The 2023 NHL Entry Draft will undoubtedly be one of, if not the most exciting drafts in quite some time. Not only with all the hype surrounding Connor Bedard, but with how much talent can be found all throughout the first round and even through the earlier rounds of the entire draft. That being said, this piece will act as half prospect preview and half mock draft. With each pick, I’ll list who I think that team is going to take based on their draft position and what the team needs while also talking a little bit about the prospect themselves, what scouts had to say about them, as well as my own thoughts on the player. Let’s get into it!
1. Chicago Blackhawks: Center - Connor Bedard (Regina Pats, WHL)
Duh. In all seriousness, Conor Bedard is a generational talent and easily in the same vein as Conor McDavid, Auston Matthews and Sidney Crosby. In 119 games played with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League, Bedard registered 243 points. That’s more than two points a game on average. For context, that’s 24 more points than McDavid had in his two seasons leading up to his draft year. Granted, Bedard played 16 more games than McDavid but the fact of the matter is we are talking about a once in a blue moon, franchise altering caliber superstar that the Blackhawks are without question going to look to in leading the new era of this organization.
2. Anaheim Ducks: Center - Adam Fantili (Michigan, NCAA)
Adam Fantilli is far from a consolation prize for Anaheim. He’s a bit of a bigger body than Bedard, an all around centerman with elite skill that plays the game at a high speed. He can dish out assists just as much as he can score goals and can play in just about any role. He put up 65 points in his Freshman year with Michigan and finished off the season by winning the 2023 Hobey Baker Award. Prior to his impressive year at Michigan, Fantilli put up 74 points with the Chicago Steel of the USHL. Not only should Fantilli be able to transition seamlessly to the NHL, I wouldn’t be surprised if over time, he gives Trevor Zegras a run for his money as the team’s number one center. Regardless of that, the Ducks are going to be in great shape down the road with a 1-2 punch of Zegras and Fantilli, not to mention Mason MacTavish, Troy Terry, and Jamie Drysdale.
3. Columbus Blue Jackets: Right Wing - Matvei Michkov (KHL)
Matvei Michkov is one of the more intriguing prospects expected to be selected early in the first round of the coming draft. There’s still a lot of uncertainty in Russia and the NHL’s ability to get players from there which is part of the reason why Michkov has kind of fallen out of top three positions in many mock drafts. Another part of that reason is a lot of people are gaining suspicion that he’s only interested in playing for Washington to have Ovechkin as a mentor which makes good sense. However, Michkov is too elite a talent for teams to pass up on, simply because he might not want to play for your team or would rather be somewhere else. There’s always the possibility that Washington trades up in the draft to get him or who knows, maybe he will fall but if any GM is going to take a swing in the early picks, it’s going to be Jarmo Kekalainen. He already added two big name defenders to the team via trade and he has potential top centers in Kent Johnson and Cole Sillinger. Michkov is signed through 2026 in the KHL but is more than capable of making the jump to the NHL sooner assuming he’s able to. He’s an amazing puck handler with great hands and a great hockey IQ. He’s an elusive skater with a great shot that can easily put up a ton of goals for you once he gets comfortable in the NHL. Columbus could decide to play it safe and go with Leo Carlsson or Will Smith but all things considered, I think Columbus takes a swing with Michkov.
4. San Jose Sharks: Center, Left Wing - Leo Carlsson (Orebro, SHL)
Leo Carlsson could easily go in the top three of the draft but since I have Columbus going with Michkov, Carlsson will be a great pick up for the Sharks. Coming out of Sweden, Carlsson is an elite, offensive minded forward that plays with aggression and can make plays all over the ice. He’s more than capable of running a power play as his hands are definitely one of his strengths. Primarily a center, Carlsson could start his career on the wing and potentially flip back and forth depending on how his development goes. Could be a bit of a similar situation the Sharks already have with William Eklund, but between the two of the young forwards, San Jose would be in good shape moving forward with these two at the helm of the future.
5. Montreal Canadiens: Center - Will Smith (USNTDP)
No, not the rapper. Will Smith is a Massachusetts native coming out of the US National Team Development Program as their number one center. He’s dynamic, has elite skill, great vision, scores, passes, there’s very few faults to his game. Aside from Fantilli and obviously Bedard, he very well could be the most well-rounded centerman in the draft and will be a huge piece for one of these teams with a high draft pick to build around. If he falls to five, Montreal will have a great 1-2 punch of Suzuki and Smith to build around. They just re-signed Cole Caufield for eight years, they drafted Juraj Slafkovski first overall last season, they have Kirby Dach and other wingers still under contract.
