[ad_1]
There might be zero surprises within the 2023 NHL Draft till the fourth decide. That’s principally locked in stone. All through this whole course of we’ve identified Connor Bedard would be the No. 1 decide, and nothing in one million years will change that.
Why? As a result of he’s simply that good. There may be Victor Wembanyama ranges of hype to his sport, or in the event you desire a hockey reference: Connor McDavid, however to a fair increased diploma. A number of gamers have been in comparison with Wayne Gretzky through the years, and everybody has failed to some extent — however there’s simply one thing magic about watching Bedard play that makes it really feel attainable that he may very well be the nice one.
After that, there’s one lock at No. 2: Adam Fantilli. Some other draft he’d be a No. 1 prospect, so the Geese might be thrilled he’s there after they decide. Leo Carlsson is a protected lock at No. 3 — after which it will get much more murky. This can be a fairly lean draft on elite expertise outdoors of the highest 5, which makes scouting the 2023 class tougher than regular.
2023 NHL Mock Draft
| Choose | Workforce | Participant | Place | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choose | Workforce | Participant | Place | From |
| 1 | Chicago Blackhawks | Connor Bedard | C | Regina (WHL) |
| 2 | Anaheim Geese | Adam Fantilli | C | Michigan (NCAA) |
| 3 | Columbus Blue Jackets | Leo Carlsson | C | Orebro (SHL) |
| 4 | San Jose Sharks | Matvei Michkov | RW | Sochi (KHL) |
| 5 | Montreal Canadiens | Will Smith | C | Boston Faculty (NCAA) |
| 6 | Arizona Coyotes | David Reinbacher | D | Kloten (NL) |
| 7 | Philadelphia Flyers | Zach Benson | C | Winnipeg (WHL) |
| 8 | Washington Capitals | Dalibor Dvorsky | C/RW | AIK (Allsvenskan) |
| 9 | Detroit Crimson Wings | Ryan Leonard | C/LW | Boston Faculty (NCAA) |
| 10 | St. Louis Blues | Axel Sandin Pellikka | D | Skelleftea (AIK) |
| 11 | Vancouver Canucks | Oliver Moore | C | Minnesota (NCAA) |
| 12 | Arizona Coyotes (from Ottawa) | Tom Willander | D | Boston Faculty (NCAA) |
| 13 | Buffalo Sabres | Eduard Sale | RW | Brno (Czechia) |
| 14 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Matthew Wooden | C/LW | UConn (NCAA) |
| 15 | Nashville Predators | Mikhail Gulyayev | D | Omskie Yastreby (KHL) |
| 16 | Calgary Flames | Colby Barlow | LW | Owen Sound (OHL) |
| 17 | Detroit Crimson Wings (from NY Islanders) | Gabe Perrault | RW | Boston Faculty (NCAA) |
| 18 | Winnipeg Jets | Nate Danielson | C | Brandon (WHL) |
| 19 | Chicago Blackhawks (from Tampa Bay) | Brayden Yager | C | Moose Jaw (WHL) |
| 20 | Seattle Kraken | Dmitri Simashev | D | Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL) |
| 21 | Minnesota Wild | Andrew Cristall | LW | Kelowna (WHL) |
| 22 | Philadelphia Flyers (from Los Angeles) | Samuel Honzek | C | Vancouver (WHL) |
| 23 | New York Rangers | Calum Ritchie | C | Oshawa (OHL) |
| 24 | Nashville Predators (from Edmonton) | Otto Stenberg | C/W | Frolunda (Sweden J20) |
| 25 | St. Louis Blues (from Toronto) | Quentin Musty | LW | Sudbury (OHL) |
| 26 | San Jose Sharks (from New Jersey) | Oliver Bonk | D | London (OHL) |
| 27 | Colorado Avalanche | Daniil However | LW | Loko Yaroslavl (MHL) |
| 28 | Toronto Maple Leafs (from Boston) | Tanner Molendyk | D | Saskatoon (WHL) |
| 29 | St. Louis Blues (from Dallas) | Gavin Brindley | RW | Michigan (NCAA) |
| 30 | Carolina Hurricanes | Riley Heidt | LW/C/RW | Prince George (WHL) |
| 31 | Montreal Canadiens (from Florida) | Lukas Dragicevic | D | Tri-Metropolis (WHL) |
| 32 | Vegas Golden Knights | Bradly Nadeau | C | Maine (NCAA) |
- Matvei Michkov may simply fall a lot decrease. This can be a actually tough decide to venture. There’s little question he’s an elite expertise who may very well be a Prime 3 decide in any draft (together with this one), however Russia’s struggle with Ukraine, paired with the very fact he can’t come over till 2026-27 on the earliest may imply he’s a threat too massive for a workforce to take contained in the Prime 5.
- Keep watch over Eduard Sale. If there’s an opportunity for a serious riser to contained in the Prime 10 (or increased) it’s him. Removed from a completed product, there are some unicorn traits to his sport like his passing imaginative and prescient and contact that might trigger a GM to fall in love. There’s threat right here, certain, but additionally an opportunity for a home-run participant.
- Gavin Brindley is a bizarre participant to venture. There’s a lot to like about his sport whereas watching him fly to the puck like a rabid wolverine (forgive the pun, I do know he’s enjoying a Michigan), however he has a really small body. At 5-foot-9 and 157 kilos he’s the smallest first spherical prospect within the draft, and that might trigger him to fall.
- Don’t sleep on Bradly Nadeau. May as nicely make this a bookmark for 5 years from now. I’ve him going late within the first spherical, however he may very well be the steal of the category. A mechanically-perfect Junior-A prospect, we’ll actually need to see how he can maintain his personal towards older, stiffer competitors. Nonetheless, there’s a really actual probability he may make a serious affect within the NHL sooner or later and be an absolute steal for a playoff workforce with the posh of rolling the cube.
[ad_2]