2023 NHL Draft Countdown – No. 35-31: Beau Akey, Charlie Stramel, David Edstrom, Nick Lardis, Gavin Brindley

Over the next few weeks leading into the 2023 NHL Draft, we’ll be counting down the Top 100 prospects in this year’s class based on Daily Faceoff’s list. Today, we have No. 35 Beau Akey, No. 34 Charlie Stramel, No. 33 David Edstrom, No. 32 Nick Lardis, and No. 31 Gavin Brindley.

Scouting Report: “While most eyes have been on Brandt Clarke in Barrie this year, it’s hard to ignore Akey jumping up 30 points this year. He does an excellent job of rushing the puck down the ice from his own zone and he panic-passes the puck far less these days.” – Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff 

Scouting Report: “After a strong World Junior Championship performance, Stramel capped things off with a good second half with Wisconsin. There’s no shortage of teams that want the services of the 6-foot-3, 216-pound forward with a high hockey IQ. Sure, the offence didn’t follow, but he’s a pain in the rear end to play against.” – Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff 

Scouting Report: “Edstrom wasn’t previously ranked, so this is a huge jump, for sure. Getting to see him in person really opened my eyes to his skating and hockey IQ, and he’s a strong dual threat as a shooter and a passer. Edstrom has a big frame at 6-foot-3 and uses it to his advantage, and he scored everywhere he played this year. Scouts really sold me on him.” – Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff 

Scouting Report: “Late-season dominance can be very misleading, but there might not have been a more interesting forward down the stretch than Lardis. After putting up just 19 points in 36 games with the Petes, he blew up with 25 goals and 46 points in 33 games with Hamilton before going on a tear in the playoffs.” – Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff 

Scouting Report: “Small but feisty, Brindley went under the radar in Michigan, largely due to Fantilli’s heroics. He’s as competitive as it comes, and he’s a solid straight-line skater, but there’s still some room to improve from an overall puck skill and hockey sense standpoint. Another year of college will help.” – Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff