NHL Draft Big Board 2023: Ranking the top 100 prospects from Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli & Matvei Michkov

The 2023 NHL Draft is a day away. 

As the first big event of the offseason gets closer and closer, it's time to learn about some of the top prospects who will be selected.

Connor Bedard, the consensus No. 1 pick and one of the most discussed prospects in years, is a well-known commodity. However, after him, there are plenty of names that fans should get to know.

MORE: Watch the 2023 NHL Draft on Fubo: Sign up today!

Players have been going up and down in mock drafts and scouts' final rankings. It's no different at The Sporting News. 

Let's dive right into the top 100 prospects in the 2023 NHL Draft. 

MORE: Ranking the best players still available in the NHL Draft after Round 1

NHL Draft Big Board 2023: Ranking the top 100 prospects

1. Connor Bedard, C, Regina (WHL), 5-9, 185

I don't like to throw generational talent around often, but that's what we have in Bedard. He already has an exceptional shot and release that can compete with the best in the NHL. Bedard smashed expectations in his draft year, creating one of the most hyped-up prospects in NHL history. 

2. Matvei Michkov, RW, HK Sochi (KHL), 5-10, 172

Michkov is a pure goal scorer. He's been a consistent producer no matter where he has played. He's a bit undersized, but he is overflowing with elite skill. If not for KHL contract concern, Michkov would be second off the board behind Bedard.

3. Adam Fantilli, C, Michigan (NCAA), 6-2, 195

Fantilli, the NCAA's 2023 Hobey Baker recipient, is a great blend of size, skill and speed. He has an excellent shot and has all the making of a future No. 1 center in the league. 

MORE: Adam Fantilli vs. Leo Carlsson: Making the case for who the Ducks should take at No. 2

4. Leo Carlsson, C, Örebro HK (SHL), 6-3, 198

Carlsson is big, he's skilled and he's got speed to pair. The Swedish center is a talented playmaker that carries a high hockey IQ. He makes a lot of plays look effortless and never seems to be phased, no matter the competition.

5. Will Smith, C, USA U18 (NTDP), 5-11, 181

Smith is one of the most versatile players in the draft, and the USA U18 product owns one of the silkiest pairs of mitts you will find. He dominates in tight areas with his crafty hands and is a creative playmaker.

6. Zach Benson, LW, Winnipeg (WHL), 5-9, 163

Benson is a winger that carries a high hockey IQ and is a threat both to shoot and pass with efficiency. At 5-9, he's another undersized forward and that may deter teams away from him, but he carries an arsenal full of tricks.

7. Dalibor Dvorsky, C, AIK (HockeyAllsvenskan), 6-1, 201

Last year felt like the start of a serious Slovak movement in the NHL, and once again, the country has a top-10 prospect this year in Dvorsky. The center brings a strong, well-rounded game, and projects to be a future top-six center.

8. Gabe Perreault, LW, USA U18 (NTDP), 5-10, 165

Perreault is a point-producing machine, as he led the U18 national team in scoring this season. The Boston College commit is constantly creating offensive chances, whether that's by himself and creating space, or finding his teammates.

9. Ryan Leonard, RW, USA U18 (NTDP), 5-11, 181

One of a number of prospects from the US national program, Leonard did the dirty work on a line with the skilled Smith and Perreault. He gets to the front of the net to wreak havoc in the crease and also has a strong shot that can beat goalies from distance.

10. David Reinbacher, D, Kloten (Swiss National League), 6-2, 185

Reinbacher may have entered the 2022-23 season as a fairly unknown prospect, but there's now a strong chance he's the first defenseman off the board in 2023. The Austrian was one of the lone bright spots for his country at the 2023 World Juniors. He's a steady, two-way blue liner who has already shown he can eat up minutes.

11. Brayden Yager, C, Moose Jaw (WHL), 5-11, 166

Yager is a versatile center who plays a strong two-way game and has one of the best shots of the draft. His release is quick, the puck gets on goaltenders at a high speed and most importantly, it's accurate. 

12. Nate Danielson, C, Brandon (WHL), 6-1, 185

It feels like Danielson does everything well. He plays a smart, two-way game and can be deployed in all situations. Danielson has a keen eye to read plays and get in position to make a play before it's developed.

13. Oliver Moore, C, USA U18 (NTDP), 5-11, 188

If a team needs a center that can forecheck hard and play at an elite level in his own zone, then Moore is your guy. The hard-nosed University of Minnesota commit has a great motor and utilizes his speed all over the ice.

14. Axel Sandin Pellikka, D, Skelleftea (SHL), 5-10, 176

Sandin Pellikka is extremely mobile and has the makings of a potential power play quarterback in the NHL. The Swedish defenseman has shot up draft boards and is considered to be one of the top blue liners at the draft.

15. Matthew Wood, RW, UConn (NCAA), 6-3, 193

One of the true power forwards in the draft, Wood carries high-end scoring ability and skill, despite standing at 6-3. He projects as someone who may take longer to develop, but there's a lot to like given his finesse and size. 

16. Andrew Cristall, LW, Kelowna (WHL), 5-9, 167

Cristall is crafty and willing to try different things in 1 on 1 coverage, making him one of the more skilled scorers in the 2023 draft class. He carries a high hockey IQ and has tons of potential, especially offensively. 

17. Daniil But, LW, Loko Yaroslavl (MHL), 6-5, 203

I mentioned Wood earlier as a winger with size and skill. There's a Russian version of that in this draft class and it's But. The intriguing forward is 6-5 and over 200 pounds already. His shot is what scouts are drawn to, but he is also a force along the boards and down low. 

