2023 NHL Mock Draft: Predicting the 31 Picks After Connor Bedard
It's the time of year for my 2023 NHL Mock Draft! Today we'll try to predict the first round, breaking down each pick as we go.
Plagued by personal roadblocks, two blowout Conference Finals (although Dallas is onto something!), and a complete re-write, it is finally time for my 2023 NHL Mock Draft, my chance to clear the fog around draft day by sharing my prediction for each pick and why I think that player fits the bill. I will also share additional names that I could see each team taking, to try and give the best guess at what fans can expect. I will not be analyzing players in this article – outside of what’s necessary to vindicate a selection. If you’re looking for my thoughts on each player, you can check out my final draft rankings, which share my thoughts on all of the 100 players that I ranked!
The Matvei Michkov Conversation
But before we get in too deep, we need to talk about the elephant in the room. The anticipation for where the potentially-generational winger gets chosen, or what I’m dubbing the ‘Michkov-watch’, has become one of the most anticipated Draft conversations in league history.
And I won’t beat around the bush: Michkov is going to fall. Everything I know has pointed to him falling outside the Top 5, and nobody knowing where he’ll land after that. Of the sources I’ve spoken to, all have emphasized that at hockey is ultimately a business, with jobs hooked to advocating for or against top picks. No matter the circumstance, scouts will be asking their GMs and owners to be taking an inherent risk with Michkov.
That risk is going to be hard for most teams to stomach. In fact, I can only envision a handful even considering the winger - teams like Columbus, Arizona, Montreal, Washington, St. Louis, and Buffalo. Outside of them, I’d be hard-pressed to see Michkov landing elsewhere.
We’ll keep an eye on what picks could be “Michkov-watch” picks but as he slides down the draft board, remember what league we’re working with. The NHL is a notoriously risk-avert league and the question marks around Michkov are clouding a lot of the early decision-making. I could see the winger going #5, #25, #50, or later… who knows - although his presence in Nashville on Day One could certainly help his case for an early selection.
With that bit of prep around the challenging topic out of the way, we can dive in head-first!
1. Chicago Blackhawks – Connor Bedard (C/RW)
The first pick of the draft is a no-brainer. The public pleading for a Lindros-situation won’t stop one of the top markets in the league from landing one of the best talents we’ve ever seen.
Other Options
This one’s easy – don’t expect anyone else here!
2. Anaheim Ducks – Adam Fantilli (C/RW)
While the second selection could go in a number of ways, the team making it helps give us a clear indication of who to expect. Outside of Russia, Anaheim has only drafted one European skater (Albin Sundsvik, 2020 6th Rd) since their first-round selection of Jacob Larsson in 2015. Leo Carlsson would be a great option to break that mold but Anaheim doesn’t seem the type to make that leap.
Other Options
As mentioned, Leo Carlsson seems to be the only other option that would make sense for a Ducks team moving more-and-more towards beefy, effective players. However, the smaller frames of Will Smith and Matvei Michkov will also be available.
3. Columbus Blue Jackets – Will Smith (C)
We’re onto pick three and already have our first eyebrow-raiser! While Columbus is as friendly to Europeans as it comes, they’re reportedly very interested in USNTDP center Will Smith. This interest seems to line up with some recent additions they’ve made, including bringing on Johnny Gaudreau, Kent Johnson, and Jordan Dumais: all players that play with the same dynamic play-creating ability that Smith has grown into.
Other Options
While Smith is a great choice, Leo Carlsson feels like he’d be the no-brain selection at #3. He’s currently on-fire at the World Cup, contributing to his case for the pick. I’m sure this is a toss-up for the Blue Jackets, who would be happy to take home either option.
4. San Jose Sharks – Leo Carlsson (C/RW)
With Columbus going off-board at #3, San Jose will happily pick up the leftovers at #4. The Sharks have taken Swedes with each of their last two First Round picks and they return to the well once more to get a player that fills the top center role of a relatively vacant Sharks prospect pool.
Other Options
While Carlsson seems like a great fit, San Jose is also the first team that’s reportedly on the Matvei Michkov-wagon. If they’re feeling risky, they can take the prolific Russian winger. But a need for a new, young centerman to replace the aging Logan Couture feels like it will take precedent.
