’s OHL crop lost their U16 season to the Covid pandemic. So don’t discount them too quick, they’ve jumped into juniors with little prep. There’s certainly more development to come with these players.

24.) Mikhail Gulyayev

Mikhail Gulyayev is this year’s iteration of the “undersized but puck-savvy defenseman” build that’s become increasingly popular over the years. And I think he does it well. Gulyayev is an incredibly agile player, with light footwork and quick strides, and combines it with smooth puckhandling and passing to move the puck up the ice quickly. If nothing else, I admire how confident Gulyayev is in controlling the puck. He’s not scared to pick up the puck behind his net and try to go end-to-end with it, and with his skating and stickhandling abilities, he has the tools to do it. He’s also not scared to shoot the puck from the blue line, rather than walking it in, a trait that I admire, even if I don’t totally agree with it.

I do have a few hesitations with Gulyayev that have moved him down my list, though. Most notably, I worry that he may be too ‘one-note’ for future success. While Gulyayev’s puck skills are incredibly reliable, he doesn’t have the same prowess in defending the rush or creating offense in slow-moving setups. He also has a habit of being a bit too trigger-happy with his shooting, turning a quirky trait into an annoying one. Gulyayev is overall a really talented puck-mover which should continue to shine through at the professional ranks. But I wonder if other concerns will limit his ceiling.

25.) Riley Heidt

Watching Riley Heidt this season has been an exercise in how I evaluate prospect. I normally enjoy seeing clearly capable players drive the play on their own, giving me the chance to see how they move the puck through the neutral zone with tempo. Heidt is certainly able to do that, but he doesn’t rely on it as an ‘every-shift’ trait. He’s perfectly comfortable letting his talented linemates help him out, making him a bit more reclusive than other talents with his skill levels.

And… that’s okay. It’s taken me a bit to come to terms with it but Heidt’s calm style isn’t a detriment or a slight on his toolkit. If anything, it might speak to his clairvoyancy in creating plays. In drafting Heidt, you’re not drafting a player that uses overwhelming ability to dominate every play. Instead, you’re drafting a slick, strong-passing, two-way center who knows how to put his linemates in a position to do what they do best.

26.) Jacob Fowler

This is the year of the goalie it seems. Michael Hrabal, Scott Ratzlaff, Trey Augustine, and many others have been mentioned all over draft boards since the start of the season. But it’s Jacob Fowler that finds his way into my First Round, thanks to a poise and focus that stands out from the rest. Fowler uses great control over his movements and vision through traffic to track the puck-handler easily. His angles always seem right and he has the raw speed to cleanly dart across the crease if he needs to. All-told, his ability to so fluidly move makes him very tough to beat one-on-one.

But he’s not a perfect goalie. Fowler does have a tendency to get a little too focused on the puck-handler, making a quick cross-crease pass an effective tool against him. He also has a fairly narrow stance, one that could be exploited at the higher levels.

But even with his flaws, Fowler’s raw talent and next-level mental edge are incredibly promising. He seems bound to follow the Tristan Jarry or Jordan Binnington pathway, using a few years in the minors to adjust to professional hockey and iron out a few weak spots. But Fowler has an edge to his game that could make him a truly talented NHL starter one day. That confidence alone is worth slotting him high on my board.

27.) Martin Mišiak

I usually err on the side of caution when a player has a substantial, mid-season move incoming. But with Martin Mišiak, that fact only makes me like him more. Mišiak is moving from the Tipsport Extraliga in Slovakia to the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL and I truly think it’ll be a match made in Heaven. Mišiak is an absolute workhorse. It amazes me how quickly he’s able to get his feet moving after a change in possession or shift up the ice. Whether it’s joining his teammates in pushing up the ice or trying to steal the puck from the opponent, Mišiak is running at his top speed at all times.

