Heading to the Pacific Northwest we move to the beautiful province of British Columbia and look at the Vancouver Canucks franchise.
To start off we will take a look through Vancouver’s drafting history since their inception and first draft back in 1970 and focus on three players in particular who have helped shape this franchise for the better. First we will go back to the 1989 draft where all the way down in the sixth round at pick number 113 the Vancouver Canucks made a selection that would alter the face of their franchise and bring forward one of the most electrifying players and goal scorers in league history, Pavel Bure. Bure was a phenomenal player on the ice and was typically targeted by other teams goons to bring him down a notch, which unfortunately cut Bure’s career quite short only playing in 702 games, he won the Calder trophy in his rookie years and then one upped his rookie year in year two by scoring 60 goals and 110 points. Vancouver had a superstar on their hands, Bure would continue his 60 streak the following year in the 1993-1994 season where he scored 60 goals and 107 points. This season Vancouver made it to the Stanley cup finals and lost to the Rangers, however Bure was a dynamo scoring 31 points in their 24 games played. The injury bug would start in the 1995-1996 season where Bure would only play 15 games with 13 points. Unfortunately this was the start of his slowing down due to injuries he would score another 51 goals in his final season with Vancouver in 1997-1998 and would move on to Florida in the next season only playing 11 games due to injuries. He would however pick up his old form to win two Rocket Richard trophies with Florida before retiring in 2003. Bure was the most electrifying player in the Canucks’ history hands down and his impact will always be remembered by the Canucks fandom. His jersey was retired by Vancouver in November of 2013.
Moving along to the 1999 draft where we will talk about the second and third most influential Canucks players of all time. Daniel and Henrik Sedin were drafted second and third in 1999 respectively and would become Canucks legends by the end of their careers. Making their Canucks debut in the 2000-2001 season Daniel and Henrik put up similar numbers throughout their careers with Henrik leading them and the Canucks franchise in points with 1070 and Daniel leading his brother in goals with 393. Daniel would also win an Art Ross trophy and Ted Lindsay trophy in the 2010-2011 season when finished with 104 points that year. His brother Henrik accomplished the same feat just one year prior in 2009-2010 when he won the Art Ross trophy and Ted Lindsay trophy when he scored 112 points that year. It’s almost spooky how similar their careers emulated each other. Both brothers would put up good points in the Canucks’ cup run in 2011, eventually losing to the Bruins in the finals. They would both retire at the end of the 2018 season putting their playing careers as Canucks from 2000-2018. Both Daniel and Henrik would have their jersey numbers retired by Vancouver in February of 2020.
Moving along to picks that did not pan out for the Canucks, first up is one of the more recent picks for the Canucks in 2016 fifth Olli Juolevi. Juolevi struggled to say the least after he was drafted, he made his Canucks debut four years after being drafted in 2020 where he played in 23 games scoring three points. After that he would t pave up his skates for the Canucks again. In 2021 Juolevi was traded away to the Florida Panthers for a small return. He has still struggled to gain NHL ice and currently played this most previous season in the AHL.
Next we will move to the 1986 draft where Vancouver held pick number seven and went with centre Dan Woodley. Woodley’s career in the NHL with the Canucks was very short, five games is what he played, he scored two goals in those five games and then was never able to make it back on an NHL roster. Woodley would then play out his career in the AHL, IHL, ECHL, and CoHL until his retirement in 1995. It was a rough pick to make because when looking back at the 1986 draft you will see that two picks later the New York Rangers selected eventual 1994 Conn Smythe winner Brian Leetch.
The last player to talk about for this part is that of 10th overall pick in the 2005 draft Luc Bourdon. The defenseman out of New Brunswick played within the organisation from 2006-2008 and in that time he played 36 games for the Canucks where he registered two goals. He had a hard time making his case to be on the big club and would spend the majority of his time in Manitoba playing for the Moose which was the Canucks AHL affiliate at that time. After the end of the 2007-2008 season Bourdon would hang up his skates professionally. The 2005 draft is famous for being the Sidney Crosby draft and for good reason but there were also some other east good players like Carey Price at number five and then at number 11, one pick after Bourdon at 10, was kings captain and future hall of famer Anze Kopitar.
Today the Vancouver Canucks are kind of in a limbo-like state, they have good players all around but cannot seem to make things go smoothly, everyone expected them to be good contenders this year but they don’t even make the playoffs. Their captain was traded to New York and it looks like the team can go either way, the basement or the penthouse. Luckily for them they chose the right draft to get a high pick in, they have a total of seven picks, 1st, 3rd, 3rd (TOR), 4th, 4th (DET), 4th (NYR), 6th. With their first pick they will wind up choosing 11th. At 11 you have plenty of good options and right now with Vancouver and their prospect pool it looks a little too heavy and less down by the blue line. Some potential blue line options around the top half of the round could be Axel Sandin Pelikka, David Reinbacher or Tom Willander and if they choose to go forward with what happens in the draft a good option for them would be Nate Danielson, a good dependable two way centre with the potential to be a good first line centre.
For more information on the 2023 NHL Draft class be sure to pick up your copy of the comprehensive DraftPro 2023 NHL Draft Guide.
The team at DraftPro was able to get together last week and make some best guesses at what NHL teams will do come tomorrow and Friday. It is a fun little exercise as we pull out our crystal balls and makes all seven rounds worth of selections for the NHL teams we represented. Some picks will be surprising, some boring as you have already seen in other mocks, while other picks will be controversial just like there will be at the NHL Draft.
Picking for this mock are the below DraftPro contributors: Dan Stewart – General Manager Jared Brown – Director of Scouting Matt Hnatiuk – Head Scout Murray Caldwell – NA Regional Scout Jody Horak – NA Regional Scout Andy Miller – NA Regional Scout Jordan Greenberg – NA Regional Scout Tyler Karoway – NA Regional Scout Jonah Fleisher – NA Regional Scout Isaiah Bouchard – Content Writer
So, with that intro, Chicago is at the podium…
#1
CHICAGO – C CONNOR BEDARD, REGINA (WHL) Bedard is a generational talent and has the potential to become a franchise player for an original six team. He has extremely high IQ in all areas and possesses a wickedly lethal shot. He seems to be able to do it all. He has smashed through every hurdle placed in front of him and fans can expect him to do the same here. With the two faces of the franchise now gone (Toews and Kane), Blackhawk fans need someone to draw them to the rink every night and Bedard is that player. – By Matt Hnatiuk
#2
ANAHEIM – C ADAM FANTILLI, MICHIGAN (NCAA) With missing out on the Bedard sweepstakes, GM Pat Verbeek and new head coach Greg Cronin still get arguably a #1 pick talent in Fantilli. He brings speed, size, competitiveness and excellent two-way ability to the table and will fit right in as a complimentary center to go along with star Trevor Zegras. Fantilli put up exceptional numbers as a freshman in college hockey this past season, winning the coveted Hobey Baker Award. He could be in a Ducks jersey as early as this season depending on if he decides to return to Michigan this fall or not. – Jody Horak
#3
COLUMBUS – C LEO CARLSSON, OREBRO HK (SHL) Pierre-Luc Dubois was supposed to be the Blue Jackets #1 center for years. After moving him for star winger Patrik Laine. Columbus fulfills that center ice vacancy with the big Swedish center Leo Carlsson who can help balance out a line with his terrific 200ft game. It sounds like Columbus wants to be competitive as soon as next season and it wouldn’t shock me if Carlsson was in the NHL as soon as this October. He’s not just a two-way center. Leo also is one of the better forwards at attacking defenders and taking pucks through the middle to create scoring chances. Look for him to be 60-70 point 1C in the NHL. – Jared Brown
#4
SAN JOSE – RW MATVEI MICHKOV, HK SOCHI (KHL) The Sharks have a mix of young players and older skilled ones like Karlsson and Couture who Michkov can learn from. He brings an elite skill set to the team that is not typically available at the number four pick. He has an incredible shot that is very accurate and could put the puck in the net consistently like they haven’t seen since Cheechoo. He can work with the development team and grow the younger players. – Andy Miller
#5
MONTREAL – C WILL SMITH, U18 TEAM (NTDP) The Montreal Canadiens have been in a rebuild for the past 2 year and are seeking goal scoring and game breakers. I also believe that Will Smith is the best player available at the moment. Canadiens just locked up there all-star elite goal scoring winger in Cole Caufield who came out of the same program where Smith is in at the moment. Smith is a very dynamic player who sees the ice very well. His vision and passing ability is off the charts. Montreal has also built a very good development team over the past year in signing skills coach Adam Nicholas who I believe can help turn Smith into a star. If all goes well for Smith I see him potentially being a 1st or very high end 2nd line center with anywhere from 70-85 points per year. I also believe that Smith could have easily been the number 1 pick in many drafts with his production this season. – Jordan Greenberg
#6
ARIZONA – C OLIVER MOORE, U18 TEAM (NTDP) The Coyotes are left with a lot of questions for their future. Both on and off the ice. But while a lot of negative attention is put on Arizona right now that does not diminish the bright and exciting future the Coyotes have. Specifically in their forward departments. Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther, Connor Geekie, and now, from the NTDP, Arizona can add the speedy and versatile centremen, Oliver Moore. With such a wide array of forwards in their system, Arizona’s offensive future is looking bright, with many niches being filled. – Isaiah Bouchard
#7
PHILADELPHIA – D AXEL SANDIN PELLIKKA, SKELLEFTEA AIK (SHL) Flyers recently acquired Helge Grans and adding another RD in ASP will have Flyers brass rejoicing after having to deal with Tony DeAngelo and Ristolainen on the right side in 2023. Danny Briere begins his tenure by shoring up a defence that has been exceptionally bad the past couple seasons. ASP gives Philly a powerplay quarterback that can play top pairing minutes and help take some of the weight off whomever is net for the rebuilding Flyers. While ASP won’t be ready this year he can take over for the controversial Deangelo in 2024-2025 once his contract expires. ASP has an extremely high ceiling with his ability to create offence out of nothing and playmaking skill set. While he is not in the mold of a Broad Street Bully he still can play strong defence with his stick. ASP has a Dahlin level ceiling. – Tyler Karoway
#8
WASHINGTON – C/W SAMUEL HONZEK, VANCOUVER (WHL) What might look like a reach will prove to be a huge add for the Capitals. The Capitals struggled immensely to score goals last year and the Anthony Mantha experience has been a massive failure ( what a shocker…) so the Caps need to add a top six goal scoring winger to take some of the pressure of The Great 8. Adding Ivan Miroschnichenko & Alex Suzdalev last year and now Honzek will give the Capitals an extremely volatile top six winger core once everyone reaches the NHL. Honzek’s laser shot and extreme speed give him are his biggest attributes but his underrated defensive skill will be huge as the Caps’ top six rarely gets much defensive effort from their top guys. Honzek’s upside is ridiculously high and could become one of the steals of the draft. – Tyler Karoway
#9
DETROIT – C/W RYAN LEONARD, U18 TEAM (NTDP) Yzerman and company go back to the USA NTDP in the top round of the draft for the first time since selecting team captain Dylan Larkin almost ten years ago with the selection of winger Ryan Leonard. The Wings fell in love with the grit, compete, and goal scoring ability that Leonard brings and feel he will add a missing component to an organization that lacks in natural finishers, both on the current NHL roster and in the prospect pool. – Dan Stewart
#10
ST. LOUIS – C BRAYDEN YAGER, MOOSE JAW (WHL) The blues unloaded some veteran forwards and huge parts of their Stanley Cup run in Vladimir Tarasenko and Ryan O’ Reilly. GM Doug Armstrong opts to reload in that department and Yager is a strong two-way player with a lethal shot. He will be a great piece to add down the middle of the ice with speed. With a penalty kill that really struggled for the Blues, Yager can step in and play a role with a man short and give the Blues some depth at center with Brayden Schenn not getting any younger. Potential to be a consistent point producer (45-55 a season) and goal scorer in the NHL. – Jody Horak
#11
VANCOUVER – D DAVID REINBACHER, EHC KLOTEN (NL) The Canucks made a big splash in landing right-handed shot Hronek at the deadline and now add another RH shot D-man in Reinbacher to shore up the defensive core. Canucks’ fans have had to suffer through poor defence and the nightmare pairing of Myers and OEL last year but there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel. Reinbacher is Myers replacement and should be ready to take over once Myers contract expires next year. He is the perfect fit for Quinn Hughes’ defensive partner and should form a formidable duo for years to come. A large two way defenceman to help aid Hughes on the back end but also capable of putting up some points as well. This is a slam dunk for the often-criticized Canucks front office. – Tyler Karoway
#12
