2023 NHL Mock Draft: Sixth Edition

 This is the sixth 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- Will 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- 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- Dalibor Dvorsky, Center, Aik (Sweden): With their first of two first rounders, the Coyotes take the talented center in Dvorsky as they should go with best available. Dvorsky has the ability to be a plug and play player and has a good hockey IQ.

7. Philadelphia Flyers- David Reinbacher, Defenseman, EHC Kloten: With their first of two first round picks I have the Flyers going with Reinbacher as they are a team that is in dire need of younger talent. Reinbacher has the offensive upside, size, and mobility as he's the most league ready D-man in the draft.

8. Washington Capitals- Ryan Leonard, Wing, USA-U18 (NTDP): The Capitals can realistically go anywhere with this selection.  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.

9. Detroit Red Wings- Tom Willander, Defenseman, Rogle Jr. (Sweden Jr): The Red Wings with their first pick of the round land a solid, fast rising D-man in Willander. He is a solid two way guy that is very mobile and has the pedigree many teams like.

10. St. Louis Blues- Oliver Moore, Center/Wing, USA-U18 (NTDP): With their first pick of the round, the Blues take Moore, who is someone that is fast rising as the draft approaches tomorrow. Moore's speed is blazing and is a versatile player that would be an ideal pick for the Blues.

11. Vancouver Canucks- Nate Danielson, Center, Brandon (WHL): The Canucks get a center prospect here in Danielson, which they can use with Bo Horvat in trade rumors. Danielson has a great tools-kit, is a character guy that teams love, and has great all around play.

12. Arizona Coyotes (from Ottawa Senators)- Zach Benson, Wing, Winnipeg (WHL): With their second first rounder, the Coyotes take another forward in Benson. Benson has excellent skill, IQ, and the motor to be successful at the next level.

13. Buffalo Sabres- Gabriel Perrault, Wing, USA-U18 (NTDP): Here's another NTDP player off the board in Perrault as the Sabres load up on their loaded forward group. He played on the top line on the loaded NTDP team and has a good shot, a solid puck handler, and a good passer.

14. Pittsburgh Penguins- Matthew Wood, Wing, UConn (NCAA): This would be a good pick for the Penguins as they are a team that needs some youth in their system. Wood is a power forward type of player with a ton of high end skill.

15. Nashville Predators- Axel Sandin-Pellika, Defenseman, Skelleftea Jr (Sweden): The Predators can use some young defenseman and Sandin-Pellika is a fast riser with the draft coming tomorrow. Sandin-Pellika is a good puck handler and could guide an offense.

16. Calgary Flames- Andrew Cristall, Wing, Kelowna (WHL): The Flames are a team that aren't too far away from being a contender in the west again. Cristall is a fast riser on draft boards come tomorrow and is an offensive machine and has great vision and ability.

17. Detroit Red Wings (from New York Islanders via Vancouver Canucks)- Colby Barlow, Wing, Owen (OHL): With their second first rounder, the Red Wings go with the forward in Barlow. He is somebody that is a terrific scorer with a good shot and is a good defender too.

18. Winnipeg Jets- Dmitriy Simashev, Defenseman, Yaroslavl Jr (Russia-Jr): The Jets here grab a solid D-man in Simashev as they need young defenseman in their system. He has the ability to be a great defenseman with some offensive game too.

19. Chicago Blackhawks (from Tampa Bay Lightning)- Daniil But, Wing, Loko Yaroslavl (OHL): With their second first rounder, the Blackhawks take the rising forward in But. He has a great shot and is a force on the boards and down low, but he is not the best skater.

20. Seattle Kraken- Oliver Bonk, Defenseman, London (OHL): This would be a solid pick for the Kraken as they need young defenseman. Bonk is a big mobile puck mover and would fit with the up and coming Kraken.

21. Minnesota Wild- Eduard Sale, Wing, Brno (Czechia): The Wild are in an interesting spot considering their cap situation, so they are under some pressure to nail the pick. Sale is somebody that many feel he is a polarizing player and has great hands.

22. Philadelphia Flyers (from Los Angeles Kings via Columbus Blue Jackets)- Calum Ritchie, Center/Wing, Oshawa (OHL): With their second first rounder, the Flyers grab the forward in Ritchie. He is a good all around player that can score and pass and is reliable in all three zones.

23. New York Rangers- Brayden Yager, Center, Moose Jaw (WHL): The Rangers are a team that needs center depth in their system and they get a possible steal here 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.

24. Nashville Predators (from Edmonton Oilers)- Otto Stenberg, Center/Wing, Frolunda HC (SHL): With their second first rounder, the Oilers get the versatile forward in Stenberg. He a strong player and has a good wrist shot.

25. St. Louis Blues (from Toronto Maple Leafs)-  Charlie Stamel, Center, Wisconsin (NCAA): The Blues with their second first rounder take a center in Stamel. He 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): With their second first rounder, the Sharks go with Mutsy, who some have mocked in the lottery. Mutsy 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- Bradly Nadeau, Center/Wing, Penticton (BCHL): The Avalanche take a super fast rising prospect here in Nadeau with their lone first rounder. Nadeau ripped up the BCHL with points and if he can do it against better competition, the Avs have yet another hit.

28. Toronto Maple Leafs (from Boston Bruins via Washington Capitals)- Ethan Gauthier, Wing, Sherbrooke (QMJHL): With their lone first rounder, the Leafs take a rising prospect in Gauthier. He is someone that established himself as a goal scorer and his power forward status fits himself well.

29. St. Louis Blues (from Dallas Stars via New York Rangers)- Etienne Morin, Defenseman, Moncton (QMJHL): With their third first rounder, the Blues go defense here with Morin. He is a good puck moving defenseman and excels in transition.

30. Carolina Hurricanes- Riley Heidt, Center, Prince George (WHL): The Hurricanes can realistically go anywhere with their selection. Heidt is someone who saw a large point total increase last season and he is not big, but is always in motion.

31. Montreal Canadiens (from Florida Panthers)- Koehn Zimmer, Wing, Prince George (WHL): We have Prince George players going back to back as the Habs with their second first rounder take another forward. Zimmer has a balanced game with a great shot and is a great playmaker too.

32. Vegas Golden Knights- David Edstrom, Center, Frolund Jr (Sweden Jr): The new champions go with Edstrom here, which would be a steal for them. Edstrom is a good two-way player that can skate and has good size.