(WGR 550) - 20 years ago, the National Hockey League saw, arguably, its best class of prospects enter the league through the NHL Draft held in Nashville, Tennessee.
Fast forward to 2023, the City of Nashville is set to host another deep and talented class of prospects looking to make their NHL dreams come true.
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The 2023 NHL Draft is set to kick off with Round 1 on Wednesday night from Bridgestone Arena, home of the Nashville Predators. Rounds 2-7 will then pick up again late Thursday morning and run through the afternoon.
This year's draft will feature the next generational talent to grace the NHL going forward in center Connor Bedard from the Regina Pats in the Western Hockey League.
Bedard has been the talk of the NHL for a few years now since he was granted exceptional status as a 15-year-old to play in the WHL. He joined a select few group of players to ever hold that honor, including 2015 first overall selection Connor McDavid, who is the last "generational-type" prospect to enter the NHL Draft.
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Aside from Bedard being the major headline of the draft, Matvei Michkov was also once seen as a potential "generational" talent coming out of Russia. However, there seem to be more questions than answers surrounding his future, which has some around the NHL potentially concerned and straying away.
Behind those two polarizing players atop the draft class, the 2023 NHL Draft is chock full of first-round talent that will likely make their impact in the NHL sometime over the next three years. It is a deep group of talent, with the range of talent stretching all the way through Round 1, with some potential prospects with first-round grades falling to the second round.
How may the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft play out on Wednesday night in Nashville? Let's have some fun projecting the picks with my one-and-only first-round mock draft:
***For this exercise there will not be any potential mock trades that could happen in the first round.
1.) Chicago Blackhawks
SELECTION: Connor Bedard - Center - Regina Pats (WHL)
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 185 pounds
Shoots: Right
Nationality: Canada
Birthday: July 17, 2005
2022-23 stats: 57 GP, 71 G, 72 A, 143 P, 62 PIM, +39
This is the easiest part of this mock draft. An absolute no-brainer at the top of the draft.
As previously mentioned, Bedard is the best NHL prospect to enter the NHL Draft since Connor McDavid in 2015, and it’s not even close.
The 17-year-old is the most complete overall player in the 2023 NHL Draft, and is likely going to be the next generational talent the game of hockey has seen. He does just about everything well on the ice offensively, while bringing plenty of compete at both ends of the rink.
What stands out immediately with Bedard is his overall vision on the fly, seeing the ice incredibly well and processing the game at the speed of light. His anticipation is ahead of the curve compared to a number of talents at the NHL level, and can create plays out of practically nothing with his patience with the puck.
The vision Bedard is gifted with makes him one of the best playmaking forwards the NHL Draft has seen over the last 10 years. His passing abilities are incredible with the ability to play the puck on a string, while his shot is incredibly lethal from all areas of the ice. Given his 143 points (71+72) this past season, it is clear he possesses all the offensive abilities to create havoc and be a dynamic weapon.
While his speed may not be at an elite level, similar to a McDavid, he makes up for it with the skill set he has with the puck on his stick. While he can certainly outskate most players on any given night, he doesn’t need to blow by every player to create his opportunities offensively. He can dictate the speed of the game the second he takes the puck up ice, and his puck skills make it incredibly difficult to alter the pace.
Although his 5-foot-10, 185-pound frame may give some draft pundits concern, he certainly is not afraid to play up to the competition physically. Plus, he’s strong enough to take a few blows and not have it affect his game at all.
Bedard is relentless with his puck pursuit, and his stick work on the forecheck and backcheck can give opposing defenders fits if they aren’t careful.
What caps off the complete package for Bedard is his confidence on the ice with and without the puck on his stick. He’s willing to make the daring plays that only the most elite players can make, and executes in marvelous fashion on a regular basis.
What can he get away with once he gets to the NHL? We’ll have to see, but his moxie on the ice is what the league needs more of from its top players.