5. Montreal Canadians - Dalibor Dvorský (RW/C)
If there’s one thing we learned last year, it’s to not overthink Montreal’s selections. They’ve been reported as interested in a lot of players – including kicking the tires on Matvei Michkov – but the team apparently loves the heft behind Dvorský’s fluid style. Dvorský doesn’t feel too different from Habs’ #1 overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky either, which may help his case for going early.
Other Options
I’ve also heard that Montreal is infatuated with Will Smith and thinks he has very high potential. This mock has Smith going surprisingly-early but if he’s available when Kent Hughes takes the stand, I’d expect he takes precedent over Dvorský.
6. Arizona Coyotes – David Reinbacher (RHD)
Nearly every source I spoke with about the Coyotes draft pick pointed in Reinbacher’s direction. It makes sense: they’re fresh off the heels of drafting J.J. Moser, another defender from the Swiss pros who was able to step into the NHL very quickly. Right-handed defenders with enough talent to be considered in the Top 10 don’t come around very often. With Arizona picking again at #13, they can feel safe in taking a bit of a gamble now.
Other Options
If there’s one team that has nothing to lose, it’s Arizona. Heck, they may not even be Arizona for much longer. And because of that, the team feels much more open to taking the gamble on Michkov. This feels like the next pick where we should be on true Michkov-watch.
7. Philadelphia Flyers – Ryan Leonard (LW/RW)
A recent explosion at U18-Worlds has vaulted Leonard up draft boards. And it works out as he lands with the Flyers, a team that loves NTDP talent that turns it on in the second half. They’re coming off of a surprisingly-early, and surprisingly-successful, Cutter Gauthier selection, further building out the theme of this article: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Other Options
For the fans of big-bodied, heavy-shot wingers (like Philly), Colby Barlow may also be an incredibly attractive name. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him donning a Flyers jersey on Draft day, although Philadelphia’s admiration for the NTDP feels a little too strong.
8. Washington Capitals – Colby Barlow (LW)
If the Washington Capitals could build a prospect, it’d be Colby Barlow. While not the fastest player, Barlow carries the heavy-hitting, rocket-shooting, methodical-playmaking style of plenty of other Caps. There isn’t any definite reports tying Washington to Barlow but an aging Ovechkin nearing retirement removes a piece from a shallow LW-depth chart and Barlow feels like a Capital.
Other Options
Washington will be another Matvei-watch team, given the strong Russian relationships they’ve built over the years. Michkov isn’t necessarily Washington’s type of player but getting such a rich talent at #8 would be a steal. I’d also keep an eye on Zach Benson and Matthew Wood here.
9. Detroit Red Wings – Zach Benson (F)
Steve Yzerman has taken a European skater with every first round pick he’s had since he returned to Detroit, save for his selection of goalie Sebastian Cossa. But if there would be any player to break that streak, it’d be the incredibly dynamic Zach Benson. The Red Wings have notoriously not put much thought towards silly things like size or power - two pieces that have Benson falling way down most NHL Draft boards - and they’re in need of a top prospect at LW to match the blue-chip Lucas Raymond at RW and Marco Kasper at C.
I can’t say that this pick is rooted in much scientific knowledge but Benson feels like a player that the Red Wings would adore. He plays the same highly-skilled, very fast-paced hockey that Detroit’s built through players like Dylan Larkin and, historically, Tyler Bertuzzi. I can’t imagine Yzerman not rushing to the board to make this pick.
Other Options
As mentioned, Yzerman loves his Europeans. To that end, I could see them taking Axel Sandin-Pellikka, to rival a second-pair role behind Moritz Seider. But without many other top Europeans in this range, are there really too many other options?
10. St. Louis Blues – Axel Sandin-Pellikka (RHD)
There have been very strong reports linking the Blues to Axel Sandin-Pellikka for months now and his dominant U18-Worlds likely only helped the love. St. Louis has predominantly drafted LHD under Doug Armstrong’s reign (5 LHD to 1 RHD over the last three drafts…) so getting a strong righty should be a top priority with their early picks this year.
Other Options
The Blues have also been closely tied to Matthew Wood – something that shouldn’t come as a shock given their admiration of the NCAA and large-frame forwards recently. If ASP doesn’t go at #10, I’d imagine Wood will.
Exiting what reports have said, I also think we’ll be on Michkov-watch here, with St. Louis representing one of the strongest Russian-connections in the league. Additionally, St. Louis could really, really like Dmitri Simashev. He feels like everything they love in their prospects and fits a much-needed position. If the Russian factor doesn’t scare them, I think they could take him earlier than a lot of teams expect.
