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With the calendar turning to 2023 and the 2023 World Junior Championships winding down, it can only mean one thing: it’s Mock Draft season.
The 2023 NHL Draft is now only six months away and with a handful of teams all but eliminated from playoff contention, fans have already started to turn their attention to who their newest prospects might be.
Based on points-per-game as of January 3rd, the Chicago Blackhawks earn the first-overall selection. Fans from 31 other NHL teams might riot if the Blackhawks truly end up with the top pick, but they currently have the best odds.
MORE: 2023 World Juniors schedule, standings, results
Here is The Sporting News’ latest 2023 mock draft.
NHL 2023 Mock Draft
1. Chicago Blackhawks: Connor Bedard
Team/Country: Regina Pats/Canada
Height/Weight: 5-10, 185 lbs
Position: Center
The Blackhawks don’t need to put a lot of thought into this selection, taking the best player available with the top pick. With the Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane era coming to an end, Bedard would immediately become the face of the franchise and look to bring the team back to contention. Bedard is one of the most highly-skilled, dominant prospects in recent memory and the Blackhawks would be running to the podium to select him if given the opportunity. His shot, his feet, his hands, and his mind are all elite and it won’t be long before he’s tearing up the NHL.
2. Columbus Blue Jackets: Adam Fantilli
Team/Country: University of Michigan/USA
Height/Weight: 6-2, 187 lbs
Position: Center
While the Blackhawks were making their selection, the Columbus Blue Jackets would wait patiently, knowing that they would be selecting a prospect that would likely be the first-overall pick in most drafts. The Blue Jackets are no stranger to drafting Canadians playing with the Michigan Wolverines, having selected Kent Johnson in 2021. Adam Fantilli has a solid combination of size and skill and would be the future number-one centerman. The forward would be joining a very promising young core in Columbus thanks to the last two drafts.
3. Anaheim Ducks: Matvei Michkov
Team/Country: SKA-Neva St. Petersburg/Russia
Height/Weight: 5-10, 148 lbs
Position: Right Wing
With their fifth top-10 pick in as many years, the Anaheim Ducks nab a Russian superstar in the making, who oozes skill, highlighted by his elite scoring ability. Matvei Michkov has taken the international scene by storm for years, while also dominating the Russian league. With the Ducks already having Trevor Zegras and Mason McTavish down the middle, adding Michkov on the wing could make them an offensive juggernaut in the near future. The Ducks would strongly consider Leo Carlsson here though, as Michkov is signed through the 2025-26 season, but his ceiling is too high to pass at this point.
4. San Jose Sharks: Leo Carlsson
Team/Country: Orbero HK/Sweden
Height/Weight: 6-3, 194 lbs
Position: Center/Wing
Similar to the Blue Jackets waiting to see if the Blackhawks take Bedard or Fantilli, the San Jose Sharks can wait patiently here for Michkov or Carlsson. They land the Swedish forward here, who may not have the skill of Michkov, but his processing ability and awareness have put him into top-three consideration this season. The Sharks have looked to Sweden with their first selection in the last two drafts, taking William Eklund and Filip Bystedt, and it makes sense to stick there for this selection.
5. Philadelphia Flyers: Will Smith
Team/Country: U.S. National U18 Team/USA
Height/Weight: 6-0, 172 lbs
Position: Center
The draft starts to get truly interesting at this point, as the tiers truly open up after the top four. The Philadelphia Flyers could surprise a little bit with this selection, but there’s good reason to think this is the direction they’d go. In the last five drafts, they’ve taken a player from the USNTDP six times, including three times in the first round. Will Smith is the top player in the program this year and one of the best playmakers in the entire class. Smith would be an excellent fit into the Flyers’ prospect pool.
6. Arizona Coyotes: Zach Benson
Team/Country: Winnipeg Ice/Canada
Height/Weight: 5-10, 159 lbs
Position: Center/Left Wing
The Arizona Coyotes go best-player-available and take the top WHL prospect not named Bedard. Zach Benson is a player capable of being put in any situation, wing or center, and succeeding. He’s an extremely intelligent player that is dependable in both ends of the ice. With top prospects Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley already leading the future offensive charge, Benson has the skill to be right there next to either one of them.
7. Montreal Canadiens: Dalibor Dvorsky
Team/Country: AIK/Sweden
Height/Weight: 6-1, 201
Position: Center
The Montreal Canadiens have stocked up on skill in recent drafts. But down the middle in their prospect pool, there may be a question for future NHL pivots. Many of the prospects currently in the system that are centermen look better suited for the wing at the top level. Dalibor Dvorsky on the other hand could very well be a future 2/3C with Nick Suzuki and Kirby Dach. The center is a highly competitive, well-rounded offensive player that would mesh well with fellow Slovak countrymen Juraj Slafkovsky and Filip Mesar.