6. Arizona Coyotes: Left Wing - Zachary Benson (Winnipeg Ice, WHL)
Arizona has two selections in the early parts of round one and boy, are they going to have to be strategic about their picks. Without getting completely into what’s going on in Arizona and all the uncertainty surrounding their future, the Coyotes basically need to ensure that whoever they pick, will have no choice but to play for the organization. For context, last season they drafted Logan Cooley third overall. Cooley is a college hockey player and has already opted to return to the University of Minnesota for the second year in a row. A decision he could technically continue to make until his rights expire and he can become a free agent. To avoid the potential of that happening down the road, Arizona should probably stick to drafting out of the CHL and with that, I have them going with Zachary Benson. Benson’s a smaller winger coming off a 98 point season with the Winnipeg Ice of the WHL. Despite his smaller frame, he works hard, is phenomenal without the pick and uses his high end skill to make elite passes and contribute offensively.
7. Philadelphia Flyers: Center - Nate Danielson (Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL)
The Flyers are deep in the rebuild process, looking to form a new identity. They drafted Cutter Gauthier, a big bodied winger last season so I’d expect them to look to grab a center this time around as that’s more of a position of need for them at this point. Nate Danielson is kind of all over the place on different mock drafts. Some have him ranked very high while others have him going later in the first. I have him landing with the Flyers as he’s a natural center who can drive play, run a power play, kill penalties, score goals and do just about everything you’d expect from your top center. He already has NHL caliber speed, a great shot and proven ability to score goals. He can be a great piece for Philadelphia to shape their future around and unless Will Smith falls to 7th overall, is one of the best choices at center. He’s coming off a 78 point season and has been a point per game player for over a year now. At 6”2 he’s got good size to him with plenty of room to bulk up.
8. Washington Capitals: Center - David Edstrom (Frolunda JR, SWE)
This will be the highest draft pick the Washington Capitals have had in a very long time and are in a bit of an interesting position in the process of it. The Capitals are not really in a serious position to win or make any more Cup runs. The focus for them at this point is doing whatever they can to get Ovechkin to the top of the goal scoring record. That being said, whoever they draft likely won’t make an immediate jump to the NHL unless they do manage to land Matvei Mitchkov. However, since I have Columbus taking him, I have the Capitals taking a chance on a young Swedish center that can potentially be a mentee to Nicklas Backstrom. Edstrom has good size to him at 6”3 and was Sweden’s number one center at the U18 World’s. He’s an all around center, put up a point per game in the Sweden Jr. League and contributed at the SEL level. He’s great around the net, has a lot of NHL characteristics and could be a future top-six two way center.
9. Detroit Red Wings: Defense - Dmitri Simashev (Yaroslav Jr. KHL)
Dmitri Simashev is among the top defensemen in this year’s draft class and given his size, it makes good sense to have him in the top ten of my mock draft. Despite being 6”4, he’s a smooth skater that plays a solid defensive game. He’s quick, has size in his favor and could easily become one of those defensemen that you never hear much about because he’s always doing the right thing out there. I could see Detroit going a lot of different ways with this pick and frankly, wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if they trade it, perhaps in a deal for Alex DeBrincat? However, if they hold onto it, Simashev could be too good to pass up on and would make a great addition to the Red Wings D-core that can certainly benefit from some improvements.
10. St. Louis Blues: Defense - Axel Sandin-Pellikka (Skelleftea JR Sweden)
Speaking of teams in need of help on the back end, the St. Louis Blues are no exception to that. Considering how many picks they have in the first round, I wouldn’t be surprised if they look to bring in a young defender to begin developing with the 10th overall selection. Axel Sandin-Pellikka is among the top ranked defenders available in the draft. He’s a tremendous puck mover with great hockey IQ and a strong shot. There are some concerns about his skating and defending abilities at the NHL level but for all intents and purposes, he’s proven to be an effective asset. He was named the best defenseman at the U18 World’s and has put up great numbers in the Swedish Jr League. In addition to that, he had a pair of goals and three assists with AIK of the SHL so has experience playing in a league full of men. While lots of folks favor Reinbacher over him, I see the Blues going with Sandin-Pellikka.