ARIZONA (from Ottawa) – LW ZACH BENSON, WINNIPEG (WHL) With the selection of Zach Benson at the 12th overall pick, Arizona hopes to secure their offensive future for years to come. Benson will be joining other top end talent such as Dylan Guenther, Logan Cooley, previously selected Oliver Moore, and Benson’s teammate on the Winnipeg Ice, Connor Geekie. Perhaps Benson’s greatest quality is his dynamic style of play that lets him fit into the mold of any line he plays with. Benson is going to add a good balance of playmaking, goal scoring, and two way play for Arizona. Bill Armstrong is dead set on rebuilding the Arizona Coyotes in more than just on-ice production, as he has stated on multiple occasions that the excuses are running out for management and the team. A proper step in the right direction will be to build trust and chemistry with the new generation of skaters. And secure a solid foundation for Arizona’s future. – Isaiah Bouchard
#13
BUFFALO – C NATE DANIELSON, BRANDON (WHL) After one of the best Sabres season in recent memory, the Sabres management are looking to keep to the game plan and continue this upward trajectory. And with Nate Danielson’s careful, smart, and effective two-way play style, there should be no better glue to hold Buffalo’s future together. With DraftPro’s #1 ranked prospect pool, Buffalo has no need to make risky moves, as their big stars are already on the way. Owen Power, Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo’s future is stacked. Nate Danielson is the safe pick that comes with little risk, and the chance for a very versatile 2C in their future. – Isaiah Bouchard
#14
PITTSBURGH – LW COLBY BARLOW, OWEN SOUND (OHL) New man in charge Kyle Dubas is looking to add some “now” talent if possible to his roster at the top end of the draft as he believes he has the horses in stars Crosby, Malkin, Letang, to still compete for a playoff run. The Pens like OHL sniper Colby Barlow’s maturity, intensity and obvious goal-scoring ability as someone who could possibly slip into the lineup either this fall or next and make an impact in a top six scoring role. – Dan Stewart
#15
NASHVILLE – C CALUM RITCHIE, OSHAWA (NCAA) Incoming general manager Barry Trotz has made it known that he wants to bolster his top-nine with a high-end forward, coming off a year where his team scored the sixth-fewest goals in the league. Ritchie is a dynamic, elusive skater with incredible stick handling and intelligence. While he owns a great wrist shot himself, his high-end playmaking will fit well with the elite shooters Nashville has drafted on the wing. He can struggle with consistency at times, but Trotz has issued a clear directive to take high-upside swings and Ritchie has the potential to significantly boost Nashville’s offense while filling a hole up the middle. Will likely be ready to make the jump to the NHL in a year or two, fitting with Nashville’s desired timeline. – Jonah Fleisher
#16
CALGARY – RW MATTHEW WOOD, U. OF CONNECTICUT (NCAA) Calgary snags a player who has the talent of a top 10 prospect and is mid-late first round projected pick only because of his skating concerns. Though his footspeed and sluggish first few steps are major concerns, Matthew Wood could learn from Tyler Toffoli on how to still be productive despite being an ugly skater. Calgary needs to bolster their winger depth after losing Tkachuk and Gaudreau and Wood may only be a few years away from the NHL considering he fast tracked to the College level this season. – Jared Brown
#17
DETROIT (from NYI) – C DALIBOR DVORSKY, AIK (HOCKEYALLSVENSKAN) Yzerman, Draper and the Wings scouting department were hopeful to add a natural center with one of their two first round picks in this draft as it has long been an area of need for the rebuild and they are more than excited to do so here as they continue to add top of the lineup talent with the selection of skilled two-way AIK center Dalibor Dvorsky. With their first two selections (Leonard and Dvorsky) they are hopefully adding a two-thirds of a top six line for the not-too-distant NHL future. – Dan Stewart
#18
WINNIPEG -LW GABRIEL PERREAULT, U18 TEAM (NTDP) The Jets are an organization that has successfully developed players such as Laine, Hellebuyck and Ehjlers plus developing acquired young player like Pionk. The Jets are in a potential transition this summer and a player like Gabriel Perreault can help that process. He has developed this season into a player that would typically be selected in the top 10 of a draft. Perreault clearly inherited some of his father’s hockey IQ. He is a better skater than his father but likely knows what it means to be a pro. The Jets development will be able to help him improve his play away from the puck. He could reach the NHL in as few as 2 years but may take 4, while hopefully bulking up and improving his strength at Boston College. Perreault could pot 50-65 points in a season. His skating skills make him a bear lock to be a middle six forward. – Andy Miller
#19
CHICAGO (from Tampa) – LW EDUARD SALE, HC KOMETA BRNO (CZECHIA) The Blackhawks are adding another dynamic player with scoring ability and an endless motor. Sale is well rounded when it comes to the offensive zone, being able to distribute with precision or snap home shots with a quick flick of the wrists. While he currently may not be a physical player standing 6’2″, he will have to add that component as well as some strength to his game to be a factor in the NHL. Adding Sale will ensure the Blackhawks scoring depth for years to come and potentially help Bedard reach amazing heights. – Matt Hnatiuk
#20
SEATTLE – D TOM WILLANDER, ROGLE BK J20 (J20 NATIONELL) GM Ron Francis and the Kraken scouting department will be looking to add the best available here with this pick as they continue to add talent to an immature prospect pool. But in a perfect world a top defensive prospect or high-end goaltending prospect would be in the cards at this spot. Just so happens they love the mature two-way game and high-end skating ability that Rogle BK defender Tom Willander has shown this season. They see a potential top four, all-situations, right-handed future Kraken but understand he will need a year or two first. – Dan Stewart
#21
MINNESOTA – C OTTO STENBERG, FROLUNDA HC J20 (J20 NATIONELL) This shoot first center has a great IQ in the offensive zone and can strike with little warning. A player who is opportunistic in his creation of plays, and has the ability to set up some amazing scoring chances. While he will need to work on his defensive play as well as add some physicality to his play once he moves over to North America, the Wild can mold this player into a potential top six scoring forward. – Matt Hnatiuk
#22
COLUMBUS (from LA)– C RILEY HEIDT, PRINCE GEORGE (WHL) Danny Briere swings for the fences on a player that oozes offensive potential but struggles with having a consistent work ethic. Having a coach like John Tortorella could be the perfect fit for Heidt if Torts can push the right buttons to keep Heidt on his game for the full 60. With Kevin Hayes most likely getting moved this off season, Couturier on and off the injury reserve and Morgan Frost being an RFA this year, Heidt could slide into a top six roll quite quickly. This the definition of a boom or bust pick for the Flyers. – Jared Brown
#23
NY RANGERS – D DMITRY SIMASHEV, LOKOMOTIV YAROSLAVL (KHL) The Rangers have a strong core of young players and veterans. The organization has had a good history of development, will leave Lafrieniere out, particularly with Europeans. They could use a bit more young depth at the back end. Fox, Trouba and Miller are the core of Defense and may need support in a year or two. Simashev will bolster the blue line in the near future. He will not likely be a PP QB, but is consistent defensively and moves the puck up the ice well. He is a versatile player who can play in all situations. He will fit nicely in the NHL in one to two years and should develop into a top four Dman. – Andy Miller
#24
NASHVILLE (from Edmonton) – D MIKHAIL GULYAYEV, AVANGARD OMSK (KHL) One of the NHL’s best teams at drafting and developing defenseman, Nashville selects Gulyayev as a high-risk, high-reward option. After bolstering their forward group with more of a sure bet in Calum Ritchie, Barry Trotz wants to take a swing to increase the ceiling and scoring potential of his team. While he could use some work on his shot, gap control, and physicality, Gulyayev is an incredibly skilled skater with excellent playmaking ability and hockey sense. Nashville has not shied away from drafting Russians in the past few years, having recently selected Yaroslav Askarov and Fyodor Svechkov and bringing the former over to North America. Gulyayev is still three to four years away from cracking the NHL, but the Predators are set at LD with Josi and McDonagh on that side for the next three years, after which Gulyayev can step into their top-four as a puck-moving, offensive defenseman. – Jonah Fleisher
#25
ST. LOUIS (from Toronto) – D LUKAS DRAGICEVIC, TRI-CITY (WHL) With rumors swirling among the Blues organization trying to potentially trade top defenseman Colton Parayko, Torey Krug or Nick Leddy to open up some cap space, they go with a developmental, offensively gifted D man in Dragicevic. He has the tools to be a John Carlson type defenseman and give them some depth at the defensive position. With his vision and ability to move the puck, he can be a top four defenseman at the NHL level in a few years. The Blues continue to say they are re-tooling and not necessarily in rebuilding stage and Dragicevic along with Scott Perunovich give them a nice future at the defensive position. – Jody Horak
#26
SAN JOSE (from New Jersey) – RW ETHAN GAUTHIER, SHERBROOKE (QMJHL) Gauthier will nicely compliment fourth overall pick Michkov. He is a physical forward with an offensive upside. Gauthier is a versatile player who can be effective on the PP, PK or even strength. He is a strong skater and this attribute will assist him in accelerating his D overall development. In this organization he can learn under the tutelage of players like Couture and Hertl. Gauthier will return to the Q next season and will have more responsibility and likely be a key part of the WJC team for Canada. The Sharks should plan for his arrival in the next two to three years. – Andy Miller
#27
COLORADO – LW ANDREW CRISTALL, KELOWNA (WHL) No stranger to drafting Canadian players, GM Joe Sakic takes a risk on a boom or bust prospect in Cristall. He has the tools to be a game changer and an elite playmaker which bodes well for a team whose future with leader Gabriel Landeskog is up in the air. Injuries hampered the defending champions all year long but they continue to build the team around stars Nathan Mackinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar. Cristall will be able to develop quicker with guys like that in the organization to learn from. He goes to a team where his skilled hands, vision and playmaking ability will fit in and be a huge asset when he’s ready to jump to the NHL. With depth at the forward position and good prospects in the pipeline, it’s not a make or break situation taking Cristall. – Jody Horak
#28
TORONTO (from Boston) – D OLIVER BONK, LONDON (OHL) Toronto looks to add a Dman with size, strong defensive qualities, and physical abrasiveness. New GM Brad Treliving prioritizes building a strong defence core as shown through his years in Calgary, and the Maple Leafs are currently missing a defence prospect like Bonk in their system. Bonk has the defensive intelligence and competitiveness to play important shutdown minutes. He makes smart reads to break up the cycle and is terrific at separating his man from the puck along the boards. He could turn into a very solid partner for Morgan Rielly down the road in Toronto. – Jared Brown
#29
ST. LOUIS (from Dallas) – C DANNY NELSON, U18 TEAM (NTDP) With selecting a prospect who can produce points in Yager with their first pick, the Blues go with a physical, power forward in Nelson. He brings size and offensive ability to consistently produce 30-40 points a season when he reaches the NHL. He has a powerful shot and can play strong and tough in front of the net offensively, like a David Backes who was the leader and heart of the Blues organization for years. Doug Armstrong will be bringing in a player who is versatile to play wing or center and can provide depth scoring as a second or third line forward. – Jody Horak
#30
CAROLINA – LW QUENTIN MUSTY, SUDBURY (OHL) GM Don Waddell addressed the need to get heavier after their playoff exit in the Eastern Conference Final. Musty not only will bring size to the wing for the Canes but he also has that game-breaking skill and creativity, something Carolina’s forward group currently lacks. Carolina has shown in previous drafts that they aren’t afraid to swing on prospects with high upsides and Musty’s makeup of an elite skilled power forward is too much for them to pass up on. They have the potential to get a late first round steal here in Musty, but there are some holes and consistency issues in his game which makes him a risky pick. – Jared Brown
#31
MONTREAL (from Florida) – W/C JAYDEN PERRON, CHICAGO (WHL) Canadiens are trying to add scoring forwards to add to their young core of Slafkosvky, Caufield, Suzuki and Dach. Perron is on the smaller side of players but works extremely hard and is in the mix of everything. Perron has lots of speed and has great hockey IQ. He also is someone who is very strong along the boards and battles very hard. I believe he can turn into a top 6 winger one day and will fit very well in the Canadiens organization. People around the league like to compare Perrons play style to Toronto Maple Leafs all-star Mitchell Marner. I believe that Perron has lots of upside and can become a steal at 31. – Jordan Greenberg
#32
VEGAS – LW DANIIL BUT, LOKO YAROSLAVL (MHL) The Knights will look to add to a depleted prospect pool after trades to continue their recent on-ice success have seen some highly regarded prospects and draft picks leave for the sake of adding veteran NHL talent. They take a big homerun swing here with the selection of massive offensively gifted Russian winger Daniil But from Loko Yaroslavl in the MHL. While there are safer prospects on the board, they like the potential top line upside with this pick. – Dan Stewart
#33
