Top prospects from NTDP, USHL, high schools discussed ahead of 2023 Draft

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 preview of the top eligible prospects from USA Hockey's National Team Development Program Under-18 team, the United States Hockey League and high school ranks in a Q&A with Pat Cullen of NHL Central Scouting. NHL.com's full draft coverage can be found here.

Jayson Shaugabay of Warroad High School in Minnesota is a projected second-round pick in the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft after quite a showing on the scholastic front and as a rookie in the United States Hockey League this season.

The 18-year-old right wing (5-foot-9, 165 pounds), No. 55 on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters presented by BioSteel, is the highest-rated high school skater in Central Scouting's final ranking.

The right-handed shot was the recipient of the Mr. Hockey Award given to the outstanding senior high school boys' hockey player in Minnesota after he had 96 points (33 goals, 63 assists) in 31 games. Shaugabay ranks sixth on the state's all-time list with 304 points (114 goals, 190 assists) in 110 high school games in his four seasons.

"He broke the all-time scoring record at Warroad previously held by (Washington Capitals forward) T.J. Oshie (241 points)," said Pat Cullen of NHL Central Scouting. "It's kind of a neat little thing that he was able to come back and do that. And he didn't break it, he shattered it. He has high offensive skills, his puck skills are good, he sees the ice well and he can find plays or read plays before they even happen. He just has a gift with that. He's unbelievable on the power play, and I think he's a kid whose best hockey days are ahead of him."

Shaugabay had 16 points (three goals, 13 assists) in 27 games with Green Bay of the United States Hockey League this season, and he's committed to the University of Minnesota Duluth for 2023-24.

"He's offensively gifted, sees things that a lot of players his age just don't see and makes passes that have you saying, 'Wow,'" Cullen said. "His ability to read the play and his instincts are probably the things that drive his game the most."

To break down the NTDP and USHL further, here are five questions with Cullen:

NTDP center William Smith (No. 3 on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters) could be a top-three pick in the 2023 draft. He finished second on the NTDP in points (127; 51 goals, 76 assists) and was named best forward and the most valuable player after he had 20 points for the gold medal-winning United States at the IIHF 2023 World Under-18 Championship. What made him the player he is?

"The numbers are off the charts, but I just think how complete he is. He's an unbelievably good penalty killer. His effort on the back check is always good. I think he's the kind of guy who you go watch and play and even if he doesn't get on the score sheet, and it's very seldom he doesn't, you could still walk away from the rink saying he was the best player in the game. He just has that 'it' factor. He tries things that a lot of guys aren't willing to try with the puck but completes the move or completes the play. He's hard not to notice when you go to a game because he just does so many things well and at such a high level of speed."

NTDP center Oliver Moore (No. 8) has been compared by some to Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin because of the speed he has and how he's able to do everything with pace. When you've watched Moore what has stood out about his play to you?

"I think he's the fastest skater of the prospects for this year's NHL draft and I don't know there'd be a lot of people who'd disagree with that. His speed is the No. 1 asset, but his work ethic is unbelievable. There's never a game you attend and you don't see Oliver Moore working extremely hard and it's more noticeable because of how fast he does everything. His numbers were good (75 points; 31 goals, 44 assists) but he's also learning how to play with his speed. In the NHL there are a lot of fast guys, but you have to also be able to know when to use your speed, when to slow the game down. You can't always be zones ahead of your teammates and I think Oliver's learning to become more of a player that uses his speed a lot, but [he] uses it more timely. I think he can play center or either wing. His game is just more polished now and he'll be an exciting college hockey player to watch (at the University of Minnesota) next season."

Defenseman Maxim Strbak (No. 48; 6-1, 205) of Sioux Falls (USHL) was in his first season in North America and had 18 points in 46 games. He also represented Slovakia at the U-18 Worlds and the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship and is committed to Michigan State in the fall. What have you liked about his game?

"Maxim jumped off the page for all of us at the Fall Classic in Pittsburgh (in September) when he was playing for Sioux Falls ... he was unbelievable. Like most international kids coming to play in the USHL, I think he had a bit of an adjustment period throughout the season because there were some ups and downs. What I liked about him the most was every time I would watch him play, he just did things that I think NHL defensemen do. A lot of a little subtle things. He's big, he's strong. He's not putting up a lot of offensive points and I don't know that he ever will, but he does have good offensive instincts and makes the little plays that you see a lot of defensemen playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs make today. His development will be accelerated at Michigan State; I think the ceiling is very high for him."

Right wing William Whitelaw (No. 42; 5-9, 173) is one of four players from Clark Cup champion Youngstown (USHL) projected as a second- or third-round pick in the upcoming draft, along with defenseman Andrew Strathmann (No. 44) and forwards Martin Misiak (No. 45) and Brandon Svoboda (No. 66). Whitelaw, a USHL All Rookie Second Team selection, is committed to the University of Wisconsin. He had 61 points (36 goals, 25 assists) in 62 regular-season games. What did Whitelaw do to gain momentum heading into the 2023 Draft?

"I live about a mile from Shattuck-St. Mary's in Minnesota where Whitelaw went to school and played his hockey before he went to Youngstown, so I've seen him a long time. He's always been a very offensively gifted player and has got a scorers' mentality. He loves to shoot and doesn't hesitate to shoot; he's got a hard wrist shot and it's quick and accurate. What I think he's done this year that I've noticed in the USHL is he's gone from being more of an offensive guy to more of a complete player. He's more conscientious of what he needs to do in his end of the rink, sharing the puck quicker. I think he's always going to be a guy that's going to produce offensively, but he's become more of a two-way guy. He'll go to Wisconsin and play for Mike Hastings and if you don't play defense, you don't get to play a lot for Mike Hastings. That'll be good for Will's game."

Are there any other NTDP or USHL players listed by NHL Central Scouting you feel could serve as solid mid- to late-round pick on the second day of the NHL Draft?

"It'll be interesting to see where NTDP forward Danny Nelson (No. 22; 6-3, 202) is chosen in the draft. Danny has played as a forward this season with the NTDP but also played defense a few years ago when he was playing high school in Minnesota and opened up a lot of people's eyes. It's been talked about a little bit in our scouting circles ... what does the team that picks him have in mind? Will they use him as a forward or as a defenseman? I just think he's such a good athlete. He's not an under-the-radar guy, but it'll be interesting to see what happens when he does get picked.

"NTDP defenseman Beckett Hendrickson (No. 67; 6-1, 174) had a slow start to the year with an injury, but his game kept getting better and better. I think somebody's going to get a nice two-way player. Youngstown center Brandon Svoboda (No. 66; 6-3, 205) doesn't have the numbers of Whitelaw but he's got good size and can really skate. He's going to be a nice find for somebody. Finally, defenseman Chase Cheslock (No. 99; 6-3, 208) of Rogers High School in Minnesota, also played 15 games with Omaha (USHL) after his high school season and opened a lot of eyes because he can really skate. He's an athlete ... he played in the NAHL a little bit at the start of the year, then at Rogers and finished in Omaha. His draft stock keeps rising because his game has really taken off."

Photos: Cormac McInnis Photography; Anthony Moreton, Youngstown (USHL)

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