11. Vancouver Canucks – Tom Willander (RHD)
Potentially the most shocking selection of this mock comes at #11, with Vancouver taking Sweden’s second-pair RHD behind Sandin-Pellikka. This will undoubtedly be alarming to many but the defender’s recent U18-Worlds has reportedly catapulted him up draft boards. Vancouver is another team in desperate need of RHD and have recently shown how rich their connection with Sweden is.
Other Options
I’ve also heard Vancouver closely tied to Nate Danielson, a high-profile WHL centerman, and could also see them taking a swing on wingers Matthew Wood or Gabe Perreault.
12. Arizona Coyotes (from Ottawa) – Gabe Perreault (LW/RW)
From what I know, Reinbacher is the player Arizona “wants” in this draft class. Outside of him, they’re dedicated to reeling in as much talent as they can. And while Michkov undoubtedly fits that category, the Coyotes (once again) adore this year’s NTDP class, primarily Gabe Perreualt. He’s another player whose strong U18-Worlds tournament has rocketed up his draft stock, pulling him into the Top 15. I think he may be the one player that Arizona would be more excited to take than Michkov.
Other Options
As mentioned, Arizona will be one of the front-runners to take Matvei Michkov. He is undoubtedly the best player available at any pick outside of the top-two and Arizona could feel less attached to their extra first-rounder. I’m predicting they shoot for a more sure-fire piece in Perreault but this feels like one of the strongest chances to see Michkov go early.
13. Buffalo Sabres - Matvei Michkov (LW)
And he’s off the board! Matvei Michkov finally hears his name, headed to a team with one of the most relaxed leadership groups in the league. In my digging for this article I found out two big things about Buffalo: they’re willing to take chances and they love the fact that Russians are falling in this class. While Michkov seems like a big chance to take, Kevyn Adams’ recent success has seemingly given him free reign to call the shots - particularly after the nuclear situation that led to Adams’ appointment and the Pegulas’ stepping-back to begin with.
I expect Buffalo will be a bit caught-off-guard if Michkov falls past Arizona at #12, making this an even easier pick to make.
Other Options
If not Michkov, I’d expect Buffalo to make a heavy bid for Eduard Šalé, a heavy-frame Czechi winger who could be inspired to follow in Jiří Kulich’s impressive footsteps. If defenders are flying off the board, I also think the Sabres are prepared to take a player like Dmitri Simashev early.
14. Pittsburgh Penguins - Nate Danielson (C)
Pittsburgh has only drafted in the first round three times in the last decade, making this a tougher pick to predict. Adding to the uncertainty is the currently vacant Penguins GM seat. But no matter who ends up at the helm, I think they’ll agree that Danielson’s well-rounded, two-way style fits what Pittsburgh tends to prioritize. In what is a new and cloudy situation in Pittsburgh, Danielson feels like the best fit.
Other Options
Again, with the new world that Pittsburgh faces by actually having a 1st, the possibilities seem endless. Matthew Wood is a large-frame winger that seems to have similar questions around him as Sam Poulin, the Penguins most recent first round forward selection. I could also see Pittsburgh taking a player like Samuel Honzek, who is reportedly much more poised for a high selection than some may expect.
15. Nashville Predators - Eduard Šalé (LW/RW)
Nashville is another very interesting case in this year’s draft. The handoff of managerial control from David Poile to Barry Trotz marks the first time someone not named Poile will be making the call. So, again, we’ll lean on finding stylistic fits more than reported matches. And Eduard Šalé feels like a great match for a Preds program that’s brought in Adam Ingram, Kasper Kulonummi, Zachary L’Heureux, and a string of other big-frame forwards who are similarly finding their footing. Šalé is one of the biggest question marks in this draft class but with some refining, he could turn into something serious.
Other Options
Given their recent push towards more dynamic playmakers, I could see the Nashville scouting department making a push for Brayden Yager, Oliver Moore, or even Andrew Cristall - a player that’s actually expected to fall out of the first round. Or, if they want to stick with the large-frame forward path, they could pick Samuel Honzek.
It’s been interesting to see how Nashville has juxtaposed their selection of heavy-set forwards with smaller, dynamic threats. With great options for both, this pick could be a good indication of which direction the new Nashville regime prefers.