Can Bedard reach a McDavid-level ceiling once he hits the high point of his NHL career? Time will certainly tell, but there is potential for Bedard to be the young up-and-comer in the league that McDavid was to Sidney Crosby after being drafted first overall in 2015.
2.) Anaheim Ducks
SELECTION: Matvei Michkov - Right Wing - SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 148 pounds
Shoots: Left
Nationality: Russia
Birthday: Dec. 9, 2004
2022-23 stats: 30 GP, 9 G, 11 A, 20 P, 16 PIM, +1
There has been some recent chatter surrounding the Ducks potentially being willing to take Michkov after being long linked to Adam Fantilli at No. 2 overall. Some have even speculated the potential of the Ducks leaning towards Leo Carlsson or Will Smith with the second pick in the draft.
I'm certainly willing to buy the Ducks going different from Fantilli, but I'll go with a player who may end up being the second-best prospect in this class.
Heading into the 2022-23 season, and even before that, Michkov was seen as a 1B prospect in the 2023 NHL Draft to Bedard. If Bedard was seen as the Sidney Crosby of the 2023 NHL Draft, Michkov was seen as the Alex Ovechkin.
However, Michkov saw his draft stock slip heading into the draft, despite him being right up there in talent level.
Starting with his skill sets, Michkov is, arguably, the best puck-handling player available in the 2023 draft. When the puck finds his stick, there is absolutely no telling what Michkov is going to do. He can undress a defending player, he can fire a quick wrist shot with his deceptive, yet accurate shot, or he can pull off a lacrosse move all in one motion.
Michkov’s abilities to produce and put the puck in the net is evident, as he has the offensive instincts to get pucks to the net and create scoring chances for himself and his teammates. The Russian winger made his first appearance in his 14/15-year-old season when he scored 70 goals and 109 points in just 26 games with his Under-16 team. Then as a 16-year-old at the 2021 IIHF U-18 World Championship, Michkov scored 12 goals and put up 16 points in seven tournament games, outperforming Bedard and earning the tournament MVP honors.
While Michkov does not possess the speed of a Bedard or some of the other top prospects of this draft class, he is so swift on his feet and edges, and plays at a really nice pace, especially with the puck on his stick. He can spin out of spots and evade pressure all with how light he is on his feet. And once he is in possession with the puck, he picks up his speed and is one of the better players on the go.
While he is still only listed at 148 pounds with his 5-foot-10 frame, Michkov still has plenty of time to grow his game and bulk up to accommodate to the higher levels of hockey.
However, as mentioned, there are the concerns surrounding Michkov, some that extend beyond his play on the ice.
This past season saw Michkov being loaned to HK Sochi in the KHL after he was not getting the amount of ice time with SKA St. Petersburg he probably should have been getting, especially with his skill set. However, the KHL is a professional hockey league, and with the program SKA has in Russia, it’s more often about the money than it is making sure an 18-year-old is getting proper ice time for development.
With Sochi, Michkov performed admirably with 20 points (9+11) in 27 games, and showed that the KHL is not too big of a level for him, though there’s plenty of room for improvement. However, Sochi was at the bottom of the standings as the worst team in the KHL, compared to SKA St. Petersburg, who ended up as the No. 1 team in the regular season.
Outside of that, Michkov is under contract for three more seasons in the KHL, under contract through the 2025-26 season with SKA. That would likely mean Michkov is spending, at least, three more years in Russia with an uncertainty whether or not he will actually make the jump to North America or not. Often times prospects of Michkov’s caliber do make the jump, but there is always a concern with any Russian prospect.
Another factor that is out of Michkov’s control but could certainly sway some people’s decision-making process is the ongoing war in Ukraine. The war has not allowed Russians to compete in international tournaments, limiting how much some scouts and teams have been able to watch Michkov play.
However, with him being in North America since the weekend, he will get a chance to speak with a handful of teams heading into Wednesday's first round.
If Michkov slips and a team takes a chance on him, there’s a decent shot that organization will be laughing all the way to the bank with that selection.
