So many great game clips he has...it's amazing! This year's draft...unbelievable!

Zach benson is going to be a steal

Hes boom or bust, he has one move that works all the time in the USHL, not sure how translatable it is tho, his skating is a clearly below average projection, his sense waivers from high end to well below average from game to game, hes too reliant on hero puck too, both Leonard and Moore are way easier projections

@@Jmulk96he’s mastered the dangle. When he loads the puck up at his hip he can pass, shoot, or toe drag. I think the question is whether he’ll be able to adjust to the speed and physicality of the NHL. A year in college will help with that. I think he has the potential to be another Patrick Kane.

@@MrVisde he won’t be close, his handling isn’t on the same level, skating isn’t close, he’s another Zegras, lemme guess ur one of the morons who have Smith over Benson

Leonard and Moore you mean the guys standing by the Goal waiting for his tap ins because be just went through the entire team are better prospects than him? Huh.

@@markstaud moore isnt on his line and had better underlying playmaking metrics with worse linemates, Leonard who is the main transitional playdriver, best defensive player and the guy who does the most work on the line, Smith isnt half the player without leonard, he creates so much space for him to work in, you actually have to watch them to see that Smith by no means carries the line at all, if anyone carries the line, its Leonard

Exactly! And he's always looking for teammates when he's on the ice...has great vision and creativity.

I agree, id take Leonard over him too

@@Jmulk96 Leonard is a player that I think may go ahead of Smith depending on what team is selecting. Gonna be a great draft!

@@Jmulk96 yeah Leonard has been rising for me the more I watch him. Dude loves the physical game haha.

Well here we are…. Smith went ahead of both players mentioned here

@@NoMoreTortillas1 ok 👍

Exactly! Skating can be worked on and he will improve as he gets older too. So it will be interesting to see where he lands on draft day.

@@nhldraftpros can you make a video at colby barlow?

@@stephenbozzo8514 Coming out soon! Probably next week sometime, so keep a look out. Thanks!

@@nhldraftpros You’re one of my favorite channels and THE best prospect breakdown platform. Looking forward to Barlow.

@@Michael_RareZebra Thank you! Much appreciated! Barlow should be out sometime on the weekend!

If anything he’s overrated, neither cooley or point are great comps due to skating and activity level, Zegras i can see but hes a considerably worse skater than zegras

@@Jmulk96 of course he’s not as good as them, he’s a 17 year old and I think he’s the youngest player in the draft

@@drewregan1817 im talking about the fact that hes not as good as Cooley at this stage

He outproduced Cooley at the same age. He’s got a better frame to grow into. Both are studs.

This draft class is soooooo good! The Top-6 and also a bunch of other prospects who may have some great upside. Just look at the point totals for a bunch of them...big numbers!

@@nhldraftpros Exactly. Being a Nucks fan is infuriating. They had no chance at the playoffs by December and yet, they fired their coach (only coach to be fired in the NHL during the season) and waived a goalie who lost 10 straight. At the time, the Nucks were tied for 5th worst team with the Sharks. That pretty much guaranteed them a chance at any of the top 6. This draft class is insane and not many people actually realized this (even Nucks management/ownership doesn't realize this). They only think teams are tanking for Bedard. Nope. Last year's first overall goes #7 at the highest.

@@baiqi44 Agreed...and now with the lottery you never know where you could land. So being close to a top 6 pick is all you needed!

Don’t worry the Canucks took a stay at home Defender 11th, he wasn’t even the best Swedish Defender in the Draft.

Tough to say...I think it depends on what a team wanted/needed. Cooley did go ahead of Wright in the 2022 NHL draft so who's to say that a team like Arizona would still go with Smith ahead of Wright too? Smith is looking pretty special at this moment and could possibly go Top-5 in this stacked 2023 draft. Tomorrow is the gold medal match and I'm excited to see Smith-Leonard-Perreault against a really good Sweden team.

Fantastic playmaker indeed!

Smith...Cooley...Guenther...not bad!

I'm hoping for this as well depending on where we land in the draft.

​@@Michael_RareZebra I think the Coyotes will get him or Benson unless we slide down to 8th due to the lottery. If that happens we're probably taking Honzek, Moore or Danielson. I wouldn't pass up on these guys for Reinbacher. Maybe with the Ottawa pick I'd take him but I prefer we fill out our offense with these two high picks.

@@Jagged_Ice I agree! Really hoping we could snag Benson if not any of the top 3. I like the other choices too as we do need scoring first. On defense I kind of like Axel Sandin Pellikka too.

Smith and Hutson*

This draft is crazy stacked with talent! Will be interesting to see where players fall come draft time.

Both Smith and Cristall are highlight reel gems for sure! Cristall video coming out next weekend.

@@nhldraftpros Zach Benson also looks good, I haven’t seen any Michkov demo though sadly but I’m hearing he is insane and probably could’ve went 2nd overall.

@@Blue-bv1ur he may never come here His Father got killed. He might stay to take care of his mother. And there's the KHL contract. Will be interesting if he's even at the draft.

@@Blue-bv1ur I did a video on Michkov a few weeks ago...go check it out! He's really good! And Benson video is coming in a couple of days!

HAHAHA!!!

You see smith in the wing?

@@tuttifrutti2229 in arizona’s system i do. i think cooley looks like a franchise center and i also think bill armstrong is very big on size within the top 6 which is where geekie comes in at 2c. Smith is a top 6 player 100% but cooley is a better center. playing with him and then a sniper who is eating the whl for lunch in guenther is a top line that oozes potential.