8. Nashville Predators: Dmitri Simashev
Team/Country: Lokomotiv Yaroslavl/Russia
Height/Weight: 6-4, 201 lbs
Position: Defense
The Nashville Predators have done well drafting defenders in the later rounds in recent years, adding a strong crop of forwards and goaltender Yaroslav Askarov with their early selections. To start off their 2023 class, they go defense-first, ending what looks to be a season-long discussion of “what defender will be the first off the board?” Dmitri Simashov is one of the biggest risers of the season, playing several KHL games thanks to his defensively-sound, physical presence.
9. Vancouver Canucks: Eduard Sale
Team/Country: HC Kometa Brno/Czechia
Height/Weight: 6-1, 168 lbs
Position: Right Wing
At this point in the draft, the Vancouver Canucks might feel like Eduard Sale fell right into their lap, and well, they’d be right. The Czechia prospect is an excellent skater that can burn teams with his goal-scoring or his playmaking ability. Sale is the best player available at this point and that’s exactly what they should be looking for to bolster their prospect pool. He has the potential to be a top offensive player for the Canucks long-term.
10. Ottawa Senators: Matthew Wood
Team/Country: University of Connecticut/USA
Height/Weight: 6-3, 190 lbs
Position: Center
Not afraid to reach for the player they want in a draft, Matthew Wood has the feeling of an Ottawa Senators pick. The centerman is an impressive, goal-scoring forward with solid size. Outside of Tim Stutzle, the Senators have used early draft picks for defenders and more two-way or grinder-type players in recent years. It’s worked so far for them but adding some offensive talent to complement that would go a long way.
11. Montreal Canadiens (via FLA): Axel Sandin Pellikka
Team/Country: Skelleftea AIK J20/Sweden
Height/Weight: 5-11, 181 lbs
Position: Defense
Having already selected Dvorsky in this class, the Canadiens turn their attention to the blue line, drafting Swedish defender Axel Sandin Pallikka. The right-handed defender is another big riser this season, thanks to his stellar play in the SHL and J20 Nationell. He’s a puck-moving defender with great mobility that isn’t afraid to jump up in the play. The Canadiens have shown they appreciate a defender who can take risks, drafting Lane Hutson a year ago.
12. St. Louis Blues: Mikhail Gulyayev
Team/Country: Omski Yastreby/Russia
Height/Weight: 5-10, 170 lbs
Position: Defense
The St. Louis Blues have targeted forwards heavily in recent drafts, leaving defenders to the later rounds. In fact, you’d have to go back to the Scott Perunivich pick in 2018 to find a defender they selected in the top two rounds. This should be the year they change that, and Mikhail Gulyayev at this spot would be the target. Gulyayev is in the conversation for the top defender in the class, thanks to his excellent mobility and competitive edge.
13. Detroit Red Wings: Brayden Yager
Team/Country: Moose Jaw Warriors/Canada
Height/Weight: 6-0, 165 lbs
Position: Center
The Detroit Red Wings would be chomping at the bit if Brayden Yager was still sitting here at 13th overall. He’s one of the most dangerous scorers in the class, so imagining him with Lucas Raymond in a few years would be an extremely intriguing pairing. His playmaking as well though is quite impressive, as his vision has improved greatly this season. The Red Wings look to have a bright future and Yager would be a big part of that.
14. Buffalo Sabres: Andrew Cristall
Team/Country: Kelowna Rockets/Canada
Height/Weight: 5-10, 165 lbs
Position: Left Wing
With five first-round picks in the last two drafts, the Buffalo Sabres have shown that skill is more important than size for them. And if you want skill, Andrew Cristall is an excellent target. The winger is among the top playmakers in the class but shows no issue burying the puck as well. He plays the game at such a fast pace with excellent results, it’s not hard at all to see how he’ll translate into a strong NHL contributor.
15. Calgary Flames: Lukas Dragicevic
Team/Country: Tri-City Americans/Canada
Height/Weight: 6-2, 181 lbs
Position: Defense
The WHL has a truly impressive class this year, with Lukas Dragicevic already the fifth player from the league off the board at this point (and there are more to come). With how his season has been going, the Calgary Flames would be lucky to get him at this point. He’s an aggressive defender, challenging his man hard while reading the play extremely well. He also produces offense in bunches, which does hurt either. He’d easily step in as the Flames’ top defensive prospect.
