2023 NHL Mock Draft: First Edition

 Here is the first edition of my 2023 NHL Mock Draft.

1. Chicago Blackhawks- Connor Bedard, Center, Regina (WHL): It is a no brainer who the Blackhawks will take first overall. Bedard is the best prospect since Connor McDavid and will be a franchise building block in Chicago for years to come with his ability to rake up points.

2. Anaheim Dicks- Adam Fantilli, Center, Michigan (NCAA): It felt like a no brainer that Fantilli will be the choice here for the Ducks, but some may feel different after the World Championships. Fantilli would fit very nicely with the young talent the Ducks have.

3. Columbus Blue Jackets- Leo Carlsson, Center/Wing, Orebro (Sweden): The Jackets go with the versatile player here in Carlsson. He has good skill down low and gets through traffic well.

4. San Jose Sharks- William Smith, Center, USA-U18 (NTDP): The Sharks have some options here and personally should go with best player available. Smith has the potential to be a top line center, which the Sharks have lacked over the past several years.

5. Montreal Canadiens- Matevi Michkov, Wing, St. Petersburg (Russia): The Canadiens add to their collection of young forwards here with Michkov. In any other season, he could have been the top pick in the draft and if not for a long contract in Russia, he could have gone higher than this.

6. Arizona Coyotes- Ryan Leonard, Wing, USA-U18 (NTDP): The Coyotes have to be in the take the best guy available strategy too here. Leonard has a ton of talent and has a good motor type like some of the young talent they have.

7. Philadelphia Flyers- Nate Danielson, Center, Brandon (WHL): The Flyers are another team that is in dire need of younger talent. Danielson has a great tools-kit and has great all around play.

8. Washington Capitals- Oliver Moore, Center/Wing, USA-U18 (NTDP): The third NTDP player comes off the board here to the Capitals. Moore is a versatile player and would be a good young piece for the Caps to have long term.

9. Detroit Red Wings- Dalibor Dvorsky, C, Aik (Sweden): The Red Wings can realistically go anywhere with this selection. Dvorsky has the ability to be a plug and play player and has a good hockey IQ.

10. St. Louis Blues- Tom Willander, Defenseman, Rogle Jr. (Sweden Jr): We finally have our first defenseman off the board with Willander. It's a need fit here as Willander is a solid two way guy that is very mobile.

11. Vancouver Canucks- David Reinbacher, Defenseman, EHC Kloten: The Canucks have some talent, so it makes sense for them to get somebody who can contribute right away. Reinbacher fits the bill as he's the most league ready D-man in the draft.

12. Arizona Coyotes (from Ottawa Senators)- Axel Sandin-Pellika, Defenseman, Skelleftea Jr (Sweden): With their second first rounder, the Coyotes grab the D-man here. Sandin-Pellika is a good puck handler and could guide an offense.

13. Buffalo Sabres- Matthew Wood, Wing, UConn (NCAA): The Sabres are a team that's on the rise in the East. Wood is a power forward type of player with a ton of high end skill and would fit nicely with this Sabres core.

14. Pittsburgh Penguins- Gabriel Perrault, Wing, USA-U18 (NTDP): Here's another NTDP player off the board in Perrault as the Pens are in need of some young talent. Perrault played on the top line on the loaded NTDP team and has a good shot.

15. Nashville Predators- Dmitriy Simashev, Defenseman, Yaroslavl Jr (Russia-Jr): The Predators are another team in need of youth and here they get a solid D-man prospect. Simashev has the ability to be a great defenseman with some offensive game too.

16. Calgary Flames- Colby Barlow, Wing, Owen (OHL): The Flames have the talent to make a playoff run in the West still. Barlow would be a nice fit on this team with his ability to shoot the puck and score.

17. Detroit Red Wings (from New York Islanders via Vancouver Canucks)- Zach Benson, Wing, Winnipeg (WHL): With their second first rounder, the wings go with another forward in Benson. He has excellent skill, IQ, and the motor to be successful.

18. Winnipeg Jets- Eduard Sale, Wing, Brno (Czechia): The Jets need more defense than forwards in terms of youth, but Sale isn't a bad choice. Many feel he is a polarizing player and has great hands.

19. Chicago Blackhawks (from Tampa Bay Lightning)- Mikhail Gulyayev, Defenseman, Omsk Jr (Russia): The Blackhawks go with the talented defenseman with their second first rounder. Gulyayev excels on offense and is a good skater.

20. Seattle Kraken- Brayden Yager, Center, Moose Jaw (WHL): The Kraken add to their collection of young talent here with Yager. He could slip out of the first round due to his height and lack of scoring sans having a quick shot.

21. Minnesota Wild- Calum Ritchie, Center, Oshawa (OHL): The Wild here go with the talented center here in Ritchie. He is a solid all around player and he has a great offensive game including a great shot.

22. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Los Angeles Kings)- Samuel Honzek, Wing, Vancouver (WHL): The Blue Jackets with their second pick go with another forward in Honzek. He is super physical and moves well and could get to the net.

23. New York Rangers- Charlie Stamel, Center, Wisconsin (NCAA): This would be a good pick for the Rangers who need center depth in their system. Stamel didn't have a good draft season, but has a good frame, he's physical, and can skate well.

24. Nashville Predators (from Edmonton Oilers)- David Edstrom, Center, Frolund Jr (Sweden Jr): The Preds go with the talented center with their second first rounder. Edstrom is a good two-way player that can skate and has good size.

25. St. Louis Blues (from Toronto Maple Leafs)- Gavin Brindley, Center/Wing, Michigan (NCAA): With their second first rounder, the Blues go with the center. Brindley is a versatile player that has speed and a good scoring touch.

26. San Jose Sharks (from New Jersey Devils)- Michael Hrabal, Goaltender, Omaha (USHL): With their second first rounder, the Sharks take the first goalie off the board. The Sharks do need a long term answer in net and Hrabal showed that potential in the past.

27. Colorado Avalanche- Carson Rehkoph, Wing/Center, Kitchener (OHL): The Avalanche are a team that needs some youth in its system and Rehkoph makes sense. He is versatile and has a good skill set and has a good shot.

28. Toronto Maple Leafs (from Boston Bruins via Washington Capitals)- Etienne Morin, Defenseman, Moncton (QMJHL): The Leafs going with defense here makes sense since they lack young talent there. Morin is a good puck moving defenseman and excels in transition.

29. St. Louis Blues (from Dallas Stars via New York Rangers)- Oliver Bonk, Defenseman, London (OHL): With their third pick, the Blues go defense here with Bonk. He is a big mobile puck mover and would fit with the Blues.

30. Carolina Hurricanes- Otto Stenberg, Center/Wing, Frolunda HC (SHL): The Hurricanes here go with the talented forward here in Stenberg. He is versatile and is a strong player with a good wrist shot.

31. Montreal Canadiens (from Florida Panthers)- Tanner Molendyk, Defenseman, Saskatoon (WHL): With their second first rounder, I have the Habs going defense. Molendyk is a high end skater and competes hard.

32. Vegas Golden Knights- Danny Nelson, Center, USA U-18 (NDTP): The Golden Knights take a safe bet prospect here with Nelson. He has good physical tools and is good in the face-off department and has good size.