ANAHEIM – C GRACYN SAWCHYN, SEATTLE (WHL) With strong prospect depth in the pipeline at the defensive position (Mintyukov, Zellweger, Luneau, Lacombe), Pat Verbeek elects to continue to build up prospects at the forward position. With Sawchyn, although they are getting a potential developmental player, he also has the attributes to develop a lot of chemistry playing alongside a Zegras or Fantilli. He could be a huge steal in this draft and with the right organization and players around him (which I believe Anaheim has) he could be playing in the NHL sooner than we think. His work ethic, compete level, vision and playmaking ability fit in well with the team and improve the chances of seeing high octane offense like the Selanne/Kariya days of old in Anaheim. – Jody Horak
#34
COLUMBUS – G MICHAEL HRABAL, OMAHA (USHL) The Blue Jackets take the first goalie of the draft and they take the towering Czechia netminder. Hrabal’s upside may be the highest of any goaltenders in the draft due to him measuring in at almost 6’7″. He’s raw in his technical play but Columbus can be patient with developing him considering they have Merzlikins locked up for four more years and 25-year-old Tarasov for two more years. But the question remains on if one of those two netminders can be the Blue Jackets #1? Having a potential star-studded goalie prospect in their system would be a smart move for Jarmo Kekalainen. – Jared Brown
#35
CHICAGO – D TANNER MOLENDYK, SASKATOON (WHL) Tanner joins a group of young, mobile defensive prospects and brings a smooth skating ability and an excellent two way game. He has high end puck control, passing, a strong shot and the ability to QB a PP if needed. He brings a strong awareness to the game at both ends of the ice and reads plays well both offensively and defensively. Still needing to add some muscle to his frame, Molendyk can hone his game for a few more seasons before making the jump. When he does, look for the Blackhawks to have one of the most offensive two-way defense cores in the league. – Matt Hnatiuk
#36
SAN JOSE – D HUNTER BRZUSTEWICZ, KITCHENER (OHL) With Mike Grier selecting for the third time inside the top 40 the Sharks are looking for a more defensive area of the game in this selection after selecting two forwards with their prior choices. They are looking for a capable defenseman who can follow in the footsteps of the likes of Burns, Karlsson and Vlasic and be mentored by two of them that remain with the organization. Brzustewicz is a smooth skating defender who excels with the puck on his stick. He will develop into a solid puck moving defenseman who can quarterback a power play with ease. He is a player you would want on the ice when you are down by one late in the contest. Brzustewicz is very confident with the puck on his stick and can move the puck from the defensive zone to the offensive zone quickly with accurate passes that are easy for his teammates to receive. He can spend the next two years working on improving his defensive side of the game and his physicality. Brzustewicz will need to utilize his hockey more effectively when the puck is not on his stick and make the safe play a little more frequently. The Sharks have been able to select some high end talent in the top 40 of this draft and are on the way up the standings in a few years. – Andy Miller
#37
MONTREAL – G TREY AUGUSTINE, U18 TEAM (NTDP) Augustine many scouts have as the top goaltender in this draft can be a very good fit in Montreal. Montreal is in desperate need after Carey Price has called it a career. They don’t have many goalie prospects or many goalies on their roster so I believe Augustine would be a good fit and very much given the chance in Montreal. He is very strong at playing the puck and very strong with his lateral movements. The only worry to some scouts and teams is his size. – Jordan Greenberg
#38
ARIZONA – D THEO LINDSTEIN, BRYNAS IF (SHL) With the earlier selections of Oliver Moore and Zach Benson, the Coyotes offense is looking bright for years to come. With adding Theo Lindstein, and his excellent two-way capabilities, the Coyotes are seeking to improve their defensive depth. Lindstein being a LD gives the coyotes that needed depth, as much of their current defensive prospect pool are RD. Lindstein’s excellent passing and skating abilities are his strongest reasons for being Arizona’s 3rd pick. His skating will synergize well with forwards such as Logan Cooley and Oliver Moore (arguably the fastest skater in this draft), and his passing will assist the excellent goal scoring potential form players such as Dylan Guenther and Zach Benson. – Isaiah Bouchard
#39
BUFFALO (from Philadelphia) – D MAXIM STRBAK, SIOUX FALLS (USHL) Strbak is a solidly built, intelligent defensemen who will be an excellent team player for the Sabres. He’s a reliable skater, and a level-minded player when on the ice making his plays. Strbak provides a more defensively minded game to Buffalo’s prospect pool, which is arguably where they lack solid depth. Strbak can add balance to a future Buffalo team that will include the speedy Ryan Johnson and Mats Lindgren, and the offensive threats of Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power. Strbak will be a good partner for any of these players, providing them with a reliable partner that can keep up with their more specialized play-styles. And since Strbak plays RD, he could be a good ally for any of the previous players listed. – Isaiah Bouchard
#40
WASHINGTON – RW KASPER HALTTUNEN, HIFK (LIIGA) Halttunen is a great addition to the Capitals prospect pool. He immediately becomes their top RW prospect and gives the Capitals a TJ Oshie replacement. Halttunen has a mean streak to his game that I absolutely love to see but can bury opponents with his offensive fire power. His shot alone should be making goalies shake. The Capitals find two wingers in Honzek and Halttunen that should be able to jump into the Caps line up by 2024. Halttunen, Honzek, Miroschnichenko & Suzdalev give the capitals hope that they don’t miss a beat once the current core retires. – Tyler Karoway
#41
DETROIT – C BRADLY NADEAU, PENTICTON (BCHL) With their two first-round selections adding some top of the lineup future NHL talent in Leonard and Dvorsky, the Detroit Red Wings continue to add talent up front with this selection of the highly offensive skilled and two-way responsible forward Bradly Nadeau. Scouting Director Kris Draper and staff like the grit and drive Nadeau plays with and feel his offensive ability mean they might have picked up another top six forward here. The Wings will need to be patient as Nadeau plans to play at least one or two years with the University of Maine Black Bears. – Dan Stewart
#42
DETROIT (from St. Louis) – C DAVID EDSTROM, FROLUNDA HC (SHL) This is a Hakan Andersson, the Director of European Scouting for the Detroit Red Wings, ‘pound the table’ type pick as he loves the size, compete level, and two-way play that this six-foot-three power center brings. Edstrom’s development has been on a pretty sharp trajectory over the entire season from playing U18, U20, the SHL, and culminating in a strong showing at the IIHF U18 World Championships for the Silver Medal winning Swedes. – Dan Stewart
#43
DETROIT (from Vancouver) – G CARSON BJARNASON, BRANDON (WHL) The Wings finally stop adding forward talent and use their last of five picks in the top 50 overall of the 2023 NHL Draft to shore up their goaltending pipeline which already includes former first rounder Sebastian Cossa. The selection of the big butterfly stopper Carson Bjarnason is seen as a project pick as the timeline will not be rushed for these two primary goaltending prospects in hopes that one of them grabs the reins and becomes the Wings starting goaltender for the next fifteen years by 2025-26 when Ville Husso’s current contract expires. – Dan Stewart
#44
CHICAGO (from Ottawa) – D CAMERON ALLEN, GUELPH (OHL) A Swiss army knife of a defenseman, he can play in almost any situation. While his skating speed may need to improve, he still maintains good power coming from his legs and is strong on his feet. While skating a puck out won’t often be an option, his eye for a quick pass will be an asset, as well as his heavy shot when he can pound it in from the blueline. His play seems to have transitioned to a defensive style which will help fill an upcoming role within the Blackhawks defense. His gap control, defensive stick and ability to play a punishing physical game are all traits that are required for NHL defenders. He also displays excellent leadership qualities in a young player. Possibly the next Duncan Keith or Brent Seabrook for Chicago? – Matt Hnatiuk
#45
BUFFALO – RW GAVIN BRINDLEY, MICHIGAN (NCAA) As Buffalo’s management have done an excellent job in building one of the strongest prospect pools in the NHL, selecting Gavin Brindley gives them a high-utility player, who plays both center and winger positions. He’s also highly dynamic both offensively and defensively, making him a useful piece to fit into any of Buffalo’s lines. He can play with the big boys and provide play making support, or grind away on the Top 9 providing his coach a useful young player with a solid Two-way game. While Brindley is no means a ‘super star’ pick, he has a high ceiling that can let him land anywhere on Buffalo’s roster. This means if Brindley only grows into a Top 9 forward, this completely falls into Buffalo’s favor, who already have a plethora of top-end prospects. Of course, if Brindley’s potential is fully reached and he plays on a Top 6 level, this is only good for Buffalo. Selecting Brindley this late into the second round becomes a win-win situation for Buffalo, and a safe, easy pick to make. – Isaiah Bouchard
#46
NASHVILLE (from Pittsburgh) – D ÉTIENNE MORIN, MONCTON (NCAA) The Predators take another stab at an offensively-geared, left-handed defenseman in Morin. Morin is a skilled puck-mover with great vision and accuracy on his passes and a booming slap shot. While he has some defensive inconsistencies to work out, Morin isn’t as pure an offensive defenseman as 1st-rounder Gulyayev. He possesses an active stick and can lay out opponents in open ice, adding an element of physicality to the game. With him and Gulyayev on the left side, Nashville can be confident in at least one of them hitting their potential and filling up one, if not both, left side spots in their top four as Roman Josi and Ryan McDonagh continue to age. – Jonah Fleisher
#47
NASHVILLE – LW NICK LARDIS, HAMILTON (OHL) With their fourth and final pick in the top two rounds, the Predators select winger Nick Lardis, taking another swing on offensive talent. Barry Trotz and his staff are intrigued by Lardis’ package of speed, smarts, and a good shot. While he needs to progress on the defensive and physical sides of the game, Lardis will be able to join the lineup in two to three years and add a transition threat to Nashville’s dangerous forward group which includes Philip Tomasino, Joakim Kemell, Luke Evangelista, Fyodor Svechkov, Zachary L’Heureux, and Reid Schaefer. Lardis continues to aid in Nashville’s attempts to become a more offensively-minded team and fills out the depth on the right wing, complementing the aforementioned Kemell and Evangelista. – Jonah Fleisher
#48
CALGARY – C CARSON REHKOPF, KITCHENER (OHL) Craig Conroy and his staff keep it rather simple with this selection, taking the best player available in Rehkopf. Their getting a forward who brings a versatile toolkit as someone who can shift between playing center or the wing, and he can play both PP and PK. Carson is a talented handler who’s a bit raw at the moment, but with his flashy hands which he’ll flash in 1v1 situations, he’s got the potential upside of a top six forward. Calgary doesn’t need to rush Rehkopf’s development considering the depth they have at the center ice position in their lineup and pipeline. – Jared Brown
#49
NY ISLANDERS – C DENVER BARKEY, LONDON (OHL) Barkey is a dynamic Center man who sees the ice extremely well. He has crazy vision and makes very smooth passes that seem to always end up in high scoring chances for his line mates. Barkey is very small at 5,8 but plays much bigger than he is. His playoffs were something that helped him grow on every mock draft I’ve seen recently. He will be the number 1 Center in London next year and I wouldn’t be surprised if he came very close to 100 points. Barkey has to grow on the defensive side of the puck if he wants to become an impact player but I believe with his vision and skill he can be an impact player one day. – Jordan Greenberg
#50
SEATTLE (from Winnipeg) – C CHARLIE STRAMEL, U. OF WISCONSIN (NCAA) Kraken GM Ron Francis along with Director of Scouting Robert Kron are just looking to add talent and with this selection they add a center in University of Wisconsin big power forward and former US NTDP wunderkind Charlie Stramel. After taking a defender in the top round they now have three second round selections and will look to really bolster the organizations prospect pool before the round is through. Stramel adds a power element to their forward prospect pool and while he slid from draft projections from eighteen months ago, when he looked like he might be a lottery pick, he still has improved in areas during his first year in college hockey like skating. Look for the big forward to become more involved and make a bigger offensive impact in his second year. – Dan Stewart
#51
CHICAGO (from Tampa Bay) – G ADAM GAJAN, CHIPPEWA STEEL (NAHL) Adam is the prototypical size for a NHL goaltender. Big, athletic, poised and competitive. His size helps him fill out the net when on his feet or in his butterfly and his leg strength allows him to get post to post when he’s on his knees. A player who competes at a very high level and never quits on a puck or play. His reflexes are strong and while he may have to work on his gloves (blocker/catcher) a little, he still has some time to develop as he progresses. With a need for goaltending in Chicago, Gajan will help fill the hole, it just may be a few years down the road. – Matt Hnatiuk
#52
SEATTLE – RW KOEHN ZIEMMER, PRINCE GEORGE (WHL) The Kraken draft team look to continue adding more talent with their second of three round two picks and have their eye on a goal scoring winger they love the jam and skill combo he plays with in Prince George right wing Koehn Ziemmer. While there is work to do, specifically on his skating stride, if he hopes to one day pull on the Kraken jersey full time, his goal scoring ability has a natural instinct to it like a Zach Hyman or Tyler Bertuzzi type of ‘at the right place at the right time’ element you just can’t teach. – Dan Stewart
#53