18. Eduard Sale, RW, HC Kometa Brno (Czech Extraliga), 6-2, 174

Sale is an all-offensive dynamo with a knack for playmaking and scoring. The Czech winger's play has some consistency concerns, but when Sale is on, he's on, and he's very hard to contain. 

19. Tom Willander, D, Rögle BK (J20 Nationell), 6-1, 180

Willander's stock has risen quite a bit since the U18 Worlds, making him a candidate to be one of the first few defensemen off the board. The Swedish prospect is a confident, two-way defender who is excellent in his own zone.

20. Samuel Honzek, LW, Vancouver (WHL), 6-3, 186

Honzek is a well-rounded prospect with the skills to make plays and can be a nuisance in front of the net. If not for injuries this year, he would have been slotted higher in this year's class. 

21. Quentin Musty, LW, Sudbury (OHL), 6-1, 200

Musty plays hard, as he's not afraid to throw the body around on the forecheck and muck it up in front of the net. But the winger also can beat defenders one-on-one with skill. 

22. Mikhail Gulyayev, D, Omskie Yastreby (MHL), 5-10, 172

Gulyayev is one of the top Russian prospects in this class, profiling as a smooth distributor of the puck. He can help open up an offense on the back end. 

23. Colby Barlow, RW, Owen Sound (OHL), 6-0, 190

Speed is the name of the game when it comes to Barlow. He's one of the more impressive skaters in the class, and he pairs it with his natural scoring ability. 

24. Calum Ritchie, C, Oshawa (OHL), 6-2, 185

Ritchie's appeal is his build, he stands at 6-2 as a center. He is more than capable of making an impact as both a scorer and a passer and is reliable in all three zones. 

25. Dmitri Simashev, D, Loko Yaroslavl (MHL), 6-4, 198

Simashev has size to him at 6-4 and can cover a ton of ice. The Russian defenseman is mobile for his height and has shown flashes of offensive potential. But he projects out more to be a physical, stingy defender. 

26. Jayden Perron, RW, Chicago (USHL), 5-9, 163

Perron is a smart, shifty player that can make defenders miss. He was one of the top scorers in the USHL this year, as he constantly was the figure to drive the offense. 

27. Lukas Dragicevic, D, Tri-City (WHL), 6-1, 190

Dragicevic is always looking to create offense from the back end, whether that be by jumping up in the rush or creeping down low from the point. He's the prototypical offensive defenseman. 

28. Oliver Bonk, D, London (OHL), 6-2, 180

Bonk, the son of former NHLer Radek Bonk, is a talented two-way defender. He is mobile and defensively sound, with crisp passing ability. There is plenty of offensive potential in his game.

29. Otto Stenberg, C, Frolunda (J20 Nationell), 5-11, 180

Stenberg is a smooth skater who has a knack for creating space for himself. He's a crafty stickhandler with an accurate shot, and is considered one of the top Swedish prospects this year. 

30. Gavin Brindley, C, Michigan (NCAA), 5-8, 165

Brindley is versatile as he can play both center and wing. His intelligence on both ends of the ice is what makes him stand out among his peers.  He's got the skill to produce in the top-six, however, he's also proven he can be an effective player in a bottom-six role.

31. Riley Heidt, C, Prince George (WHL), 5-10, 178

A natural center, Heidt is a premier playmaker. He's someone who is always looking for an open teammate rather than holding on for a shot. Speed also is a strength of Heidt's game. 

32. Bradly Nadeau, LW, Penticton (BCHL), 5-10, 161

The BCHL's leading scorer for this season, Nadeau has a ton of upside and could be an excellent project pick. The winger is very well-rounded, but his shot and his skating stand out above the rest of his arsenal. 

33. Tanner Molendyk, D, Saskatoon (WHL), 5-11, 182

Molendyk is an extremely fluid defenseman. His elite skating abilities allow him to be a threat in the transition game, and he also uses it to his advantage when gapping up on opponents. 

34. Koehn Ziemmer, RW, Prince George (WHL), 6-0, 202

Zimmer is a scorer who loves to shoot the puck, and when he does, he can let it fly. The Prince George winger also can play physically and as an older player out of the group, has flexed his strength when needed. 

35. Ethan Gauthier, RW, Sherbrooke (QMJHL), 5-11, 175

Gauthier moves well and has a good shot on him. There’s no doubt he had the one-on-one skill to get by defenders in the Q but will that translate to the league?

36. Caden Price, D, Kelowna (WHL), 6-0, 185

Price is a mobile, two-way defender that is an elite distributor of the puck. There may be more offense in Price's game that he has yet to tap into, but he's already responsible in his own zone. 

37. Charlie Stramel, C, Wisconsin (NCAA), 6-3, 212

Stramel is another power forward in this year's draft class. The big center has smarts and solid vision with the puck. He has skill, and knows how to use it to get to the net. 

38. Gracyn Sawchyn, C, Seattle (WHL), 5-11, 157

Sawchyn has a high motor and makes smart plays all over the ice, showcasing his reliability in all three zones. He's smaller but makes up for his lack of size with other attributes. 

39. Michael Hrabal, G, Omaha (USHL), 6-7, 215

Hrabal excelled with Omaha in his first season in North America after coming over from the Czech Republic. Listed at 6-7, the towering UMass commit has the makings of the modern NHL goaltender, which values size more than before.

40. Oscar Fisker Molgaard, C, HV71 (SHL), 6-0, 163 lbs

Arguably the best defensive forward in the draft, Fisker Molgaard is an intriguing late riser. He's very intelligent with and without the puck and plays an intense game. 

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