16. Calgary Flames - Samuel Honzek (C)
Finishing off our series of ‘new management means new possibilities’ are the Calgary Flames, who recently brough in rookie GM Craig Conroy and the veteran Dave Nonis to serve as assistant GM. These new additions, plus Calgary’s affinity for the WHL, sets them up to be prime candidates for the poised and reliable Samuel Honzek. Honzek’s accountability and large frame have him much higher on NHL team boards than many may expect, and I could be undervaluing him at 16. But if he is there, he’d be a nice, safe pick to kick off Conroy’s GM career.
Other Options
In sticking with the WHL theme, I actually had Brayden Yager predicted for this selection until last minute. I don’t know if I necessarily see a newly-assembled staff taking a boom-bust prospect in Yager over a safer player like Honzek. And if they stray out of the WHL, I could also see Calgary taking Oliver Moore earlier than anticipated - he’s a feisty and speedy playmaker, similar to the teammates that have helped lift up Matt Coronato.
17. Detroit Red Wings - Brayden Yager (C)
As established, I expect the Red Wings to enter this draft with their usual “catch the fallers” mindset. They land one here in Brayden Yager, a cerebral playmaker with big upside. Yager’s 2022-23 season was far from what many expected but he’s still a prospect to admire. While his risk may be too much for some, I could see Yzerman feeling confident in his ability to bring out the best in Yager.
Other Options
It’s nearly a 50/50 toss-up in whether I prefer Yager or Oliver Moore at this spot. Both feel like great choices to be a Red Wing. Ultimately, Moore’s size is concerning to some scouts, so I leaned Yager. But I’d guess one of these two lands in Detroit.
18. Winnipeg Jets - Matthew Wood (LW)
This is another pick that I don’t have much backing for other than gut feeling. But Matthew Wood is a heavy-skating winger that thrives in the cycle and shoots hard - three traits that Winnipeg loves. Wood’s skating will need to become much more consistent but Winnipeg is taking on similar challenges with Rutger McGroarty, Chaz Lucius, and Danny Zhilkin, helping ease the effort behind ironing out Wood’s game.
Other Options
I have a sneaking suspicion that Winnipeg may be one of the few teams that are really bullish on Finnish forward Kasper Halttunen, whose strong international performances have boosted him up NHL draft boards. I could be wildly off but if anyone was going to surprise with a Nordic region prospect, it’d be Winnipeg.
19. Chicago Blackhawks (from Tampa Bay) - Oliver Moore (C)
Oliver Moore is an interesting prospect. Scouts seem divided on how translatable his skillset will be to the slower, more physical pro scene. But Chicago has a history of putting aside some concerns if it means landing top NTDP names. What’s more, they were infatuated with Logan Cooley last year and, while they missed out, they may think Moore could satisfy the same itch.
Other Options
Chicago has tended to balance out their rounds with forward and defensemen. With three second round picks this year and a mix of options at defense, I think they’ll feel more comfortable sticking to forward with #19. But if they do look for blue-line help, I’d expect Oliver Bonk, Dmitri Simashev, or even the pure-defense of Maxim Štrbák to be options here.
20. Seattle Kraken - Andrew Cristall (LW)
The Kraken have consistently landed the internet’s favorite prospects, regardless of concerns around things like size or translatability. Well, Twitter couldn’t be more bullish about Andrew Cristall, a player that many NHL scouts think will fall to the second round due to concerns around foot speed, among other things. In fact, none of The Athletic’s mock drafts have Cristall in the first round. But if there was any team willing to look past the concerns other teams are raising, it’d be Seattle. And with an already-strong prospect pool and great depth down the middle, they could be in a perfect position to take a home run swing on a winger.
Other Options
Seattle has had success with the two CHL defenders they’ve drafted early in their history. If they want to return to that well, Oliver Bonk’s strong neutral-zone puck-management feels like something they’d really enjoy. They also feel like good candidates to take one of the two Russian defensemen in this range: Dmitri Simashev or Mikhail Gulyayev.
21. Minnesota Wild - Otto Stenberg (C)
Speedy, skilled forwards and Swedish draftees have become the Minnesota Wild’s defining two traits in the draft. And they find both at #21 in Otto Stenberg. While questionable league play and an awkward frame leave some skeptical, Stenberg’s ability to dominant play against his peers internationally shows how much potential he has. The Wild, once again, don’t need much in the draft, and Stenberg’s fluid style could help Minnesota hedge their bets against some of their riskier prospects. It’s always hard to say where Judd Brackett will lean but Stenberg feels like a safe bet.