16. Washington Capitals: Michael Hrabal
Team/Country: Omaha Lancers/USA
Height/Weight: 6-6, 209 lbs
Position: Goalie
The Washington Capitals have some high-end defensive and forward prospects, but they lack a true goaltender of the future. Enter Michael Hrabal. The 6-foot-6 goaltender moves so smoothly in the crease and while goalies are hard to project, he looks to have all the tools to reach the NHL thanks to his technique and skill. He’s having a solid first season in North America in the USHL after standing out in the Czech Republic in recent years.
17. Edmonton Oilers: Calum Ritchie
Team/Country: Oshawa Generals/Canada
Height/Weight: 6-2, 187 lbs
Position: Center
Entering the season, Calum Ritchie was a top-10 pick that looked poised to explode. While he’s having a good season, it’s not the huge jump offensively that was expected. For the Edmonton Oilers at this point though, it’s an easy selection to nab the centerman. Especially after a quiet 2022 draft for the club, with just four picks, Ritchie likely steps in as the top prospect in the system. Ritchie is an intelligent player who plays a well-rounded game, highlighted by his high-end playmaking. The Oilers would be extremely happy to land Ritchie here.
18. New York Rangers: Oliver Moore
Team/Country: U.S. National U18 Team/USA
Height/Weight: 5-11, 176 lbs
Position: Center
With the first of two first-round selections in this draft, after not having even one last draft, the New York Rangers jump on USNTDP stand-out Oliver Moore. An exceptional skater thanks to his excellent use of crossovers and weight shifts, Moore also boasts high-end awareness. This combination allows him to easily navigate traffic and find the lanes to the high-danger areas. He’s capable of burying the puck or finding a teammate through traffic, making him a dangerous offensive threat. He would immediately be one of the more exciting prospects in the system.
19. New York Islanders: Nate Danielson
Team/Country: Brandon Wheat Kings/Canada
Height/Weight: 6-1, 185 lbs
Position: Center
The New York Islanders haven’t had a first-round pick in the last three drafts, so landing a talent like Nate Danielson would be a huge boost to the prospect pool. The captain of the Brandon Wheat Kings might not have the high ceiling of some of the others in this first round, but his floor is among the highest. He’s a reliable, two-way forward that rarely makes mistakes. On top of that, he can produce offense thanks to his intelligence with the puck on his stick. He’s not too far away from making the jump to the NHL.
20. Minnesota Wild: Riley Heidt
Team/Country: Prince George Cougars/Canada
Height/Weight: 5-11, 179 lbs
Position: Center
Over the past few years, the Minnesota Wild have drafted exceptionally well, betting big on skill and ceiling. Riley Heidt fits that bill. He’s taken a big step forward this season offensively, on pace to come close to 100 points in the WHL – nearly double his previous total. He’s relentless on the forecheck and off the puck, constantly working on getting the puck back to his team. It’s extremely easy to see how he would be an excellent fit with the group of prospects the Wild have collected recently.
21. Colorado Avalanche: Colby Barlow
Team/Country: Owen Sound Attack/Canada
Height/Weight: 6-1, 187 lbs
Position: Left Wing
The Colorado Avalanche had to wait until the sixth round of the 2022 NHL Draft to make their first of only two selections. They make up for that in this edition of the draft in a big way, adding Colby Barlow at a spot that’s probably lower than it will be on draft day. Barlow is the captain of the Owen Sound Attack, with an excellent shot and great hands. He’s often relied upon for the penalty kill as well, being a very dependable defender. He would be a massive boost to a prospect pool that has graduated some prospects recently.
22. Seattle Kraken: Ryan Leonard
Team/Country: U.S. National U18 Team/USA
Height/Weight: 5-11, 181 lbs
Position: Center
Sitting patiently and getting ready for their first-ever draft pick outside of the top four (alright, it’s only been two drafts), the Seattle Kraken jump on Ryan Leonard, another player that could very well go higher than this when the names start rolling. Leonard is another player with a big shot, and might just be one of the best shooters in the class. He combines that with an excellent small-area game, an ability to drive the net, and some underrated playmaking. He’d be an excellent addition to the building team’s prospect pool.
23. Los Angeles Kings: Otto Stenberg
Team/Country: Frolunda HC J20/Sweden
Height/Weight: 5-11, 181 lbs
Position: Center/Wing
After not having a first-round pick in 2022, the Los Angeles Kings return to the top 32 and select the third Swede off the board. Otto Stenberg is a very intelligent forward and has already seen (limited) SHL time this season thanks to that. His reading of the play and vision are standout qualities, allowing him to find lanes with ease and find teammates through traffic. The Kings have a strong prospect pool and Stenberg would come in near the top of that group.