In this case, the Ducks have a decent number of prospects in the pipeline or already in Anaheim where they can afford to wait on Michkov if he plays out the entirety of his contract in Russia.
3.) Columbus Blue Jackets
SELECTION: Adam Fantilli – Center – University of Michigan (NCAA)
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 187 pounds
Shoots: Left
Nationality: Canada
Birthday: Oct. 12, 2004
2022-23 stats: 36 GP, 30 G, 35 A, 65 P, 67 PIM, +31
If Michkov goes No. 2 to the Ducks, what a nice gift the Blue Jackets would be given with Fantilli.
The Hobey Baker Award winner from the 2022-23 college hockey season brings a very solid, simple, fluid and steady game every night he takes to the ice.
At 6-foot-2 and 187 pounds, Fantilli is a very smooth skater with a strong stride and good speed to be able to create some separation. That frame also allows him to play a physical game and handle the game at the college level just fine as a freshman.
Perhaps where Fantilli is most skilled is with the puck on his stick, as his playmaking abilities have helped him climb the rankings of the draft class since the start of the year. He’s able to thread a pass to its intended target, he can wire a sneaky quick wrist shot, or he can wind up and blast away one-timers. Not only are his shots on-and-off his stick lightning fast, they are also heavy shots on goal.
His vision is quite good with the puck, and his anticipation of where plays are going to develop will help him become a dangerous threat at the higher level.
He’s constantly looking for the right spot to get to in order for the puck to find his stick for a chance to score or be the setup man.
Fantilli was also a reliable player for Michigan this past year at both ends of the ice, being used plenty as a top power play asset, while also seeing plenty of penalty kill time as a top center for the program.
There’s also a relentlessness to his play that makes him special, as he never gives up on the puck, and uses his longer reach and strong stick to attack the opposition on the forecheck and backcheck.
There is speculation Fantilli may return to Michigan for his sophomore season with the Wolverines. While he may not need to do so, it would not hurt him in any way to head back to school and play in college for another year. Another year to get stronger in his overall game, and potentially go back-to-back as a Hobey Baker winner will do wonders.
4.) San Jose Sharks
SELECTION: Leo Carlsson - Center - Örebro HK (SHL)
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 194 pounds
Shoots: Left
Nationality: Sweden
Birthday: Dec. 26, 2004
2022-23 stats: 44 GP, 10 G, 15 A, 25 P, 6 PIM, -5
Just like the Blue Jackets with Fantilli, the Sharks would absolutely win out here if they manage to have Carlsson land in their laps at No. 4.
Carlsson brings a very well-rounded style of play to whoever drafts him atop the 2023 NHL Draft down the middle of the ice. He’s got the scoring abilities, he’s got the playmaking abilities, he’s very strong for his age, and has a knack for taking the play to the net.
The Swedish forward has some good instinctual traits to his game, as he can see plays developing well, and his patience with the puck allows for the right play to develop at the right time. Along with his vision, he has the ability to be a gifted passer to set up some prime scoring chances in the offensive end.
Carlsson’s scoring comes from different areas of the offensive zone. He can score from the perimeter, he can score from the slot, or by taking the puck to the net mouth and being right in the goaltender’s kitchen. Any way you put it, his ability to do it all makes him a mouth-watering prospect for several teams.
In fact, his production during his draft eligible year in Sweden was the fifth-best of any player in the league, ever.
Speed doesn’t have to be an issue when you have the ability to outmuscle the opponents to win puck battles or keep defenders away from the puck. While speed can always be an improvement, Carlsson is a bull with the puck, showing no fear, especially when skating with power towards the net.
According to Elite Prospects, Carlsson is still under contract for one more season in the SHL. Allowing him one more season to play professionally in Sweden will do no harm, as he can focus on rounding out his game even more before making the jump to North America and beginning his journey to the NHL.
