2023 NHL Draft Prospects: Ranking the Top 20 Prospects for the 2023 NHL Draft

2023 NHL Draft Prospects: Ranking the Top 20 Prospects for the 2023 NHL Draft

The 2022 NHL Draft was a thrilling return to a live-drafting format in Montréal, Québec, Canada but the 2023 prospects possess even more talent to get general managers excited. Whether skating in the top high school leagues, playing in minor leagues, or dominating international tournaments, there are a lot of players to assess. Matt MacKay is back to breaking it down and ranking the top 20 prospects in the 2023 NHL Draft.

1. CONNOR BEDARD, C, REGINA (WHL)

We saw what happened to the 2022 consensus overall No. 1 prospect, Shane Wright, as he slid down to fourth, landing with the Seattle Kraken. Right now, scouts are raving about center Connor Bedard, who finished 2022 with 51 goals and 100 total points for Regina. The 5-9 center provides plenty of scoring punch despite his stature, making him a prime candidate to go first overall in the 2023 NHL Draft class.

2. MATVEI MICHKOV, RW, SKA (KHL)

Matvei Michkov is the quintessential two-way winger in this draft class. His hockey IQ, motor, and puck handling allowed him to rack up 13 goals in 17 playoff games during his 2022 season in the Russian MHL league.

3. DALIBOR DVORSKY, C, AIK (SWE-JR)

Slovakian center Dalivor Dvorsky is a big-framed center with elite puck handling ability. The 6-1, 185-pound prospect utilizes his deking to position himself for success in the offensive zone, exercising high-caliber passes or shots on the net. Dvorsky has a big motor that resulted in him scoring 20 goals in the Swedish junior league in 2022.

4. ADAM FANTILLI, C, CHICAGO (USHL)

Adam Fantilli is one of the biggest centers in the draft in terms of size at 6-3, 192 pounds. He scored a combined 55 goals in the USHL across the past two seasons and has soft touch with his stick handling and ability to handle the puck in transition.

5. ZACH BENSON, LW, WINNIPEG (WHL)

Zach Benson is lightning-quick on the ice, utilizing his 5-10, 150-pound frame to evade defenders and deke among the best in this draft class. The combination of skating, handling, and scoring makes Benson worthy of a top-five draft pick in 2023.

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6. KASPER HALTTUNEN, LW, JOKERIT (FIN)

Kasper Halttunen had a prolific season across numerous leagues in 2022, finishing with 24 goals for his primary Jokerit U20 team. The 6-3, 192-pound winger is an elite goal-scorer and has the physical tools to be an aggressor on both ends of the rink.

7. MATTHEW WOOD, RW, VICTORIA (BCHL)

Matthew Wood was electric during his first full season and a second year playing in the BCHL. The 6-3, 185-pound winger went from five goals in 2021 across 18 games to 45 goals in 46 games for the Victoria Grizzlies in 2022.

8. CHARLIE STRAMEL, C, USNTDP (USHL)

The biggest center yet, Charlie Stramel, has scouts targeting his rare combination of size, speed, and skill in the offensive zone. The 17-year-old American doesn't have eye-popping statistics yet but he is a hard-nosed center who isn't afraid to get aggressive to ensure a play succeeds on offense.

9. NATE DANIELSON, C, BRANDON (WHL)

Nate Danielson is the latest center to receive accolades in this 2023 NHL Draft class. He's a 20-plus goal scorer (23) after completing his first full season for Brandon in the WHL, adding another 34 assists. Danielson is skilled but lacks speed, so he slips outside of the top five.

10. BRAYDEN YAGER, C, MOOSE JAW (WHL)

Brayden Yager obliterated the net with 34 goals during his 2022 season in the WHL. He's a complete center who isn't the biggest player but Yager possesses a high competitive motor and an impressive one-timer shot.

11. CAM ALLEN, D, GUELPH (OHL)

Teams in the league love defensemen who can offer their services at both ends of the ice, which is why Cam Allen ranks inside the top 20. The 17-year-old Canadian scored 13 goals and finished with 37 points in 65 games for Guelph during his first season competing in the OHL.

12. CALUM RITCHIE, C, OSHAWA (OHL)

Calum Ritchie was consistently good for Oshawa last season, earning 45 points in the regular season and scoring four goals in six playoff games. The tall center could stand to add some muscle but his elite skating and ability to evade defenders in transition makes Ritchie a standout at a deep position.

13. COLBY BARLOW, RW, OWEN SOUND (OHL)

Colby Barlow is an exciting right winger out of the OHL who poured in 30 goals across 59 games for Owen Sound in 2022. He's got a prime stature at 6-1, 190-pounds, and a high-end hockey IQ to always make the right play to mitigate mistakes.

14. WILL SMITH, C, USNTDP (USHL)

Smaller centers still gain traction in the 2023 NHL Draft, which is why Will Smith climbs into the top 20. Smith has the puck handling and strength to bully opponents off the puck, which counters his lack of size.

15. GAVIN BRINDLEY, RW/C, TRI-CITY (USHL)

Gavin Brindley is among the youngest in the 2023 NHL Draft class but he's a burner with high-caliber scoring ability. The league is trending towards smaller players with stick skills and a high motor. Brindley checks both boxes.

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16. DANIIL BUT, LW, LOKO YAROSLAVL (RUS)

One of the biggest wingers in the draft, Daniil But is a textbook enforcer with soft touch and finesse in the offensive zone. The Russian has impressive stick handling for his size (6-4, 198-pounds) and finished 2022 with 42 points, including 17 goals.

17. OLIVER MOORE, C, USNTDP (USHL)

Centers continue to fill up the top 20, as Oliver Moore scored 24 goals for the U.S. National U17 team in 2022. Moore also has deceptive strength and elusiveness in tight spaces, making him an asset on powerplays.

18. LEO CARLSSON, LW, OREBRO (SHL)

Leo Carlsson is a 6-3, 185-pound left winger out of Sweden who is an intimidating presence on the ice. He's got incredible puck handling ability and high hockey IQ to counter his subpar skating skills at the next level.

19. HUNTER BRZUSTEWICZ, D, USNTDP (USHL)

Hunter Brzustewicz is a strong defenseman who saw his production dip in 2022 after a stellar 2020 season in the 15U AAA league, where he finished with 96 assists and 15 goals. Brzustewicz will play for Kitchener during his 2022-23 season, making his first appearance in the OHL.

20. RILEY HEIDT, C, PRINCE GEORGE (WHL)

The last player to rank inside the top 20 is quite a prospect. Riley Heidt has played two seasons in the WHL, completing 2022 with 21 goals and 58 points for Prince George. The undersized center is strong and possesses high-caliber puck handling to negate his lack of speed and size.

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