On top of that impressive tenacity, Mišiak is also a very methodical player. He functions well in offensive systems and scans passing lanes well, making it hard for play to ever stop when he’s on the ice. Mišiak will find ways to beat you, even if all opportunities seem closed off. It’s a proper blend of all-out tenacity and reserved playmaking that turns Mišiak into a workhorse for his team. That skillset is going to blend beautifully with Youngstown’s modern, systems-heavy approach. With how well Mišiak has looked already this year, there’s no doubting his stock is about to skyrocket. Get in ahead of the boom, they say… so Mišiak has a comfortable spot in my First Round.

Editor’s Note: News broke after this article was released that Mišiak may be staying in Slovakia’s Tipsport Extraliga. This is a sudden turn for a player who seemed to have everything lined up to come over. But even despite staying in Slovakia, Mišiak is a hard-nosed, tenacious forward who deserves high praise.

28.) Timur Mukhanov

Omskie Yastreby’s playbook is built around forwards that play an annoying style of hockey… and Timur Mukhanov may do it best. He’s simply a nuisance, with a spark in his skating that lets him dart all over the ice, constantly breathing down the necks of his opponents, and the confidence to throw body checks without a second thought. When he gains possession, Mukhanov makes the right decisions quickly and has an oomph behind his passes. It’s a simple yet effective playing style that epitomizes the role of a bottom-line grinder, even though he’s only 5’8″.

There’s a possibility that Timur Mukhanov could find a niche in this ‘nuisance’ style of play and become a Claude Lemieux-esque pest, even despite his small stature, speaking to how well Mukhanov does what he does. Even if he falls short, it’ll be interesting to see what kind of floor Mukhanov’s energy provides. He certainly seems like a player that will fall to the middle point of the actual NHL Draft (if he’s picked at all) but I’ll buy into the excitement that’s surrounded his 2022-23 campaign.

29.) Tanner Molendyk

Tanner Molendyk’s game is so professional. It’s clear in how he extends his strides, gets onto his edges, feels the puck on his blade, and keenly cuts through the lanes of his ice that Molendyk isn’t the product of sheer raw talent, but an impressive amount of work and respect for the fine details. He’s used that to become a distinct, puck-moving defenseman with the potential to turn play on its head with a quick pass or sudden movement up the ice.

So it’s incredibly disappointing that the only major fallback in Molendyk’s game is his willingness to make bold decisions. Molendyk is incredibly poised with the puck on his stick but seems to hesitate to skate it up the ice. Similarly, his passing is accurate and elusive but he doesn’t always see teammtes skating into open space.

Molendyk’s skillset is reminiscent of Shea Tehodore’s in many different ways. But like Theodore, it seems Molendyk will need systems that lean into his strengths, to help spur him in decision making. If he gets that, he could become one of the best two-way defensemen from this class. But the team taking him should know what they’re in for.

30.) Daniil But

How can you not love Daniil But? He’s a 6’5″ winger with more agility than some 6’0″ players. Seriously, But is incredibly impressive with his ability to get onto his edges and make clean cuts. He’s also very efficient with his strides, making up for the slower movements that come with a big frame. That same finesse applies to But’s puck-handling, letting him dance through opponents and attack into the zone very well.

I don’t know if his light-footed skillsets will translate to higher levels but seeing a giant so eloquently dance through defenders is too enjoyable to ignore. But as fun as he is to watch, there are some areas where But needs to figure things out. Among all else, But simply needs to figure out what kind of player he wants to be. He lacks the creativity to create chances consistently and is still learning the fundamentals of defensive play.

But is too fun of a project to pass up. His skillset is so unique that a team may be able to build him into whatever they want. While he doesn’t have a sky-high ceiling, his big frame alone provides him with a safe floor, so who knows where he could end up.

31.) Hunter Brzustewicz

I was nervous for Hunter Brzustewicz at the beginning of the year. While he’s always been a good, lanky defenseman, he didn’t seem to gain much from his final year in the NTDP, leading me to worry that he wouldn’t be able to find his path this year. But luckily, Brzustewicz looks right at home in the OHL. The heart of his game lies in controlling the puck and skating it through the neutral zone, something the OHL has allowed him to do with much more regularity than American hockey did. It’s clearly boosted Brzustewicz’s confidence which has, inturn, brightened up his whole game. Brzustewicz looks excited to handle the puck and much calmer when defending off of it.

