Future Considerations: 2023 draft eligible players to watch at the WJC

If there is one thing that is predictable year in and year out, it's how unpredictable an evolving NHL draft class is.

The 2023 draft has potential to be historic. This will be my 20^th draft and I honestly cannot recall a deeper pool of players.

By extension, the World Junior Championship will benefit. A tournament that has traditionally been considered a stage for older, previously drafted, prospects will have a different look this year. Several of the top draft eligible players are making their way to Halifax and Moncton to represent their countries.

Here's a look at some of the top prospects eligible for the 2023 NHL Draft who I will be watching closely starting Boxing Day:

TEAM CANADA

Connor Bedard

The consensus No. 1 prospect for the draft is, again, suiting up for Team Canada. He has dominated opponents in the WHL this season where in 28 games he has scored 27 goals and 37 assists. His offensive element is elite. Bedard is projected to be a “franchise player” or a generational talent. A player who could end up carrying a team at the NHL level for several years.

I’m anticipating Bedard to play to his identity and impact the game offensively, especially on the power play.

I’m also monitoring his overall detail. He logs big minutes, but the puck isn’t always in the offensive zone. Things like winning face-offs in the defensive zone and tracking back to assist on the back-check (off the puck) can be as important as scoring when prospects become NHL players.

Adam Fantilli

Fantilli exploded out of the blocks this year playing for NCAA Michigan (Big 10). His early season scoring pace had him projected to finish with over 70 points in his freshman season. He has come back to earth a bit, though. Before arriving at Team Canada’s training camp he had produced 11 goals and 15 assists in 16 games.

Fantilli will very likely be a top three pick in the draft. He brings a combination of size, pace, compete, and skill. He plays the middle at Michigan, but he can also play the wing.

One of my observations has been the fact Fantilli plays the game fast all the time. It’s certainly not a weakness, but I’m looking for him to allow plays to develop more off the rush and recognize when to slow things down.

He’s a very motivated player who wants to prove that he deserves to be recognized as one of the top prospects at this event.

Here is an example of what Fantilli can provide off the rush with his speed through the neutral zone. He tracks back, regroups through neutral ice, receives a pass on the offensive blue line, and beats a defender 1v1 before taking the puck to the net.

The result is a rebound goal for his linemate Dylan Duke.

TEAM USA

Trey Augustine

Team USA has brought three undrafted goalies to the tournament and Augustine is the youngest of them. This is his first official draft year.

Augustine has impressed me in recent viewings playing for Team USA’s U18 team at the USNTDP. His crease composure, tracking the play and staying between his posts – squaring up to shooters – has been consistent. He also plays the puck very well and has the ability to outlet long range when opponents are changing. In 14 starts with the U18 team he has a very impressive .930 save percentage and 2.10 goals-against average.

I’m not sure if Augustine will get the net at this event. First time draft eligible goalies are a bit of a rarity at the world juniors. If he does get a chance it will be interesting to see how he handles the pressure on the biggest stage for junior age prospects.

Gavin Brindley

Brindley has scored one goal and nine assists in his first 20 games for Michigan. He’s an undersize forward who plays a quick, fast, energetic style. Brindley is the kind of player who can slip under checks along the boards and jump to space ahead of opponents. He has been used in a variety of roles, up and down the lineup, at the college level.

I will be monitoring the role Brindley is asked to play for Team USA and how he reacts to the responsibility. The other obvious thing to keep an eye on is his overall impact at his size (5-foot-8). He’s a very competitive player. I’m confident he will play to a noticeable identity once the coaching staff establishes his role.

Charlie Stramel

Stramel is a big body forward who will likely be tasked with playing a power game, extending plays along the boards and going to the net to create traffic for Team USA. His freshman season at Wisconsin has produced four goals and three assists in his first 18 games.

Stramel had a solid training camp in Plymouth, Mich., with Team USA and earned his spot on the team. I will be interested to see how he adapts to the elite pace and skill of this tournament. He’s a hash marks down (in the offensive zone) player who can play to an identity (think Barclay Goodrow of the NY Rangers).

