The 2023 NHL draft has been widely considered a deep draft at the advanced position. there Lots of talent up front With Connor Bedard, Adam Fantelli, Leo Carlson, and more. But two prospects seem to be overshadowed by this interest, Matthew Wood and Gabe Perrault. Both have put together very special seasons and could head to the podium 12th overall to the Arizona Coyotes.
Related: 2023 NHL Draft Guide
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The Coyotes are very familiar with the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP), drafting Logan Cooley third overall last year. On the flip side, they could look at Wood, who came from the NCAA at the University of Connecticut. Wood and Perreault have both solidified themselves as first-round picks, but can they go as high as 12 to the Coyotes?
Matthew Wood
Wood rose to fame while playing in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) for the Victoria Grizzlies. With the Grizzlies, he scored 45 goals and 85 points in 46 games. He was also awarded the Brett Hull Trophy as the BCHL’s leading scorer and the Bruce Allison Memorial Trophy as BCHL Rookie of the Year. Then he made the decision to go to the NCAA, Adhere to the University of Connecticut.
While expectations weren’t very high for the young Alberta native, it shocked everyone. He scored just under a point per game with 11 goals and 34 points in 35 games for the Huskies. Part of his success is due to his large size; At 6-foot-4, he’s something a lot of teams are looking for. Besides his height, he has a really nice shot to the wrist and isn’t afraid to let it rip.
General Manager Bill Armstrong showed his desire to add size by drafting Conor Geekie last year. Could we see the same situation with Wood? He has all the intangibles you want from a first-round pick: good height and a shot. It has also been compared to the Buffalo Sabers’ Tage Thompson, who was also drafted by Armstrong when he was in St. Louis. It would have added a lot to the already stacked pool of odds, but with teams prioritizing size, it might not be in the 12.
Quotations
“I like to think I’m in charge of the defensive side of the puck. I certainly don’t take that aspect of the game lightly… I would say if you were to say one of my skills stands out, it would be my shooting, but I have so many other aspects that if you really watch my game you wouldn’t stand out as well.”
Wood is one of the best pure scorers in the draft this year. The long-range winger has an outstanding shot and is skilled at scoring goals at a high rate. His release is very quick and he gets a lot of power behind every shot. Wood’s ability to find the back of the net stems from Also from his excellent hands and IQ with the puck. He has a long reach and a good active stick, can find passing lanes and shoot well, but he has to improve his pace, movement and two-way play.”
Gabe Perrault
Perreault was Part of the USNTDP stack file A team that includes the likes of Will Smith, Ryan Leonard, and more. It can be said that this line was one of the best, and Perreault has been a huge part of their success. Last season he produced ridiculous numbers of 53 goals and 132 points in 63 games. With a score of 132 points, He broke Auston Matthew’s previous record from 117.
When watching Perreault, you first notice his game-making ability; He is all over the ice creating chances. He has fast hands, which allows him to make room for himself and his teammates. He also played a large role in the power play with the USNTDP, scoring many of his goals there. Perreault also has a good shot. Nothing crazy, but when he sees an open lane, he’s not afraid to let it rip.
Perreault certainly doesn’t have Wood’s height, but he does have the offensive upside to look for in the future. Although he will have to work on his defensive awareness and skating, he is clearly a pure playmaker and can create chances in a split second. They already have an elite playmaker in Cooley and could look to add to that by drafting Perreault.
Quotations
A great playmaker with a strong vision, Perreault is a real threat on the ice because he has good pace and the ability to be present in the sky. He is a very intelligent player with a creative style of play when he is on the ice. In a small game of ice or playing along a wall, Perreault tends to make smart decisions with the puck on his stick as well as on his body.”
He is very creative with his handling and not afraid to take on opposing defenders one-on-one off the rush. His quick hands allow him to release pressure and move the puck into an open teammate to maintain possession. He shoots a lot, but he’s smart about picking the right shots to take. What’s interesting is that he plays with a scorer’s mentality, but is very accurate with his passes. I would definitely classify him as a playmaker; He thinks and sees the game really well which contributes to his game making ability.
Sean Raggio, The Hockey Book
Wolves have a lot of options
While Wood and Perreault are just two options, Wood is probably the better choice of the two. That doesn’t rule out Perreault’s great season, but it’s possible that Wood has a higher ceiling. He already has a year of NCAA experience under his belt and has the height GM Armstrong wanted. Both possibilities would be great options for the Wolves as they offer them different skill sets, but of the two, height could be the deciding factor with Wood.