Other Options
I trust that Minnesota is confident they could bring over a Russian if they had to, opening the door to Mikhail Gulyayev or Dmitri Simashev. They may also be one of the first teams in on Gavin Brindley, who is expected to slip but could be a favorite among a small few.
22. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Los Angeles) - Kasper Halttunen (LW)
Some of the general buzz around him has slipped as the year has gone on but Kasper Halttunen has continued to effectively phenomenally produce (outside of his Liiga play). International tournaments are important for every team but there are a few that take it into extra consideration, Columbus feeling like one of them. And with Kasper Halttunen’s success with Finland’s U18 and U20 teams, and the attractiveness of his large frame, it’s easy to think that Jarmo will be giddy to make this pick.
Other Options
I really do think Oliver Bonk will be a strong consideration among a lot of teams, including Columbus. I could also see the Blue Jackets taking a CHL centerman like Riley Heidt or Calum Ritchie.
23. New York Rangers - Quentin Musty (LW)
I’m not entirely sure this pick needs an explanation, given how great this fit feels. Musty is a big-frame, big-skill, big-personality, New York-native with the silkiness to embarrass defenders and the shoulder to send them into next week. There are definite questions with how clunky he can look but the methodical New York Rangers feel like a team that can look past it. Musty feels like he was put in skates to be a Ranger one day.
Other Options
If above wasn’t brash enough, I’ll say that I’m fairly confident in this pick. Particularly with New York’s need for a forward, pulling them out of the conversation around most defenders. But I could also see the Rangers reaching for Charlie Stramel, opting for a reliable centerman in Calum Ritchie, or shooting for the stars with a player like Koehn Ziemmer.
24. Nashville Predators (from Edmonton) - Oliver Bonk (RHD)
I expect Nashville to balance out their day with a defender at #24. Unfortunately, the question of who to take isn’t much easier than it was at #15. That’s especially considering that Nashville is one of the best teams at establishing rapport with Russian prospects. But I think Bonk will win their eye with find Bonk very projectable. While there’s room for growth in all three zones, Bonk has improved his poise in a way that really boosts his projectability. What’s more, Bonk’s style of play fits really well into the systems that Nashville rolls out, ultimately giving him the edge to his contemporaries in this range.
Other Options
Dmitri Simashev has a just as good of, if not greater than, chance of hearing his name here. Nashville feel confident in their ability to bring him over and have historically been patient with bringing players to the AHL, effectively negating any perceived risk of drafting Russians.
MOCK TRADE
We have a mock trade to announce! The St. Louis Blues have traded pick #25 (from Toronto) to the Buffalo Sabres for Henri Jokiharju (RHD), pick #39 (from Philadelphia) and a 2024 3rd Rd pick.
The Blues have made it clear that they’re looking to trade one of their first round picks for a roster defender. We’ve seen the Blues make these kinds of trades before and none of them have been particularly glamorous. There are many teams that are hoping to move up, including the Sabres, who reportedly love Simashev. To get him, they send a young defender that fits the Blues’ physical, sporadic defending style and makes sure St. Louis doesn’t lose much standing in the class.
25. Buffalo Sabres (from St. Louis + Toronto) - Dmitri Simashev (RHD)
It’s going to be fascinating to see where Dmitri Simashev goes on draft day. I’ve heard that there are scouts that are obsessed with him, and that there are some that think all of his hype is overblown. In some sense, it reminds me of the Lian Bichsel saga we endured last year. But with reports that some teams aren’t even scouting Russians, and a general tenseness around the league, I think Simashev falls a little below where Bichsel ended up. But the reports that Buffalo is invested in this Russian class all link back to Simashev. I think they want him a lot and I think they’d be willing to trade up even higher to get him. Luckily, he falls in our mock.
Other Options
I’m making quite the leap with saying this specific trade is going to happen, so I’ll say it with my chest. No other options; I think Blues fans can expect this pick to get traded away and for the acquiring party to pick Dmitri Simashev.