But he still isn’t perfect. Brzustewicz has looked good with the puck on his stick but still has a bad habit of making risky plays or overzealous passes. And while he is improving his defending, it’s still clear he’s learning the ropes. There’s a lot to be excited for with Brzustewicz: if he works out, he’ll be a smooth-skating, puck-moving defenseman that can join the rush without sacrificing any chances going the other way. But he’ll need to find a more consistent development curve to reach the ceiling his raw skills provide him.

32.) Lukas Dragicevic

Lukas Dragicevic is such a good hockey player. His skating is beautiful, with weight centered on his toes and engaged calves giving him great edgework and quick strides and making him flat-out fast. Dragicevic also feels the weight of the puck on his stick very well, giving him a sort-of ‘sling’ behind each pass and shot he makes. Everything Dragicevic does is clean, smooth, quick, and accurate.

The problem? He’s not a defenseman. Sure he might appear there on the lineup sheet, and he does do some defensive feats well (ie defending the rush), but Dragicevic clearly does not enjoy sticking to the positional limitations of a defenseman. He is constantly rushing the puck out of the defensive zone and doing everything he can to carry it into the offensive end as well. If he gets stopped, he wont hesitate to dump-and-chase, effectively giving his team four forwards.

This is great in theory! We all love a defenseman that isn’t scared to join the rush. And Dragicevic certainly has the speed to backcheck. But he clearly struggles to know when to pull off of an attack. Dragicevic spends far too much time below the opposing goal-line, costing him big when the puck jumps the other way and his defensive partner is left with an odd-man-rush.

The skillset is absolutely there for Dragicevic. He’s so fun to watch. But I don’t know a clear path that turns him into an NHL juggernaut. We might simply be past the times of the Brian Leetch’s of the world… but will Dragicevic be able to change that narrative?

Remaining Top 50

33. Quentin Musty (LW, Sudbury Wolves, OHL)

34. Michael Hrabal (G, Omaha Lancers, USHL)

35. Danny Nelson (C/LW, USNTDP U18, NTDP)

36. Luca Cagnoni (LD, Portland Winterhawks, WHL)

37. Dmitri Simashev (LD, Loko-76 Yaroslavl, MHL)

38. Cameron Allen (RD, Guelph Storm, OHL)

39. Jesse Nurmi (C, KooKoo, Liiga)

40. Otto Stenberg (C/LW, Frölunda HC, SHL)

41. Andrew Strathmann (LD, Youngstown Phantoms, USHL)

42. Kalan Lind (F, Red Deer Rebels, WHL)

43. Tanner Adams (RW/C, Tri-City Storm, USHL)

44. Lenni Hämeenaho (F, Ässät, Liiga)

45. Denver Barkey (C, London Knights, OHL)

46. Gavin McCarthy (RD, Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL)

47. Kasper Halttunen (RW, HIFK, Liiga)

48. Jayden Perron (RW, Chicago Steel, USHL)

49. Aram Minnetian (RD, USNTDP U18, NTDP)

50. William Whitelaw (RW/C, Youngstown Phantoms, USHL)

Honorable Mentions

Gabe Perreault (LW, USNTDP U18, NTDP); Theo Lindstein (LD, Brynäs IF, SHL); Matthew Wood (RW, UConn, NCAA); Oliver Bonk (RD, London Knights, OHL); Caden Price (LD, Kelowna Rockets, WHL); Jayson Shaugabay (F, Warroad High, High School); Teddy Townsend (C/LW, Eden Prairie High, High School); Koehn Ziemmer (RW, Prince George Cougars, WHL); Samuel Honzek (C, Vancouver Giants, WHL)

Full List