5.) Montreal Canadiens
SELECTION: Will Smith - Center - U.S. National Team Development Program
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 172 pounds
Shoots: Right
Nationality: United States
Birthday: March 17, 2005
2022-23 stats: 60 GP, 51 G, 76 A, 127 P, 28 PIM, +71 // USHL: 20 GP, 15 G, 27 A, 42 P, 20 PIM, +18
Aside from Bedard and Michkov being at the top of the human highlight reel rankings in the 2023 NHL Draft, Smith is right behind them as being one of the most skilled and creative players of the class.
Although Smith doesn’t boast the biggest frame at just 6-foot and 172 pounds, the center is incredibly light on his feet and has the speed to back it up. He uses his deceptiveness to blow past defenders for a scoring chance, or create a rush out of nothing.
Smith also sees his time and space very well, allowing him to be able to slip into the right spots in the offensive zone or on a rush to receive a pass.
With the puck, Smith may be one of the best stickhandling players in the draft with his ability to play with the puck like it’s on a string. He often leaves the opposition guessing what he will do next with the puck, as his deception helps feed that elusiveness.
His shot is not the strongest out there, but his soft hands allow from him to have incredible touch with both his passes and wrist shots that, more often than not, find the back of the net.
While Smith finish second in scoring with the U.S. National Development Program, he was often seen as the engine that drove the line he played with. He was more so the playmaking machine setting up the production in the end on the scoreboard.
At the 2023 IIHF U-18 World Championship, Smith lit up the tournament with 20 points (9+11) in just seven games, helping Team USA to a Gold Medal finish, while also finishing as the tournament’s best forward and MVP.
The Lexington, Massachusetts native will play his college hockey at Boston College going forward. His goal will be able to show he can play up at the next level, which college hockey is not always so forgiving for these crafty kids that chew up the junior levels. However, there’s little doubting he will find success and thrive on his way to becoming an impact playmaker at the NHL level.
6.) Arizona Coyotes
SELECTION: David Reinbacher - Defense - EHC Kloten (NLA)
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 187 pounds
Shoots: Right
Nationality: Austria
Birthday: Oct. 25, 2004
2022-23 stats: 46 GP, 3 G, 19 A, 22 P, 26 PIM, +7
Reinbacher is seen widely as the best overall defensive prospect available in the 2023 NHL Draft, and his game only grew as his season went on in Switzerland playing with EHC Kloten.
The Austrian-born defenseman was able to net three goals and add 19 assists for 22 points in 46 games played this year mainly as an 18-year-old. His stats in the NLA were good enough to earn him league honors as the Most Improved Player after playing with Kloten last year, helping the team to a promotion to Switzerland’s top professional league.
Reinbacher just keeps the game simple when he’s on the ice, allowing for plays to come to him from the blue line in both the offensive and defensive end.
Where Reinbacher takes his game from the blue line to the next level is his vision, as you very rarely ever catch him with his head down when the puck is on his stick. He is constantly skating with his head up to see how a rush is developing, and is decisive on his ability to either hit a lead pass on the rush, or use his smooth skating abilities to drive the puck himself into the offensive zone.
Reinbacher also doesn’t try to overcomplicate much when he’s on the ice. In the offensive zone, he doesn’t put the puck in any sort of danger, making the smart plays to either keep possession or give his teammates the ability to win puck battles.
Defensively, he’s calm, cool and collected, not letting much phase him when the pressure gets built up.
He has the strength and the frame that helps him to be able to compete professionally at such a young age, while his skating helps him maintain the pace amongst other men at the next level.
While his shot and release is nothing to hit home about at this time, some time to allow him to grow stronger and more confident will benefit him greatly in the long run.
It will be interesting to see where the next step for Reinbacher is heading into the 2023-24 season. According to Elite Prospects, his contract with Kloten expires this offseason, which could open the door for him to make the jump to North America this upcoming year if the team who drafts him elects to take that route.
If Reinbacher continues that positive growth in his game and continues to show confidence at the next level of hockey year-in and year-out, there’s a solid chance he can develop into a sturdy top-four presence on the right side of the blue line, which is a luxury in today’s NHL.
