Barry Recks
Now that the 2023 Stanley Cup champions have been crowned with the Vegas Golden Knights steamrolling the Florida Panthers, it’s high time to get all our eyes on the upcoming 2023 NHL Draft, which will take place on June 28 in Nashville.
Read on for more about this first-round 2023 NHL Mock Draft, as brought to you by JefeBet.
Also, don’t forget to check out other content here from the world of the NBA to help you make the best betting decisions.
Predictions, Picks, and Preview for the First Round of the 2023 NHL Draft
1. Chicago Blackhawks – Connor Bedard, Center, Regina
There’s really not much to think about here. Any team would pick Connor Bedard first if he’s available. If the NBA has Victor Wembanyama, the NHL has Bedard. End of story.
2. Anaheim Ducks– Adam Fantilli, Center, Michigan
Fresh off a Hobey Baker win and with gold medals from the world juniors and World Championship, there’s a lot to like about Fantilli. The Ducks will not get Bedard, but Fantilli isn’t too shabby either.
3. Columbus Blue Jackets – Leo Carlsson, Center/Winger, Orebro HK
The Swedish is going to find his footing in the pros in Columbus. He should flourish as the Blue Jackets’ No. 1 center once he’s ready to see action in The Show.
4. San Jose Sharks – Matvei Michkov, Right Wing, SKA
Considered by many as the best right winger in the 2023 NHL Draft, Michkov will be quite an addition to the Sharks’ prospect pool which is far from impressive.
5. Montreal Canadiens – Will Smith, Center, USDP
It’s not welcome to Miami for Will Smith but welcome to Montreal. Smith is a talented center with a great upside. He scored 15 goals and recorded 27 helpers in the world juniors for Team USA.
6. Arizona Coyotes– Zach Benson, Center/Winger, Winnipeg
The Coyotes should find it easy to love Benson, who’s a dynamic scorer. He had 98 total points with 36 goals in 60 games for the Winnipeg Ice in the WHL.
7. Philadelphia Flyers– Dalibor Dvorsky, Center/Winger, AIK
Still just 18 years old, Dvorsky offers tremendous potential as a center, with the ability to shift to a wing position. He’s got plenty of experience internationally behind him despite his young age. He had 13 total points in seven games in the world juniors.
8. Washington Capitals – Ryan Leonard, Center, USDP
The window to win a Stanley Cup with Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom is rapidly closing – if it hasn’t already. It’s time for the Capitals to look ahead and Leonard could just be a cornerstone of the next era of Washington hockey.
9. Detroit Red Wings – Oliver Moore, Center, USDP
It will take some time before Moore hits the ice in the NHL, as he’s still going to develop his game in the amateurs. But the future is bright for Moore, who’s regarded as the most talented skater among the 2023 NHL Draft prospects.
10. St. Louis Blues – David Reinbacher, Defenseman, EHC Kloten
Don’t be surprised if Reinbacher becomes the first defenseman to be taken off the board in the 2023 NHL Draft. He’s got the right mix of size, speed, and potential for a blueliner.
11. Vancouver Canucks – Axel Sandin Pellikka, Defenseman, Skellefteå AIK
Following the Blues’ pick of a defenseman, the Canucks will follow suit with the selection of Pellikka. He is a cerebral blueliner who can be trusted with the puck even on the man advantage.
12. Arizona Coyotes (via Ottawa)– Matthew Wood, Winger/Center, UConn
Wood loves to score goals and he lit the lamp seven times on seven games in the world juniors for Team Canada. He’s got a big ceiling for improvement that the Coyotes must like.
13. Buffalo Sabres – Eduard Sale, Righ Wing, HC Kometa Brno
Sale is an intriguing prospect whose range is being put anywhere from the top 10s to late in the first round. His inconsistency has been a pre-draft flaw that’s caused his stock to wildly fluctuate. What’s not changing is his potential.
14. Pittsburgh Penguins – Colby Barlow, Left Wing, Owen Sound
Pittsburgh is going to get a talented goal scorer with an excellent vision on the attack in the form of Barlow. He scored 46 goals in 59 games for the Owen Sound Attack in the OHL and three goals in six games for Team Canada in the world juniors.
15. Nashville Predators – Tom Willander, Defenseman, Rogle BK/
The Preds have always been pretty sound in the defenseman position, and Willander might just be the next in line of blue-line greatness in Nashville.
