An expert unveils a combined ranking of the 2022 and 2023 drafts and the result is impressive

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Elias Edmonson
June 7, 2023 (4:48 PM)

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The Athletic's prospect expert, the renowned Corey Pronman, had fun creating a combined ranking of the young talent from the 2022 and 2023 drafts.

For Montreal Canadiens fans, this is an excellent opportunity to see not only where Juraj Slafkovsky, who was the first overall pick in the last draft, would rank, but also to gauge the caliber of the player the club could select with their 5th overall pick.

Here's the top-10 from 2022

1. Juraj Slafkovsky - LW (Canadiens)
2. Simon Nemec - RD (Devils)
3. Logan Cooley - C (Coyotes)
4. Shane Wright - C (Kraken)
5. Cutter Gauthier - C (Flyers)
6. David Jiricek - RD (Blue Jackets)
7. Kevin Korchinski - LD (Blackhawks)
8. Marco Kasper - C (Red Wings)
9. Matthew Savoie - C (Sabres)
10. Pavel Mintyukov - LD (Ducks)

Here's Pronman's top-10 for 2023

1. Connor Bedard - C (WHL)
2. Adam Fantilli - C (USHL)
3. Matvei Michkov - RW (KHL)
4. Leo Carlsson - C (SHL)
5. Will Smith - C (USHL)
6. David Reinbacher - RD (Switzerland)
7. Dalibor Dvorsky - C (Sweden)
8. Ryan Leonard - RW (USHL)
9. Gabriel Perreault - LW (USHL)
10. Zach Benson - LW (WHL)

Here now is the combined top-10 ranking from 2022 and 2023

1. Connor Bedard - C (WHL)
2. Adam Fantilli - C (USHL)
3. Matvei Michkov - RW (KHL)
4. Leo Carlsson - C (SHL)
5. Will Smith - C (USHL)
6. Juraj Slafkovsky - LW (Canadiens)
7. Logan Cooley - C (Coyotes)
8. David Jiricek - RD (Blue Jackets)
9. David Reinbacher - RD (Switzerland)
10. Shane Wright - C (Kraken)
11. Cutter Gauthier - C (Flyers)
12. Kevin Korchinski - LD (Blackhawks)
13. Dalibor Dvorsky - C (Sweden)
14. Ryan Leonard - RW (USHL)
15. Simon Nemec - RD (Devils)
16. Gabriel Perreault - LW (USHL)
17. Marco Kasper - C (Red Wings)
18. Zach Benson - LW (WHL)
19. Matthew Savoie - C (Sabres)
20. Pavel Mintyukov - LD (Ducks)

In summary, if he were a prospect for this year's draft, Juraj Slafkovsky would rank behind the famed Big-Five, which is comprised of Bedard, Fantilli, Michkov, Carlsson, and Smith.

This clearly demonstrates the talent level of the 2023 draft class, which is a mile ahead of the 2022 draft class.

The good news is that with their 5th pick in the draft, the Canadiens will be able to pick a young player who could have been the first overall pick in the last draft.