2023 NHL Draft: Top 10 left wings

The 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft will be held June 28-29 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. The first round will be June 28 (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN, TVAS) and rounds 2-7 are June 29 (11 a.m. ET; NHLN, SN, TVAS). NHL.com is counting down to the draft with in-depth profiles on top prospects, podcasts and other features. Today, a look at the top eligible left wings. NHL.com's full draft coverage can be found here.

Zach Benson of Winnipeg in the Western Hockey League could be the first player at his position off the board in the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft.

The left wing (5-foot-10, 170 pounds), No. 6 on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters presented by BioSteel, is not big in stature but is as complete a player as there is in this year's draft class with his relentless puck pursuit and effectiveness on special teams.

"My hockey IQ is my greatest asset," Benson said. "I think it's better than most and it allows me to excel in other facets of my game. The biggest thing I worked on over the summer was just getting stronger. I think my in-game strength is huge ... I like to win battles down low and all over the ice."

Matt Savoie, his teammate in Winnipeg, has witnessed it firsthand. They have been teammates for two seasons and were linemates this season.

"His motor is definitely the thing that separates him from the rest," said Savoie, the No. 9 pick by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2022 NHL Draft. "He's always going 100 miles an hour, always possessing the puck. And away from the rink, he's the same way; he's always trying to get better, always looking for little keys and little areas that he can improve, and that's what makes him so good."

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Here are NHL.com's top 10 left wings available for the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft:

1. Zach Benson, Winnipeg (WHL)

NHL Central Scouting ranking:No. 6 (North American skaters)

A terrific skater and relentless contributor on the forecheck, Benson led Winnipeg and finished third in the WHL with 98 points (36 goals, 62 assists) in 60 games, then had 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in 15 playoff games. He had 20 power-play points (four goals) and six short-handed goals in the regular season, proving his willingness to go to the tough areas of the ice and battle hard despite his frame. Benson had eight game-winning goals and led Winnipeg with a 1.63 points-per game average. His best asset is his hockey smarts and he's improved his defensive game under the tutelage of Winnipeg coach and former NHL defenseman James Patrick. Benson helped Canada win the gold medal at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in August, when he had seven points (two goals, five assists) in five games.

2. Eduard Sale, Brno (CZE)

NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 4 (International skaters)

Sale (6-2, 175) has all the tools required to become the next standout player from Czechia. He was named Czech Extraliga rookie of the year after scoring 14 points (seven goals) in 43 games with Brno in Czechia's top league this season after scoring 89 points (42 goals, 47 assists) in 39 games in Czechia's junior league in 2021-22. Sale had six points (one goal, five assists) in seven games to help Czechia to a silver medal at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship. He also had six points (four goals) in five games in a seventh-place finish for his country at the 2023 IIHF World Under-18 Championship.

3. Samuel Honzek, Vancouver (WHL)

NHL Central Scouting ranking:No. 9 (North American skaters)

The 18-year-old is projected to be one of two Slovakia-born players selected in the first round of the 2023 draft, along with center Dalibor Dvorsky. A versatile winger who can play all situations, Honzek (6-3, 195) was out of the lineup for several months after sustaining a leg cut playing for Slovakia against the United States in a preliminary-round game at the 2023 World Juniors, but tested well at the NHL Scouting Combine tested well at the NHL Scouting Combine. He finished second on Vancouver with 56 points (23 goals, 33 assists) in 43 regular-season games and tied for the team lead with four points (three assists) in four WHL playoff games, including scoring 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 12 regular-season games upon returning to the lineup after his injury.

4. Daniil But, Yaroslavl Jr. (RUS)

NHL Central Scouting ranking:No. 9 (International skaters)

But (6-5, 203) has intriguing size and playmaking ability, capable of moving well for a big player. He scored 26 points (15 goals, 11 assists) in 26 regular-season games with Loko Yaroslavl in the MHL (Russia's minor hockey league) and had nine points (four goals, five assists) in seven playoff games before an illness ended his season. He also had two assists in 15 games in the Kontinental Hockey League with Lokomotiv, where he'll likely be for a full season in 2023-24. But's father played in the Russian Super League and the KHL for 17 seasons.

5. Colby Barlow, Owen Sound (OHL)

NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 12 (North American skaters)

Barlow (6-0, 195) can beat defenders with his speed or strength in shielding them off 1-on-1 in tight quarters. He can play physical along the boards a could eventually serve as a top-nine forward at the NHL level. He led Owen Sound with 79 points (46 goals, 33 assists), 13 power-play goals and 12 game-winning goals in 59 games as captain and received the Bobby Smith Trophy awarded to the Ontario Hockey League's scholastic player of the year. Barlow also led Owen Sound with three goals on nine shots in four OHL playoff games.

6. Quentin Musty, Sudbury (OHL)

NHL Central Scouting ranking:No. 14 (North American skaters)

Musty (6-1, 200) finished second on Sudbury with 78 points (26 goals, 52 assists) in 53 regular-season games; he was invited to the 2023 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in January but didn't play due to injury. Musty has 109 points (38 goals, 71 assists) in 103 OHL games. He's a playmaker with a good shot but needs to improve his defensive game and consistency.

7. Andrew Cristall, Kelowna (WHL)

NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 15 (North American skaters)

Cristall (5-9, 175) ranked third in the WHL scoring 1.76 points-per game (minimum 10 games played) behind only Connor Bedard (2.51) and Logan Stankoven (2.02) in 54 games. He led Kelowna in goals (39), assists (56) and points (95) and was second with 33 power-play points (nine goals) despite missing 14 games. The 18-year-old had six points (two goals, four assists) in seven games for Canada at the 2023 IIHF Under-18 World Championship.

8. Bradly Nadeau, Penticton (BCHL)

NHL Central Scouting ranking:No. 17 (North American skaters)

The 17-year-old right-handed shot, who plays his off-wing, led the British Columbia Hockey League in assists (68), points (113), game-winning goals (10) and points per game (2.09), and tied for the lead with teammate Aydar Suniev in goals (45) in 54 regular-season games. He was awarded the Vern Dye Memorial Trophy as the league's most valuable player and the Brett Hull Trophy as the league's top scorer. Committed to the University of Maine next season, Nadeau is the 23rd Penticton player to win MVP and first since Tyson Jost in 2016. Nadeau (5-10, 160) possesses great speed and a good shot and compares his style of game to Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitchell Marner.

9. Noah Dower Nilsson, Frolunda Jr. (SWE)

NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 17 (International skaters)

Dower Nilsson (6-0, 185) has developed nicely through the ranks in Sweden, becoming a reliable two-way forward with good speed and soft hands around the net. He's the brother a Liam Dower Nilsson, who was selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the fifth round (No. 134) of the 2021 NHL Draft. Noah spent most of the season with Frolunda's junior team, scoring 54 points (26 goals, 28 assists) in 37 games and had six points (two goals, four assists) in seven games for silver-medalist Sweden at the Under-18 Worlds. Nilsson played three games for Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League, where he's expected to earn more minutes next season.

10. Noel Nordh, Brynas Jr. (SWE)

NHL Central Scouting ranking:No. 20 (International skaters)

Playing a regular role with Brynas in Sweden's junior division, Nordh had 27 points (13 goals, 14 assists) in 38 games. Nordh (6-1, 200) can win 1-on-1 battles, is usually first on pucks and can play the power play. The left-handed shot knows how to use his size and strength to his advantage and likes to play a simple, yet pro-style type of game. The 18-year-old had one goal in 10 games with Brynas in the Swedish Hockey League.

Photos: Zach Peters, Winnipeg (WHL), Jack Murray (Penticton)

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