In mid-January, Central Scouting released their midterm draft rankings for the 2023 NHL draft. This, coupled with the completion of the 2023 World Junior Hockey Championships, has prompted many junior hockey experts and enthusiasts to release updated 2023 draft rankings as well.
The 2023 NHL Draft has a clear cut number one player in Connor Bedard, with an excellent crop of players rounding out the first round or two. Gary Bettman may not believe it, but teams absolutely do tank, and several are doing just that for the chance to take Bedard and change their franchise’s fortunes overnight.
This year’s draft class hails from a wide array of nations, which is becoming somewhat of a trend in the NHL. The game is growing overseas, and players like Leo Carlsson, Matvei Michkov will be fighting for second overall. It’s very possible that the top five draft selections are all of different nationalities.
Regardless, the top spot is owned by Bedard; there is no question about it. There won’t be any surprises like last year when Juraj Slafkovsky went first and the consensus first overall pick Shane Wright slipped all the way down to fourth. The drama of 2022, Wright staring down the Montreal Canadiens’ draft table on his way up the stairs to the stage, will not repeat in 2023. Bedard is the number one ranked player in every single rankings list.
Only one single player received first place votes—Bedard. From there, it spread out, if only slightly. Two players received second place votes. Seven players received at least one top-five ranking, 16 received at least one top-10 ranking, and 54 received at least one top-32 ranking.
Our rankings include those from Future Considerations, Bob McKenzie, Dobber Prospects, Craig Button, THN’s Ryan Kennedy, Yahoo’s Ian Kennedy, THW’s Peter Baracchini, THN’s Tony Ferrari, and EliteProspects. If any notable rankings were missed, please let us know and we will adjust our consolidated rankings accordingly.
Without further ado, here’s the full list.
| RANK | PLAYER | MEAN RANK | POS | TEAM | LEAGUE | DOB | HT | WT | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connor Bedard | 1.0 | C | Regina Pats | WHL | Jul 17, 2005 | 5’10” | 185 | R |
| 2 | Adam Fantilli | 2.0 | C | Univ. of Michigan | NCAA | Oct 12, 2004 | 6’2″ | 187 | L |
| 3 | Leo Carlsson | 3.1 | C/W | Örebro HK | SHL | Dec 26, 2004 | 6’3″ | 194 | L |
| 4 | Matvei Michkov | 4.0 | RW | HK Sochi | KHL | Dec 9, 2004 | 5’10” | 148 | L |
| 5 | Zach Benson | 5.7 | F | Winnipeg Ice | WHL | May 12, 2005 | 5’10” | 159 | L |
| 6 | Will Smith | 6.3 | C | U.S. National U18 Team | USDP | Mar 17, 2005 | 6’0″ | 172 | R |
| 7 | Andrew Cristall | 7.6 | LW | Kelowna Rockets | WHL | Feb 4, 2005 | 5’10” | 165 | L |
| 8 | Eduard Sale | 7.9 | RW | HC Kometa Brno | Czechia | Mar 10, 2005 | 6’1″ | 168 | L |
| 9 | Dalibor Dvorsky | 11.3 | C | AIK | HockeyAllsvenskan | Jun 15, 2005 | 6’1″ | 201 | L |