MINNESOTA – RW, MATHIEU CATAFORD, HALIFAX (QMJHL) This gritty forward can punish you with physical play or scoring ability. He has a well-balanced base that makes him solid on the ice and he skates well. Using his high-end vision, Cataford could eventually find a home on the PP where he is the setup man with strong passing. He possesses a dangerous shot that can be placed accurately when within range. Is strong in the faceoff circle and is just a general pain in the ass to play against. Has some similar traits to the current GM of the Wild. Look for Cataford to develop a couple of seasons and then potentially make the jump to help the Wild. – Matt Hnatiuk
#54
LOS ANGELES – D CADEN PRICE, KELOWNA (WHL) LA cannot believe their luck with the selection of D Caden Price. Elite IQ, in understanding the game, showing excellent awareness. Has the ability to transition his game in puck movement to forwards on break outs with crisp first pass abilities. We are not worried about his choppy skating due the fact he has a second gear to defend against turnovers. Uses his body & stick to get inside advantage pushing forwards to the outside. Having the good hockey sense when to drive into ozone on the rush yet not to be caught out of position. He is a big man who will complement the Kings. We believe due to Caden’s keen hockey IQ we can develop him into a very good 3rd line pairing. We know his shot will require work. There are some aspects that cannot be approved on, however in this case these are all minor adjustments we can overcome with Caden’s commitment and hard work which shows in nearly all games. – Murray Caldwell
#55
CHICAGO (from NYR) – D BEAU AKEY, BARRIE (OHL) This mobile defender is great with the puck on his stick. He uses strong skating and a balanced stride to carry the puck himself, or he can distribute it to teammates with excellent an excellent first pass. Using his multi directional skating, he can walk the blueline and fire shots on net while being the QB on the PP, and is a continual threat as a defender in the offensive zone. He needs to refine his defensive play and anticipation of plays, but developing for a few more seasons will help Beau gain confidence and skill. There is no rush to force Akey into the lineup and the Blackhawks will have the pleasure of developing this prospect as they wish. – Matt Hnatiuk
#56
EDMONTON – RW NOEL NORDH, BRYNAS IF J20 (J20 NATIONELL) Bringing his net front presence that will give the Oilers that player who is willing to stand in there and whack at pucks after the elite shooters let it go. He brings a long and smooth skating ability that he’ll have to work on adding speed to. Soft hands when needed and the ability to make nice passes to streaking line mates. An excellent shot, especially from in close. Willing to play more physical which is something this team lacks slightly. Generally, makes the smart and safe plays to avoid causing mistakes. Will need to develop his defensive game more before transitioning to the North American game. Is a player who can slide up and down the line up as required bringing more depth to the top-heavy Oilers. – Matt Hnatiuk
#57
SEATTLE (from Toronto) – D ANDREW GIBSON, SAULT STE. MARIE (OHL) After adding a couple forwards to the 2023 haul along with a strong skating two-way defender in the first round, the Kraken jump back in and pick an underrated OHL defender whose game grew by leaps and bounds this season, his rookie season in the Soo. Six-foot-three defender Andrew Gibson is a big framed solid skating blueliner who plays an impressively mature defensive game adding in a long reach and aggressive physicality while also showing some developing offensive upside. Gibson has been a late season riser on many NHL draft boards and the Kraken are thrilled to add him with their last selection in round two. – Dan Stewart
#58
NEW JERSEY – C WILLIAM WHITELAW, YOUNGSTOWN (USHL) With Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec, the Devils’ pipeline is set at defence. GM Tom Fitzgerald and his staff instead focus on augmenting their forward group with Whitelaw. The Devils play a skilled, offensive style of game and Whitelaw fits that mold perfectly. While the Devils already have Bratt (pending a new contract), Mercer, and Holtz on the right wing, Whitelaw provides positional versatility having played centre as well, although with his small frame he may be in tough to play that position at the highest level. Whitelaw is a small player who needs work on his consistency, the accuracy of his shot and his 200-foot game. However, if he reaches his potential, the Devils believe Whitelaw can be one of the biggest steals of the draft with his high compete level, scoring instincts, excellent skating ability and speed, and top-notch stickhandling and playmaking. They hope he can come in and fill a top-six scoring role in a few years time. – Jonah Fleisher
#59
ANAHEIM (from Colorado) – D JAKUB DVORAK, BILI TYGRI LIBEREC (CZECHIA) With Luneau, Mintyukov and Zellweger giving Anaheim hope as excellent offensive defenseman prospects, they elect to go with a truly defensive, stay-at-home defender in Dvorak. He brings size, an excellent reach and will be able to log minutes consistently for the top end guys while also having the potential to be a solid penalty killing defender. He can improve on his puck control but can bring a physical, shut down style for a team needing that on the back end. – Jody Horak
#60
ANAHEIM (from Boston) – C KALAN LIND, RED DEER (WHL) With loads of finesse, skill and creative forwards on their roster, GM Pat Verbeek opts to add some toughness and grit to his team. Lind is a physical, hard-nosed forward who is not afraid to agitate opponents and play an in-your-face type game. If he can limit his penalties and be more disciplined, he can be an everyday grinder in the lineup. When Zegras is your leader in penalty minutes, it’s time to bring in some more physicality and Lind fits the bill here. – Jody Horak
#61
DALLAS – D LUCA CAGNONI, PORTLAND (WHL) Cagnoni an offensive, elusive skating threat. Having 64 points in 67 games this past year in the WHL, we are elated to have this talent coming to Dallas. A highly skilled player with an impressive shot, from either foot. Strong stick handling skills in tight spaces. When the puck is not on his stick he gives his forwards a place to pass to by getting into open spaces. He can pivot on a dime, shift into high gear and explode into an attack mode. Peel off after distribution of a hard pass to a forward. He easily corrals hard passes with deft hands. A talented QB on the power play, this will help us add scoring from the backend as he develops over the next 3 years becoming a F1 player in the NHL. Luca has tools that can be developed into a high-end two-way defender. – Murray Caldwell
#62
CAROLINA – RW LENNI HAMEENAHO, ASSAT (LIIGA) The Hurricanes have turned into a bit of a Finnish factory over there and they make and easy selection here as they patiently watched Hameenaho drop to them at #62. The Finnish winger spent his draft season playing against men and earned himself a spot in Assat’s middle six group for majority of the season. He’s a high IQ player with playmaking upside, solid small area play, and a strong net-front game. He possesses some deft hands to stickhandle and protect pucks in small spaces. His puck management is very mature and if he’s skating stride and acceleration can improve, then he’s got a real shot at becoming a stable middle six NHLer. – Jared Brown
#63
FLORIDA – W ALEX CIERNIK, SODERTALJE SK J20 (J20 NATIONELL) While the Stanley Cup finals did not go Florida’s way this year, Florida hopes to begin the healing phase now by making a big pick in the second round. The offensively lucrative, highly skilled, goal scorer will have plenty of potential allies to join in him Florida’s developmental system. Ryan McAllistar, Mackie Samoskevich, and Grigori Denisenko immediately jump to mind when considering future line mates for Ciernik, whether that be in the NHL, or the AHL. Ciernik is expected to join Florida’s main roster within the next 2-3 years. However, it is likely Florida will aim to keep the gang together for another run for the cup in these coming years, so finding a roster spot is going to be tight. Though with his ability to play on any wing, and offer goal scoring potential and a solid two-way game, don’t be surprised if Ciernik moves to the front of the line sooner rather than later. – Isaiah Bouchard
#64
MINNESOTA (from Vegas) – D TRISTAN BERTUCCI, FLINT (OHL) A steady defender who moves around the ice with non discript speed. He won’t wow you with his feet, but he won’t let you down either. He possesses the ability to make simple outlet plays and quickly transition the play forward. He has a bomb of a shot when he can let it go from the blueline, with the skill of keeping it low and on net. Plays a tight defensive game all the way through the neutral zone and into his, but could use more size/strength to compete vs grown men. Will take some time to develop, but has the potential to eventually step into a second pair role with special teams capability. – Matt Hnatiuk
ROUND 3
Anaheim (Jody) G, Jacob Fowler
Columbus (Jared) C, Oscar Fisker Molgaard
Chicago (Matt) G, Scott Ratzlaff
Nashville (Jonah) D, Aram Minnetian
Montreal (Jordan) C, Easton Cowan
Arizona (Isaiah) C, Luca Pinelli
Carolina (Jared) C, Anton Wahlberg
Arizona (Isaiah) RW, Roman Kantserov
Detroit (Dan) C, Felix Nilsson
St. Louis (Jody) C/RW, Jayson Shaugabay
Vancouver (Tyler) C, Carey Terrance
St. Louis (Jody) D, Dylan MacKinnon
Vegas (Dan) RW, Jesse Kiiskinen
LA Kings (Murray) D, Brady Cleveland
Nashville (Jonah) C, Noah Dower Nilsson
New Jersey (Jonah) LW, Emil Jarventie
Arizona (Isaiah) G, Tomas Suchanek
Winnipeg (Andy) G, Thomas Milic
Nashville (Jonah) RW, Coulson Pitre
Seattle (Dan) D, Andrew Strathmann
Anaheim (Jody) LW, Ethan Miedema
Buffalo (Isaiah) D, Jordan Tourigny
Philadelphia (Tyler) LW, Nico Myatovic
Arizona (Isaiah) D, Danil Karpovich
Vancouver (Tyler) LW, Aydar Suniev
Pittsburgh (Dan) RW, Martin Misiak
NY Rangers (Andy) C/RW, Tanner Adams
Boston (Andy) D, Drew Fotescue
Chicago (Matt) RW, Tuomas Uronen
San Jose (Andy) D, Quinton Burns
Philadelphia (Tyler) C, Rasmus Kumpulainen
Vegas (Dan) C, Alex Pharand
ROUND 4
Anaheim (Jody) LW, Juraj Pekarcik
Columbus (Jared) D, Matthew Mania
Chicago (Matt) D, Mazden Leslie
San Jose (Andy) LW, Jesse Nurmi
Montreal (Jordan) C, Matthew Soto
Arizona (Isaiah) LW, Ondrej Molnar
Philadelphia (Tyler) C, Hudson Malinoski
Washington (Tyler) D, Kaden Hammel
Vancouver (Tyler) LW, Aiden Fink
St. Louis (Jody) RW, Felix Unger Sorum
Vancouver (Tyler) D, Kalem Parker
Ottawa (Jared) D, Gavin McCarthy
Buffalo (Isaiah) C, Jakub Stancl
Montreal (Jordan) D, Luke Mittelstadt
Nashville (Jonah) C Kalle Carlsson
Calgary (Jared) D, Arttu Karki
Islanders (Jordan) D, Ben Robertson
Columbus (Jared) RW, Cam Squires
Nashville (Jonah) C Brad Gardiner
Seattle (Dan) D, Zach Schulz
Detroit (Dan) C, Jonathan Castagna
LA Kings (Murray) C, Connor Levis
Vancouver (Tyler) LW, Roman Kukumberg
Philadelphia (Tyler) C, Jaden Lipiniski
Nashville (Jonah) D, Chase Cheslock
New Jersey (Jonah) C, Hunter Anderson
San Jose (Andy) C, Zeb Fosfjall
Boston (Andy) C, Arrtu Alasiurua
Dallas (Murray) D, Paul Fischer
Carolina (Jared) D, Carter Sotheran
Florida (Isaiah) D, Konnor Smith
Montreal (Jordan) LW, Tyler Peddle
ROUND 5
Anaheim (Jody) RW, Zach Nehring
San Jose (Andy) C, Alex Weiermair
Chicago (Matt) C, Tanner Ludtke
San Jose (Andy) D, Luke Coughlin
Montreal (Jordan) G, Carsen Musser
Arizona (Isaiah) RW, Cole Brown
Philadelphia (Tyler) C, Tom Leppa
Washington (Tyler) LW, Owen Beckner
Detroit (Dan) C, Dominik Petr
St. Louis (Jody) G, Stephen Peck
Carolina (Jared) RW, Yegor Rimashevksy
Ottawa (Jared) C, Brandon Svoboda
Buffalo (Isaiah) LW, Michael DeAngelo
Pittsburgh (Dan) D, Anton Maryshev
Nashville (Jonah) C, Cooper Foster
Montreal (Jordan) C, Ryan Fine
Islanders (Jordan) D, Samuel Barcik
Winnipeg (Andy) D, Kalle Kanges
Nashville (Jonah) RW, Yegor Sidorov
Seattle (Dan) C, Angus MacDonell
Minnesota (Matt) C, Austin Roest
LA Kings (Murray) D, Sam Court
Winnipeg (Andy) RW, Will Vote
Rangers (Andy) C, Ty Halaburda
Toronto (Jared) D, Emil Pieniniemi
New Jersey (Jonah) D, Matteo Koci
Colorado (Jody) D, James Petrovski
Columbus (Jared) LW, Beckett Hendrickson
Dallas (Murray) RW, Jan Sprynar
Carolina (Jared) C, Owen Outwater
Florida (Isaiah) D, Ivan Remezovsky
Arizona (Isaiah) C, Gabriel Szturc
ROUND 6
Anaheim (Jody) D, Sean Keohane
Arizona (Isaiah) RW, Nikita Susuyev
Carolina (Jared) C, Jiri Felcman
San Jose (Andy) C, Cameron Johnson
Montreal (Jordan) RW, Joey Willis
Arizona (Isaiah) D, Hoyt Stanley
Philadelphia (Tyler) RW, Ty Daneault
Seattle (Dan) RW, Michael Burchill
Detroit (Dan) LW, Ty Hendricks
St. Louis (Jody) RW, Cole Knuble
Vancouver (Tyler) C, Nikita Nedopyokin
Philadelphia (Tyler) D, Jake Livanavage
Buffalo (Isaiah) G, Yegor Zavragin
Pittsburgh (Dan) G, Rhett Stoesser
Nashville (Jonah) D, Rodwin Dionicio
Calgary (Jared) D, Larry Keenan
Islanders (Jordan) C, Ben Poitras
Rangers (Andy) D, Austin Burnevik
Tampa Bay (Tyler) RW, Daniil Bourosh
Seattle (Dan) LW, Jimmy Clark
Minnesota (Matt) D, Aiden Celebrini
LA Kings (Murray) G, Noah Erliden
Rangers (Andy) RW, Yegor Klimolvich
Edmonton (Matt) D, Matthew Andonovski
Toronto (Jared) LW, Isac Hedqvist
New Jersey (Jonah) C, Timur Mukhanov
Colorado (Jody) C, Teddy Townsend
Boston (Andy) D, Ty Higgins
Dallas (Murray) C, Ty Mueller
Carolina (Jared) C, Frantisek Dej
Florida (Isaiah) RW, Milton Oscarson
Vegas (Dan) D, Charles-Alexis Legault
ROUND 7
Tampa Bay (Tyler) D, Sawyer Mynio
Columbus (Jared) RW, Alexander Rykov
Chicago (Matt) D, Matteo Mann
San Jose (Andy) D, Marc-Olivier Beaudry
Montreal (Jordan) D, Kristian Kostadinski
Florida (Isaiah) D, Hudson Thornton
Philadelphia (Tyler) C, Luke Patterson
Washington (Tyler) RW, Josh Nadeau
Detroit (Dan) G, Adam Dybal
St. Louis (Jody) D, Axel Landen
San Jose (Andy) LW, Emmanuel Vermette
Ottawa (Jared) G, Noa Vali
Buffalo (Isaiah) LW, Florian Xhekaj
San Jose (Andy) G, Alexander Hellnemo
Ottawa (Jared) LW, Mitchell Martin
Calgary (Jared) D, Francesco Dell’Elce
Islanders (Jordan) C, Ian Scherzer
Winnipeg (Andy) D, Peetu Kiukus
Tampa Bay (Tyler) LW, Sam Huck
Seattle (Dan) G, Samuel Urban
Minnesota (Matt) RW, Griffin Erdman
Boston (Andy) C, Luke McNamara
Ottawa (Jared) D, Donovan McCoy
Edmonton (Matt) D, Lucas St. Louis
Pittsburgh (Dan) G, Hampton Slukynsky
New Jersey (Jonah) G, Ruslan Khazheyev
Colorado (Jody) G, Damian Clara
Boston (Andy) LW, Alex Assadourian
Dallas (Murray) C, Kai Uchacz
Carolina (Jared) LW, Daniel Alexander Jencko
Pittsburgh (Dan) LW, Joe Connor
Vegas (Dan) LW Cole Burbidge
Let us know in the comments who you think made the best value picks.
