2023 NHL Draft Prospect Profiles

Every year, The Hockey Writers puts together extensive NHL Draft prospect profiles that detail every top draft-eligible player’s background, NHL projection, strengths, and things they need to work on. They also include quotes from some of the industry’s top scouts and writers along with a video (where available) of the prospect in action.

Here is a list of all the prospect profiles that have been written so far at THW for the 2023 NHL Draft.

Connor Bedard (1st Overall to the Chicago Blackhawks)

Connor Bedard is going to be a special player in the NHL sooner rather than later and any team that lands the first overall pick this year is going to be absolutely ecstatic. He has such an incredible wrist shot that you could drop him in the NHL this year and he’d feast. Bedard’s wrist shot will be one of the absolute best shots in the NHL from the moment he arrives (at least top-five), with the power and deception to make professional goalies tremble in their creases.

Click here to read Bedard’s full profile

Leo Carlsson (2nd Overall to the Anaheim Ducks)

From the start of the 2023 draft season, all the attention has been centered around top prospect Connor Bedard and to an extent, Adam Fantilli. However, Örebro HK’s Leo Carlsson is right up there as he too has a high ceiling to be an elite-level, two-way impact forward for any team that selects him.

Click here to read Carlsson’s full profile

Adam Fantilli (3rd Overall to the Columbus Blue Jackets)

Adam Fantilli possesses everything a scout looks for in a top-line center. From his size, speed, and playmaking ability to his hockey IQ, puckhandling, and accurate shot, he has all the tools to be a massive difference-maker in the NHL one day. It’s only his first year in the NCAA and he’s already dotting the highlight reels with his slick one-on-one dekes, snipe show of a shot, power moves to the net and most of all, beautiful end-to-end rushes.

Click here to read Fantilli’s full profile

Will Smith (4th Overall to the San Jose Sharks)

Will Smith is a dynamic offensive player who is centering the NTDP’s top line this year and is very creative offensively while being reliable defensively. This year’s U18 team in the NTDP is a bit more sparse when it comes to top-notch draft prospects, with Smith being one of just four prospects who are generally considered to be first-round level talents. Smith is an above average skater, especially when it comes to maneuverability, which gives him an advantage in all three zones. He’s agile enough to quickly switch coverage on defense and usually fast enough to separate himself from defenders on the rush at the junior level.

Click here to read Smith’s full profile

David Reinbacher (5th Overall to the Montreal Canadiens)

David Reinbacher has an incredibly high defensive IQ. He always finds the open man and eliminates the threat in his zone. He is strong in front of his own net and aggressively moves opponents out of that high-danger area. Reinbacher makes great defensive reads and is rarely caught scrambling because he was out of position. He engages physically with opposing players but does not chase hits that would compromise his defensive positioning.

Click here to read Reinbacher’s full profile

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More coming soon!