Top prospects in 2023 NHL Draft 100-91: Jesse Nurmi, Francesco Dell’elce, Quinton Burnes, Griffin Erdman, Matthew Soto, Hoyt Stanley, Tristan Bertucci, Easton Cowan, Arvid Bergstrom and Ryan Fine
By Zach Laing
10 months agoBrought to you by odds site Betway!
Welcome to our series taking a look at the top 100 prospects for the 2023 NHL entry draft as ranked by Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis.
Today, we’re looking at the prospects ranked from number 100-91: Jesse Nurmi, Francesco Dell’elce, Quinton Burnes, Griffin Erdman, Matthew Soto, Hoyt Stanley, Tristan Bertucci, Easton Cowan, Arvid Bergstrom and Ryan Fine.
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No. 100: Jesse Nurmi
A native of Valkeala, Finland, Nurmi stands at 5’11, 165 lbs. He’s a left-shot winger who brings offence to the ice.
Scouting Report: “Nurmi is a versatile offensive forward who can beat opponents with his shot or pass the puck to his linemates for a tap-in goal. Playing against a considerably weaker Norwegian team, he showcased some of his offensive skills in this game. He looked like he was flying on the ice, and you could tell his confidence was high.” – Rasmus Tornqvist, FC Hockey.
No. 99: Francesco Dell’elce
Dell’elce is off to the University of Massachusetts next year. The left-shot defenceman stands at 6’0, 157 lbs. and is going to play for the BCHL’s Penticton Vees next year, and will head to off to the University of Massachusetts after to start his NCAA career.
No. 98: Quinton Burns
A great athlete, Burns has some size to him standing at 6’1, 179 lbs. and is a left-shot defenceman.
Scouting Report: “A stellar mobile defenceman, Quinton Burns is a brilliant puck mover with high athleticism. Burns has great hockey IQ, knowing when and where to move the puck, as well as excelling at finding the gaps in transition and hitting them hard while bringing the puck up the ice. Burns’ skating ability is fantastic, with speed and acceleration developed to a high level, Burns is one of the best puck-moving defencemen in the 05’ Draft Class.” – Matt Eichorn, Sports Illustrated
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No. 97: Griffin Erdman
Erdman is committed to Northeastern University in 2024-25. The left-shot winger stands at 5’10, but plays with an edge.
Scouting Report: “Erdman, a former Dartmouth commit, is characterized as a high-energy, hard-nosed player whose motor keeps him competitive in all situations. Combining that drive with solid skating, great hands, and elusive but simple puck-handling, he is able to score and create offence from multiple places on the ice. One of the things that scouts laud about him is his willingness to make a difference on both sides of the puck, both in the offensive and defensive zone, using his stick and body to prevent pucks from getting through while also having the speed, hunger, and extra gear to chase after loose pucks in the offensive zone and be a catalyst for offence.” – Mike Davis, Northeastern Hockey Blog
No. 96: Matthew Soto
Soto, who has been flying under the radar as a prospect, stands at 5’11, 168 lbs and is a right-shot winger.
Scouting Report: “When it comes to Matthew Soto it’s all about what could be for me. When scouting players I often take notes of when players make me gasp or mutter in amazement. Soto is one of the players in which it’s always a treat to see what he’s going to do. He hasn’t quite put it all together in the OHL this year. Sometimes he puts himself into positions where passing options aren’t going to be ideal, and other times he makes a play no one could have possibly thought he’d pull off and he ends up without a scoring option. However, given his birthdate, I think Soto is the bet I’d make in this year’s draft where the late birthday and patience could reap benefits given the tools that he possesses.” – Austin Garret, Smaht Scouting
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No. 95: Hoyt Stanley
A native of West Vancouver, Stanley stands at 6’2, 196 lbs and knows how to use his size.
Scouting Report: “It is tough not to get lost in a dream world when watching Stanley. He’s a big defender with long strides and can adjust his stance very quickly in moments. He protects well at his reach and usually does not hesitate to one-touch passes up the ice or shoot snap one-timers. In this viewing, it comes across as high-end flashes of tools that still need to be refined and put together.” – Joel Henderson, FC Hockey
No. 94: Tristan Bertucci
With a high hockey IQ, Bertucci is a left-shot defenceman who stands at 6’2, 179 lbs.
Scouting Report: “He’s come along nicely, progression-wise from last year to this it’s been a steady incline, and I think that’s going to continue…The strongest asset Tristan has is his mind. He makes good reads, good decisions with the puck, and that’s not something you can really teach. He’s got a big frame and he’s gradually getting stronger. He already skates well and has shown he can be an effective player in any situation you put him in, so I think as he continues to get stronger, you’re going to see him as more and more of a factor for our team.” – Firebirds head coach Ted Dent
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No. 93: Easton Cowan
Born to be a hockey player with the name Easton, the left-shot centre from Ontario is a high-level playmaker.
Scouting Report: “Easton Cowan is a highly skilled forward. Cowan is a two-way player with a pass-first mentality, making him a strong playmaker. Using his good vision and elite passing ability, he is able to make sharp plays to create the best opportunities for his team. Cowan has strong puck skills and thinks the game at a high pace.” – Melania Tucker, Sports Illustrated
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No. 92: Arvid Bergstrom
Our first Swede appears on the list in Bergstrom. The left-shot rearguard, who stands at 5’11, 168 lbs., is a puck-mover with strong skating.
Scouting Report: “Arvid Bergström is a shifty mobile puck-moving defenseman, who defends rather well but at a distance. He is more of a reactive defenseman but does use his positioning well when defending against the rush to force dumps and chases. Bergström has good acceleration that he leverages to get to loose pucks cleanly. Should he encounter a heave forecheck, he’s shown that he can use pivots to shake free and complete a zone exit pass. Bergström does need to work on closing out gaps quicker as sometimes he ends up giving a bit too much room. In the offensive zone, Bergström should start looking to utilize his mobility and speed while pinching to drive pucks into the slot.” – Josh Tessler, Smaht Scouting
No. 91: Ryan Fine
Committed to Harvard University for next season, Fine is a right-shot winger who is an underrated prospect standing at 5’0, 183 lbs.
Scouting Report: “Ryan Fine is the most underrated forward on the NTDP. He’s a great puck transporter and has great skill, his high school highlight reel is insane, and at times was the best player on the Moore/Terrance/Fine line at the u18s. He was stuck on the third line for much of the year at the NTDP in a checking role, but at Harvard, he should assume a scoring role as soon as this year given their departures. – Austin Garret, Smaht Scouting
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Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.
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