| 10 | Axel Sandin Pellikka | 11.7 | D | Skellefteå AIK J20 | J20 Nationell | Mar 11, 2005 | 5’11” | 181 | R |
| 11 | Brayden Yager | 12.4 | C | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | Jan 3, 2005 | 6’0″ | 165 | R |
| 12 | Ryan Leonard | 12.9 | C | U.S. National U18 Team | USDP | Jan 21, 2005 | 5’11” | 181 | R |
| 13 | Oliver Moore | 15.6 | C | U.S. National U18 Team | USDP | Jan 22, 2005 | 5’11” | 176 | L |
| 14 | Riley Heidt | 15.6 | F | Prince George Cougars | WHL | Mar 25, 2005 | 5’11” | 179 | L |
| 15 | Colby Barlow | 16.7 | LW | Owen Sound Attack | OHL | Feb 14, 2005 | 6’1″ | 187 | L |
| 16 | Mikhail Gulyayev | 17.1 | D | Omskie Yastreby | MHL | Apr 26, 2005 | 5’10” | 170 | L |
| 17 | Otto Stenberg | 19.8 | C/W | Frölunda HC J20 | J20 Nationell | May 29, 2005 | 5’11” | 181 | L |
| 18 | Calum Ritchie | 19.9 | C | Oshawa Generals | OHL | Jan 21, 2005 | 6’2″ | 187 | R |
| 19 | Jayden Perron | 20.2 | F | Chicago Steel | USHL | Jan 11, 2005 | 5’8″ | 157 | R |
| 20 | David Reinbacher | 21.0 | D | Kloten | NL | Oct 25, 2004 | 6’2″ | 187 | R |
| 21 | Ethan Gauthier | 21.4 | RW | Sherbrooke Phoenix | QMJHL | Jan 26, 2005 | 5’11” | 176 | R |
| 22 | Matthew Wood | 22.0 | F | Univ. of Connecticut | NCAA | Feb 6, 2005 | 6’3″ | 190 | R |
| 23 | Nate Danielson | 22.0 | C | Brandon Wheat Kings | WHL | Sep 27, 2004 | 6’1″ | 185 | R |
| 24 | Gavin Brindley | 22.5 | RW | Univ. of Michigan | NCAA | Oct 5, 2004 | 5’9″ | 157 | R |
| 25 | Quentin Musty | 23.0 | LW | Sudbury Wolves | OHL | Jul 6, 2005 | 6’2″ | 205 | L |
| 26 | Gabe Perreault | 23.3 | RW | U.S. National U18 Team | USDP | May 7, 2005 | 5’11” | 165 | L |
| 27 | Kasper Halttunen | 24.5 | RW | HIFK | Liiga | Jun 7, 2005 | 6’3″ | 207 | R |
| 28 | Bradly Nadeau | 29.3 | C | Penticton Vees | BCHL | May 5, 2005 | 5’10” | 163 | R |
| 29 | Luca Pinelli | 29.5 | C | Ottawa 67’s | OHL | Apr 5, 2005 | 5’9″ | 161 | L |
| 30 | Koehn Ziemmer | 30.0 | RW | Prince George Cougars | WHL | Dec 8, 2004 | 6’0″ | 194 | R |
| 31 | Lukas Dragicevic | 30.2 | D | Tri-City Americans | WHL | Apr 25, 2005 | 6’2″ | 181 | R |
| 32 | Samuel Honzek | 30.6 | C | Vancouver Giants | WHL | Nov 12, 2004 | 6’4″ | 185 | L |
| 33 | Charlie Stramel | 31.2 | F | Univ. of Wisconsin | NCAA | Oct 15, 2004 | 6’3″ | 216 | R |
| 34 | Dmitri Simashev | 31.4 | D | Lokomotiv Yaroslavl | KHL | Feb 4, 2005 | 6’4″ | 201 | L |
| 35 | William Whitelaw | 32.5 | C | Youngstown Phantoms | USHL | Feb 5, 2005 | 5’9″ | 172 | R |
| 36 | Michael Hrabal | 34.3 | G | Omaha Lancers | USHL | Jan 20, 2005 | 6’6″ | 209 | L |
| 37 | Caden Price | 34.5 | D | Kelowna Rockets | WHL | Aug 24, 2005 | 6’1″ | 181 | L |
| 38 | Daniil But | 36.3 | LW | Loko Yaroslavl | MHL | Feb 15, 2005 | 6’5″ | 203 | R |
| 39 | Cameron Allen | 36.8 | D | Guelph Storm | OHL | Jan 7, 2005 | 5’11” | 190 | R |
| 40 | Oscar Fisker Molgaard | 38.0 | F | HV71 | SHL | Feb 18, 2005 | 6’0″ | 163 | L |
