2023 NHL Mock Draft: Second Edition

Here is the second 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 and will bring much needed hope to the franchise.

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 and with rumors he might got back to school for his sophomore year.  Fantilli would fit very nicely with the young talent the Ducks have.

3. Columbus Blue Jackets- Leo Carlsson, Center/Wing, Orebro (Sweden): The Jackets have some options here, but the feeling is that they'll go with the versatile player here in Carlsson here. He is big and has good skill down low and gets through traffic well with his speed.

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 with his play making ability, which the Sharks have lacked over the past several years.

5. Montreal Canadiens- David Reinbacher, Defenseman, EHC Kloten: The Canadiens should go defense here and Reinbacher is a great fit. Reinbacher has the offensive upside, size, and mobility as he's the most league ready D-man in the draft.

6. Arizona Coyotes- Matevi Michkov, Wing, St. Petersburg (Russia): The Coyotes have to be in the take the best guy available strategy here and they get Michkov, who fits that bill here. 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.

7. Philadelphia Flyers- Ryan Leonard, Wing, USA-U18 (NTDP): The Flyers are a team that is in dire need of younger talent. Leonard comes from a loaded team and he is a good scorer and is a character guy, which everyone love to have on their team.

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

9. Detroit Red Wings- Zach Benson, Wing, Winnipeg (WHL): Benson is somebody who's draft stock is rising to the point that people had Benson mocked to the Red Wings with their second first rounder. Benson has excellent skill, IQ, and the motor to be successful.

10. St. Louis Blues- Nate Danielson, Center, Brandon (WHL): The Blues with their first pick of the round land a solid center prospect in Danielson. He has a great tools-kit and has great all around play.

11. Vancouver Canucks- Samuel Honzek, Wing, Vancouver (WHL): The Canucks go with the hometown kid here with Honzek, who some may feel is a reach here. Honzek is super physical and moves well and could get to the net.

12. Arizona Coyotes (from Ottawa Senators)- Tom Willander, Defenseman, Rogle Jr. (Sweden Jr):  With their second first rounder, the Coyotes grab the D-man here. Willander is a solid two way guy that is very mobile and would help the production they lost when trading away Olivier Exman-Larsson.

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

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- Axel Sandin-Pellika, Defenseman, Skelleftea Jr (Sweden): This would be a solid pick for the Flames as they need young defenseman. Sandin-Pellika is a good puck handler and could guide an offense.

17. Detroit Red Wings (from New York Islanders via Vancouver Canucks)- Brayden Yager, Center, Moose Jaw (WHL): With their second first rounder, the Wings take the talented center in Yager. He is someone that could slip out of the first round due to his height and lack of scoring sans having a quick shot.

18. Winnipeg Jets- Gabriel Perrault, Wing, USA-U18 (NTDP): Here's another NTDP player off the board in Perrault as the Jets get a steal here. Perrault played on the top line on the loaded NTDP team and has a good shot.

19. Chicago Blackhawks (from Tampa Bay Lightning)- Calum Ritchie, Center/Wing, Oshawa (OHL): With their second first rounder, the Blackhawks get the versatile forward in Ritchie. He is a good all around player that can score and pass and is reliable in all three zones.

20. Seattle Kraken- Colby Barlow, Wing, Owen (OHL): The Kraken add to their collection of young talent here with Barlow. He would be a nice fit on this up and coming Kraken team with his ability to shoot the puck and score.

21. Minnesota Wild- Eduard Sale, Wing, Brno (Czechia): The Wild go with the young forward here in Sale as they have cap concerns, so they have to get the pick right for long term purposes. Many feel he is a polarizing player and has great hands.

22. Philadelphia Flyers (from Los Angeles Kings via Columbus Blue Jackets)- Tanner Molendyk, Defenseman, Saskatoon (WHL): With their second first rounder which they recently acquired, the Flyers get a much needed D-man. Molendyk is a high end skater and competes hard.

23. New York Rangers- David Edstrom, Center, Frolund Jr (Sweden Jr): This would be a good pick for the Rangers who need center depth in their system. Edstrom is a good two-way player that can skate and has good size.

24. Nashville Predators- Mikhail Gulyayev, Defenseman, Omsk Jr (Russia): The Preds have options here and here I have them grabbing the D-man. Gulyayev excels on offense and is a good skater.

25. St. Louis Blues (from Toronto Maple Leafs)- Charlie Stamel, Center, Wisconsin (NCAA): With their second first rounder, the Blues go with the center. Stamel didn't have a good draft season, but has a good frame, he's physical, and can skate well.

26. San Jose Sharks (from New Jersey Devils)- Quentin Mutsy, Wing, Sudbury (OHL): This is a possible spot for a goalie, but here I have the Sharks going with Murtsy. He is unafraid to throw his body around and is great in front of the net and he can beat defenders well too.

27. Colorado Avalanche- Daniil But, Wing, Loko Yaroslavl (OHL): The Avs could be a goalie spot too, but here I have them taking But. He has a great shot and is a force on the boards and down low, but he is not the best skater.

28. Toronto Maple Leafs (from Boston Bruins via Washington Capitals)- Otto Stenberg, Center/Wing, Frolunda HC (SHL): The Leafs here go with the versatile forward in Stenberg. He a strong player and has a good wrist shot.

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- Gavin Brindley, Center/Wing, Michigan (NCAA): The Hurricanes here go with the talented forward here in Brindley. He is a versatile player that has speed and a good scoring touch.

31. Montreal Canadiens (from Florida Panthers)- Ethan Gauthier, Wing, Sherbrooke (QMJHL)

32. Vegas Golden Knights- Koehn Zimmer, Wing, Prince George (WHL)