Welcome to the 2023 NHL Draft!
This summer’s NHL draft has been highly anticipated for some time. Between a generational hockey talent who went No. 1 overall and the general depth of this draft class, all eyes were on Wednesday’s first round of 32 picks.
Headed into Wednesday’s draft, NHL teams were quite active. Taylor Hall was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks to help usher in the franchise’s next era. The Winnipeg Jets got a haul and a half from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Pierre-Luc Dubois. And there’s no doubt more moves will be made as the NHL offseason finally kicks into high gear.
We all knew Connor Bedard was going No. 1 overall, but after that, hockey fans saw some real surprises across the board as the night progressed. Maybe the biggest stunner came when the Philadelphia Flyers selected Matvei Michkov at No. 7 overall after the talented forward fell out of the top five.
As the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft has hit its conclusion, here is the full list of all 32 picks made by teams, with analysis and grades as well!
- The NHL Draft 2023 winners (Blue Jackets and Flyers) and losers (no trades?) from the first round
- Ranking the 20 best NHL free agents in the 2023 offseason
- Sharks’ NHL Draft pick Will Smith awkwardly ‘sang’ the Fresh Prince theme song after his selection
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1
Chicago Blackhawks: F Connor Bedard, Regina Pats
No surprise here! The Blackhawks get their franchise cornerstone in Connor Bedard and officially kickstart their new era in earnest. If Bedard lives up to the hype, he’ll join hockey greats such as Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, and Auston Matthews as a game-changing face of the sport.
Grade: A+
2
Anaheim Ducks: F Leo Carlsson, Örebro HK
Rumors were swirling earlier on Wednesday that the Ducks might go off the board just a tad to draft Leo Carlsson instead of Adam Fantilli and they did it! Carlsson’s stock has risen a lot over the last few weeks, as his elite skill and big frame make him a perfect fit for what Anaheim is building.
Grade: A
3
Columbus Blue Jackets: F Adam Fantilli, University of Michigan
In any other draft, Fantilli would have been the No. 1 overall pick due to his power forward skill set and can handle the puck with ease. Fantilli’s a big body and knows how to use it, as he’s able to create space in the offensive zone to help himself and his teammates score. Safe to say Columbus wasn’t expecting Fantilli to fall into their laps in this draft!
Grade: A+
4
San Jose Sharks: F Will Smith, United States National Team Development Program
Will Smith has a dynamic offensive skill set and isn’t afraid to use it. After being named MVP of the 2023 U18 World Championships, Smith’s name had been on the rise headed into the draft. A true offensive playmaker and point producer, Smith will be a key piece of the Sharks’ future.
Grade: A
5
Montreal Canadiens: D David Reinbacher, Kloten
Billed as the best overall defenseman in this draft, David Reinbacher is a fantastic all-around blue liner and a great core piece for Montreal to build around on the back end. Still, it’s hard not to wonder what could have been if they picked Matvei Michkov instead.
Grade: B+
6
Arizona Coyotes: D Dmitri Simashev, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
Now this is an off the board pick! After the Canadiens took the best defenseman in the draft, the Coyotes picked up Dmitri Simashev. While Simashev is a smooth skater and stalwart defenseman, not many predicted him to be a top 10 pick. We’ll see how this works out for the Coyotes, but early returns make this feel like a reach.
Grade: C
7
Philadelphia Flyers: F Matvei Michkov, SKA Saint Petersburg
The Flyers needed a superstar talent and now they have one. Yes, Matvei Michkov won’t be available to play in the NHL for at least three years thanks to his KHL deal, but given Philadelphia’s rebuild timeline, he fits their needs perfectly. Talent wise, Michkov may be the second-best player in this draft when all is said and done.
Grade: A+
8
Washington Capitals: F Ryan Leonard, United States National Team Development Program
Ryan Leonard is as versatile of a hockey player as they come. A true jack of all trades, Leonard can slot into any role and be a standout player wherever he is. Scouts rank his compete level and ability to make high-danger chances as his biggest standouts.
