Top 10 Two-Way Forwards in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
By Isaiah Bouchard
The 2023 NHL entry draft is getting ever closer to hockey fans, and the excitement fans have for who their teams are going to draft this year is ever higher as the regular seasons across the globe are coming to an end, and playoff season is just around the corner. And there is a lot for fans to be excited for this year, as the draft is looking like one of the strongest in years.
Connor Bedard is looking increasingly like a franchise-level player, rivaling the likes of Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Nathan Mackinnon, Austin Matthews, and Connor McDavid. Adam Fantilli would have been a first-overall pick in arguably the last six drafts, Leo Carlsson is the next big center to come out of Sweden, and he is a must-grab in the top 5. And, of course, there is the Russian sniper: Matvei Michkov, who, despite being signed to the KHL until 2026, is so good that any team picking in the top 5 will be more than willing to wait for the Russian star.
But after the big 4 in this year’s draft, who fills out the remaining slots is always an exciting mystery come draft day. Teams must allocate their scouting resources to best support the organization’s roster on draft day. Who needs the top defensemen? Say, over-the-top sniper or goaltender? That is why we at DraftPro are excited to present an in-depth look at every position and who best thrives in that position. Who is the best sniper? The best power forward? offensive defensemen? Hopefully, after this 8-part series, all these questions will be answered.
Seven DraftPro scouts were asked their top 5-7 players for the following positions: sniper, playmaker, two-way forward, power forward, offensive defenseman, defensive defenseman, two-way defenseman, and goaltender. Their lists were recorded separately, and then once all seven scouts handed in their lists, their results were compared to one another. The final lists you read here determined the average each player placed. This is not a ranking of the best players overall, simply a ranking of who is the best for each given position. Players may be placed on multiple lists, as many players are not one-dimensional, and can not be forced into one category.
Thank you to the following scouts for providing their lists: Jared Brown, Matt Hnatiuk, Tyler Karoway, Andrew LeBlanc, Murray Caldwell, Andy Miller, and Jody Horak.
Two-way forwards are arguably one of the most crucial pieces to any hockey team, on the NHL level or lower. As the name suggests, two-way forwards excel at playing at both ends of the ice. Their ‘jack of all trades’ play style means they aren’t usually king at anything in particular. They can’t shut down offense like the best defensemen, and they can’t rack up points like the best playmaker, but their utility in a multitude of situations makes them a key role when out there on the ice. That is why having an excellent two-way forward is like having an advantage unlike no other. A strong two-way forward often, not always, but often plays center, utilizes incredible stick checking, vision, and is capable of seeing both offensive and defensive plays develop around the ice.
So here are DraftPro’s Top 10 two-way forwards in the 2023 NHL Draft Class:
First, our honorable mentions: Riley Heidt, Carson Rehkopf, Colby Barlow, Koehn Ziemmer, Alex Wiermier, Kalan Lind, Noah Dower-Nilsson, Aydar Suniev, Bradley Nadeau, Nico Myatovic, Danny Nelson, Calum Ritchie, and Gavin Brindley.
Connor Bedard, Regina Pats, WHL, #1 overall (1st Round).
“Bedard is an incredibly smart player on the ice. We all know about his sniper shot and unreal offensive production, but his defensive game is slightly underrated. His anticipation of where the puck is going coupled with his sheer strength and stick work make him one of the greatest prospects we’ve ever seen.” – Tyler Karoway.
Yes, you can be more than one thing. And you can be more than two, three, four, or five things concerning Connor Bedard. The tools Bedard has in his sniper and playmaking game, such as his excellent hockey IQ and vision, can be applied well to his defensive game as well. This makes him efficient at both ends of the ice. But this isn’t a ‘the best defense is an overwhelming offense’ type of player. Bedard is a genuine defensive threat playing center, and his ability to pickpocket will give him even more ways to snuff out opposing offense in the future.
Adam Fantilli, University of Michigan, NCAA, #2 overall (1st Round).
“Fantilli is one of those forwards that can do it all. He has great velocity on his shot, he will bury you into the boards, and with his improving speed, he is always going to find a way to beat his opposition.” – Tyler Karoway.
Fantilli is similar to Bedard in that his tools to score goals and make plays can also be applied to his defensive game. He’s a larger-than-average player, standing at 6’2″, making him already built like a defenseman. He’s also excellent at utilizing every ounce of his height and weight advantage. Mainly in his great board play. Coupled with his incredible speed for such a larger player and you got one of the best recovery forwards in the draft. Being able to knock guys off pucks with relative ease and help shift the momentum back for his team makes him an underrated defensive player.
Dalibor Dvorský, AIK, HockeyAllsvenskan, #13-18 overall (1st Round).
“Dvorský is a fantastic play reader and has excellent anticipation on the defensive side of the puck. He doesn’t cheat for offense and regularly is putting himself in good defensive positions to assist his defensemen.” – Jared Brown.
As Jared mentioned, Dvorský is a player who utilizes his excellent patience and very level-headed style of play. He’s not known to make many big mistakes, which is a great quality for a two-way guy. As Brown said, he consistently positions himself to assist his defensemen. This makes him more effective in the common plays players will find themselves in. While Fantilli and Bedard are more capable of making the big saves and highlight spots, Dvorský will often remain the unsung hero as he grinds his way through every shift, never really missing a beat. Sometimes the greatest defensive players are not the flashiest.
Zach Benson, Winnipeg Ice, WHL, #5-7 overall (1st Round).