Hey Jamie! Appreciate the constructive criticism...anything to help the videos grow and become better. I'm always looking to improve so this is a give help. Thanks!

@@nhldraftpros Much respect for the positive reply - I used to watch this guy Andy Lehoux’s videos all the time and think you could very much be the next him (he’s disappeared from KZfaq) - here’s a pretty good example of a solid vocal format to go with the footage kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nZl6d7Gq28-2f2w.html

@@Jamroy27 Perfect! Will check it out! Thanks again!

Hopefully

i hope you’re right ! hopefully he’s still available at 5th 🙏🏻 wouldn’t be mad if we select Michkov tho.

@@xLamby08X I think no matter what we’ll have a class player drafted at 5th so many ways it can go but all fantastic players

Columbus*

@@gabrielchristopher4185 ya I could see Columbus passing on carlsson for obvious GM reasons lol. And taking smith or michkov.

Oh they do!

Oliver Moore video coming out this week coming up some time! Skating is superb!

@@nhldraftpros Awesome. I look forward to it. Tnx.

Glad I’ve found someone who feels exactly like me lol

@@TheGreekPoet couldn't agree more, I hope the Habs scouts feel the same way 😅

Exactly. Let's hope Kent Hughes feels the same way and makes the right choice at 5 (or 6) with Benson.

Both great players! And Benson video is coming out in a couple of days! Thanks for watching!

Carlsson and Michkov are doing great things in men's leagues and Smith against juniors, so that sometimes affects how players are ranked. Size and other factors play a role as well.

emm what about no ? except skating he is definitly not

More dynamic sure, Carlsson is way more well rounded and overall a better player

@@user-ed6nt1ml6p Smith seems to show better playmaking and passing abilities tho, from what I’ve seen from both players. In the end, the team who picks 4th will have to decide based on their needs, knowing that Leo and Will play with two different kind of styles. (The gap in talent, if there is really one, isn’t that wide tbh)

I agree

Oooof

More upside tho?

Definitely has the hands and same style!

Could very well be!

Not at all...he's a special prospect. The top 5 in this draft are really good. It will be interesting to see how it goes at the actual draft.

Yes!! 😂 When the kids off he's off!! His defense is not great!! There's no guarantee that he'll stay a Center in the NHL!! Plus he'll be a 2-3 year project before even sniffing the lineup!! Carlsson is consistent, he's almost ready for the NHL and he's been playing against men whilst Smith is playing against Beer League'ers!! Then you have Michkov who is an Elite Talent!! You don't pass on either of those options for a "Dangler".... Not to mention Michkov is probably two classes above Smith when it comes to Offense!!!

I think I'm leaning Carlsson, but really I'm still mad they didn't tank harder to get Bedard or Fantilli

@@ryanyoder8686 well didn't that work out for us for once

@@jordanpotts99 I was not expecting that! But I'm pumped to have fantilli. Hope he's good!

There are definitely some aspects of his game that need some work, but the way he sees the ice is something that can't be taught. It will be interesting to see where he lands and how they deal with his development. Obviously going to college next year will be a good look for him too.

kids gonna produce no matter what he will work into a more whole prospect in a few years

@@clwxnfn4145 not necessarily as he needs to change his game drastically and develop more translatable elements and moves

I'll be back when he puts up a point per game at BC

@@tylerN76796 wouldn’t be surprised, if he’s with Leonard and Perrealt again, its about the perfect place for him to produce

good comparison. COOLEY / B. POINT.....

No because Zegras can skate

Can see that happening! Post Lottery Mock Draft video coming out tomorrow!

I wish, but IMO kid's going top 5

Totally agree! The U18 WJC will be a good viewing for sure, but lets not forget what Smith did at the 5-Nations (9pts in 4gp) and 4-Nations (8pts in 3gp) this season. And he also had a try-out with the U20 WJC team (and left with an injury or illness) but still got the invite. Like you said, the U18 coming up will definitely put a spotlight on a few of these prospects, including Smith.

20pts. Tournament MVP. This kid is the real deal. He’s a smart player. He’ll make adjustments for the NHL. I’d be more worried about a player like Leonard who’s used to bullying smaller U18 kids stepping up to the next level and only having average size/strength.

Definitely some work to do on his skating mechanics. Moore is a wonderful skater...just glides on the ice with ease!

I believe he prioritizes agility over speed. The clips I’ve seen of him he can turn on a dime and skate into open space he’s manipulated for himself.

@@MrVisde Indeed, he have a very good balance. Balance can allow to evade the fast NHL pressure by confusing your pursuers, but the best tool is still to move the feet fast. He can works on it in the next two years in Boston, its a IF but it can be corrected.

I like Smith at 4 for sure!

Michkov though

@@isaiahwince4261 I have Michkov at 3!

@@isaiahwince4261 either one I’m good with

Fair enough...how to improve it then?

@@nhldraftpros to be fair, maybe it was my expectations i should have dampered. I was expecting actual analysis on Smith and instead i just got a bunch of highlights with childish play by play commentary. Making my ears bleed after listening to someone yell BOOM when he scores a goal is not what i came to listen to.

@@johab11 Good to know! Always looking ways to improve the content. Only been at it for a year, so appreciate the honesty. Cheers

@@johab11 Actually check out my latest video on Quentin Musty...just released today. More analysis instead of play-by-play commentary. Let me know what you think.

Possibility is definitely there! Columbus is building something nice!