The 2023 NHL Entry-Draft is one of the deepest classes we’ve seen in a while. This is a draft you won’t want to miss, highlighted by potential superstars like Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, and Matvei Michkov. For contending team’s the draft can be seen as a whatever, but with how much talent is available this season, even contending teams picking late are going to land someone worth keeping an eye on.
After traveling to games throughout the season and getting the best read on this year’s draft eligibles, I have to say this was the hardest final rankings I’ve ever worked on. With how strong this class is, don’t be surprised some either go higher than projected or some fall harder than expected. From the top of the class, all the way to the seventh-round, serious talent will be available throughout the draft. With that said, let’s take a look at my “Final Top 100” before the draft begins!
100. Felix Nilsson / F / Rogle Jr.
99. Quinton Burns / D / Kingston
98. Brady Cleveland / D / NTDP
97. Easton Cowan / F / London
96. Cole Knuble / RW / Fargo
95. Noel Nordh / RW / Brynas Jr.
94. Ethan Miedema / F / Kingston
93. Markus Vidicek / F / Halifax
92. Gavin McCarthy / RHD / Muskegon
91. Jakub Dvorak / D / Liberec
90. Aiden Fink / F / Brooks
89. Michael Hagens / D / Chicago
88. Aydar Suniev / F / Penticton
87. Alexander Rykov / F / Chelmet
86. Carey Terrance / C / Erie
85. Felix Unger Sorum / Leksand Jr.
84. Jordan Tourigny / D / Shawinigan
83. Zeb Forsfjäll / F / Skelleftea Jr.
82. Ondrej Molnar / LW / Erie
81. Nico Myatovic / F / Seattle
80. Coulson Pitre / C / Flint
79. Tanner Ludtke / F / Lincoln
78. Tristan Bertucci / D / Flint
77. Tanner Adams / F / Tri City
76. Paul Fischer / D / NTDP
75. Kasper Halttunen / F / HiFK
74. Jayson Shaugabay / C / Warroad
73. Emil Jarventie / F / Ilves Jr.
72. Rasmus Kumpulainen / C / Pelicans Jr.
71. Ryan Fine / F / NTDP
70. Mathieu Cataford / F / Halifax
69. Gabriel Szturc / C / Kelowna
68. Kalan Lind / C / Red Deer
67. Lenni Hameenaho / F / Assat
66. Andrew Strathmann / D / Youngstown
65. Denver Barkey / F / London
64. Aram Minnetian / D / NTDP
63. Michael Hrabal / G / Omaha
62. Martin Misiak / C / Youngstown
61. Carson Rehkopf / C / Kitchener
60. Jacob Fowler / G / Youngstown
59. Oscar Fisker Molgaard / C / Sweden
58. Theo Lindstein / D / Brynas
57. Jesse Nurmi / F / KooKoo Jr.
56. Luca Pinelli / C / Ottawa
55. Alex Ciernik / F / Allsvenskan
54. Albert Wikman / D / Farjestad
53. Danny Nelson / F / NTDP
52. Trey Augustine / G / NTDP
51. Matthew Mania / D / Sudbury
50. Roman Kantserov / C / Magnitogorsk
49. Lucas Cagnoni / D / Portland
48. Beau Akey / D / Barrie
47. Etienne Morin / D / Moncton
46. David Edstrom / F / Frolunda
45. Anton Wahlberg / C / Malmo Jr.
44. Maxim Strbak / D / Sioux Falls
43. Caden Price / D / Kelowna
42. Will Whitelaw / C / Youngstown
41. Timur Mukhanov / C / Omsk Jr.
40. Noah Dower Nilsson / C / Frolunda
39. Daniil Butt / LW / Yaroslavl Jr.
38. Gracyn Sawchyn / F / Seattle
37. Hunter Brzustewicz / D / Kitchener
36. Charlie Stramel / F / Wisconsin
35. Nick Lardis / F / Hamilton
34. Oliver Bonk / D / London
33. Ethan Gauthier / F / Sherbrooke
32. Tom Willander / D / Rogle Jr.
31. Bradly Nadeau / F / Penticton
30. Lukas Dragicevic / D / Tri City
29. Koehn Ziemmer / F / Prince George
28. Samuel Honzek / F / Vancouver
27. Gavin Brindley / F / Michigan
26. Tanner Molendyk / D / Saskatoon
25. Eduard Sale / RW / Kometa
24. Otto Stenburg / C / Frolunda
23. Riley Heidt / C / Prince George
22. Dmitri Simashev / D / Yaroslavl
21. Quentin Musty / LW / Sudbury
20. Calum Ritchie / C / Oshawa
19. Jayden Perron / F / Chicago
18. Gabe Perreault / LW / NTDP
17. David Reinbacher / D / Kloten
16. Matthew Wood / RW / Connecticut
15. Dalibor Dvorsky / C / Allsvenskan
14. Mikhail Gulyayev / D / Omskie
13. Nate Danielson / C / Brandon
12. Andrew Cristall / C / Kelowna
11. Colby Barlow / RW / Owen Sound
10. Brayden Yager / C / Moose Jaw
9. Axel Sandin Pellikka / D / Skelleftea
8. Oliver Moore / C / NTDP
7. Zach Benson / LW / Winnipeg
6. Ryan Leonard / C / NTDP
5. Will Smith / C / NTDP
4. Leo Carlsson / C / Orebro HK
3. Adam Fantilli / C / Michigan
2. Matvei Michkov / RW / Sochi
1. Connor Bedard / C / Regina
Regina Pats star Connor Bedard being at the top of the class is no surprise, but having Matvei Michkov at number two may turn some heads. As much as I like Adam Fantilli and Will Smith, Matvei Michkov’s offensive upside is right up there with Connor Bedard’s. Although the franchise that takes Matvei Michkov will have to wait, it’ll be hard to walk away from the upside.
As I said before, after following this group throughout the season, I can’t talk highly enough about them. Creating this list was difficult, and there’s still lots of talent that was not included. I’m excited to see how the 2023 NHL Entry-Draft unfolds, with the Chicago Blackhawks kicking things off.
Thanks for reading! For more hockey coverage, follow me on Twitter @ITR_Anselmo.