Grade: B+
9
Detroit Red Wings: F Nate Danielson, Brandon Wheat Kings
Much like Leonard, Nate Danielson’s biggest draw his his overall well-roundedness. Danielson has bite to his offense, but is most well known for his overall versatility and play driving. A very Steve Yzerman draft pick if we’ve ever seen one.
Grade: B
10
St. Louis Blues: F Dalibor Dvorsky, AIK
Dalibor Dvorsky is a true two-way forward given his big size and ability to show offensive flashes. It’s not long ago that Ryan O’Reilly won a Stanley Cup with the Blues and Dvorsky projects to be a similar kind of player to their former captain.
Grade: B+
11
Vancouver Canucks: D Tom Willander, Rogle BK J20
The Canucks restock their defensive cupboards after selecting Tom Willander with the No. 11 overall pick. Willander is a solid all-around defenseman who shines more on the defensive side of the puck, but has still showcased offensive flashes so far in his career. Scouts also say Willander’s transition game is as good as they come as well.
Grade: B-
12
Arizona Coyotes (via Ottawa Senators): F Daniil But, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
Another off-the-board pick from the Coyotes here. Daniil But is a big body with some real offensive skill, but it’s hard to see why the Coyotes reached again with this pick given the other talent on the board.
Grade: C
13
Buffalo Sabres: F Zach Benson, Winnipeg Ice
A real steal in the draft here from Buffalo. Zach Benson is a small forward, but boy can he score goals. What Benson lacks for in puck strength and size, he more than makes up for it with his sensational hockey skill and offensive firepower.
Grade: A-
14
Pittsburgh Penguins: F Brayden Yager, Moose Jaw Warriors
The Kyle Dubas era in Pittsburgh has officially begun. Brayden Yager is a smart offensive talent with a nose for offense. The Penguins will need to rebuild their prospect coffers after Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin take their last bows and Yager is a pretty good start.
Grade: B
15
Nashville Predators: F Matthew Wood, University of Connecticut
The hometown Predators finally made their first selection of the draft! Matthew Wood is one of the youngest draftees this year, so it may take him a little more time to make it to the NHL, but when he does make it, the Predators will have quite the goal scorer on their hands. Wood’s one major deficit? His skating, which he’ll have more than enough time to work on in the NCAA.
Grade: B
16
Calgary Flames: F Samuel Honzek, Vancouver Giants
Samuel Honzek may not shoot the lights out at the NHL level, but he does have offensive bite to his game. Honzek is a big body player who can use his size to his advantage to take other players off the puck and grades out as a solid two-way player.
Grade: C+
17
Detroit Red Wings (from New York Islanders via Vancouver Canucks): D Axel Sandin Pellikka, Skelleftea AIK J20
Axel Sandin Pellikka is the first offensive defenseman to be taken in this draft. While Pellikka is smaller than his other defensive counterparts, he may be the most talented from a pure skating and shooting perspective. Quite the pickup from the Red Wings here to snag a dynamic defenseman at this spot.
Grade: A-
18
Winnipeg Jets: Colby Barlow, Owen Sound Attack
Colby Barlow is billed as a pure sniper with great hands and a NHL-worthy shot. I’m a bit surprised he slipped this late, as he has the tools to continue to produce on the biggest stage. Fun fact: Barlow’s 46 goals ranked second in the Ontario Hockey League in 2022-23, only behind Bedard!
Grade: B+
19
Chicago Blackhawks (via Tampa Bay Lightning): Oliver Moore, United States National Team Development Program
Quite the first round for Chicago! After picking up Bedard, the Blackhawks nabbed the fastest player in this draft class: Oliver Moore. Speed isn’t all Moore is good for, he’s also an electric talent that should help shore up Chicago’s top-six center depth for the next decade to come.
Grade: A-
20
Seattle Kraken: F Eduard Sale, Brno
The Kraken surprised many this season with their playoff run, showcasing this team is much deeper than many gave them credit for. Eduard Sale is a two-way threat that will definitely boost Seattle’s prospect depth. It’s a high risk pick, but if it works out, Sale could be a real late first round find for this growing team.
