2023 NHL Mock Draft: Third Edition

 Here is the third 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- Ryan Leonard, Wing, USA-U18 (NTDP): The Habs add to their young collection of forwards here with Leonard. He comes from a loaded NTDP team and he is a good scorer and is a character guy, which everyone love to have on their team.

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- David Reinbacher, Defenseman, EHC Kloten: The Flyers 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- Dalibor Dvorsky, Center, 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- Tom Willander, Defenseman, Rogle Jr. (Sweden Jr): This pick makes a lot of sense with the Canucks need for defense with the buy out of Olivier Ekman-Larsson. Willander is a solid two way guy that is very mobile.

12. Arizona Coyotes (from Ottawa Senators)- Gabriel Perrault, Wing, USA-U18 (NTDP): Here's another NTDP player off the board in Perrault. He played on the top line on the loaded NTDP team and has a good shot.

13. Buffalo Sabres- Oliver Moore, Center/Wing, USA-U18 (NTDP): The fourth NTDP player comes off the board here to the Sabres as some would say it's a steal. Moore is a versatile player and would be a good young piece for the Sabres to have long term.

14. Pittsburgh Penguins- Matthew Wood, Wing, UConn (NCAA): This would be a good pick for the Pens 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- 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 Cancuks)- Samuel Honzek, Wing, Vancouver (WHL): Honzek is somebody who's draft stock is dropping as the draft gets closer. Honzek is super physical and moves well and could get to the net.

18. Winnipeg Jets- Brayden Yager, Center, Moose Jaw (WHL): The Jets are a team that's going to possibly blow it up, so they should go with the best player available. Yager is someone that could slip out of the first round due to his height and lack of scoring sans having a quick shot.

19. Chicago Blackhawks (from Tampa Bay Lightning)- Andrew Cristall, Wing, Kelowna (WHL): With their second first rounder, the Blackhawks go with another forward. Cristall is an offensive machine and has great vision and ability.

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- Daniil But, Wing, Loko Yaroslavl (OHL): The Wild are in an interesting spot as a team with their cap situation being uncertain. But has a great shot and is a force on the boards and down low, but he is not the best skater.

22. Philadelphia Flyers (from Los Angeles Kings via Columbus Blue Jackets)- Eduard Sale, Wing, Brno (Czechia): With their second first rounder which they recently acquired, the Flyers go with the forward. Sale is somebody that many feel he is a polarizing player and has great hands.

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 (from Edmonton Oilers)- Oliver Bonk, Defenseman, London (OHL): With their second pick, the Predators go defense here with Bonk. He is a big mobile puck mover and would fit with the Blues.

25. St. Louis Blues (from Toronto Maple Leafs)- Calum Ritchie, Center/Wing, Oshawa (OHL): With their second first rounder, the Blues 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.

26. San Jose Sharks (from New Jersey Devils)- Gavin Brindley, Center/Wing, Michigan (NCAA): The Sharks with their second first rounder here go with the talented forward here in Brindley. He is a versatile player that has speed and a good scoring touch.

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

28. Toronto Maple Leafs (from Boston Bruins via Washington Capitals)- Quentin Mutsy, Wing, Sudbury (OHL): The Leafs are a team that needs some refurbishing in their system. Mutsy is unafraid to throw his body around and is great in front of the net and he can beat defenders well too.

29. St. Louis Blues (from Dallas Stars via New York Rangers)- Danny Nelson, Center, USA U-18 (NDTP): The Blues with their third first rounder 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.

30. Carolina Hurricanes- Tanner Molendyk, Defenseman, Saskatoon (WHL): The Hurricanes are a true wild card in this first round. Molendyk is a high end skater and competes hard.

31. Montreal Canadiens (from Florida Panthers)- Ethan Gauthier, Wing, Sherbrooke (QMJHL): With their second first roudner, I have the Canadiens going with Gauthier. He is someone that established himself as a goal scorer and his power forward status fits himself well.

32. Vegas Golden Knights- Otto Stenberg, Center/Wing, Frolunda HC (SHL): The new Stanley Cup champions Golden Knights here go with the versatile forward in Stenberg. He a strong player and has a good wrist shot.