“Has high hockey IQ, hustles all over the ice, and plays just as hard in the defensive zone as he does in the offensive zone.” – Jody Horak.
Benson is capable of taking complete control of a game when he is firing on all cylinders. His overwhelming speed and tenacity make him hard to stop when he gets going. This makes him an effective player in the defensive zone, as he is not one to let the opposing players cycle the puck for long. He’s not a wild bull, however, as he has built up an excellent reputation for his IQ when out on the ice. Making high effort plays to snuff out opposing offense but has the wherewithal not to leave his goalies and defenders hanging while doing so.
Oliver Moore, University of Minnesota, NCAA, #8-#12 overall (1st Round).
“Moore is one of the most demanding working prospects in the 2023 class. Demanding in the sense that he’s always busting his butt to get the puck back when his team doesn’t have the puck. He plays that complete 200ft game that every coach wants their center to play and is a player that can play in all situations for his club.” – Jared Brown.
Moore is sort of the quintessential two-way forward and arguably the first pure two-guy on this list. He has high utility, high work effort and can apply these skills on both ends. This is obviously an excellent quality to have in a prospect, and many players who have this ability to perform effective and consistent two-way efforts are usually guaranteed a future NHL spot in one way or another. Because of this, Moore is seen as a sort of safe pick early on and has been growing in interest as the seasons are ending. That, coupled with his underrated offensive prowess, means Moore could be walking up to the stage a little earlier than many scouts anticipated at the beginning of the year.
Otto Stenberg, Frölunda HC, SHL, #18-22 overall (1st Round).
“Stenberg is a player with great offensive upside, and he uses his skating to cover and, at times, gets really low to support his defense on the breakout. He is a 200-foot player who puts in a consistent effort.” – Andy Miller.
Stenberg is a player that seems to be up in the air as to where he will land in the draft order come July. He’s got many upsides but no real hook that makes him stand out compared to his fellow Swedes, speedy forwards, or two-way forwards. But despite this, Stenberg just doesn’t seem to have many downsides. Like Moore, he is a safe pick, and like Benson, he has an excellent combination of skating and high-effort play styles. The only difference is that Stenberg seems to hone his abilities in the two-way department more so than Benson or Moore. His skating should be praised even more in a sense, as he has some of the best agility in the draft class. This makes him excellent at utilizing his 200-foot game that Andy mentioned.
Brayden Yager, Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL, #7-10 overall (1st Round).
“Plays with poise, intensity, grit, focus & excellent compete in all three zones.” – Murray Caldwell.
Now we’re getting into the players that our scouts just had to mention. Yager’s name came up a few times when discussing the best two-way forwards in the draft. And likely, his name was mentioned due to Murray’s words: “Poise, intensity, grit, and focus.” Yager is also a smooth and controlling player when on the ice. He has a lot of control and doesn’t make many mistakes. This confidence at all ends and his incredible shot made Yager a favorite to be a potential Top 5 pick. While those aspirations have fallen slightly, Yager is still undoubtedly an excellent prospect, and his two-way game has much to do with that.
Leo Carlsson, Örebro HK, SHL, #3-5 overall (1st Round).
“A young player who has become well known for his two-way, power forward plays in Sweden. His smooth skating allows him to move quickly and cleanly in all areas of the ice. He is able to defend his zone and is a threat to put up points or make a great play in the offensive zone.” – Matt Hnatiuk.
It was a close call between Leo Carlsson and Brayden Yager for the #3 spot. But in the end, Carlsson has just proven to be a bit more dedicated to his defensive game than Yager. Regarding #3 spots, Carlsson practically guaranteed a Top 5 position in July. Not only Top 5, but Carlsson is rumored even to go higher than Michkov. And one can’t help but think that Carlsson’s excellent two-way play is the cause for that, as it makes him excel in more situations. Carlsson is big and can play at both ends. What more do you want in a player?
Nate Danielson, Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL, #11-15 overall (1st Round).
“Supportive at both ends of the ice, moves the puck effectively from the defensive zone to the offensive zone.” – Jody Horak.
If you’re looking for the purest of two-way forwards, look no further than Nate Danielson. This guy drops anchor as a centerman like no other player in this draft. He falls into a defensive position so naturally and utilizes all the skills of a defenseman to protect the net and drive offense back into his team’s possession. Danielson is a unique player in this draft as he is heavily team-oriented. All players are, to some extent, but Danielson’s entire playstyle depends on the players around him working together. This doesn’t necessarily make Danielson a star compared to some other players, but his ability to play the level-headed style of game he does, and rack up the points that he has, makes him an undeniably crucial player to have on your team.
Will Smith, Boston College, NCAA, #4-6 overall (1st Round).
“Smith gets the most out of whoever he is playing with. Reliable defensive game and a great motor.” – Andrew LeBlanc.
Will Smith and Nate Danielson were neck and neck for this position. But while they both play defensive games and Danielson’s dedication to the defensive end is admirable, Will Smith is just too good on the offensive end. And they are called two-way forwards for a reason. If you have already read our TOP 10 Playmakers list, then you know just how good Will Smith is on the offensive end. No other player in this draft is as obviously dedicated to both ends of the ice as Will Smith, other than maybe Danielson, but again, his offensive prowess places him a little higher than Danielson. Find him on our TOP 10 Playmakers list to see just how good Will Smith is on the offensive end. But he is certainly #1 at something, and that is being the best two-way forward in the 2023 NHL draft class.
For more information on the 2023 NHL Draft class be sure to pick up your copy of the comprehensive DraftPro 2023 NHL Draft Guide.