For those who want a comprehensive look at the next wave of NHL talent be sure to pick up a discounted (25% off) copy of the digital 2023 DraftPro Draft Guide.
Coming up next we have the Toronto Maple Leafs, coming off a second round playoff exit the Leafs will now have a potentially quite interesting offseason that will kickoff with the draft on June 28th. Looking back at previous drafts that the Leafs were in there have been some picks that have really paid off and have helped this franchise. The first one to mention is their current best player in Austin Matthews. This is one of the youngest best ever draft picks in this series and for the Leafs it really is just that, one of the best. Matthews has been their number one player since the 2016-2017 draft. He has been a threat every year and makes the Leafs much more competitive year in and year out. He has two Rocket Richard trophies to go along with the Calder for rookie of the year in the 2016-2017 season and one Hart and Ted Lindsay trophy respectively. He has already been one of the most successful Leafs players of all time and he’s only 26 years old.
Next up we will go to a draft where one of the most recognizable players in the franchise came from. In the 1970 draft the Leafs held the eight pick and used it to choose Darryl Sittler, Sittler would go on to play with Toronto from 1970-1982. Sittler was a four time 40 goal scorer and hit the 100 point plateau two times with the Leafs. Sittler would finish with a point per game or better in nine of his twelve seasons. His number would be retired by the Leafs in 1989.
The third and final person to talk about here wouldn’t necessarily be considered as one of the best picks of a franchise all the time, he wasn’t the most flashy or the one with all the awards or points but he was however the fab favourite for all his years in Toronto. A player that everyone wanted to be on the team and stay on the team. He was tough, he was a personality, he was Tie Domi. Originally drafted back in 1988 in the second round pick number 27 Domi played a majority of his career with the Leafs. However he only played two games with them before being traded away resulting in him playing away from the franchise for over five seasons until in 1995 when he was traded during the season back to Toronto. Upon his return to Toronto Domi became an instant favourite and would play out the remainder of his career with the Leafs from 1995-2006. In total Domi would play 777 of his 1020 games in the NHL, retiring with a legacy left in Toronto that many fans will remember for a long time.
Moving into picks that were not good picks by the Leafs we will funnily enough stay in the 1988 draft where at pick number six the Leafs chose winger Scott Pearson. Pearson struggled with the Leafs and subsequently in his NHL career, during his tenure with the Leafs Pearson played in 62 games registering 16 points, five goals and eleven assists. Pearson would be traded part way through the 1990-1991 season to the Quebec Nordiques for little help in the return. Looking back at the 1988 draft the Leafs made an immense error in taking Pearson at six because in the next four picks at number eight, nine, and ten we would see Jeremy Roenick, Rod Brind’Amour, and Teemu Selanne selected.
Next up comes from the 2011 draft, and to no surprise it is 22nd overall pick Tyler Biggs. Biggs had lots of potential and was talked about quite a bit, at 6 ‘3 and over 200 pounds he was touted as a potential top six power forward. However that did not come to fruition, after the draft he went to Miami University (Ohio) and then onto the OHL for the Oshawa Generals. He went on to play in the AHL after that and went to the ECHL for many seasons after that and a bit of time in the EIHL before retiring at the conclusion of the 2018-2019 season. Biggs never ended up playing in the NHL by the conclusion of his career.
Finally wrapping it up with the 1992 draft where the Leafs held pick number eight and used it on centre Brandon Convery. Convery would play another three and half seasons in the OHL and AHL before making his Leafs debut in the latter half of the 1996 season. In those 11 games he scored seven points, which was actually pretty good for a rookie in only a few games. Unfortunately for him that would be the best production wise he would be for the Leafs, on the next season he would struggle with 10 points in 39 games which would result in being relegated to the AHL team for the following year before being turfed that very same year to the Vancouver Canucks and then being in their farm team as well. Convery would eventually take his talents over to Europe where he would play until his retirement at the end of the 2004 season.
Taking a look at the 2023 Leafs you will find a team who had a disappointing second round exit in the playoffs which emulates their playoff struggles over the past 20 years. With their sites now focused on the 2023 draft we will see what they can do. They currently hold only three picks in this year’s draft but they do have a first round pick, 1st (BOS), 5th, 6th. This pick in the first round will be at pick number 28.
Looking at the Leafs’ prospect pool you will find a pretty empty pool, and for a team that is loaded up on forwards and lacking in both defence and goalie that is what they should target that deep into the first round. Players they can look at drafting can be USHL goalie Michael Hrabal, OHL defenseman Oliver Bonk, or SHL defenseman Theo Lindstein.
For more information on the 2023 NHL Draft class be sure to pick up your copy of the comprehensive DraftPro 2023 NHL Draft Guide.
Moving along we go back to Florida and visit the most successful team of the last five years, the Tampa Bay Lightning. Going to three Stanley Cup finals in the last five years and winning two of them makes Tampa the most successful team of the past five years. They have done a good job of drafting and developing and it has shown.
When taking a look back at some of their most successful draft picks the first and most successful draft pick would be former first overall pick Steven Stamkos. Stamkos was drafted first in 2008 and has been an absolute gem of a player for the Tampa Bay lightning. Stamkos has won two Rocket Richard trophies and before Auston Matthews did it last year, Stamkos was the last player to hit 60 goals in a season. He is currently clicking at over a point per game in his career with 1056 points in 1003 games. He is the all time leader in both points and goals in a Tampa Bay jersey and is currently second all-time in assists. Stamkos will end up being the all time greatest lightning player once his career has finished.
Next on the list of the best Tampa picks it will lead us to the 2011 draft where at pick number 58 in the second round the Lightning selected Nikita Kucherov. Kucherov played in all of the KHL, QMJHL, and AHL before making his NHL debut and it sure worked out in his favour. After a rocky first year playing 58 games and scoring 18 points he turned it up a notch and has since then scored 664 points in 592 games for a ppg of 1.12. He has three 100+ point seasons with 100, 128, and 113 point seasons respectively, he is a two time 40 goal scorer so far and has 729 points in 644 games in his career. In 2019 Kucherov won the Art Ross trophy, Ted Lindsay trophy and Hart trophy for league leader in points and league MVP. An insane value for a late second round pick, the way it is going we will see Kucherov in the hall of fame and his jersey retired by Tampa Bay when he calls it a career.
Moving into the last player to be talked about is the Tampa Bay goalie Andrei Vasilevsky. Vasilevsky was drafted back in 2012 in the first round pick number 19. He has been one of the top five goalies in the past decade. He has one Vezina trophy from the 2019 season to go along with one Conn Smythe trophy for playoff MVP in 2021. Vasilevsky has an unreal win loss record so far with a 265-124-31 record, more than doubling his losses are his wins. Vasilevsky has been a wall in net and it has propelled Tampa Bay to being one of the best teams since his NHL debut in 2014-2015 season. So far in his career he has never ended a season with a losing record, it has been pure dominance in net by Vasilevsky thus far.
In the early parts of Tampa Bay’s franchise they had themselves quite a lot of top picks in the draft, and for many they did not pan out. For instance the first one that we will talk about is that of 2000 eighth overall pick Nikita Alexeev. Making his pro debut in the 2001-2002 season Alexeev played 44 games for Tampa scoring eight points. In the 2002-2003 season Alexeev played 37 games scoring six. After this year he took his talents back to Russia before returning to the NHL and Tampa Bay For the 2006-2007 season, his last in the NHL, where he would play 63 games for Tampa and 15 for Chicago. In those 63 games for Tampa Alexeev managed 21 points. In total Alexeev played 144 games for Tampa scoring 35 points. A bit of a let down when it comes to a player drafted that high.
Moving to another high drafted player from the 90s for Tampa bay from the 1994 draft Jason Wiemer. Wiemer was the eighth overall pick in 1994 making his pro debut for Tampa in the 1994-1995 season Wiemer would play four seasons for Tampa playing a total of 232 games and scoring a total of 54 points. This can definitely be another case of junior success not translating over into NHL success, scoring 96 points and 41 goals in his draft eligible season in the WHL in 1994 would’ve made Wiemer a big draft target but his junior success was just not replicated when he played in the NHL. In March of 1998 wiener was part of a deal that would see him land in Calgary for a return of a couple players and a third round pick in that 1998 draft which ended up being Brad Richards, this would probably be the best thing Wiemer did for Tampa bay during his career and since that is the case this pick winds up on this list.
Finally the last player to talk about on this part of the list is that of 2001 third overall pick Alexander Svitov. Svitov would play in Russia one more year before going to North America for the 2002-2003 season for Tampa, Svitov would play 63 games recording eight points. He would play 11 more games for Tampa in the next season registering three assists. After the end of the 2003-2004 season Svitov would go back to Russia permanently in the 2007-2008 season where he remained until retirement in 2020.
Flash forward to present day Tampa and you will find them looking at the draft where they literally have hardly any picks. They currently stand at three picks and all in late rounds, 6th, 7th, 7th (ANA). Their prospect pool isn’t very deep and with the serious lack of picks in this deep of a draft this will most definitely hurt them in the long run once their core becomes too old to make a difference. With that, if their first pick does indeed end up being in the sixth round that pick will land around 179th, two players that could be selected there are, forward from the USHL Ty Henricks and defenseman Anton Maryshev from the MHL.
For more information on the 2023 NHL Draft class be sure to pick up your copy of the comprehensive DraftPro 2023 NHL Draft Guide.
