Connor Bedard tops the NHL's final draft rankings list in 2023, while Leo Carlsson tops the international skaters list. Tony Ferrari gives his instant analysis.

The NHL Central Scouting's final rankings have been released for the 2023 NHL draft. 

The Central Scouting ranking is always an interesting look at which players NHL teams have on their radar and where the players sit in the eyes of people within the league.

They aren’t perfectly indicative, and there are always players drafted higher or lower than how Central Scouting views them. Many NHL teams and scouting services within the industry often use the list as a secondary check of their own work.

Is there a player they missed or haven’t dove into enough? Is there a player they view much higher than general consensus? How can they plan their board so they can get two players they value highly?

With so many teams, analysts and scouts having varying views of the 2023 NHL draft class, let’s take an instant look at the NHL Central Scouting lists.

Connor Bedard is No. 1

This isn’t a shock. The top player from start to finish, Bedard has been an absolute machine this season. Between the Regina Pats' regular season and playoffs, as well as at the World Junior Championship, Bedard posted 90 goals and 186 points in just 71 games. This kid is generational.

Leo Carlsson Ranks Atop the International Skaters

Despite an excellent second half of the season for Matvei Michkov, the Swedish center remains the top international skater. Carlsson has shown the blend of power, speed and skill that could translate to being a No. 1 center at the NHL level. His season in the SHL was impressive, and his role at the World Junior Championship expanded as the tournament went on, with Carlsson growing into one of the team’s most important offensive players.

Adam Fantilli Sits Ranks Second Among North American Skaters

The NCAA’s Hobey Baker-winner ranked right behind Bedard and could hear his name called second on draft day. Fantilli is a complete player who plays both ways and has an insane offensive ability. He answered every question there was coming into the season.

Matthew Wood Rises from No. 8 to No. 4 in North America

The University of Connecticut forward moved into the top five after leading his squad with 34 points in 35 games. The consensus on Wood has been that while the tools and size are there, the refinement in his game needs work. He is a bit of a project but has a high upside if the skating improves and the skill develops.

OHL Trio Sits in a Pack From 12 to 14

Colby Barlow (12), Calum Ritchie (13) and Quentin Musty (14) are the top-ranked OHLers, and they all sit just outside of the top 10 North American skaters. Barlow started the season on fire and challenged 50 goals in his draft year. The concern is his lack of dynamism, but the goal-scoring touch and battle around the net are undeniable. 

Ritchie had an up-and-down year, but the Oshawa center has all of the tools to be a first-round pick. He just needs to put it together. His second half was much better than the first, particularly after the trade deadline when he became ‘The Guy’ for the Generals.

Musty began the season with mononucleosis but was one of the best players in the OHL from December onward. His development as a playmaker and his blend of power and skill are intriguing.

David Reinbacher is the Top Defender

The only defender in the top five on either list was Austrian blueliner David Reinbacher. This year's defense group isn’t the strongest, but Reinbacher has been tearing up the Swiss league, particularly on the power play. It shouldn’t come as a shock to see Reinbacher jump into the top five as teams are always desperate for blueliners at the top of the draft class. The last time a defenseman wasn’t taken in the top five was in 2003.

Lukas Dragicevic's the Top N.A. Blueliner

The North American crop of blueliners is underwhelming, to say the least. With Dragicevic slotted in at 18, followed by Etienne Morin (19) and Oliver Bonk (20), we may not see a North American-based blueliner taken until late in the first round or early in the second. Who goes first is as good a question as any.

Four NTDP Players in the Top 10

The USA Hockey National Team Development Program is yet again producing a number of highly skilled players. Led by Will Smith (3), the squad makes up 40 percent of the top 10. Smith’s linemates, Ryan Leonard (5) and Gabriel Perreault (10), slotted into the top of the class while NTDP second-line center Oliver Moore (8) also made the top 10.

Smith plays with so much creativity and skill that he could be a true difference-maker at the next level while bringing the 'wow' factor every time he is on the ice. Leonard is the physical power forward who can deke a defender or power through them. Perreault is the ultimate complementary player who can complete a highly talented line and produce in a big way. Moore is all speed, all the time. He has and will put the other team on their heels before changing speed and creating space for himself and his teammates.

Russian Factor Fading?

Along with Michkov, Daniil But (9) and Mikhail Gulyayev (10) made the top 10 despite uncertainties about where players in Russia will slot in the 2023 draft. There should be a number of Russians taken in the first round despite the country's invasion of Ukraine. It’s still going to be up to teams to make the picks, but based on the NHLCS list, the Russian factor may not exist the way some would make you think.

Dmitri Simashev Ranked 19th, fifth Russian

Arguably the top Russian, Simashev was a bit of a surprise to see ranked at 19 among international skaters. His production hasn’t been what some would expect from a top prospect, which could be a big reason why he is the fifth-ranked Russian despite many in the public sphere deeming him a top-15 talent among all players.

Carson Bjarnason Ranks Atop North American Goalies

The North American goalie class has most of the top netminders this year, and Bjarnason is up top. The Brandon Wheat Kings netminder has the size, athleticism and technique that has earned him a ton of love in the scouting world. 

Michael Hrabal of the USHL's Omaha Lancers is No. 2 with a lot of the credit going to his 6-foot-6 frame. His second half was decent, but he built most of his resumé early in the year. NTDP netminder Trey Augustine may be the most well-rounded of the trio atop the goalie list, but he is only 6-foot-1, which could hurt his case on draft day.

Alexander Hellnemo is the Top International Netminder

The international goalie class is a bit underwhelming this year in terms of top talent, which is why overage netminder Alexander Hellnemo ranks at the top of the class. He’s had a good season in the Swedish junior ranks but struggled against men at the SHL level. 

The list of international netminders doesn’t have a ton of juice as the best European goalies have been playing in North America, such as Hrabal (Czechia), Adam Gajan (Slovakia), Jan Spunar (Czechia) and Tomas Suchanek (Czechia). 

Surprises Galore

Otto Stenberg (sixth on the international list) has been a divisive prospect and doesn’t exactly fit the typical prototype of a player viewed highly by these lists. But the highly skilled Swedish forward ranked ahead of Swedish defender Axel Sandin Pellikka (seventh on the international list).

Alex Ciernik (21) isn’t nearly as high on the international list as other public lists view him. Playing at the Swedish men’s second level, his game has matured, and his skill and speed are evident.

Andrew Cristall (15th in North America) wound up being knocked for his combination of lack of size and lack of mobility despite his incredible skill, playmaking, and production.

Charlie Stramel (30th in North America) has everything NHL Central Scouting generally looks for in a prospect with great size and scoring ability. NHLCS still projected him as a mid-late second-rounder.

Brad Nadeau (17th in North America) is the top-ranked Junior A player and the only one until Aydar Suniev at 40th among North American skaters.

Arvid Bergstrom (54th internationally) has been talked about as one of the most underrated blueliners in Europe, and his lack of attention on the NHLCS list proves that.

Size Matters to the NHL

The one thing that has always factored into the NHL Central Scouting lists is size. If two players are roughly equivalent in talent, even if the lean is toward the smaller player, the player with size will always get a favorable view.