NHL Draft 2023 forecast: Minnetian, Musty lead ’23 class

Hamburg, N.Y., native Quentin Musty (No. 27) was the first overall pick in the 2021 OHL Draft. (Paul Bryant/USA Hockey)

A lot can happen in 24 months, but it looks like the Tri-State region could have two first-round picks in the 2023 NHL draft.

Defenseman Aram Minnetian (Woodcliff Lake, N.J.) and left wing Quentin Musty (Hamburg, N.Y.) both project as top-32 players in this draft class. The duo has size, physical prowess, explosiveness and skill to warrant such hype.

While Minnetian and Musty are the clear frontrunners, several other players have upside and very well could hear their names called at the draft in 2023. The birth year is heavy in terms of players from the New York metro area, largely due to Mid Fairfield’s supremely talented roster.

1. Aram Minnetian
Mid Fairfield, 3/19/05, D, right shot, 5-11/178, NCAA commit: Boston College

Minnetian is a big-time player with the physical tools to wow observers every game. He’s an elite skater who is big and strong. He can fly up and down the sheet while making highlight-reel plays in transition. From the point, he has a hard and accurate shot. His hockey sense isn’t as good as others, in part due to never really needing that due to his physical abilities. His skating stride is long and fluid, which allows him to recover when he gets into trouble. While his offensive acumen gets him the notoriety, his closing ability is very impressive. He makes a lot of great plays to separate the puck carrier. A two-way defenseman with size, Minnetian is a legit prospect. If he can improve his hockey sense during his two years with the NTDP, he’ll become a serious threat to go in the top 10.

2. Quentin Musty
North Jersey Avalanche 16-U, 7/6/05, LW, left shot, 6-1/180

Musty is an elite power forward who can take over a game. Musty has the size, strength, explosive skating, skill and length to protect pucks, drive the net and create offense every shift. Musty elected to turn down the NTDP in favor of the OHL, where he was the No. 1 overall pick to the Sudbury Wolves in the league’s draft on June 4.

3. Drew Fortescue
Mid Fairfield, 4/28/05, D, left shot, 6-0/163, NCAA commit: Boston College

Fortescue is a vastly different player than Minnetian. He doesn’t have the big-time athleticism, but he’s smart and plays a steady, reliable game. The Nyack, N.Y., native skates well and has a good stick. Most importantly, his puck touches almost always end up in a positive. If he doesn’t have a play, he’ll throw it in a safe spot. He gaps well and has length and body positioning to defend well. Fortescue, who also played at Don Bosco, will join Minnetian on the NTDP blue line.

4. Salvatore Guzzo
Mid Fairfield, 4/17/05, RW, right shot, 6-0/170, NCAA commit: Harvard

Guzzo is one of my favorite players in the region. He has the size, skating and compete that make him fun to watch. He’s often the first player in on the forecheck. He wins battles below the goal line and makes plays. The Staten Island, N.Y., native also can score goals and drive the net. Guzzo brings a physical element. While he’s been a fixture on the top two lines for Mid Fairfield, he’ll probably slide down the lineup with the NTDP. I think he has the versatility to play throughout the lineup, but probably will be best suited as a third-line winger.

5. Ben Yurchuk
North Jersey Avalanche 16-U, 2/1/05, C, left shot, 5-10/168

Yurchuk is a little underdeveloped compared to the other top-six players on this list. From Randolph, N.J., his hockey sense is an elite part of his game. He skates well and has above-average skill. He doesn’t have a poor compete level, but he could stand to become a little harder and more engaged. He’s underrated and skates in the shadows of some of the big boys on North Jersey. For those who watch closely, he’s deserving of attention.

6. Chase Pirtle
North Jersey Avalanche 16-U, 3/8/05, RW, right shot, 6-2/181

Pirtle has a lot of upside and has shown a goal-scoring touch over the years. From Far Hills, N.J., Pirtle is a big winger who can score in tight. He has elite hands to finish around the net. His skating and body language are areas that he can work on moving forward.

7. Chris Pelosi
Mount St. Charles, 3/6/05, C, left shot, 6-0/160, NCAA commit: Quinnipiac

Pelosi had his moments where he was really good this past winter. The New England Districts were some of his best viewings. The Sewell, N.J., native has the size, jam and hard shot to intrigue scouts. Consistency and bringing that power-forward mentality every night is key to his game taking the next step.

8. Brian Nicholas
Mid Fairfield, 3/15/05, C, left shot, 6-0/178

Nicholas has shown flashes of big-time potential over the past couple of years. The Scarsdale, N.Y., native has the size, skating and shot to be a power forward. If he can play more between the dots and bring a consistent effort every shift, his stock will soar.

9. Lucas St. Louis
Mid Fairfield, 3/30/05, D, left shot, 5-9/150

St. Louis’ elite attribute is his hockey sense. The Riverside, Conn., native, son of Hockey Hall of Famer Marty, has a great brain, especially with the puck on his stick. He makes tape-to-tape breakout passes, pushes possession, and can move it around while walking the blue line on attacking-zone sequences. He’s on the smaller side and needs to become harder, but he should remain on the radar, despite falling short of making the NTDP.

10. Nicholas Fascia
North Jersey Avalanche 16-U, 4/28/05, D, left shot, 5-11/160

Fascia is on here for his elite skating ability. The Blackwood, N.J., native is one of the best skaters in this age group. He has to toughen up a little and be harder to knock off pucks on retrievals. He’s limited a little offensively, but his elite feet will keep him in the discussion.

11. Tanner Adams
Mount Saint Charles, 9/2/05, C, right shot, 5-10/161, NCAA commit: Providence

Adams, from Northport, N.Y., recently signed a tender agreement with the USHL’s Tri-City Storm. That means he’ll play for the Kearney, Neb.-based junior organization for the next two years before heading to Providence College. His skating isn’t bad, but it’s not an elite attribute yet. He has good hands and competes hard. If he can work on his skating and give an honest effort every shift, he could move up this list.

12. Logan Renkowski
Mid Fairfield, 8/13/05, RW, left shot, 5-8/138, NCAA commit: Harvard

Renkowski is probably a long shot in terms of NHL upside, due to his size. However, his skating ability, skill, hockey sense and compete are all positive attributes. At the very least, he will be a very good four-year college player.

13. Anthony Cappello
North Jersey Avalanche 15s, 8/26/05, C, left shot, 6-2/180

Cappello has a lot of upside and showed it at USA Hockey Nationals. From Ossining, N.Y., he has the size and ability to be a power forward. He was able to use his size, strength and powerful skating stride to split the defense and get some clean looks on net. He showed he can be a goal scorer, but consistency and compete level are areas that he can improve upon over the next few years.

14. Gavin McCarthy
Buffalo Junior Sabres 16-U, 6/2/05, D, right shot, 5-11/155, NCAA commit: Boston University

McCarthy is a steady defenseman who skates well and shows a willingness to jump up into the play from time to time. He was the only ’05 to play up on the Junior Sabres’ 16-U team this season and earned an invite to the NTDP Evaluation Camp. The Clarence Center, N.Y., native has accepted a tender offer to play for the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks in 2021-22.

15. Stephen Peck
North Jersey Avalanche 15s, 1/18/05, G, catches left, 6-0/150

Peck is the one goaltender of note in this birth year at the moment. The New York, N.Y., native has good size and earned a spot at USA Hockey’s NTDP Evaluation Camp in May, due to his body of work.

This article appeared in the print edition of the May/June 2021 New York Hockey Journal magazine.