7.) Philadelphia Flyers
SELECTION: Ryan Leonard - Center - U.S. National Team Development Program
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 181 pounds
Shoots: Right
Nationality: United States
Birthday: Jan. 21, 2005
2022-23 stats: 57 GP, 51 G, 43 A, 94 P, 46 PIM, +77 // USHL: 17 GP, 11 G, 9 A, 20 P. 18 PIM, +20
While Leonard is maybe not as flashy of a prospect as his teammate Smith was this past season, he is still widely considered to be one of the best American-born prospects in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Where Smith is the super skilled and crafty forward, Leonard is the grind-it-out style of player that can score and produce by putting in the work. He’s a tenacious, puck hungry forward who always seems to find a way to be in the right spot at the right time.
Although Leonard is not all that big at 5-foot-11, he certainly is not afraid to play up to bigger competition with his willingness to be a physical presence on and off the puck. At 181 pounds, he has the strength to stand up for himself and win some battles, especially in-and-around the blue paint.
Leonard is very quick on his feet, perhaps considered as one of the faster skaters in the top part of the draft, as he can hit a good top speed, especially on the offensive. He’s very hard on puck pursuit or generating an odd-man rush to get into scoring position, and can also control the pace of play with the puck in his control.
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His vision may be his most underrated asset, as he can not only use it to sneak into open space for a potential scoring chance, but he can keep his head on a swivel with some really nice passing plays.
Where Leonard is dangerous is right around the net, as he has that knack for finding the back of the net or just being having a presence that can drive opposing players mad. He’s got a very quick release off his wrist shots, while also some soft hands to elevate his scoring chances in-tight. He’s also got good hand-eye coordination to tip in some pucks heading towards the goal from the perimeter.
Like Smith, Leonard is set to head to Boston College to play his college hockey, where he may be able to transition in right away and have success for himself with his style of play. He can grow more into his frame at the collegiate level, while also performing on the biggest stages for Team USA over the next couple of years.
8.) Washington Capitals
SELECTION: Dmitri Simashev - Defense - Yaroslavl Jr. (Russia)
Height: 6' 4"
Weight: 201 pounds
Shoots: Left
Nationality: Russia
Birthday: Feb. 4, 2005
2022-23 stats: 29 GP, 1 G, 9 A, 10 P, 39 PIM, +22 // KHL: 18 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, 2 PIM, -1
The Capitals sure do love their Russian prospects.
Perhaps the true surprise of the top-10 in this mock draft, Simashev is one of the more intriguing defensive prospects of the 2023 NHL Draft with his incredible skating skills and a really solid two-way game.
Right off the bat, Simashev stands out with his footwork and his ability to shift and cut so well on his feet at both ends of the ice. Defensively, it allows him to evade the forecheck and create space for himself to begin a breakout offensively. At the other end, his shiftiness allows him to become a viable offensive threat to sneak in from the point, or skate the puck down low.
Already standing in at 6-foot-4 and 201 pounds, Simashev is a physical force on the ice with incredibly good reach. He’s willing to engage in puck battles, he can outmuscle opponents on the puck, and uses a smart stick to help him gain leverage.
While not entirely an offensive juggernaut from the blue line, Simashev has the skill and potential to make an impact on the attack, and has shown the ability to jump into the play and create a scoring chance from the back end.
However, with many Russian prospects available in the draft, the biggest question is surrounding his status and whether or not he would commit to making the jump to North America when his contract expires in 2025.
It is expected for Simashev to become a full-time defenseman in the KHL this upcoming season, and if he is given the free range to attack the game and play a ton of minutes, Simashev may be able to develop his game even further and challenge Reinbacher as the best defenseman of the draft class.
9.) Detroit Red Wings
SELECTION: Dalibor Dvorsky – Center – AIK (HockeyAllsvenskan)
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 201 pounds
Shoots: Left
Nationality: Slovakia
Birthday: June 15, 2005
2022-23 stats: 38 GP, 6 G, 8 A, 14 P, 16 PIM, -19
Smooth is a good way to describe Dvorsky’s game playing this past season in Sweden with AIK’s program.