Moving on and almost at the end we have up next the blue notes, the St Louis Blues. Gaining great success in the past five years or so winning their franchise’s first ever Stanley Cup in 2019.
When talking about the St. Louis Blues one player who comes to mind as one of the most successful draft picks is Foam Lake Saskatchewan’s Bernie Federko. Federko was the sixth overall pick in the 1976 draft and went on to play 927 games for the Blues and registering 1073 points. He had four seasons of over 100 points for the Blues and scored seven seasons of 30+ goals with his career high of 41 in 1984. He remains as the Blues’ all time points leader and the only player in their history to score 1000 points. Sticking with the 1976 draft we will look into the second round at pick number 20 to find Brian Sutter. Sutter played from 1976-1988 with the Blues until retirement and scored 636 points in 779 games played. He ranks third in all time points on the St Louis Blues.
Final choice for best Blues pick goes to the 2010 draft where at pick number 16 the Blues chose Vladimir Tarasenko. Tarasenko was the Blues’ best sniper since Brett Hull, having six 30+ goals seasons and one of those seasons hitting the 40 goal plateau, Tarasenko was their best offensive threat during the 2010s. Tarasenko was a consistent 70+ point player for the Blues and was a large contributor to their Stanley Cup success back in 2019.
Moving along to picks that left the franchise wanting more we will first stop at the 2014 draft where the Blues selected highly touted Robby Fabbri with the 21st over selection. Fabbri played in the organisation from 2014-2019 and was unfortunately unable to make much of an impact. With injuries and inconsistencies hurting his play Fabbri was only able to play 164 games with the Blues scoring 73 points. He had a lot of skill but was never able to find much of a rhythm in the NHL, he was traded away to the Detroit Red Wings in November of 2019 for a player who played less than 50 games for the Blues, a very little return for the former first rounder. This pick left a lot to be desired and it winds up on this list.
Moving back two years to the 2012 draft we have another first round selection Jordan Schmaltz. Originally drafted 25th overall Schmaltz played in the USHL and then off to North Dakota in the NCAA before making his pro debut in the 2015-2016 season for the blues affiliate team the Chicago Wolves. It wouldn’t be until 2016-2017 that Schmaltz would make his NHL debut where he played nine games registering two assists. He would go on to plate another 33 games for the Blues totalling 42 games and registering five points in total. After being traded in the summer of 2019 he would continue his career in the AHL for 2020 and the 2021 seasons split between three AHL teams. He is now currently playing overseas in the Swiss-A league.
Finally we will go back in time to the 1987 draft where the Blues held pick number 12. Once at the podium the Blues chose Keith Osborne, a winger out of Toronto, Ontario. Osborne would make his pro debut in 1989 for the Peoria Rivermen and would subsequently play with the Blues that same year making his NHL debut. Osborne would play five games for the Blues that year putting up two assists. Osborne however would never play another game for the Blues he would be traded in March or 1991 to the Toronto Maple Leafs and would the. Be claimed off waivers a year later by Tampa where he would play his last 11 games in the NHL. He would play another eight years before retiring at the end of the 2000-2001 season.
In the present time the Blues are looking towards the NHL draft. They did not make the playoffs this year but they are going to the draft fully loaded, in total they have nine picks but three of those picks are first round picks. In a draft as deep as this one, having that many first round picks will be a hot commodity for sure. Their lineup looks like this: 1st, 1st (TOR), 1st (DAL), 3rd, 3rd (OTT), 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th. Their highest pick in the draft being their own first round pick at number 10. With their pick at 10, my three top choices for the Blues, given that they are in need of both forwards and defence prospects for their current rebuild, would be defenseman David Reinbacher, winger Matthew Wood, and centre Oliver Moore. All these three players are highly skilled and help out on both ends of their needs, Moore is the fastest skater in this draft who is defensively sound. Reinbacher fills their need for good young defensemen, it is an added bonus that he has the potential to be a top two defenseman. Matthew Wood, a big power forward standing at 6’4 who can put up points and give St Louis an edge to play against.
For more information on the 2023 NHL Draft class be sure to pick up your copy of the comprehensive DraftPro 2023 NHL Draft Guide.
The final big scouting event of the 2022-23 season was played out in Switzerland earlier this spring and the performances at the event will go a long way to shaping where NHL teams see thee prospects and the process we are about to witness later this month in Nashville.
Some prospects used the event to springboard their draft stock into an NHL teams radar while others might have dropped on NHL team lists. Below are the impressions made on two of our scouts on who impressed and who disappointed as well as a few future eligible prospects we are excited about.
PROSPECTS WHO USED THE U18’S TO BOOST THEIR DRAFT STOCK
2 C, Will Smith, Team USA
The tournament MVP showed up in a big way making his presence known every time he stepped on the ice. A deceptive stick made goalie’s cry for mercy as Smith dangled his way to a tournament leading 9 goals. His breakneck speed and ability to create offence off the rush is incredible to watch. Smith is all but locked into that number 4-5 draft spot so his stock can’t rise much more but with all the talent he has he will be “slapping” competition on the big stage in no time. – Tyler Karoway
9 RW, Ryan Leonard, Team USA
A dynamic, strong skater who embodies the style of a power forward with his drive and work in and around the net. Scored the game winner in overtime to win gold for USA. Finished with 8 goals and 9 assists and was the leader in +/- at a +16. Has a sensational shot and tremendous leadership qualities. – Jody Horak
4 LW, Gabe Perreault, Team USA
What more can be said about one of the best playmakers in the upcoming draft. Shocker- Perrault went off again racking up 18 points. His outstanding vision and elite passing made him a fascinating watch as he set up teammates for goals upon goals. One of the things that really sold me on Perrault was his commitment to defense, late in the Finland game up 3 with a minute left he hustled back to break up a play then get it up to set up yet another goal. Perrault is a star in the making in my eyes and while he may not be able to rise much more due to him already being so high on most draft boards, a top 10 selection would not surprise me. – Tyler Karoway
13 C, Danny Nelson, Team USA
A two-way gem, Nelson impressed throughout the whole tournament locking down top lines and filling the stat sheet. A point per game player and was leaned on heavily to keep opposing players neutralized Nelson used his insanely high hockey sense to his advantage. Often overshadowed due to his teammates point production Nelson does everything you want in a middle 6 Centre. While he was already ranked fairly high on most boards his play should have solidified himself a top 40 spot. – Tyler Karoway
17 D, Aram Minnetian, Team USA
One of the best defenseman at the tournament, Aram was a force on the back end for the Americans. A leading +16 being on ice for zero goals, Minnetian locked down opponents like it was nothing and covered his goalie’s rebound control flaw up perfectly. Putting up a respectable 4 points and still having elite defensive play says a lot about what lies ahead for the young D-man. His standout play should have him in the top 50 on most draft boards after this one. – Tyler Karoway
26 RW, Matthew Wood, Team Canada
Besides a kid named Celebrini, there was not a better player for Team Canada than Wood. He has a lethal shot but what was more impressive about him was his ability to see the ice and make excellent decisions with crafty hands and passing accuracy. His skating is still concerning but he showed a lot more versatile abilities than his goal scoring capability. Had a strong tournament with 7 goals and 6 assists and a +12 rating. – Jody Horak
15 C, Dalibor Dvorsky, Team Slovakia
Dvorsky showed off just how lethal he could be on offense, racking up 8 goals through 7 games including a 4-goal performance vs Germany. He found his footing after a very shaky start vs the Czech team on opening day and showed off his 200ft game. His brute strength and rifle shot went perfectly together imposing his will on goaltenders and skaters. One of the best defensive games out of the projected 1st round players and he was able to lock down a loaded Finland squad in the quarters. Star players come to play no matter the game and Dvorsky did just so. – Tyler Karoway
18 LW, Juraj Pekarcik, Team Slovakia
Here is a guy who really made a name for himself with his performance at the Worlds. A strong, agile forward with skilled hands and excellent puck control which allows him to be quite a force on the offensive end. Plays with a high compete level and was extremely impressed with his skating and his toughness to battle in front of the net. He finished with 3 goals and 7 assists for Slovakia. – Jody Horak
31 G, Samuel Urban, Team Slovakia
Urban by far raised his stock the most out of the goalie at the tournament. He sealed off the net and made himself a brick wall for much of the tournament. His hyper flexibility allowed him to make some massive cross crease saves and flexed his laser quick glove. His confidence in playing the puck and moving it down ice to a teammate made for a fun watch but showed how important puck handling can be for a goalie as well. He kept an upbeat Slovakian team in games and really was the main reason they made it as far as they did even upsetting a vastly superior Finnish team. – Tyler Karoway
10 C, Kasper Halttunen, Team Finland
Halttunen flashed the power forward potential he had and showed how high of ceiling he does have. While he did have some maddening moments flubbing on some prime scoring chances in early games, but he was able to rebound as the tourney went on. The quick release to his shot and ability to pick his spot was shown perfectly when he rifled one past America’s Trey Augustine in their back and forth match up. His competitive energy and want to win showed off and he racked up a good chunk of points showing off the blend of speed and size that makes him that much more tantalizing for scouts. He definitely rose up my draft board after this tournament. – Tyler Karoway
23 C, Otto Stenberg, Team Sweden
Stenberg was one of the most noticeable players throughout this tournament with his shooting capability, his speed, and his finesse. He was a clutch player for Sweden reaching the gold medal game and was a tenacious forechecker and displayed incredible offensive abilities. Plays a solid two-way game and wears the “C” for his team. Finished with 16 points in the tournament, only trailing the American trio. He has a bright future and star potential in the NHL. – Jody Horak
4 D, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Team Sweden
No question this guy cemented himself as the best defensive prospect in the upcoming draft. He is tough to beat one-on-one and rarely makes a bad play or gets caught out of position defensively. He plays with patience and poise. Displays excellent offensive abilities from the back end with his passing and soft, silky hands. Finished second in scoring for defenseman. He will be a top 10 pick in the draft. – Jody Horak
5 D, Tom Willander, Team Sweden
Willander was part of a unit defense for a stout Sweden squad. Whether he was crushing players into the boards or moving the puck up ice on the rush Willander showed off his two-way game to the max. Stout in own zone, locking down a strong Canada team twice and keeping the American’s offensive assault to a minimum. Willander was leaned on heavily throughout the tournament to shut down top players. If his play didn’t get him into that top 25 rankings, I’m not sure what will at his point. – Tyler Karoway
1 G, Noah Erliden, Team Sweden
Erliden had himself a solid tournament. He was consistent, positionally sound and square to the shooters. Showed quick reflexes to make some fantastic rebound saves and provided clutch saves at critical times in games. Played with extreme confidence and raised his value after his performance at the U18’s. – Jody Horak
THOSE WHOSE PERFORMANCE SAW THEIR DRAFT STOCK FALL
1 G, Carson Bjarnson, Team Canada
Bjarnason was my top goalie heading into this tournament and while he still is, I’m left with more questions than answers. His inability to find the puck through screens plagued him and his confidence was in the gutters because of it. While the defence in front of him was… let’s say weak, he did not do himself any favours either. While I’m sure fatigue and the time change played a very large factor in his play Bjarnason needed to be better. He still has all the tools to become a starter at the NHL level, but he is no longer a 1st round pick in my mind and is closer to a middle to late 2nd now. – Tyler Karoway
14 LW, Andrew Cristall, Team Canada
He had a very disappointing performance. He shows nice skills to produce but when he is not scoring or putting up points, he lacks standing out without other elite level players. He can be crafty and slick with the puck, but he seemed to really struggle getting anything going with lack of space and being pressured quickly. He has superb playmaking skills and hopefully bounces back from his underwhelming play. – Jody Horak
4 D, Maxim Strbak, Team Slovakia
Strbak left a bad taste in my mouth every time I watched him, especially in the Slovakia vs Czechia game. He couldn’t hit the net to save his life with his shot and didn’t really wow me with his defensive effort either. In what I would say was a weaker tournament, Slovakia got to the bronze medal game behind some key efforts, but I wouldn’t say Strbak was one of those guys. His stock shouldn’t take too much of a hit due to what I’d say would be mediocre play all year outside of his World Juniors performance. – Tyler Karoway
7 D, Paul Fischer, Team USA
With only one point at the tournament, I wanted to see Fischer take the next steps in his offensive game. He shows such mobility in his skating, just waiting to see him take off and go with the puck and make things happen and he just does not do it. He was also just average on the defensive end finishing with a +3 which was one of the lowest on the team. He was labeled as possibly the best defenseman on Team USA earlier this year and his game just has not progressed as much as it should at this point of the season. – Jody Horak
22 LW, Jesse Nurmi, Team Finland
I thought Nurmi exhibits fast feet and can play at a high pace. However, he lacks a high hockey IQ and tends to force pucks that can lead to turnovers and odd man rushes the other direction. He needs to be more patient with the puck and compete harder on a consistent basis. His play was too up and down throughout the tournament. – Jody Horak
