The 2023 draft is a fun group of players to watch. At the top of the draft you have Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov, Leo Carlsson, and Will Smith. Bedard is a WJC-20 record setting individual that is being put in a category with Mcavid and Crosby by many. Fantilli has already won the Hobey Baker award, a WJC-20 gold medal, and a WC gold medal. Michkov has produced at the highest point per game rate by a KHL u-18 draft elgible ever. The two others mentioned are high profile cases too. Since all these players are so highly touted, this draft has been getting a ton of hype by fans and media. I am not quite there with this draft. The top 5 or so players are all quite exceptional and are better than most drafts, but the depth of the draft is pretty average to below average. I have heard from a few sources (that talk to scouts) that the draft isn't anything special outside the top 5. The forward depth in this draft is a bit stronger than usual due to the exceptional top 5. The defensive class is a bit weaker with no true high-end defenders. The highest ranked defensemen on my list and most consensus lists is David Reinbacher and many people fear he doesn't have true #1 potential. Some see him as a second pairing defenseman and some see him as a #2. I'm more optimistic about Reinbacher and see him as a #2, but after him, the other top defenders aren't too promising for their draft position.
Below is an article where it quotes a few NHL scouts about the upcoming draft
The Score's Draft information articleAll of the players that are in the same tier are marginally better than one another. Below are my 2023 draft rankings