The native of Slovakia has good offensive instincts, and keeps things pretty simple with and without the puck. He finds the open spaces to get himself into scoring areas on the ice, while also using his 6-foot-1, 201-pound frame to win battles in front of the net.
Dvorsky is a force with the puck due to his strength, but he is also good on his edges to keep good possession and even make some magic happen from time-to-time.
His hands are right near the top of the draft class, in terms of puck-handling and his release. While he won’t dangle his way around the ice, it seems like the puck is glued to his stick when he’s in possession. Even when he’s not in perfect control of the puck, he’s able to somehow maintain possession.
When he fires a wrist shot or slap shot, it is quick and accurate with just the right amount of touch. Same goes for his passing, and he’s able to thread a needle with his nice touch.
Dvorsky is set to return to Sweden for, at least, another season next year, and getting another campaign in the HockeyAllsvenskan will help him continue to grow his game against some similar competition. He’ll likely be 2-3 years away from being NHL ready, but certainly has the tools to being a silky-smooth prospect at the top level.
10.) St. Louis Blues
SELECTION: Axel Sandin Pellikka - Defense - Skellefteå AIK (J20 Nationell)
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 181 pounds
Shoots: Right
Nationality: Sweden
Birthday: March 11, 2005
2022-23 stats: 31 GP, 16 G, 20 A, 36 P, 64 PIM, +15 // SHL: 22 GP, 2 G, 3 A, 5 P, 0 PIM, +2
While we see Reinbacher and Simashev going higher than Sandin Pellikka in this mock draft, the Swedish defenseman is certainly regarded as the best offensive defenseman of his class.
While his 5-foot-11 frame makes him a bit undersized, Sandin Pellikka certainly makes up for that with his offensive prowess from the back end. Even then, his strength at 181 pounds allowed him to thrive and earn plenty of action in the Swedish Hockey League this year with Skellefteå AIK.
The Swedish blue liner is an incredibly gifted skater with great speed and burst, smooth and fluid strides, and great edge work to make him shifty and elusive on his feet. He can also possess the puck for days in the offensive zone, as the opposition seems to have a tough time trying to contain the swift blue liner.
His vision on the ice allows Sandin Pellikka to be a threat from everywhere in the offensive zone. Whether it’s from the point, in the slot, around the red line, or along the perimeter, Sandin Pellikka gets around the offensive zone with ease to make a play or get into scoring position.
Sandin Pellikka is a solid puck mover thanks to his vision and hands, while he also possesses a strong shot, whether it’s of the wrist shot or slap shot variety.
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The youngster also stood out on the national stage, as he made the Swedish team for both the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship and the 2023 IIHF U-18 World Championship. He ended up being named the best defenseman of the U-18 World Championship, while also winning a silver medal in the tournament.
Another couple of seasons in Sweden to allow for overall growth in his game will do Sandin Pellikka wonders. If he can round his defensive game a little better over the next 2-3 seasons, he could very well challenge Reinbacher as the best defenseman of the 2023 draft class.
11.) Vancouver Canucks
SELECTION: Tom Willander - Defense - Rögle BK (J20 Nationell)
12.) Arizona Coyotes (from Ottawa Senators)
SELECTION: Colby Barlow - Left Wing - Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
13.) Buffalo Sabres
SELECTION: Zach Benson - Left Wing – Winnipeg Ice (WHL)
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 159 pounds
Shoots: Left
Nationality: Canada
Birthday: May 12, 2005
2022-23 stats: 60 GP, 36 G, 62 A, 98 P, 49 PIM, +68
Benson is one of the more electrifying playmakers in the 2023 NHL Draft following this past season in the Western Hockey League with the Winnipeg Ice.