| 41 | Luca Cagnoni | 39.0 | D | Portland Winterhawks | WHL | Dec 21, 2004 | 5’10” | 172 | L |
| 42 | Oliver Bonk | 39.3 | D | London Knights | OHL | Jan 9, 2005 | 6’1″ | 176 | R |
| 43 | Tanner Molendyk | 40.0 | D | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | Feb 3, 2005 | 5’11” | 176 | L |
| 44 | Timur Mukhanov | 41.0 | C | Omskie Yastreby | MHL | Jun 17, 2005 | 5’8″ | 170 | R |
| 45 | Carson Rehkopf | 41.0 | C/LW | Kitchener Rangers | OHL | Jan 7, 2005 | 6’1″ | 194 | L |
| 46 | Maxim Strbak | 41.5 | D | Sioux Falls Stampede | USHL | Apr 13, 2005 | 6’2″ | 198 | R |
| 47 | Noah Dower Nilsson | 42.0 | C | Frölunda HC J20 | J20 Nationell | Apr 25, 2005 | 6’0″ | 183 | L |
| 48 | Theo Lindstein | 42.0 | D | Brynäs IF | SHL | Jan 5, 2005 | 6’0″ | 181 | L |
| 49 | Emil Jarventie | 42.0 | F | Ilves U20 | U20 SM-sarja | Apr 4, 2005 | 5’10” | 168 | L |
| 50 | Lenni Hameenaho | 42.5 | F | Ässät | Liiga | Nov 7, 2004 | 6’0″ | 174 | R |
| 51 | Tom Willander | 43.7 | D | Rögle BK J20 | J20 Nationell | Feb 9, 2005 | 6’1″ | 179 | R |
| 52 | Alex Ciernik | 43.8 | LW/RW | Södertälje SK J20 | J20 Nationell | Oct 8, 2004 | 5’10” | 179 | L |
| 53 | Mathieu Cataford | 44.5 | RW | Halifax Mooseheads | QMJHL | Mar 1, 2005 | 5’11” | 187 | R |
| 54 | Hunter Brzustewicz | 46.3 | D | Kitchener Rangers | OHL | Nov 29, 2004 | 6’0″ | 187 | R |
| 55 | Etienne Morin | 46.7 | D | Moncton Wildcats | QMJHL | Mar 9, 2005 | 6’0″ | 183 | L |
| 56 | Kalan Lind | 48.0 | F | Red Deer Rebels | WHL | Jan 25, 2005 | 6’0″ | 154 | L |
| 57 | Jordan Tourigny | 49.0 | D | Shawinigan Cataractes | QMJHL | Feb 28, 2005 | 5’11” | 168 | R |
| 58 | Denver Barkey | 49.5 | C | London Knights | OHL | Apr 27, 2005 | 5’8″ | 174 | L |
| 59 | Trey Augustine | 50.0 | G | U.S. National U18 Team | USDP | Feb 23, 2005 | 6’1″ | 179 | L |
| 60 | Roman Kantserov | 51.0 | F | Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk | MHL | Sep 20, 2004 | 5’9″ | 176 | L |
| 61 | Beau Akey | 51.7 | D | Barrie Colts | OHL | Feb 11, 2005 | 6’0″ | 170 | R |
| 62 | Jesse Nurmi | 52.0 | LW | KooKoo U20 | U20 SM-sarja | Mar 7, 2005 | 5’11” | 165 | L |
| 63 | Andrew Strathmann | 52.5 | D | Youngstown Phantoms | USHL | Feb 27, 2005 | 5’11” | 174 | L |
| 64 | Carson Bjarnason | 54.7 | G | Brandon Wheat Kings | WHL | Jun 30, 2005 | 6’3″ | 181 | L |
| 65 | Ondrej Molnar | 57.0 | LW | Erie Otters | OHL | Feb 8, 2005 | 6’0″ | 176 | L |
| 66 | Noel Nordh | 58.5 | LW/RW | Brynäs IF J20 | J20 Nationell | Jan 25, 2005 | 6’2″ | 194 | L |
| 67 | Aram Minnetian | 60.0 | D | U.S. National U18 Team | USDP | Mar 19, 2005 | 6’0″ | 170 | R |
| 68 | Gracyn Sawchyn | 61.3 | C | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | Jan 19, 2005 | 5’11” | 165 | R |
| 69 | Ethan Miedema | 64.0 | LW | Windsor Spitfires | OHL | Mar 22, 2005 | 6’3″ | 181 | L |
| 70 | Martin Misiak | 65.0 | C | HC Nove Zamky | Slovakia | Sep 30, 2004 | 6’2″ | 198 | L |