26 LW, Noel Nordh, Team Sweden
He has nice size and is a mobile skater, but he lacks production. He possesses such ability to be a threat with a powerful shot and drive to the net. He makes mistakes trying to do too much with the puck on his stick and making bad decisions which often led to turnovers. He plays well in his defensive zone, but he can be undisciplined and not compete hard at times. – Jody Horak
12 LW, Eduard Sale, Team Czechia
Sale’s off the puck effort was very apparent for all the bad reasons, he did not seem interested at all. When he did get the puck, he either quickly turned it over or did something that left you saying “Wow”, there was really no in-between. A Czech team that was relying on him to score at the same rate Dvorsky did was let down. With only 6 points and Czechia only securing 1 win, with that coming against a vastly inferior German squad Sale should be disappointed with what he did. While a year end tournament shouldn’t play too much into draft rankings, Sale’s once top 15 rank looks like a reach and 18-25 looks more realistic. – Tyler Karoway
30 G, Michael Hrabal, Team Czechia
Another Czech star that on paper didn’t look like he had a bad performance, Hrabal only secured 1 win throughout and showed some flaws to his game. His raw athleticism can only get him so far and his technical side needs some major work. While his save percentage looks much better than it should, it is due to his team’s suffocating defence more than his own play. Hrabal is a project pick at this point and with a weak showing so far, I’m not sure he’s getting taken any higher than the 3rd round now. – Tyler Karoway
FUTURE STARS ON DISPLAY
17 C, Macklin Celebrini, Team Canada
What an outstanding tourney for the young forward, Celebrini showed off his supreme level of talent that makes him the projected 1st overall pick for next year’s draft. His speed and stick handling makes him a force to be reckoned with as he darts around the ice before depositing the puck in the net. Scoring the Bronze Medal winning goal was the cherry on top for the young gun that will look to continue dominating on the World stage for years to come if he continues to light up the net like he did. One of the few bright spots for an underwhelming Canada squad. – Tyler Karoway
34 LW, Cole Eiserman, Team USA
He is an explosive young hockey player. Makes scoring goals look like his everyday job. Has an impressive one-timer off the right dot on the power play. His speed is flashy and explosive, can accelerate to top speed in seconds. Scored 9 goals in this tournament and was a catalyst for secondary scoring for Team USA whose name was not Leonard, Smith, or Perreault. Should challenge for the top overall pick barring any setbacks. 2024 NHL draft eligible. – Jody Horak
34 C, Konsta Helenius, Team Finland
A smooth skater with exceptional speed, Helenius is going to be a budding star. Makes things happen offensively and wastes no time getting shots off with a quick, hard release. Dependable in the face-off circle which is a highly underappreciated skill. Played in all types of situations and was a consistent performer for Finland. 2024 NHL draft eligible. – Jody Horak
14 D, Cole Hutson, Team USA
Hutson is a smooth, highly skilled young defenseman. He transitions so quickly up the ice with his excellent skating and can move the puck with ease on the rush. Led all defenseman in scoring with 12 points. He is solid in the defensive zone too, makes smart decisions and rarely makes mistakes in his own zone. May be undersized but he is a talented, two-way defenseman with a bright future. 2024 NHL draft eligible. – Jody Horak
25 C, James Hagens, Team USA
Similar to Cole Eiserman, James Hagens just keeps scoring no matter where he goes. While he didn’t fill the stat sheet as much as he did at the U17s, Hagens’ play did not leave any questions on who should be the 1st overall pick come 2025. His hockey sense, 200ft game and ridiculous shot make him one of, if not the most complete players in his class. Obviously 5 points doesn’t tell the whole story, but Hagens didn’t look out of place on a line with Eiserman and Ryan Fine. This kid is a star in the making. – Tyler Karoway
22 RW, Porter Martone, Team Canada
The other star that will be coming out of the 2025 draft class Martone continues to impress with his gritty style of play. While he did get the boot in one game it should not take away what he did throughout the tournament. Notching a short-handed goal and 6 points Martone showed off his 2-way skill making him one of the few bright spots on Canada’s squad. The 6’3”, 17-year-old threw his weight around grinding down his opponents and using his size to create offence from driving the net. Martone can comeback next year and I expect him to put up a big performance. – Tyler Karoway
For a complete and comprehensive look at the 2023 prospects who made impressions at the IIHF U18 World Championships, an NHL Draft Combine update, and who NHL teams are looking at as we head into the last week before the draft be sure to pick up the DraftPro June 2023 Newsletter available now.
For more scouting information on the 2023 NHL Draft Class be sure to pick up our 2023 NHL Draft Guide in digital download (now 25% off) or the physical magazine copy through your regional Amazon website.
Coming up we now move to the Pacific Northwest and visit the newest team in the NHL. The Seattle Kraken have only been in two drafts this far, with 2023 being their third, we saw significant improvement for the Kraken this year making it to the conference semi finals this year, a positive sign of good things to come in the future.
With only having two drafts under their belt the whole top picks in franchise history and the not so top picks are not incredibly well vetted as their oldest draftees will be 20-21 years old and may have not even played a game in any pro level yet which is fair because they’re barely into their 20s. What we will look at are five players who have some of the biggest upside that the Seattle Kraken have drafted to their club so far.
First up we will take a look at the most obvious of choices in former second overall pick in 2021 Matty Beniers. Beniers had a great D+1 year in Michigan and then promptly took his skills from the NCAA to the NHL and showed no signs of regression. He looks to be this year’s lock for the Calder trophy as rookie of the year, this will be confirmed later in June, and his stats in his first year were quite good for the 20 year old. With 57 points in 80 games he was on par with players like Jonathan Huberdeau and Nathan MacKinnon in terms of ppg during their rookie seasons where both of them took the Calder trophy respectively. This pick looks to be their best yet in their short history.
Up next we will go again in the first round of the 2022 draft this time and look at fourth overall section Shane Wright. Wright was the consensus number one pick for a huge amount of time leading up to the 2022 draft where he only began to slip out of that position towards the tail end leading up to the draft. He ended up slipping from first to fourth and the Kraken were happy to pick him up at the number four spot. Wright has had a very peculiar beginning to his young career, in the NHL he was scratched quite a bit, leaving a lot of head scratching by the fans/media in the process, and only ended up playing eight games before being sent down, he scored two points in those eight games. He played eight games in the AHL where he scored six points and then promptly dominated the OHL again putting up 37 points in 20 games for the Windsor Spitfires. There is no denying that Wright has immense skill, this pick looks to be their second most promising pick thus far.
Moving on to their third most promising pick we will stay in the 2022 draft and look in the second round where Seattle held the 35th overall pick and took Jagger Firkus. Firkus slipped in this draft, he was looked at as a first round pick in the latter part of that round but found himself unselected and having to wait until that weekend to be picked. It did not take long as he was the third pick in that second round and for good reason. I’m back to back seasons in the WHL Firkus played 66 games and scored 80 and 88 points respectively. He is a very skilled two way forward who has no issue putting up goals and points, he hit the 40 goal mark this season in the WHL. He had recently signed his pro contract with the Kraken and will look to make his pro debut this upcoming season, most likely will play more in the AHL but has many tools at the NHL level that can lead him to play some games in the NHL this year. This pick has the potential to be a steal of a pick in the early second round, only time will tell however, but this pick looks to slot in as Seattle’s third most promising selection in their young history.
Moving on to number four on the most promising chart we will take a look at the 2022 draft and at pick number 68 where Seattle selected defenseman Ty Nelson. Nelson was the 68th selection in the draft and definitely the one with the best hat, the North Bay blue liner had an impressive season with 76 points in 61 games this year. Having 24 goals and over 50 assists is not a small feat and Nelson looks to have many tools that can help him a lot as a top four defenseman in his prime. It is always hard to tell exactly how good a player will be when it comes to playing in the NHL judging solely off play in the juniors but Nelson looks to have good potential and at an early third round pick it can potentially look to be a steal of a selection.
Looking at the fifth and final most promising pick we have one player and an honourable mention to name. First the honourable mention from the second round of the 2022 draft, David Goyette. Goyette scored 92 in 63 games this past season and was a consistent threat during his time with the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL this year. The potential is there to be a good middle six player. However the fifth spot goes to 2021 fifth round pick Jacob Melanson. Melanson finished this year with 99 points in only 59 games along with scoring 50 goals in those games. Melanson split time this year in the QMJHL with both the Acadie-Bathurst Titan and the Sherbrooke Phoenix and he was equally good with both teams during the season. Standing at six feet tall and 206 pounds this 20 year old has the ability to be a good middle six power forward and as a fifth round pick that is a steal.
The Kraken coming out of this year looked a lot different and it was mainly positive this year, they made it to the conference semifinals and a lot of their more core players were clicking this year. Looking ahead to the draft on June 28th the Kraken hold nine picks this year and four in the first 64 picks, 1st, 2nd, 2nd (TOR), 2nd (WPG), 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 6th (WSH), 7th. With their first round pick being in the latter half of the draft some very good options for the Kraken would be centre Riley Heidt, defence Tom Willander, and defence Oliver Bonk. The Kraken being so new it wouldn’t hurt them to just choose the best prospect left when they draft, however taking a look at their current team and prospects, defence would be a good way to go for the team given their lack in the pipeline so either one of Willander or Bonk would fit nicely in this team.
For more information on the 2023 NHL Draft class be sure to pick up your copy of the comprehensive DraftPro 2023 NHL Draft Guide.
Moving along and away from the east coast we now go back to the west coast and visit the San Jose Sharks, with their inaugural season during the 1991-1992 season the Sharks have been drafting since 1992 and with a little over a 30 years of drafting experience they have had plenty of opportunities to draft players that would help shape their franchise’s history.
When talking about the San Jose Sharks one player that has to be talked about is that of 1997 second overall selection Patrick Marleau. Going in the draft right after Joe Thornton, who would end up being his teammate for many seasons in San Jose, Patrick marleau would turn out to be the longest tenured San Jose Sharks player in their history and he would also turn out to be the one player who broke the all-time games played record which now currently sits at 1,779 games played in the NHL. Marleau had two 80 plus point seasons during his time with the sharks and he helped lead them to the Stanley Cup Final during his time with the club. Marleau was a long time captain of the San Jose Sharks and was their first true star player.
Coming up next is one of the most prolific goal scorers in the history of any American NHL player. Joe Pavelski was drafted in the 7th round 205th overall in the 2003 NHL entry draft by the San Jose Sharks and he made his NHL debut in the 2006-2007 season. Pavelski would play the first 13 years of his career in San Jose where he scored five seasons of 30 plus goals and one season of that he scored his career high of 41 goals. Pavelski was the Sharks first true goal scorer in their franchise’s history. Pavelski would captain the San Jose Sharks as well during his time with the club and would represent the team at multiple All-Star games.
Coming up next we will take a look back at the 2007 draft where the San Jose Sharks held the ninth overall selection and used that pic to select Logan Couture. Making his debut in the 2009-2010 season Couture has been a multiple time 30 plus goal scorer and has reached the 60 plus point plateau five times in his career so far. He is the current captain of the San Jose Sharks and has been with the club for 14 seasons so far. Couture was the Sharks’ number one prospect once drafted and he turned out to be quite the successful pick for the club, he has been consistent throughout his career and has become a fan favourite in San Jose so much so that it would not be hard to believe that once his career has finished he will see his number 39 retired by the San Jose Sharks franchise.
Moving away from fan favourites we will now look towards players who many fans may not have even heard of. We shall first take a look at the 1995 draft where the San Jose Sharks held the 12th pick overall. with this pic the Sharks chose Finnish winger Teemu Riihijarvi. Riihijarvi would continue his career after being drafted in Finland and would never come over to play in North America. After being drafted Riihijarvi would play 11 more seasons before calling it a career, never once playing for the San Jose Sharks. Now this draft was not lined up with a bunch of star-studded players after the 12th overall pick, however there were a multitude of better options for the Sharks to pick at the 12th overall selection. Three examples of better options that they could have picked are Michael Handzus who was chosen in the fourth round 101st overall, he would go on to play 1009 games in the NHL. Another option the Sharks could have picked was Petr Sykora who was chosen with the 18th overall pick, he is a veteran of 1,017 games in the NHL. Finally, a player that could have been picked if they wanted to go on the blue line would have been Stephane Robidas who was drafted 164th overall and ended his career with 937 games played in the NHL.