One trait that stands out with Benson’s game is his shiftiness on the ice thanks to his skill with the puck on his stick. He handles the puck incredibly well, with control, and is able to stickhandle his way through a phonebooth to make a play.
While he doesn’t have the frame and strength to always succeed at skating through opposing defenders, Benson has the confidence to make some eye-opening plays and set up some prime scoring opportunities. He will learn soon enough he may not be able to make all those plays as he grows his game, but that probably won’t deter his confidence.
On the fly, Benson has very good speed to either generate a scoring chance, or flat-out beat a defender in his pursuit to the net with the puck. While his skating style could use some perfecting heading into the next level, there’s no denying his ability to create separation or dictate pace on the fly. He’s also very soft on his feet in order to add to his shiftiness on the ice.
Benson is a gifted passer in all three zones of the ice with the ability to move the puck out of trouble, in transition, and in some tough spots on the ice to generate a scoring chance.
While his shot, like his skating, could be perfected heading into the next level, he is pretty clutch when he has the open space or is in alone on the opposing goalie to find the back of the net.
In addition, he showed this season he can be a reliable player at both ends of the ice. Not only did he show his skill as a power play asset, he also became a reliable penalty killer for the Ice playing primarily along with Sabres prospect Matthew Savoie.
Another year in junior hockey will serve Benson well to allow for more growth, and then he should be eligible to make the professional jump following the 2023-24 season.
14.) Pittsburgh Penguins
SELECTION: Oliver Moore - Center - U.S. National Team Development Program
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15.) Nashville Predators
SELECTION: Gabriel Perreault - Right Wing – U.S. National Team Development Program
16.) Calgary Flames
SELECTION: Nate Danielson - Center - Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
17.) Detroit Red Wings (from Vancouver Canucks via New York Islanders)
SELECTION: Matthew Wood - Left Wing - University of Connecticut (NCAA)
18.) Winnipeg Jets
SELECTION: Brayden Yager - Center - Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
19.) Chicago Blackhawks (from Tampa Bay Lightning)
SELECTION: Eduard Sale - Right Wing – HC Kometa Brno (Czechia)
20.) Seattle Kraken
SELECTION: Quentin Musty - Left Wing - Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
21.) Minnesota Wild
SELECTION: Calum Ritchie - Center - Oshawa Generals (OHL)
22.) Philadelphia Flyers (from Los Angeles Kings via Columbus Blue Jackets)
SELECTION: Samuel Honzek - Left Wing - Vancouver Giants (WHL)
23.) New York Rangers
SELECTION: Otto Stenberg - Center - Frölunda HC (J20 Nationell)
24.) Nashville Predators (from Edmonton Oilers)
SELECTION: Mikhail Gulyayev – Defense – Omsk Jr. (Russia)
25.) St. Louis Blues (from Toronto Maple Leafs)
SELECTION: David Edstrom - Center - Frölunda HC (J20 Nationell)
26.) San Jose Sharks (from New Jersey Devils)
SELECTION: Andrew Cristall - Left Wing - Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
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27.) Colorado Avalanche
SELECTION: Riley Heidt - Center - Prince George Cougars (WHL)
28.) Toronto Maple Leafs (from Washington Capitals via Boston Bruins)
SELECTION: Oliver Bonk - Defense - London Knights (OHL)
29.) St. Louis Blues (from New York Rangers via Dallas Stars)
SELECTION: Charlie Stramel - Center - University of Wisconsin (NCAA)
30.) Carolina Hurricanes
SELECTION: Daniil But - Left Wing - Yaroslavl Jr. (Russia)
31.) Montreal Canadiens (from Florida Panthers)
SELECTION: Ethan Gauthier – Right Wing – Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
32.) Vegas Golden Knights
SELECTION: Lukas Dragicevic – Defense – Tri-City Americans (WHL)
Coverage of Round 1 for the 2023 NHL Draft on WGR Sports Radio 550 will get started at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday. I will be hosting with Josh Schmit, while Paul Hamilton will check in from Nashville periodically throughout the night.