11. Vancouver Canucks: Defense - David Reinbacher (Kloten, Swiss League)
While it may take some time before a defenseman gets drafted in the first round this year, I’d expect a domino effect to take place once one does. I can also see Vancouver looking to pick up a highly ranked, right-handed shot defenseman that could potentially pair with Quinn Hughes down the road. David Reinbacher, like Sand In-Pellikka, is one of the top ranked defenseman in this draft class. He’s more of an all around defender who moves play, gets pucks out of his zone and makes an impact on both ends of the ice. He does have some offensive shortcomings as he doesn’t generate a ton of chances or shoot the puck frequently, but of all projects to take on, coaching a mobile defender to shoot the puck and take more chances in the offensive zone is a better problem to have. He’s coming out of the Swiss league and had 22 points in 46 games last season. At 6”2, 185 lbs, he’s got size to him and there’s fewer things NHL GM’s love more than a right-handed defender with size.
12. Arizona Coyotes: Defense - Tom Willander (Rogle Jr, Swe)
I originally had Arizona going with Brayden Yager but after taking a deeper look at their slightly depressing CapFriendly page, they should probably try to pick up one forward and one defender barring any massive surprises. That being said, Tom Willander would be the best available defenseman if Simashev, Sandin-Pellikka and Reinbacher are all selected prior. Another good sized, right-handed shot defenseman, Willander is a great skater with a high compete level. He also committed to Boston University at a very young age which is an impressive feat. As a result, he’s likely going to be a work in progress and won’t see the NHL for a couple of years which hopefully gives Arizona the time to find a rink to play hockey in by the time Willander is ready to make the transition to the NHL. Again, Arizona should be very cautious about drafting college players or anyone they could have trouble containing rights to but given the nature of my mock draft, I’m locking him in here.
13. Buffalo Sabres: Left/Right Winger - Gabriel Perreault (USNTDP)
Gabe Perreault is another player that can potentially become a steal in the draft depending on where he lands and how things play out. Perreault is another product of the USNTDP, playing on the left side of Will Smith on the top line. Aside from his extraordinary hockey sense, great hands and playmaking abilities, Perreault should grab attention for breaking Auston Matthews single season point record with the USNTDP. Perreault certainly has room to bulk up and likely won’t make an immediate jump to the NHL but makes a lot of sense for Buffalo who may be looking more towards wingers with their first round selection. Perreault is a Boston College commit who will definitely hold high expectations in the coming years. Plus, I’m sure Buffalo wouldn’t mind taking another chance on a guy with the last name Perreault.
14. Pittsburgh Penguins: Right Wing/Center - Ryan Leonard (USNTDP)
The final piece from that top line with the US Development Program, Ryan Leonard is a versatile, playmaking winger with quick hands and high energy. There’s a good chance Leonard doesn’t fall this deep into the draft, especially given his performance at the U18 World’s this year but wherever he does end up, he has the potential to be a key piece for a building team. He’s the type of player a coach will love and can plug into many different situations. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in a third line role in the next couple of years nor would I be surprised if he becomes a Tyler Toffoli type of player down the road.
15. Nashville Predators: Center - Dalibor Dvorsky (AIK, Sweden)
Nashville will be a fascinating team to watch at the draft as this will be our first taste of Barry Trotz, the General Manager. It’s made its way around the internet that Trotz basically told his staff to not be afraid to take swings on guys as he’ll be able to get bottom six guys no problem. He wants guys that will get the fans in seats and as a result, will be a highly anticipated pick in the first round of the draft. That being said, this could become one of the first really off the board picks but with Dalibor Dvorsky still available, I’d say this is where he ends up. Dvorsky’s a player that works hard, has a great shot, handles the puck well and is good defensively. He might be the type of player Trots would love to have on his team and assuming he falls to them at 15, could be in a Preds jersey sooner rather than later.
16. Calgary Flames: Left Wing/Right Wing - Colby Barlow (Owen Sound, OHL)
Colby Barlow’s a versatile winger who 79 points through two full seasons in the OHL. He’s a left-handed shot who can play either side, play in all different types of roles, can bring a physical side to his game and put up points in the process. He has a great shot, competes hard, can kill penalties and plays a north/south game that screams Calgary Flames.
17. Detroit Red Wings - Center, Left Wing - Eduard Sale (Czechia)
Sale’s another prospect that a lot of folks have in various rankings and positions in their mock drafts. Primarily a winger, Eduard Sale has great hands and is a highly skilled playmaker. He does tend to have some inconsistencies in his contributions, but with the right development, can become a playmaking machine and power play asset at the NHL level. Coming out of Czechia, Sale likely won’t make an immediate jump to the NHL. The Barrie Colts of the OHL selected him in the import draft so he could spend some time there before making the jump. If Detroit uses their earlier pick on a defenseman like Simashev, it’s fair to expect them to go with a forward and Sale could be among the better options available and a player I can certainly see in a Red Wings jersey down the road.