16. Calgary Flames – Gabe Perreault, Right Wing, USDP
Speaking of goal-scoring machines, Perreault is definitely one whose name shouldn’t be lost in the conversation. He smashed the single-season record for most points for the USDP. He had 53 points and 79 points over the course of 63 games in the 2022-23 season for the USDP.
17. Detroit Red Wings (from NY Islanders via Vancouver)– Nate Danielson, Center, Brandon
At 5-11 and with a frame of 165 pounds, Danielson checks out as a center with good size to go with his sound two-way abilities.
18. Winnipeg Jets – Brayden Yager, Center, Moose Jaw
Yager starred for the Moose Jaw Warriors in the 2022-23 NHL season and put up 28 goals to go with 50 assists in 67 games.
19. Chicago Blackhawks (from Tampa Bay)– Andrew Cristall, Left Wing, Kelowna
Cristall is an elusive forward who always finds his way around opposing defensemen with his advanced skills. He had 39 goals and 56 assists in 54 games for the Kelowna Rockets in the 2022-23 WHL season.
20. Seattle Kraken – Mikhail Gulyayev, Defenseman, Omskie Yastreby
Yastreby will continue to hone his skills in Russia with the Avangard Omsk in the KHL, By the time he’s ready for the NHL, he should be a fine asset for the Kraken.
21. Minnesota Wild – Samuel Honzek, Center, Vancouver
More talent with incredible upside for the Wild’s prospect pool? Why not? Honzek can contribute in a number of ways on both ends of the ice.
22. Philadelphia Flyers (from Los Angeles via Columbus)– Dmitri Simashev, Defenseman, Loko
Simashev comes like a truck on the ice and he projects to be an intimidating blue liner in the future in the NHL.
23. New York Rangers– Gavin Brindley, Right Wing, Michigan
Brindley went off for 38 points in 41 games last season for the Michigan Wolverines. He’s not that big but can be a blur on the ice with his speed and no-quit mentality. Perfect for New York.
24. Nashville Predators (from Edmonton)– Otto Stenberg, Center/Winger, Frölunda HC J20
Stenberg will need more work in his game, but the intangibles are there. He’s probably not going to be a superstar in the NHL. However, he can turn into a piece that every championship teams needs.
25. St. Louis Blues (from TOR)– Calum Ritchie, Center, Ottawa
Ritchie scored three goals with six assists for Team Canada in the world junior championship. Ritchie has great size at 6-2.
26. San Jose Sharks (from NJD)– Quentin Musty, Left Wing, Sudbury
At the No. 26 spot, the Sharks can do worse than picking Musty, who is a talented scorer who knows his way around the net.
27. Colorado Avalanche– Riley Heidt, Winger/Center, Prince George
Heidt is a fun teammate to play with. He is an elite table-setter who came up with 72 assists in 68 games for the Prince George Cougars in the 2022-23 WHL season.
28. Toronto Maple Leafs (from BOS via WSH)– Daniil But, Left Winger, Loko Yaroslavl
It’s not easy to miss But on the ice. He has an imposing frame of 6-5, 203 pounds. He’s more than just about muscle, though, as he has a known scoring ability.
29. St. Louis Blues (from Dallas via NY Rangers)– Tanner Molendyk, Defenseman, Saskatoon
The Blues shouldn’t be afraid to take Molendyk this late in the first round. He is a defenseman with considerable talent with his skating and on the breakaway. His offense can get even better, especially with the foundation he already possesses.
30. Carolina Hurricanes – Ethan Gauthier, Right Wing, Sherbrooke
Gauthier has an impressive motor. He is an Energizer bunny on the ice always looking to make positive impact on his team. That mentality certainly was a major reason why he went from an 18-goal scorer in the 2021-22 QMJHL season for Sherbrooke to a 30-goal machine in the 2022-23 campaign.
31. Montreal Canadiens (from Florida)– Lukas Dragicevic, Defenseman, Tri-City
After taking a center with the earlier pick, the Canadiens can address a need on the other end of the ice with Dragicevic, who should boost the blueline prospect pool of the Habs.
32. Vegas Golden Knights – Oliver Bonk, Defenseman, London
The Golden Knights close out the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft by adding a defenseman to their system. Bonk is the son of former Ottawa Senators center Radek Bonk.
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