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Craig's List: Fantilli, Carlsson jostle for second spot behind Bedard

Adam Fantilli Adam Fantilli - Images on Ice
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Regina Pats centre Connor Bedard is the runaway favourite to be selected No. 1 overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, but the No. 2 spot is open for discussion in the eyes of TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button.

Button has University of Michigan centre Adam Fantilli at No. 2 after a fantastic freshman season for the Wolverines. The Nobleton, Ont., product has 29 goals and 64 points in 35 games and is a favourite for the Hobey Baker Award as the top NCAA men’s hockey player. He also had five points in seven games to help Canada win gold at the 2023 World Juniors.

However, Button says Fantilli has competition at No. 2 in Orebro forward Leo Carlsson, who occupies the No. 3 spot.

Carlsson had 10 goals and 25 points in 44 games playing in Sweden’s top league this season along with five assists in five playoff games. He had three goals and three assists as Sweden finished fourth at the 2023 World Juniors.

“Fantilli generates offence through the skating and that drive,” said Button. “Carlsson has imagination and playmaking qualities, puck skills. They’re different players.

“I think Carlsson has a lot of what [Washington Capitals centre] Nicklas Backstrom has.”

Russian forward Matvei Michkov slides up one spot to No. 4 in the March edition of Button’s list. Still regarded as the draft’s biggest wild card due to his passport and contract situation, Michkov has continued to demonstrate why he is one of the best prospects in the draft this season. With KHL club HK Sochi, the 18 year old had nine goals and 20 points in 27 games.

Dropping back to the No. 5 position is Czech winger Eduard Sale. Playing in the Czech Extraliga with HC Kometa Brno, he had seven goals and 14 points in 43 regular-season games this season. Despite sliding back one spot, Button compares Sale to a current Czech superstar skating in the NHL with the Boston Bruins.

“I think he's a classic case of David Pastrnak,” said Button. “And whether I'm right or I’m wrong, I'm not going to make that mistake.

“I've watched David play since he was 14 because he played with William Nylander in Sodertalje, so I was able to get to watch him play. He ended with a bad back in his draft year, didn't play all that well. Then he ends up [going in] the 20s. [Now] he's one of the best players in the league. That's how I feel about Eduard Sale.

“I see too much high end ability and potential for Eduard Sale to base anything on stats in the Extraliga. He's too good.”

Making his debut appearance in the first round on Button’s list is Fantilli’s Michigan teammate Gavin Brindley at No. 23. Standing at 5-foot-9 and 157 pounds, he has 12 goals and 38 points in 40 games as a freshman on a stacked Michigan roster. He was also one of three draft-eligible players to make the American World Juniors squad that earned bronze.

“Smaller players have to show me that they have unique qualities,” said Button. “His game has grown massively since the World Juniors.

“Three things: His brains – he’s exceptionally dialled in, understands the game in every regard. His quickness – he’s quick in his speed, quick in his hands. And he’s a massive competitor.”

Bedard’s final totals to end the 2022-23 WHL regular season are 71 goals, 72 assists and 143 points in 57 games. In comparison, Sidney Crosby recorded 66 goals and 168 points in 62 games with the QMJHL’s Rimouski Oceanic in 2004-05.

After three seasons in the WHL with 134 games played, Bedard finishes as a goal-per-game player with 134 goals and averaging two points per game with 271 points. 

“It’s the best season by a draft-eligible player since Sidney Crosby in 2005,” said Button. “The best. Nobody’s even close. Not [Connor] McDavid. Nobody. And like Crosby, his impact can be immediate in the NHL.”

 

Craig's List - March 28

 
RK Player Team POS HT WT GP G P
1 Connor Bedard Regina (WHL) C 5'9 ¾ 183 57 71 143
2 Adam Fantilli Michigan (NCAA) C 6'2 195 35 29 64
3 Leo Carlsson Örebro (SHL) C 6'3 198 44 10 35
4 Matvei Michkov St. Petersburg (KHL) RW 5'10 172 30 9 20
5 Eduard Sale Brno (CZE) LW 6'2 174 43 7 14
6 Will Smith USA NTDP (USHL) C 5'11 ¾ 178 49 39 100
7 Colby Barlow Owen Sound (OHL) LW 6'0 ¼ 193 59 46 79
8 Zach Benson Winnipeg (WHL) LW 5'9 160 60 36 98
9 Andrew Cristall Kelowna (WHL) LW/RW 5'9 ½ 167 54 39 95
10 Axel Sandin-Pellikka Skelleftea (SWE J20) D 5'10 ¾ 176 31 16 36
11 Gabe Perreault USA NTDP (USHL) LW 5'10 ¾ 165 52 45 105
12 Brayden Yager Moose Jaw (WHL) C 5'10 ½ 162 67 28 78
13 Ryan Leonard USA NTDP (USHL) RW 5'11 ½ 190 47 41 75
14 Oliver Moore USA NTDP (USHL) C 5'11 188 50 26 62
15 Ethan Gauthier Sherbrooke (QMJHL) C 5'11 ¼ 176 66 30 69
16 Tom Willander Rogle (SWE J20) D 6'1 ¼ 180 39 4 25
17 Nate Danielson Brandon (WHL) C 6'1 ¼ 185 68 33 78
18 Matthew Wood Connecticut (NCAA) RW 6'3 ½ 193 35 11 34
19 Dalibor Dvorsky AIK (SWE-Als) C 6'1 201 38 6 14
20 Koehn Ziemmer Prince George (WHL) RW 6'0 ¼ 204 68 41 89
21 Riley Heidt Prince George (WHL) C 5'10 ½ 182 68 25 97
22 Samuel Honzek Vancouver (WHL) LW 6'3 ½ 186 43 23 56
23 Gavin Brindley Michigan (NCAA) C/RW 5'7 ½ 158 40 12 38
24 Bradley Nadeau Penticton (BCHL) RW/LW 5'10 161 54 45 113
25 Calum Ritchie Oshawa (OHL) C/RW 6'1 ¾ 187 59 24 59
26 David Reinbacher Kloten (SUI) D 6'2 185 46 3 22
27 Otto Stenberg Frölunda (SWE J20) LW 5'11 ¼ 180 29 11 26
28 Quentin Musty Sudbury (OHL) C/LW 6'1 ¾ 200 53 26 78
29 Etienne Morin Moncton (QMJHL) D 5'11 ¾ 181 67 21 72
30 Mathieu Cataford Halifax (QMJHL) C/RW 5'10 ¾ 188 68 31 75
31 Mikhail Gulyayev Omsk (MHL) D 5'11 172 22 2 25
32 Kasper Halttunen HIFK (SM Liiga) RW 6'2 ¾ 207 18 18 24
                 