TEAM SWEDEN

Axel Sandin-Pellikka

Sandin-Pellikka is a transitional defenceman who can lead the rush on his own or join as an extra layer. He can also QB the power play. He’s an elite skater who’s quick, fast, and agile.

Sandin-Pellikka’s draft ranking has been open to debate so far this season (No. 22 in SN's latest), but I have him as a top 15 prospect in this draft class.

I will be keeping a close eye on his defending, especially against heavy/skilled forwards, at this event. If he can be trusted as an average plus defender, the rest of his game/element will launch him up draft lists.

Leo Carlsson

Carlsson is the prospect with the most momentum so far this season. He’s a big, powerful, skilled player who can make plays off the rush. His small area game is surprisingly elusive along the boards and around the crease. He’s playing in the SHL (Sweden’s top pro league) and thriving.

Team Sweden is a deep group this year, so it will be interesting to see the role Carlsson plays and the amount of trust the coaching staff has in him. I’m not shy about the fact I believe he will be considered by some NHL teams as a contender for No. 1 overall in this draft. Time will tell, but this is a huge opportunity for Carlsson.

TEAM SLOVAKIA

Dalibor Dvorsky

Dvorsky is an interesting prospect who I will be keeping a close eye on at the tournament. I’m not concerned about his playmaking ability when the game slows down. He shields pucks, bodies up along the wall, has a great release, and creates chances from the flank on the power play.

I do have concerns about his overall pace, though. He is listed as a player who can play both the wing and down the middle, but tracking up and down the ice as a centre might be too much for his game in its present form.

Lastly, he needs to show me more consistent shift to shift impact overall. He has scored at the J20 level in Sweden this year (three goals, five assists in eight games) but been inconsistent with his club team AIK in HockeyAllsvenskan (four goals, four assists in 21 games played with a minus-11 rating).

All of those observations are reasons why I will be watching Dvorsky closer than some other prospects. Heading into the tournament I'm not comfortable projecting him in the top 10 of the draft class. Hopefully he proves me wrong.

Samuel Honzek

Honzek is having a fantastic season playing for the Vancouver Giants in the WHL, scoring at an elite level with 17 goals and 26 assists through 31 games.

Honzek is an A-rated prospect by NHL Central Scouting, but the scouting community is taking a bit longer to warm to him. There is no question he brings an element of offence to go along with a long reach and size. His three-zone detail and read/react game off the puck needs to be watched closely. This event will give scouts an opportunity to compare him to other top-rated prospects and increase their trust in his overall game.

TEAM CZECHIA

Eduard Sale

Sale was outstanding at the summer U18 Hlinka/Gretzky Cup in Red Deer, Alberta. He stood out with his offence and ability to make plays at even strength and the power-play. He was elusive.

It’s been a bit of an uneven journey for Sale since August, though. He’s 10th in team scoring with HC Kometa Brno in the Czech Elite League with three goals and three assists in 26 games played. When skating with his own age group he averages over a point per game.

It will be interesting to see if he elevates offensively again at the WJC. His 200-foot game has to be monitored as well. At times he struggles on the defensive side of the ledger. If he plays to his element offensively, and provides (at least) average defensive detail, it will assist with earning the trust of NHL scouts.

TEAM AUSTRIA

David Reinbacher

It’s difficult to gauge where NHL teams have Reinbacher rated at this stage of the season, but it’s safe to say he is a prospect on the rise.

A coveted right shot defenceman who skates very well, can lead the rush, and outlets accurately. He is playing for EHC Kloten in the Swiss League.

Reinbacher averages 18 minutes of ice per game and the bulk of his ice time comes at even strength and the power play. On the power play he has scored a couple goals from long range, but leans distributor more than shooter.

I believe Reinbacher is a first-round prospect for the draft (No. 29 on SN's latest list). Team Austria will likely be under duress for much of this tournament and counting on Reinbacher to log a ton of ice time in all situations. He will have the attention of scouts at this event.

Here is an example of Reinbacher working a give and go from his zone before sending an outlet through the neutral zone. Notice his skating and overall agility breaking the puck out before receiving a pass high in the offensive zone and scoring from long range:

(Reinbacher is No. 64 in white)