24. Winnipeg Jets: David Reinbacher
Team/Country: Kloten/Switzerland
Height/Weight: 6-2, 187 lbs
Position: Defense
Just the fifth defender off the board, David Reinbacher may have been a lesser-known name before the 2023 World Juniors but that has absolutely changed (yes, he was on this list before his World Juniors performance). The Winnipeg Jets have looked to forwards first in the last two drafts and it’s time to look back to the blue line. Reinbacher is a two-way defender that can shut the team defensively or shock a team in transition. He has great four-way mobility and plays with a physical edge.
25. Pittsburgh Penguins: Quentin Musty
Team/Country: Sudbury Wolves/USA
Height/Weight: 6-2, 205 lbs
Position: Left Wing
One of the more controversial prospects so far in this draft class, Quentin Musty has some kinks to work out in his game, but there’s no questioning the skill he brings to the table. He has an NHL frame and already knows how to use it, using his body to cut through the hands of defenders en route to the net. He also has excellent hands and a great passing ability. He’s a promising forward to add to a team looking to turn the page in the coming years.
26. New Jersey Devils: Luca Pinelli
Team/Country: Ottawa 67’s/Canada
Height/Weight: 5-9, 161 lbs
Position: Center
Luca Pinelli is a player that just seems to fit with the New Jersey Devils. The Devils have done well drafting in recent years and will likely now be looking for players to support their key pieces. While on the smaller size, Pinelli is one of the most exciting players in the class. Likely a winger in the NHL, he’s tenacious, physical, and highly skilled. He contributes in both ends very effectively and is strong in transition. Logan Stankoven 2.0?
27. Chicago Blackhawks (via TB): Koehn Ziemmer
Team/Country: Prince George Cougars/Canada
Height/Weight: 6-0, 194 lbs
Position: Right Wing
Already adding new face-of-the-franchise Bedard, the Blackhawks step up to the podium for their second selection of the first round. After sticking to defenders with their first picks in the past two drafts, the Blackhawks stick with forward – and the WHL – selecting offensive forward Koehn Ziemmer. The forward is an excellent offensive producer, thanks to a great shot with a quick release and great hands.
28. Toronto Maple Leafs: Kasper Halttunen
Team/Country: HIFK/Finland
Height/Weight: 6-3, 190 lbs
Position: Right Wing
After two years without a first-round pick, the Toronto Maple Leafs return in a big way landing the top Finnish prospect in the class, Kasper Halttunen. The forward has the size to play in the NHL now, granted he can still work on learning how to use his size to his advantage. He’s a goalscorer who’s been spending time in the Liiga this season, with good hands. Skating is a weaker aspect, but the Maple Leafs don’t typically shy away from that in the draft.
29. Vegas Golden Knights: Oliver Bonk
Team/Country: London Knights/Canada
Height/Weight: 6-1, 176 lbs
Position: Defense
The Vegas Golden Knights have never drafted a defender first in their history, granted they did draft Erik Brannstrom in 2017 in the first round (their third pick though). With a number of forwards in the system, it’s time to turn to the defensive corps and Oliver Bonk would be an excellent selection. The right-handed d-man is very intelligent and looks like he could develop into a true two-way defender. He’s responsible and mature in his own end and moves the puck extremely well in the offensive end.
30 Carolina Hurricanes: Gabe Perreault
Team/Country: U.S. National U18 Team/USA
Height/Weight: 5-11, 170 lbs
Position: Left Wing
Despite not having a first-round selection in the past two drafts, the Carolina Hurricanes have drafted extremely well. With some excellent defensive prospects in the system, they can continue to add to their forward group, selecting Gabe Perreault. Perreault is an offensively well-rounded prospect, who may be more of a playmaker down the line, but has no issues putting the puck in the net either.
31. New York Rangers (via DAL): Caden Price
Team/Country: Kelowna Rockets/Canada
Height/Weight: 6-1, 181 lbs
Position: Defense
Having already selected exciting forward Moore, the Rangers turn their attention to the blue line and land WHL defender Caden Price. A smooth-skating defender with excellent awareness, Price isn’t afraid to jump up into the play looking to make something happen. He’s great with his stick, getting in the lanes, and breaking up plays. The Rangers would be extremely happy to walk away from the first round with Moore and Price.
32. Boston Bruins: Charlie Stramel
Team/Country: University of Wisconsin/USA
Height/Weight: 6-3, 216 lbs
Position: Center
Walking to the podium for the final selection of the 2023 NHL Draft’s first round, the Boston Bruins make a very Bruins pick, selecting centerman Charlie Stramel. He’s a very smart player that may have seen his stock drop this season due to a slow start from both him and his team, but the Bruins would be betting on him to bounce back. With the way he sees and plays the game, that does seem very likely. He’s a mature, calm player with great size, making him a prime Bruins target.
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