18. Winnipeg Jets: Center, Left Wing: Oliver Moore (USNTDP)
The number two center behind Will Smith at the USNTDP, Oliver Moore could be a great value pick later on in the draft. He has potential to develop into a number two center at the NHL level and is one of the best skaters in this year’s draft class. He has great hands, works hard and has already established himself as a strong penalty killer. He’s committed to the University of Minnesota so will definitely be another name to keep an eye on in NCAA play the next couple of years. Winnipeg is still trying to decide the kind of team they want to be but with a retool becoming more and more likely, Moore would be a great piece to start that off with.
19. Chicago Blackhawks: Left Wing - Samuel Honzek (Vancouver Giants, WHL)
Chicago can draft the second coming of Bobby Sanguinetti and it really wouldn’t matter considering they’re hitting the jackpot with Connor Bedard. While this pick will be heavily overshadowed by the first overall selection, it will still be an important pick for a rebuilding team. I have them going with Samuel Honzek, a big bodied power forward who plays a good two way game, works hard and can kill penalties. His stock took a bit of a hit from a leg injury that kept him out for several months but when he was playing, he put up good numbers. The type of player he has the potential of becoming is the kind of player that helps you win and would be a solid gamble to take more than halfway through round one.
20. Seattle Kraken: Right Wing - Ethan Gauthier (Sherbrooke Phoenix, QMJHL)
Ethan Gauthier’s a guy that might get passed up on because of his size but if you look at his attributes, is a very enticing player. In 66 games, he registered 69 points and was the first overall pick in the QMJHL. He’s a great 1-on-1 player, very creative on the ice with great skill and a high hockey IQ. Despite being under six feet, he plays physical and has great net front presence. 20th overall may be a bit of a reach for the winger who’s likely a second round pick but it certainly seems that the guys in Seattle know how to put together a hockey team and if they like what Gauthier has to offer, they may not want to pass on him.
21. Minnesota Wild: Center, Right Wing - Brayden Yager (Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL)
There’s a good chance Brayden Yager does not fall this deep but between being a smaller player and scoring a bit less last season, team’s could pass on him. I think a lot of people are sleeping on him considering he still put up 78 points in 67 games with Moose Jaw last season. Yager has a fantastic shot, works hard and plays the game at high speed with lots of energy. Worst case scenario with Brayden Yager is you're getting a guy who struggles to crack NHL rosters down the line but best case scenario, you’re getting an elite, top-six player who could not only become a leader down the road, but a top player that turns a lot of heads. I believe the further Yager falls in the draft the bigger of a steal he becomes but would put good money down that he doesn’t make it past Minnesota who could use a center.
22. Philadelphia Flyers: Left Wing/Right Wing - Danil But (Yaroslav Jr, Russia)
Danil But can easily go sooner and can even fall later. We know the uncertainties with Russian players but there's also just so much talent in this draft, some guys are bound to fall deeper than expected. Nevertheless, with Philadelphia taking what was originally LA’s pick from Columbus, assuming they land a center with their seventh overall pick, Danil But screams Philadelphia Flyer. One of the bigger players in the draft, But’s a right handed winger that can play either side with a great shot. Imagine a line down the road with Cutter Gauthier and Danil But? That should absolutely be a part of Philadelphia’s long term plans.
23. New York Rangers: Defense - Tanner Molendyk (Saskatoon Blades, WHL)
It’s likely in the Rangers best interest to draft a D-man and with Fox, Trouba and Schneider locked into the right side, going for a left-handed shot makes more sense. Not only does that fit their needs, but given their position, chances are they can pick up Tanner Molendyk without worrying about the offensive talent they’d leave on the table. Molendyk played big minutes in the WHL and has the potential to be a top four defenseman in the NHL. He’s a great skater that plays a strong two way game and contributes offensively in the process. Matthew Wood is another name I could see the Rangers going with given the fact that he’s a right winger and somewhat of a local guy (UCONN product) but generally speaking, Molendyk’s the best option here.
24. Nashville Predators: Left Wing - Quentin Musty (Sudbury Wolves, OHL)
Quentin Musty definitely needs to work on his skating but his numbers speak for himself. 78 points in 53 games with Sudbury, Musty has elite skill and goal scoring abilities. He’s not an otherworldly play maker but if paired with one, can be counted on to score you goals. I would make sure Nashville has a good skating coach in the system but this could be the kind of player Barry Trotz and his scouts want to take a swing on.