26. San Jose Sharks (from New Jersey) - Bradly Nadeau (C)
I really struggled to decide who to put in this spot, so I don’t promise perfect accuracy here. The Sharks drafted from a very wide selection of leagues recently, making them hard to predict. But I also think that makes them more likely to take a swing on the hard-to-decipher Bradly Nadeau. Nadeau led the BCHL in scoring this year… but he did it on arguably the best BCHL team of all time, making it hard to tell how much of his performance was inflated. But he’s flashed the skill needed to be a really promising prospect. For a Sharks team that gets the already-NHL-ready Leo Carlsson earlier in this mock, I think a long shot on a BCHL standout could be exciting.
Other Options
I do wonder if this could be a good spot for Mikhail Gulyayev, a smooth-moving defender with the intangibles that feel up San Jose’s alley. I also heard at one point that they were linked to Maxim Štrbák, although I don’t know if that interest was maintained.
27. Colorado Avalanche - Ethan Gauthier (RW)
This is, again, a great personality fit. Ethan Gauthier is a sturdy forward with a smooth, deliberate playmaking ability and a strong forechecking presence. While Colorado has gone a lot of different ways in the draft, their stylistic choices are built around players who play like Gauthier in one way or another. He comes with some questions about consistent skill and processing speed but Colorado isn’t typically one to judge if they feel they’ve found a good match.
Other Options
With their crumbling center depth, the Avs may opt for the reliable floor of Calum Ritchie. I could also see them liking Charlie Stramel, a player who once boasted tons of finesse at one point but shifted to a more standard ‘power forward’ role this season.
28. Toronto Maple Leafs (from Boston) - Maxim Štrbák (RHD)
Predicting the Toronto draft is always a little tricky. And now the two loudest voices in the 2022 Draft’s war room - Kyle Dubas and Jason Spezza - aren’t planning on showing up, turning a difficult choice into even more disarray. I think that sudden shift will have Toronto looking for a pick that they see confidently serving some role in the future. And while Štrbák has definite questions about his offensive upside, it’s clear that he’s capable defensively. That assurance has some NHL teams in his corner and I think Toronto is bold enough to make the pick.
Other Options
Gavin Brindley feels like a Kyle Dubas pick… oh if he were here. Maybe some other voices in the Toronto scouting department will agree with their old boss’ eye and push Brindley up the big board. I could also see Toronto adding Mikhail Gulyayev here; his slightly immature but uniquely smooth playset could be very attractive to a team like the Leafs.
29. St. Louis Blues (from Dallas) - Charlie Stramel (C/RW)
This pick may the one that Doug Armstrong’s dreaming about most. Despite a wish-washy season, Charlie Stramel has remained the epitome of what the Blues love in their prospects. Stramel uses a sturdy base and physically strong skating to fill the role of a traditional power forward or a more modern power play-driver. For a team that built their 2010s on the backs of David Backes, Alex Steen, and Patrik Berglund, Stramel feels like a prayer. Add to it that he’s in the NCAA, a track the Blues particularly favor.
Other Options
I think the Blues will also be uniquely interested in the large frame and nifty skill of Daniil But, one of the draft’s biggest enigmas. They may also cave and pursue a goalie, in which case I’d expect Michael Hrabal (I remember Ben Bishop!) or Carson Bjarnasson.
30. Carolina Hurricanes - Lukas Dragicevic (RHD)
Lukas Dragicevic is incredibly skilled but lacking in many playbook fundamentals, a bio that lines up perfectly with the team formerly deploying Tony DeAngelo and currently led by Brent Burns. They have a unique way of working over those barriers and I think they’re likely aware of the leg-up that’d give them in any Dragicevic sweepstakes. He’d fill the shoes of Burns beautifully, so I won’t overthink it - the match is too good here.
Other Options
Carolina is also not afraid to draft small, which could help them land Gavin Brindley with this pick. He provides a comfortable C/RW flexibility that I expect Carolina would really enjoy. If not one of those two, I’d think Carolina would be going decently off-board.
31*. Montreal Canadiens (from Florida) - Gavin Brindley (C/RW)
Despite his ability to physically outcompete in the USHL… and then the NCAA… Gavin Brindley is still followed by the sentiment that he won’t be able to play his in-your-face style at the next level. That’s pushing him down draft boards, although I also suspect that teams are hoping he can be a player that falls to them in the second round. Unfortunately, I don’t think Kent Hughes will allow that. He’s shown that size isn’t all-that-important if other traits outweigh it. And with Florida’s pick falling lower than anticipated, I don’t think Hughes will risk Brindley not falling to his next pick.
