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The World Junior Championship is often one of the first marquee events where fans can glimpse some of the best and brightest NHL draft prospects. The 2023 tournament will have several draft-eligible prospects, from top-five picks to players who are expected to be selected in the mid-rounds.
Let’s peek at some of the top 2023 draft-eligible players at the world juniors.
Connor Bedard, C/W, Canada
One of the most electrifying prospects in recent draft history, Bedard is an incredibly skilled forward who attacks with pace and pummels his opponents with shots while maintaining a lethal playmaking edge. Bedard will look to cement his status as the No. 1 pick. He has a deadly shot that’s often likened to that of Auston Matthews in terms of technique. The young Canadian will be a presence on Canada’s top line at the world juniors.
Adam Fantilli, C/W, Canada
The Canadians will feature two draft eligibles on their roster, and both will play in the top six. While Bedard will get the top-line minutes, Fantilli will look to make his mark on the second line. The Michigan Wolverines forward is a unique blend of power, speed and skill that can affect the game in many ways. He is an excellent shooter and drives play at a high level. There aren’t many holes in Fantilli’s game, and he could push himself closer to Bedard in the chase for first overall at year’s end.
Gavin Brindley, RW, USA
Brindley is a bit of a surprise addition to the American world juniors roster. The high-pace, shifty forward looks to be slotting in on the fourth line, and he should be able to make a difference with his speed and puck pursuit while bringing some offensive touch to the bottom six. The Americans didn’t bring the most offensively talented team. Still, Brindley could be the answer to who will score in the bottom six. He has excellent playmaking habits and a shiftiness that creates space.
Charlie Stramel, C, USA
The big center who plays for the University of Wisconsin will be slotting in as the fourth-line center for the Americans. The 6-foot-3 Stramel has solid finishing ability and some quality offensive tools, especially regarding puck protection and working the cycle game. Paired with Brindley on the fourth line, they could be an intriguing scoring duo for a team looking to go deep in the tournament.
David Reinbacher, RHD, Austria
An incredibly toolsy defender who’s played against men for much of the year, Reinbacher should be able to take advantage of stepping back to playing junior-aged competition. His offensive tools have been on display on the power play in the Swiss League, but he hasn’t been able to translate it as well at 5-on-5. He plays a clever defensive game but can get overwhelmed at times. The world juniors should be the perfect battleground to boost his draft stock.
Axel Sandin Pellikka, RHD, Sweden
Sandin Pellikka is one of the top draft-age defenders in the class. His ability to use his skating ability in cohesion with precise passing in all three zones has made him shoot up draft boards. The young Swede understands how to manipulate attacking forecheckers to escape pressure and find teammates up ice. Offensively, ‘ASP’ could be the best option to lead the Swedish second unit – it will depend on whether the generally reserved Swedish coaching staff will give him that chance.
Leo Carlsson, C/W, Sweden
The best center on the Swedish roster could end up playing on the wing because of his age. Carlsson’s trending toward being a top-five pick in the 2023 NHL draft and could very well be a franchise changer for a team in an era where a forward with a blend of strength, speed and skill is far too rare. Carlsson will dangle one defender and put another on his back on the way to attacking the net and scoring a highlight-reel goal. Carlsson could be one of the most intriguing players at the world juniors.
Lenni Hameenaho, W, Finland
The only draft-eligible player on the Finns, Hameenaho is a highly productive player in the Liiga for his age. However, he lacks the pace and physical tools you’d typically see in a player with his statistical profile, which keeps him from being a top-end prospect. Regardless, Hameenaho is the kind of player that excels on the Finnish national teams through his intelligent play and good positional play. A big performance could put him on the radar, but it could be difficult for him to get into the lineup.
Eduard Sale, RW, Czechia
Sale is an incredibly smart player who plays the game tactically and looks to exploit the opposing team’s weaknesses. Sale is a dual-threat attacker who’s slowly worked on becoming a better shooter over the last couple of seasons. He has excelled in international events in recent seasons. Sale makes good decisions with the puck and should excel against junior competition now that he’s played against men for the last year or so.
Dalibor Dvorsky, C/W, Slovakia
One of the premier finishers in the NHL draft, Dvorsky is an excellent off-puck threat. He understands how to get open and stay open for his teammates to dish him the puck. His shot is high-end, and he can score from just about anywhere in the offensive zone against junior competition. He has shown some skilled passing at times as well. Dvorsky should be one of Slovakia’s best players at the world juniors.
Alex Ciernik, LW, Slovakia
While he doesn’t always get the love he deserves as a setup man playing Robin to Dvorsky’s Batman, Ciernik is an absolute force. His high-pace play and 200-foot intelligence are what drive his line. If he could be a bit more selfish at times when he has the puck, Ciernik could very well be the MVP for the Slovak squad. He has the dual-threat ability that could make him a force, and the speed he plays with puts defenders on their heels. Be sure to pay attention to the highlights of Dvorsky scoring, though, because Ciernik will almost always be on the passing end of it.
Samuel Honzek, LW, Slovakia
Slovakia has more draft-eligible prospects than any other nation, and Honzek will look to show that he’s in the same category as Dvorsky and Ciernik. Honzek has had an excellent WHL season thus far, using his big frame and puck protection ability to make a difference while displaying intelligent passing ability. He can finish and has solid shot selection as well. He’s slated to play on the top line if pre-tournament action is to be believed.
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