The top 15 wingers to watch in the 2023 NHL Draft

With a projected top four of Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson and Will Smith, the 2023 NHL Draft will be remembered for its incredible center depth.

Given the value centers often have in a lineup — faceoffs, two-way play, etc. — it’s always a position to watch. And with so many high-value targets this year, this is as good of a year as any to load up down the middle. A good chunk of the top centers could swap for the wing one day, but that’s a discussion for another day.

Today, we’re looking at the top wingers for the 2023 NHL Draft. Matvei Michkov is the clear top option as one of the top prospects in the draft. Ryan Leonard might be the only other to be taken in the top 10, but if we’ve learned anything about the draft, it’s that anything can happen.

With time ticking down towards the 2023 NHL Draft, here’s a look at 15 of the top 15 wingers to watch this year:

Matvei Michkov, C (HK Sochi, KHL)

Behind Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli, Michkov is the third prospect with a legitimate chance of changing a franchise. In fact, it might be understated just how good Michkov’s time with Sochi was. Playing on the worst team in the league, he managed to finish with 20 goals in 27 games to finish fourth in team scoring. Six of the team’s nine wins came with Michkov in the lineup, and his 0.74 points-per-game during his time with Sochi is the best by a U-19 in league history — beating out Evgeny Kuznetsov, Eeli Tolvanen, Vladimir Tarasenko, Kirill Kaprizov and Artemi Panarin, among others. He’s special, but since he has a KHL deal until 2026, NHL teams must be patient. If I was San Jose or Montreal, there’s no way I’m passing up on him.

Ryan Leonard, LW (USNTDP)

Leonard is coming off an absolutely ridiculous U-18 tournament, which was capped off by scoring the championship winner. The seven-game affair was a perfect microcosm of Leonard’s true abilities: good speed, skill and physicality all wrapped into one. He’s the type of player every team wants.

Colby Barlow, LW (Owen Sound, OHL)

One of the few players to come close to hitting the 50-goal mark this season, Barlow has scored at all levels and is as confident as anyone handling the puck. There’s room for his all-around game to grow, but scoring clearly isn’t an issue. He was banged up during the OHL playoffs but had a decent showing at the U-18s.

Matthew Wood, LW (University of Connecticut, NCAA)

A point-per-game average as a freshman on one of the best teams in Hockey East is a solid way to kick off your college career. All he has done at every level is produce points and excel on the power play. His chemistry with top 2024 prospect Macklin Celebrini is a big reason why Canada won bronze at the U-18s.

Gabe Perreault, RW (USNTDP)

Perreault’s greatest concern this season was perceived reliance on his teammates to get stuff done. But you don’t break the 100-point barrier by accident, especially when so few players have managed to do so. The biggest hangup is his skating, but he plays a similar skilled offensive game to Lucas Raymond’s.

Eduard Sale, RW (Brno, Czechia)

Consistency was an issue for Sale, especially in the second half after the World Junior Championship. He showed enough big-game potential at that event, though, that I’m still quite intrigued. He’s best when he’s being deceptive, which comes more with confidence. I do wonder if he’ll go to the AHL and follow a similar route as Buffalo’s Jiri Kulich, which could be beneficial.

Andrew Cristall, LW (Kewlona, WHL)

Cristall would have easily blown past the 100-point mark had he not had a lower-body injury. From a skill perspective, Cristall has everything going for him. His skating can be a bit of a disaster at points, though. In a vacuum, there’s a lot to like. When he has the puck on his stick, though, he’s dangerous. Surround him with quality linemates and you should be fine.

Quentin Musty, LW (Sudbury, OHL)

While I’d love to see Musty produce a bit more, he has enough pro qualities — quick release, high top-speed and active scanning — that I’m confident in the right team turning him into a great top-six scoring winger. He’s just physically built like a tank, too.

Ethan Gauthier, RW (Sherbrook, QMJHL)

One of my favorite players 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 year, establishing himself as a strong goal-scorer. His power-forward style suits him well in a middle-six role.

Nick Lardis, LW (Hamilton, OHL)

Late-season dominance can be very misleading, but there might not have been a more interesting forward down the stretch than Lardis. After putting up just 19 points in 36 games with the Petes, he blew up with 25 goals and 46 points in 33 games with Hamilton before going on a tear in the playoffs.

Charlie Stramel, RW (Wisconsin University, NCAA)

After a strong World Junior Championship performance, Stramel capped things off with a good second half with Wisconsin. There’s no shortage of teams that want the services of the 6-foot-3, 216-pound forward with a high hockey IQ. Sure, the offense didn’t follow, but he’s a pain in the rear end to play against.

Daniil But, LW (Yaroslavl, MHL)

The big, skilled winger was a point-per-game player between Yaroslavl’s MHL teams this year and even scored a pair in 15 KHL games. He can do a lot of damage around the crease, both with his shot and how he pushes players around.

Kasper Halttunen, RW (HIFK, Liiga)

Halttunen produced nothing against men but was too good for HIFK’s U-20 team. He’s big, has a powerful wrister and has produced at all levels up until Liiga. Next year will be a big one. A bit more maturity will help take his game up another level next year.

Koehn Ziemmer, RW (Prince George, WHL)

Heidt wasn’t the only draft prospect worth watching in Prince George. Ziemmer finished with an impressive 41 goals and 89 points in 68 regular season games, with his 71 goals sitting second behind Bedard for the most among 2023 eligible players over the past two years. Ziemmer is a solid power forward that uses his strength to his advantage and should be able to carve out a decent NHL career.

Jesse Kiiskinen, RW (Lahti, Finland U-20)

Kiiskinen was one of the few Finns that really showed up offensively during the U-18s, building on an impressive year with the Pelicans’ U-20 program. With the puck, there’s a lot to love. He’s still a work in progress away from it — mainly forechecking, skating, and defensively, but he has a nice future with a solid ceiling to work with.