TWO MAN RACE

Evan Davis

The 2023 NHL Draft is fixing to become one of the deepest drafts in recent memory. The consensus top 3 has been Connor Bedard, Adam Fantili and Matvei Michkov for quite some time now, but now it comes down to who becomes the 1st overall pick.

Last year, Shane Wright was the consensus #1 overall prospect, but he shockingly fell to 4th overall and was drafted by the Seattle Kraken. With Connor Bedard being the consensus #1 heading into the 2023 draft, I think there is one player who can overtake him for that #1 spot.

Michigan true freshman, Adam Fantili, has been tearing up the NCAA with 9 goals and 14 assists for 23 points in 12 games. Prior to coming to Michigan, Fantili played with the Chicago Steel of the WHL in which he had 37 goals to go along with 37 assists in 54 games. His 37 goals were the second-most in Steel history and his 74 points tied Kyle Connor for most points by a player two years prior to their draft.

Fantili is currently leading the NCAA in scoring, and is 5th in goals while being 2nd in assists. With his size at 6’2 and 185 pounds, Fantili has the potential to be a top big body center in the NHL.

On the flip side, Connor Bedard has been dominating the WHL after becoming the first player in WHL history to be granted exceptional status. Due to covid in Bedard’s first year in the WHL, he was only able to play 15 games, but still managed to put up 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points.

In his first full season in the WHL, he put up 51 goals and 49 assists for 100 points in 62 games. This season he has been insane, with 19 goals and 29 assists for 48 points in 22 contests.

He is currently on pace for 59 goals and 90 assists for a staggering 149 points in 68 games. That would put him tied for 19th in WHL history for most points in a season, and nobody who played in the 2000s is within the top 50.

He’s dominated the U18’s as an underager, with 21 points in 11 games and even played U20’s with 8 points in 7 games.

I would say one of the downfalls might be his size compared to Fantili, who has a better NHL body right now. In my opinion, the NCAA is a much better league than the WHL, and maybe some teams have that same view as me. I definitely wouldn’t be shocked to see Adam Fantili drafted ahead of Connor Bedard.