33 Gracyn Sawchyn Seattle (WHL) C 5'11 157 58 18 58
34 Roman Kantserov Magnitogorsk (MHL) RW 5'9 176 45 27 54
35 Lukas Dragicevic Tri-City (WHL) D 6'1 192 68 15 75
36 Noah Dower-Nilsson Frölunda (SWE J20) LW 6'0 174 37 26 54
37 Oliver Bonk London (OHL) D 6'2 174 67 10 40
38 Carson Bjarnason Brandon (WHL) G 6'3 186 47 3.08 .900
39 Jesse Kiiskanen Pelicans (SM Liiga Jr) RW 5'10 ¾ 178 31 20 43
40 Jason Shaugabay Warroad High (USHS) RW 5'9 ¼ 153 31 33 96
41 Nick Lardis Hamilton (OHL) LW 5'10 ½ 165 69 37 65
42 Caden Price Kelowna (WHL) D 6'0 ¼ 186 65 5 40
43 Aydar Suniev Penticton (BCHL) LW 6'1 ½ 198 50 45 90
44 Danny Nelson USA NTDP (USHL) LW 6'3 202 51 16 37
45 Emil Jarventie Ilves (SM Liiga) LW 5'9 ½ 167 21 8 19
46 Lenni Hameenaho Pori (SM Liiga) RW 5'11 ½ 173 51 9 21
47 Anton Wahlberg Malmo (SWE J20) C/LW 6'3 ¼ 194 32 14 27
48 Coulson Pitre Flint (OHL) RW 6'0 ½ 172 59 25 60
49 Daniil But Yaroslavl (MHL) LW 6'5 203 26 15 26
50 Nico Myatovic Seattle (WHL) LW 6'2 ¼ 182 68 30 60
51 Kalan Lind Red Deer (WHL) LW 6'0 ¼ 158 43 16 44
52 Tanner Moldendyk Saskatoon (WHL) D 5'10 ¾ 184 67 9 37
53 Hunter Brzustewicz Kitchener (OHL) D 5'11 ¼ 188 68 6 57
54 Carson Rehkopf Kitchener (OHL) LW 6'1 ¼ 195 68 30 59
55 Andrew Strathman Tri-City (USHL) D 5'10 190 48 3 36
56 Charlie Stramel Wisconsin (NCAA) C/RW 6'3 212 33 5 12
57 Aram Minnetian USA NTDP (USHL) D 5'11 192 51 6 27
58 Michael Hrabal Omaha (USHL) G 6'6 ¼ 209 29 3 .904
59 Alex Ciernik Sodertalje (SWE J20) RW 5'9 ¾ 163 18 9 21
60 Trey Augustine USA NTDP (USHL) G 6'1 183 25 2.1 .930
61 Ethan Miedema Windsor (OHL) LW 6'3 ¾ 206 68 20 52
62 Jayden Perron Chicago (USHL) RW 5'9 163 54 21 63
63 Andrew Gibson S.S. Marie (OHL) D 6'2 ¾ 196 45 7 21
64 Rasmus Kumpulainen Pelicans (SM Liiga Jr) C 6'2 191 41 11 34
                 
65 Scott Ratzlaff Seattle (WHL) G 6'0 ½ 175 34 2.15 .918
66 Dmitri Simashev Yaroslavl (MHL) D 6'4 200 29 1 10
67 David Edstrom Frölunda (SWE J20) C 6'2 ¾ 185 28 15 28
68 Cam Squires Cape Breton (QMJHL) RW 5'11 ½ 165 67 30 64
69 Brad Gardiner Ottawa (OHL) C 6'0 ½ 178 68 19 39
70 Maxim Strbak Sioux Falls (USHL) D 6'1 ½ 205 42 5 19
71 Luca Cagnoni Portland (WHL) D 5'9 180 67 17 64
72 Connor Levis Kamloops (WHL) C 6'1 ½ 189 68 27 67
73 Carey Terrance Erie (OHL) C 6'0 ¼ 175 67 30 47
74 Adam Gajan Chippewa (NAHL) G 6'2 ½ 167 30 2.51 .920
75 Noel Nordh Brynäs (SWE J20) LW 6'1 ½ 196 38 13 27
76 Beau Akey Barrie (OHL) D 5'11 ½ 170 66 11 47
77 Jakub Dvorak Liberec (CZE) D 6'5 202 24 0 2
78 Cameron Allen Guelph (OHL) D 6'0 194 62 5 25
79 Tyler Peddle Drummondville (QMJHL) LW 6'0 ½ 195 64 24 41
80 Theo Lindstein Brynäs (SWE J20) D 6'0 ½ 180 32 1 2