My 2023 1st round Mock Draft

Start of the draft

  1. Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks
  2. I think this is a lock. The Blackhawks get the best prospect since Mcdavid.

  3. Adam Fantilli, Anaheim Ducks
  4. I'm 6/10 on a confidence scale that Anaheim selects Fantilli here. He had a home-run season in the NCAA.

  5. Leo Carlsson, Columbus Blue Jackets
  6. Carlsson fits everything Jarmo looks for in the draft. A big center with no. 1 potential? Sign me up.

  7. Will Smith, San Jose Sharks
  8. I tried looking at San Jose's track record and I found they like to pick players with a ton of skill. Smith has plenty of it.

  9. Ryan Leonard, Montreal Canadiens
  10. This one was between Reinbacher and Leonard. Two players that play a physical and skilled hockey style. I went with Leonard because I believe he's the better player.

  11. Dalibor Dvorsky, Arizona Coyotes
  12. I'm a firm believer the Coyotes like Dvorsky's style of play. He is dominant at 5v5, has some skill, but lacks footpacing. That is exactly the type of player I expect Arizona to draft.

  13. David Reinbacher, Philadelphia Flyers
  14. Reinbacher is the #1 consensus for defensemen at the moment and Philly is in full rebuild mode. He is a great first step at rebuilding their blue-line

  15. Matvei Michkov, Washington Capitals
  16. The Capitals aren't scared of drafting Russian players and Michkov is the second best talent in the draft class. I don't think he falls further than this.

  17. Zach Benson, Detroit Red Wings
  18. Yzerman plans on drafting the best player available and I think that means Benson or Perreault here. I have them drafting Benson due to his high compete level.

  19. Tom Willander, St. Louis Blues
  20. St. Louis goes with the biggest riser and one of the smartest players in the draft.

  21. Nate Danielson, Vancouver Canucks
  22. Danielson bring intangibles and fits the ideal center mold Vancouver has been looking for behind Pettersson.

  23. Gabe Perreault, Arizona Coyotes
  24. Arizona needs defensemen, but I think they get an extraordinary skilled forward in Perreault as BPA.

  25. Dmitri Simashev, Buffalo Sabres
  26. Simashev is exactly what Buffalo needs, a big smooth skating defender. They have drafted all their small skilled players already. Time to add size and skating around them.

  27. Daniil But, Pittsburgh Penguins
  28. This could've gone a couple of ways. The big Russian is a great piece to start the new chapter for the Penguins. He brings size, skill, and speed.

  29. Axel Sandin-Pelikka, Nashville Predators
  30. The Predators are in dire need of high-end defensive prospects. I think Axel is one of the best defenders on the board, so they choose him.

  31. Colby Barlow, Calgary Flames
  32. With so many players leaving Calgary, it's time for a culture change with Barlow. Barlow is a safer player with great intangibles. I think he is the perfect fit for the Flames.

  33. Samuel Honzek, Detroit Red Wings
  34. Honzek said himself that he thought his interview with the Red Wings was the best one. He is exactly what the Wings are looking for: size, speed, and skill.

  35. Matthew Wood, Winnipeg Jets
  36. Wood drops a bit because of his skating, but the Jets are not afraid to draft questionable skaters. Wood is their guy with size and high level playmaking abilities.

  37. Brayden Yager, Chicago Blackhawks
  38. Ideally the Hawks draft bigger players to go along with their small skilled forward prospects, but Yager fits their type to a tee.

  39. Oliver Moore, Seattle Kraken
  40. Moore likely doesn't fall this far, but the Kraken are happy to take him here. An elite skater that adds to an already explosive team.

  41. David Edstrom, Minnesota Wild
  42. Joel Eriksson Ek 2.0, enough said

  43. Quentin Musty, Philadelphia Flyers
  44. Musty brings such a high level playmaking ability, it is tough for me to see too many teams pass on him. The Flyers nab themselves an offensive dynamo.

  45. Oliver Bonk, New York Rangers
  46. The Rangers take a safer and bigger option to surround Adam Fox on the blueline. Bonk is as safe as you can get at this point.

  47. Otto Stenberg, Nashville Predators
  48. The Predators go with another Swede and add-on to the skill they have been drafting the past couple years.

  49. Oskar-Fisker Molgard, St. Louis Blues
  50. Maybe the biggest surprise so far. Oskar is the most NHL ready player left that I can see the Blues targeting.

  51. Calum Ritchie, San Jose Sharks
  52. The Sharks go with another skill player down the middle. A team that definitely needs a strong center pipeline.

  53. Tanner Molendyk, Colorado Avalanche
  54. It was between Tanner and Mikhail, but I don't think the Aves take a risk on a Russian, so they go with the best skating defender left.

  55. Eduard Sale, Toronto Maple Leafs
  56. Sale has the size and skill of a good NHL player. The leafs aren't afraid of swinging for the fences and I think they do that with Sale.

  57. Bradly Nadeau, St. Louis Blues
  58. After drafting two safer and more projectible players, I think the Blues go with a high-end skill player with upside. Nadeau brings that to the table.

  59. Charlie Stramel, Carolina Hurricanes
  60. Carolina goes after the gritty energy player in Stramel that can elevate their team in the playoffs.

  61. Ethan Gauthier, Montreal Canadiens
  62. The Canadiens go for a French winger that brings all the attributes they look for in players: grit, character, and skill.

  63. Carson Rehkopf, Vegas Golden Knights
  64. A toolsy player with size is the Golden Knights MO. They continue with that here.