Grade: D

1. Ethan Gauthier, RW, 18 (Drummondville, QMJHL)

Drafted: No. 37, second round in 2023

It’ll be easy for Bolts fans to become a fan of Gauthier’s play. One of my favorite 2023 draft prospects from a style perspective, Gauthier is fierce, aggressive and never stops moving. He saw his offensive output jump by 30 points to a nice 69 this past year, establishing himself as a strong goal-scorer. Gauthier’s power-forward style suits him well in a middle-six role. He’ll have a new home in Drummondville after getting moved on the final day of the NHL Draft combine.

2. Dylan Duke, C, 20 (University of Michigan, NCAA)

Drafted: No. 126, fourth round in 2021

Duke had an excellent sophomore season with Michigan, scoring 18 goals and 32 points in 41 games. He also brought his hard-working playstyle to USA’s world junior team, where he scored, hit and blocked shots. Duke has the makings of a bottom-six energy forward that can do a little bit of everything. With a bit of a different look up front at Michigan, Duke should be counted on offensively.

3. Isaac Howard, LW, 19 (Michigan State, NCAA)

Drafted: No. 31, first round in 2022

After obliterating goalies with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in 2021-22, Howard didn’t find the same success as a college freshman. The noted scorer had just six goals and 17 points in 35 games, good for sixth in team scoring. He transferred out of Minnesota-Duluth and is off to Michigan State University, where he’ll look to play a big part for a team with just a handful of NHL prospects. Howard is a strong scoring/passing dual-threat but lacks the defensive stylings to become an effective two-way player. If he makes it to the NHL, it’s more of a complementary role.

4. Niko Huuhtanen, RW, 20 (Jukurit, Liiga)

Drafted: No. 224, seventh round in 2021

Might this be another example of the final pick of an NHL Draft becoming an impact player? Huuhtanen was the last man taken in 2021, and all he has done ever since is score. He had 37 goals and 77 points in his lone year with Everett before returning to Finland last year, where he got his first taste of pro hockey. He was tremendous, finishing as the lone U-20 30-point scorer among Liiga players. He has an excellent shot, loves to hit everything in sight with his big frame and doesn’t lose many puck battles. He’s not a great skater, but he might still manage to carve a role in the NHL.

5. Hugo Alnefelt, G, 22 (Syracuse, AHL)

Drafted: No. 71, third round in 2019

Alnefelt had a solid season sharing the crease with Max Lagace in Syracuse, recording a 17-12-2 record with three shutouts. He outplayed Lagace for the most part, and many thought he’d be considered for the backup role to Andrei Vasilevskiy. The club instead signed Jonas Johansson, who, despite having some up-and-down seasons the past few years, does have more NHL experience. A good start to the season for Alnefelt could earn him some call-up opportunities.

6. Jack Finley, C, 20 (Syracuse, AHL)

Drafted: No. 57, second round in 2020

Finley had a solid first season in the AHL, even if his production was nothing to get thrilled about. At 6-foot-6 and 223 pounds, Finley is all about strength and power. He’s a decent skater for his size, but it’s not NHL-caliber right now. His physicality is, though, and he isn’t afraid to use it to his benefit to win puck battles. I’m not sure there’s NHL potential here with his overall package, but he could be a decent in-betweener who can fill a fourth-line role.

7. Jack Thompson, D, 21 (Syracuse, AHL)

Drafted: No. 93, third round in 2020

When Thompson began his AHL rookie season at 20, he showed he had enough to hang with the pros. He’s calm and smart with the puck and is a stout skater. The strong puck handler had 23 points during the regular season while playing solid minutes. The right-handed shooter isn’t very creative, which can make him easy to read at times, but he does enough small things well to establish himself as a potential bottom-pairing defenseman.

8. Gage Goncalves, C, 22 (Syracuse, AHL)

Drafted: No. 62, second round in 2020

After a good rookie season in 2021-22, Goncalves upped the stakes with an electric 41-assist, 54-point campaign with Syracuse. The playmaking center has an excellent release that he hasn’t displayed a ton in the AHL, but his overall offensive game feels more dangerous than it did in the WHL. He also possesses a quick top speed that makes him difficult to defend against. His own-zone play could prevent him from being an everyday NHLer, though.

9. Max Crozier, D, 23 (Syracuse, AHL)

Drafted: No. 120, fourth round in 2019

Crozier finished his four-year run at Providence, becoming a two-time member of Hockey East’s third all-star team. The hard-hitting defender finished the year with the Crunch and didn’t look out of place. He’s mature, smart and has good hands for a defenseman, even if there’s nothing eye-popping about his offensive game. I think he’ll be a depth defender at best, but he won’t hurt your squad if you need him in a pinch.

10. Emil Martinsen Lilleberg, D, 22 (Syracuse, AHL)

Drafted: No. 107, fourth round in 2021 by Arizona/signed by Tampa Bay in 2023

Could EML become the next Norweigan NHLer? He capped off the year with a great World Championship, playing more than 25 minutes a night in big wins over Slovenia and Canada. More of a shutdown option, Martinsen Lilleberg spent the majority of his season with IK Oskarshamn of the Swedish Hockey League, where he had three goals, eight assists, and 11 points in 46 regular season games, along with an assist in three playoff games. Martinsen Lilleberg couldn’t make things work with the Coyotes, but perhaps he’ll figure it out with Tampa.

Other notables: Maxim Groshev, RW (21), Daniil Pylenkov, D (22), Gabriel Fortier, LW (23), Gage Concalves, LW (22), Lucas Edmonds, RW (22), Jaydon Dureau, LW (22), Ilya Usau, C (22), Roman Schmidt, D (20), Declan Carlile, D (23), Jayson Shaugabay, RW (18), Connor Kurth, RW (20), Jack Harvey, C (20), Robert Flinton, LW (20), Mckane Webster, C (23), Ethan Hay, C (18), Klavs Veinbergs, C (20), Warren Clark, D (18), Eamon Powell, D (21), Dyllan Gill, D (19), Nick Malik, G (21)