Grade: B-
21
Minnesota Wild: F Charlie Stramel, University of Wisconsin
This feels like a reach for the Wild, who bypassed the best pick available to nab Charlie Stramel out of the NCAA. Stramel is a big body with a physically imposing frame who knows how to use it. He’s got good speed for his size, but isn’t anything to write home about offensively.
Grade: C-
22
Philadelphia Flyers (from Los Angeles Kings via Columbus Blue Jackets): D Oliver Bonk, London Knights
Oliver Bonk grades out as defensive defenseman who hopefully can continue to improve his offensive game. Despite that room for growth, Bonk is a stout right-shot blue liner who should help shore up the Flyers’ back end if he pans out well.
Grade: C+
23
New York Rangers: F Gabe Perreault, United States National Team Development Program
The Rangers grabbed the best player available to them in quite the steal. Gabe Perreault has the potential to be an incredible playmaker at the NHL level and is a very smart hockey player to boot. According to scouts, Perreault is an elite playmaker with top-level vision that should translate well to NHL ice.
Grade: B+
24
Nashville Predators (via Edmonton Oilers): D Tanner Molendyk, Saskatoon Blades
Defensemen have been coming off the board fast, so the Predators reached a bit here to address an area of need with Tanner Molendyk. There are concerns that Molendyk’s stellar puck skills won’t translate to points, so we’ll have to see if he can improve before he takes to NHL ice.
Grade: C-
25
St. Louis Blues (via Toronto Maple Leafs): F Otto Stenberg, Frolunda
Another player that slipped a bit from where I expected, Otto Stenberg is a physical forward that has a big-time compete level. Stenberg is solid in the possession game and uses his body to retrieve and protect the puck in the offensive zone.
Grade: B
26
San Jose Sharks (via New Jersey Devils): F Quentin Musty, Sudbury Wolves
Quentin Musty showcased a second gear to his offensive game in his last season in Sudbury while continuing to be productive as a two-way player. Musty is likely to be a “boom or bust” player, but if he can be consistent with his offense, he has real potential to be a great top-six forward in the NHL.
Grade: B
27
Colorado Avalanche: F Calum Ritchie, Oshawa Generals
A sizable power forward, Calum Ritchie has an above average goal scoring touch for his role. Ritchie likely slipped due to a shoulder injury that hampered his draft year, but this is a nice pick from the Avalanche all the same.
Grade: B-
28
Toronto Maple Leafs (from Boston Bruins via Washington Capitals): F Easton Cowan, London Knights
This is quite the big reach from Toronto. Easton Cowan is undersized but still skilled with a two-way play to his game. Scouts projected Cowan to be a second round pick at the very earliest, so we’ll have to see if Toronto saw something with him no one else did.
Grade: C-
29
St. Louis Blues (from Dallas Stars via New York Rangers): D Theo Lindstein, Brynäs IF
Theo Lindstein is a smooth-skating two-way defenseman who will probably take a few more years to mature before making the jump to the NHL. Considering the Blues went with two forwards earlier in the first round, this is a nice cap stone to their productive first three picks of the draft.
Grade: C+
30
Carolina Hurricanes: F Bradly Nadeau, Penticton Vees
Bradly Nadeau is a prototypical small, but very skilled forward. He has great skill and speed, with quite a nasty shot as well. Given the Hurricanes are a very defense-first team, Nadeau certainly addresses a need as a late first-round pick.
Grade: B
31
Colorado Avalanche (from Montreal Canadiens via Florida Panthers): D Mikhail Gulyayev, Omsk
I’m surprised Mikhail Gulyayev fell this far in the first round. Gulyayev is a highly skilled defenseman who is a confident playmaker from the back end. This feels like quite the steal here from the Avalanche.
Grade: B+
32
Vegas Golden Knights: F David Edstrom, Frölunda HC J20
And with the final selection of the first round, the Golden Knights selected David Edstrom! Graded as a sizable two-way center with high compete level, Edstrom fits the bill of a typical Golden Knights player to a tee.
Grade: B
