NHL Central Scouting Releases “Players To Watch” For 2023 Draft

The 2023 draft is months away, but fans of struggling teams are already raving about the idea of ​​adding talent like Connor Bedard, Matvey Mikkovor Adam Fantilli to their organization. These three are among 28 names listed as “A” candidates in NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary “Players to watch” list, released today.

The full group of top prospects are as follows:

D Cameron Allen – Guelph, OHL
f Colby Barlow – Owen Sound, OHL
f Connor Bedard – Regina, WHL
f Zach Benson – Winnipeg, WHL
G Carson Bjarnason – Brandon, WHL
f Daniel But – Yaroslavl, Russia Jr.
f Leo Karlson – Orebro, SHL
f Nate Danielson – Brandon, WHL
f Dalibor Dvorsky – AIK, Sweden-2
f Adam Fantilli -Michigan, NCAA
f Ethan Gauthier – Sherbrooke, QMJHL
D Mikhail Gulyayev – Omsk, KHL
f Kasper Halttunen – HIFK, league
f Riley Heidet – Prince George, WHL
f Samuel Hoenzek – Vancouver, WHL
G Michael Hrabal – Omaha, USHL
f Ryan Leonard – USNTDP
f Matvey Mikkov – SKA St. Petersburg, Russia-2
f Oliver Moore – USNTDP
f Gabriel Perréault – USNTDP
f Calum Ritchie – Oshawa, OHL
f Edward Sale – Brno, Czech Republic
D Axel Sandin Pellikka – Skelleftea, Sweden Jr.
f William Smith – USNTDP
f Otto Stenberg – Frolunda, Sweden Jr.
f Charlie Stramel – Wisconsin, NCAA
f Matthew wood – UConn, NCAA
f Braden Yager – Elkjaw, WHL

These are the players listed as “first round candidates”, although it should be noted that there will be some changes before the draft actually rolls around. If you’re noticing that there’s a distinct shortage of defenders, you’re not wrong. The tentative roster for the 2021 draft listed nine defenders in Group “A” of 31 players, while the 2022 group listed five of 23 players. This year, defenders are almost evenly matched with goalies, showing how rare differentiating blueliners can be.

Speaking of goalkeepers, two in the preliminary round is rather rare. The 2022 list had none, and a netminder was just coming off the board Topias Leinonen at #41 when the draft rolled around. However, the 2021 group shows how much things can change. When their tentative list came out, Jesper Wallstedt was the only goalkeeper listed as “A”. Although he landed in the first round, Sebastián Cosa – classified as a “B” prospect at this point two years ago – was the first goalie off the board and was voted 15th overall.

As for that Kevin Korchinski, who tied seventh overall to the Chicago Blackhawks a few months ago, was a “B” prospect at this point last year. Korchinski had a breakout season with the Seattle Thunderbirds and skyrocketed the draft boards — something a handful of players do every year.

So while the “A” players are the early favorites for round one, there’s a reason the whole list is labeled as the players to watch. These are the names you’ll be hearing about in the months to come, with head-and-floor disputes taking place on barstools and bleachers across the hockey world.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images