Before the season began, the assessment of the top of the 2023 class was clear. This was going to be the Connor Bedard show. 

But that didn’t mean the drop in talent was substantial. This is a class that has been broached with reverence for some time. Matvei Michkov has been terrorizing Russian leagues for some time now – scoring goals at a pace we rarely see. Leo Carlsson torched the Swedish junior circuit and had his eyes on a big SHL draft-eligible season (one that is well underway). The WHL appeared set to polish up several names among the top-10 selections including names like Zach Benson, Brayden Yager, and Riley Heidt.  

It was Canadian centre Adam Fantilli who appeared destined to play second fiddle to Bedard, though. And if he wanted to truly contend for the top spot, he was going to need a season for the ages with the University of Michigan. Wouldn't you know it, he's authoring one such season, too.