Other Options
I could see Montreal turning towards goalie here. I think they’d be in on Jacob Fowler or Bjarnasson in particular, looking for styles that don’t need too much maturing. They also feel like strong candidates for one of the popular Swedes, like Anton Wahlberg or David Edstrom.
32. Vegas Golden Knights - Koehn Ziemmer (RW)
With the final pick, my gut is telling me that Vegas will be looking again for a slightly-underdeveloped forward with massive scoring upside. That’s quickly become one of their favorite player builds and Koehn Ziemmer fits the bill. While he could’ve afforded to show a bit more this season, it’s still not hard to see Ziemmer ending up as a strong NHL scorer. If ever a team to take a gamble, I’d hope it’d be Vegas.
Other Options
Carson Rehkopf did not have the season many were expecting but I think some teams are still holding out hope for him. Some reports say he could go as early as the late-first and he seems like another player Vegas would like the risk on. Or, like many teams in their range, Vegas could likely turn to goalie as well. If they do, Michael Hrabal feels like a great option.
Who Missed the Cut?
There’s very little chance of these 32 players being the exact 32 to hear their names on June 28th. So let’s go over a few players (in no order) who miss my cut here but could very likely end up in the Top 32.
I’ll share a brief blurb of my thoughts on why each player has a shot at the First Round and, for fun, we’ll try to guess what teams might like said player.
Danny Nelson
One of the youngest players in the draft, Nelson entered the season as the top American on some NHL draft boards. That’s since changed significantly but teams are still excited for what he could be. Birthdays seem to be weighing more into draft decisions and Danny Nelson had the excitement around him to stay on at least a few ‘love’ lists.
Speculative Teams: CHI, VGK, NYR, CBJ
Daniil But
Daniil But is a unicorn of a prospect. I personally have never seen a player his size move with such elegance. And I know that’s exciting for NHL teams as well. But I do think he could be a victim of the Russian factor in this draft. Still, if a team is feeling particularly exciting on draft day, they might really shoot their shot with the Russian winger.
Speculative Teams: STL, CAR, SJS, DET, NSH
Calum Ritchie
Cal Ritchie lost a lot of steam with his 2022-23 performance. He wasn’t bad by any means but he seemed to lose a bit of his spark, receding to a calm, but very reliable, two-way center role. That’s all fine-and-well but I think a rough U18-Worlds could be enough to bring some more exciting names above him on the big boards.
Speculative Teams: BOS, MIN, CBJ, NYR, COL
David Edstrom
David Edstrom is the biggest winner of the 2022-23 campaign. He emerged from obscurity (at least for me) to become one of the prospects that some NHL scouts are most excited for. I’ve seen some reports that say he could go as soon as the Top 15/20! And quite truthfully, I just wasn’t able to gather up an understanding of his draft stock that was strong enough to make me feel comfortable reporting out on him in this piece. He’s a total question mark in my eyes and I’ll be fascinated if he goes early!
Speculative Teams: NSH, WPG, DET, MIN, VAN, ARI
Anton Wahlberg
Like Edstrom, Wahlberg did a lot of his big draft board climbing later in the year. But I don’t know if he climbed as high. Still, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a team lean on the slot-presence of Wahlberg as the skill they want to work on projecting out in this year’s first round pick. Particularly considering his international success, it’d be no shock to see Wahlberg sneak into the mid-to-late First.
Speculative Teams: SJS, CAR, BUF, WPG
Mikhail Gulyayev
Gulyayev is some’s favorite prospect this year, given how consistently fluid his game is. He’s very cerebral and generally poised with the puck on his stick, always showing that he undoubtedly has the skill to be a first rounder. But I think he’s missing a physical aspect that will divert NHL teams, at least for the span of the first round.
Speculative Teams: SEA, CAR, MIN, SJS, TOR
Featured Image:
Czech Republic v Canada - Gold Medal Game - 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship
HALIFAX, CANADA - JANUARY 05: Connor Bedard #16 of Team Canada reacts as he celebrates an overtime victory against Team Czech Republic in the gold medal round of the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship at Scotiabank Centre on January 5, 2023 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Team Canada defeated Team Czech Republic 3-2 in overtime and become the 2023 IIHF World Junior Champions. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)