25. St. Louis Blues: Center - Charlie Stramel (USNTDP)
If the draft goes according to plan for St. Louis, they’ll likely add two defenders and a forward. Assuming Charlie Stramel is still available, whether it be here or at 29th overall, I would suspect they go with him. He’s one of the bigger players in the draft at 6”3, 212 lbs and has the potential to be an ideal third line center in the NHL. He did struggle in his draft season with Wisconsin but had five goals in the 2022 World’s. He’s a power forward with good net front presence and a good work ethic, could be a great fit for the Blues.
26. San Jose Sharks: Center, Right Wing - Gavin Brindley (NCAA, Michigan)
One of Michigan’s best players alongside Adam Fantilli, Gavin Brindley could be a steal later in the draft and another victim of being passed on for his size. He’s a good playmaker who skates well and works hard, would be a great addition to an already successful draft with the Sharks picking at fourth overall.
27. Colorado Avalanche - Center, Left Wing - Otto Stenberg (Frolunda Jr, Sweden)
Stenberg’s a great skater with good hands and put up around a point per game in the Swedish Jr League. His numbers when making the jump to the Swedish Elite League weren’t as exciting but nevertheless, has promise at the NHL level. He has leadership history as Captain of Frolunda Jr which can be an asset to whichever team picks him. He tends to shoot more than he passes but can be an asset to any line he’s a part of. Stenberg could be a good get for any team whether he sticks at Center or settles into Left Wing and Colorado could be a really good opportunity for him to eventually develop under the leadership of fellow countryman Gabe Landeskog.
28. Toronto Maple Leafs: Right Wing - Koehn Ziemmer (Prince George Cougars, WHL)
It’s going to be fascinating to see the first couple moves Brad Treliving makes as the Leafs new General Manager. What else could a team that has “The Core Four” possibly need in order to get to the next step? I have them going with Koehn Ziemmer which may be a bit of a reach, but has a lot of intriguing elements for Toronto. They should be looking to draft a guy that has at least a decent sense of physicality and competitiveness. Ziemmer has that and an extraordinary ability to shoot and handle the puck. He’s creative and was among the top scorers in the WHL last season and as a result, could sneak into the end of the first round. If they prefer a defenseman here, Oliver Bonk could be their guy but I’m going with Ziemmer for the Leafs.
29. St. Louis Blues: Defense - Mikhail Gulyayev (OMSK Jr. Russia)
To complete the idea of a perfect draft for the Blues, I have them picking up Mikhail Gulyayev, a left-handed shot defender who has a pretty impressive resume. Put up a point per game average in Russia’s junior league and impressed as part of Russia’s U18 team, leading their power play as well as the team as a whole. He’s a good skater with offensive talents, if the Blues land Sandin-Pellikka, Stramel and Gulyayev, they’re going to come out of the draft as big winners. There has been a lot of rumblings regarding a big trade between the Blues and Philly, so there’s a fair chance they don’t keep all three picks. However, given their objective to quickly retool, it wouldn’t be the worst idea to keep all three picks in such a strong draft year.
30. Carolina Hurricanes: Center - Riley Heidt (Prince George Cougars, WHL)
Riley Heidt was once projected much higher but after getting benched in the third period of a bronze medal game with Canada’s U18 team, his stock took a bit of a hit. He has plenty of room for developing certain areas of his game but he’s got a good hockey sense and strong puck skills. A team like Carolina could look to set him right in the early days of his future NHL career and could very well become a success story for them down the road.
31. Montreal Canadiens: Center/Right Wing - Mathieu Cataford (Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL)
I mean, a Quebec kid out of the QMJHL makes too much sense for Montreal. A fringe first round/second round projection, Cataford could be a great value pick for whoever picks him. He’s a good two way forward who plays an all around style of play. Put up over a point per game in Halifax. It would be pretty interesting to see Toronto take him knowing he might have Montreal’s interest but regardless of where he lands, he’s going to be a key pickup.
32. Vegas Golden Knights: Center - Callum Ritchie (Oshawa Generals, OHL)
Callum Ritchie has upside and was once a much more coveted prospect. However, he’s fallen off a tad in recent years and suffered an injury towards the end of the U18 World’s. He has good size, can make plays and carries the puck well but has inconsistencies and doesn’t always give the impression of a high compete level. Given the nature of Vegas, I wouldn’t be surprised if they traded this pick but if Ritchie turns over a new leaf in his draft year, could revert back to the high promise player he was.
Chris Feldman