Moving along we will move only ahead 1 year to the 1996 draft where we saw the San Jose Sharks hold the second overall selection. With that pick the shark selected Russian defenseman Andrei Zyuzin, Zyuzin would go on to play only 81 games for the San Jose Sharks before being traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a mediocre return. now of course when it comes to defenseman you’re not necessarily looking at them to be putting up close to a point per game or even 50 or more points per game in a season, however being that Zyuzin was such a high pick at second overall you would have hoped for more production during his time on the ice, Zyuzin finished his career with San Jose with those 81 games and only scoring 17 points during that time. Just like the 1995 draft there wasn’t an immense amount of star players taken in this draft, however in this case there was one, if you were to take a look back you would find in the third round at pick number 56, exactly one pick after the San Jose Sharks picked in this round at number 55, you would find the New York Islanders drafting Slovakian defenseman Zdeno Chara. Being in need of a defenseman during this time the Sharks would have been much better off doing more due diligence on Chara and potentially drafting him in this draft to help soften the blow that is this second overall pick.
With one more player to take a look at during this part of the article we will go back to the 1992 draft where the San Jose Sharks held two picks in the top 10 of the draft. With their second pick in the top 10 at number 10 they took this opportunity to draft Russian Winger Andrei Nazarov. Nazarov made his NHL debut in the 1993-1994 NHL season playing one game, he would make a more substantial impact in The Following Season playing 26 games while registering eight points. Nazarov would end up being traded in March of 1998 along with a first round pick in the 1998 draft to the Tampa Bay Lightning for two players plus a first round pick in the 1998 draft, which this particular first rounder would again be traded away at the draft. If this original selection of Nazarov was not bad enough already, the extra edition in which he was traded with certainly makes this much worse. This 1998 first round pick that was traded along with Nazarov to Tampa Bay ended up being the first overall selection in that draft in which Tampa Bay used it to select Quebec Center Vincent Lecavalier. Not only did San Jose only get 169 games out of their 10th overall pick but they also lost out on a future number one Centre in Vincent Lecavalier.
Currently in 2023 the San Jose Sharks are in the midst of a rebuild and are looking towards this upcoming draft holding the fourth overall selection in the first round. The Sharks have a total of 12 picks in this upcoming draft, 1st, 1st (NJ), 2nd, 3rd (CAR), 4th, 4th (COL), 5th, 5th (CBJ), 6th, 7th, 7th, (PIT), 7th (VAN). With this mountain of picks San Jose should look to do quite a bit of damage in this draft and help them speed up this rebuild, however when it comes to the fourth overall pick the San Jose Sharks should use this selection to choose the best available player and in particularity to this draft that would be any of the following three players, Matvei Michkov, Will Smith, Leo Carlsson. Any of these three forwards would add significant help on the offensive side for the Sharks and any of these three players could end up potentially being a star player in the NHL allowing the San Jose Sharks to build around this player along with somebody like William Eklund.
For more information on the 2023 NHL Draft class be sure to pick up your copy of the comprehensive DraftPro 2023 NHL Draft Guide.
Staying in the state of Pennsylvania we now move to the steel city, Pittsburgh, the far more successful team in this state in the past fifteen years, Pittsburgh has been one of the luckiest teams in the draft in the past twenty years in terms of talent and it has translated into three Stanley Cups since 2009.
We will first go to the 1984 draft where Pittsburgh drafted one of the greatest players ever. Mario Lemieux was an icon, second to only Gretzky. Lemieux played for the Penguins from 1984 all the way up until 2006, he did Miss time in the late 90s when he was fighting cancer. Mario Lemieux had an illustrious career And only 915 games Mario Lemieux scored over 1700 points His numbers that he put up in his career are unfathomable in today’s age his top three season point totals in his career were 199 points in 1989, 168 points in 1988, and 160 points in 1993. Mario was the captain during the franchises first two Stanley Cup victories and he also captured both of the Conn Smythe trophies, his list of accolades are long, Mario Lemieux has totaled an immense number of 17 individual trophies. Mario Lemieux has six Art Ross trophies for League leader in points during the regular season, he has three Hartt trophies for League MVP, Lemieux also has four Lester B Pearson trophies which are voted on by the NHLPA as best player in the league during the regular season and he has also won the Calder trophy as rookie of the year. This list is unbelievable that it is true and not a made up wikipedia page.
Moving on to another Sensational number one overall pick, we have Sidney Crosby who was taken first overall in 2005 by the Pittsburgh Penguins. It is widely known that Sidney Crosby was a generational player when he came into the league, he scored 102 points in his rookie season and he still did not win the Calder Trophy that year, we will get to the player who did win The Calder Trophy that year a little later down the road in this series. However Crosby is not without accolades both individual and team. Crosby was the captain of three Stanley Cup winning runs with the penguins in which he took two of the Conn Smythe trophies for playoff MVP, Crosby also has two Art Ross trophies, two Hart trophies and three Ted Lindsay trophies to go along with two Rocket Richard two trophies for most goals in the regular season. Crosby has been playing with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2005 and they’re still going strong to this day. He finished this season, his 18th season, with 93 points in 82 games. Crosby is an icon and we’ll go down as one of the greatest players of all time.
Moving on to the third and final player of this part of the article where we discuss some of the franchise’s best ever picks, We now have quite an issue here there are three players in particular who can all end up on this list, those being Jagr, Malkin, and Fleury, they all have tremendous resumes with the Pittsburgh Penguins and all three of these players will go down as one of the best players in league history respectively. one can make a case, a great case, for any of these three players to be on this list, without any one of these three players the Pittsburgh Penguins would not have been as successful franchise as they are today all of these three players will have their jersey numbers retired with the Pittsburgh Penguins once their careers are all set and done and they have retired and all three of these players have left their Mark with the club that will never be forgotten. So who to choose, it really is a tough ordeal when deciding who to select, however for arguments sake i will choose Marc Andre Fleury. Chosen first overall in 2003 Marc Andre Fleury was just what the Penguins needed during that time. Fleury ended up turning out to be a franchise goaltender that was able to help backstop the Pittsburgh Penguins to Stanley Cup victories, during his tenure with the Penguins, Fleury also won 40-plus games in two separate seasons and he also had another six seasons where he won over 30 games. He was as dependable and net as you could ask for during his time with the Penguins, In hockey the toughest position to play is goalie and Marc Andre Fleury made it look easy, almost effortless at times, he was the perfect compliment to the one-two punch of Crosby and Malkin and it showed. Marc Andre Fleury will go down as the greatest Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender of all time and also one of the league’s greatest goalies of all time.
Now moving away from the good we now go to some of the picks that can be categorised as not so good, first off we will start at the 2012 draft where the Penguins held the eighth pick in the draft. With that 8th pick the Penguins chose Portland Winterhawks defenseman Derrick Pouliot. Pouliot would struggle to gain ice time and NHL, during his time with the penguins organisation between 2012 to 2017 Derrick Pouliot played 67 games, And in those 67 games he amassed 14 points. He was subsequently traded away in October of 2017 to the Vancouver Canucks for a very little return. for an eighth overall pick Pouliot did not live up to his potential, since leaving Pittsburgh he has still struggled to maintain season in and season out ice time in the NHL and since leaving Pittsburgh he has played on five different NHL teams most recently with the San Jose Sharks where he slit time in the NHL and AHL.
We will now take a look at when a second overall pick did not go to Pittsburgh Penguins way, in their first ever draft in 1967 the Pittsburgh Penguins held the second overall pick and chose goalie Steve Rexe. Rexe would go on to play no games for the Pittsburgh Penguins and no games in the NHL. After being selected in 1967 Rexe would go on to play in an Ontario Hockey League as well as in the EHL, AHL, and NAHL, before retiring at the end of the 1977 season.
Now coming back into the 21st century we will fast forward all the way back to the 2007 draft where the Pittsburgh Penguins held the 20th overall pick and use that pick to choose Angelo Esposito. Esposito would go on to have a very short tenure with the Pittsburgh Penguins only staying one year in their franchise before being traded away to the Atlanta Thrashers franchise however his career never flourished in North America never getting above the AHL level and after 5 years in North America he took his talents over to Scandinavia and Europe playing in the Finnish Elite League, as well as the Austrian League and the Italian A league.
Moving on to the 2023 Pittsburgh Penguins we see them not making the playoffs for the first time in over 15 years and with that they hold the 14th overall pick in this upcoming NHL entry draft. The Penguins hold a total of six picks in this draft 1st, 3rd (NJ), 5th, 6th, 7th (FLA), 7th (TOR) and this is actually quite good news for the Pittsburgh Penguins as they have one of the worst prospect pipelines out of all the NHL, one of the only downsides to being a Powerhouse for over 15 years, nevertheless the future looks quite bleak for the Pittsburgh Penguins once their big three have all hung up their skates. So the obvious choice for the Penguins when it comes to their 14th overall selection in the NHL entry draft is to choose the best available player, for the Penguins this could mean any of these three potential players, Matthew Wood, Nate Danielson, or Otto Stenberg. All good quality forwards who can amount to being a very good top six player.
For more information on the 2023 NHL Draft class be sure to pick up your copy of the comprehensive DraftPro 2023 NHL Draft Guide.
The 2023 NHL entry draft is getting ever closer to hockey fans, and the excitement fans have for who their teams are going to draft this year is ever higher as the regular seasons across the globe are coming to an end, and playoff season is just around the corner. And there is a lot for fans to be excited for this year, as the draft is looking like one of the strongest in years.
Connor Bedard is looking increasingly like a franchise-level player, rivaling the likes of Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Nathan Mackinnon, Austin Matthews, and Connor McDavid. Adam Fantilli would have been a first-overall pick in arguably the last six drafts, Leo Carlsson is the next big center to come out of Sweden, and he is a must-grab in the top 5. And, of course, there is the Russian sniper: Matvei Michkov, who, despite being signed to the KHL until 2026, is so good that any team picking in the top 5 will be more than willing to wait for the Russian star.
But after the big 4 in this year’s draft, who fills out the remaining slots is always an exciting mystery come draft day. Teams must allocate their scouting resources to best support the organization’s roster on draft day. Who needs the top defensemen? Say, over-the-top sniper or goaltender? That is why we at DraftPro are excited to present an in-depth look at every position and who best thrives in that position. Who is the best sniper? The best power forward? offensive defensemen? Hopefully, after this 8-part series, all these questions will be answered.
Seven DraftPro scouts were asked their top 5-7 players for the following positions: sniper, playmaker, two-way forward, power forward, offensive defenseman, defensive defenseman, two-way defenseman, and goaltender. Their lists were recorded separately, and then once all seven scouts handed in their lists, their results were compared to one another. The final lists you read here determined the average each player placed. This is not a ranking of the best players overall, simply a ranking of who is the best for each given position. Players may be placed on multiple lists, as many players are not one-dimensional, and can not be forced into one category.
Thank you to the following scouts for providing their lists: Jared Brown, Matt Hnatiuk, Tyler Karoway, Andrew LeBlanc, Murray Caldwell, Andy Miller, and Jody Horak.
The last line of defense, the goaltender is the most crucial player on any team in pretty much every sport. I feel the need to just jump into the top ten now because who doesn’t know what a goalie is? If this is the first time you are hearing about sports, then the goalie is the guy who protects the net. In hockey, the net is pretty small, and the goalies tend to be very big. This sounds easy, but they do have frozen rocks being shot at them at 100mph, so it evens out.
There will only be one list for the goaltenders, a total summary of the 10 best goalies in the 2023 NHL Draft Class. If you want to know who were the three best ‘high and low coverage’ goalies, ‘battler/second chance’ goalies, and ‘positional’ goalies, check out our “Best in Class” article, accessible in our Draft Preview Magazine!
First, our honorable mentions: Noah Vali, Daniel Hauser, and Thomas Milic.
Carsen Musser, College of Colorado, NCAA, #137-157 overall (5th Round).
“Extremely quick and mobile down low, has great agility, excellent hockey senses, and can communicate with teammates. Has strong arms that can propel pucks up boards or out for passes. Very mobile moving across the crease, and recovery is amazing for a big guy.” – Murray Caldwell.
Starting off our list of goaltenders, we have Carsen Musser, 6’4″ and over 210 lbs! And as Caldwell mentioned, Musser is not held back by speed whatsoever. While his stats leave something to be admired, his win-loss records are pretty good. He has all the tools to succeed, so he can’t be dismissed by poor stats alone. A fine goalie to invest in.
Rhett Stoesser, Red Deer Rebels, WHL, #155-175 overall (5th-6th Round)
“Quick pad reflexes, foot speed, excellent recovery, gets square to shooters after making a save, plays with poise at the top of the blue, confidence to hold his ground, makes key saves, controls movement on laterals, lets the puck come to him, absorbs puck to the body, deflects pucks out of play, redirects pucks to teammates, stops pucks behind the net, has a strong stick, and he can pass.” – Murray Caldwell.
This may surprise some, as Stoesser is ranked pretty low in the rankings, but Stoesser received a lot of love from our scouts. Particularly Murray Caldwell and Tyler Karoway. And when looking at him objectively, he does offer a lot. He’s also 6’3”, which is always a good sign for a goalie, meaning he doesn’t come with many downsides. His only real downside is that he is not quite a high-caliber goalie as of right now. But as Murray has shown, Stoesser has a high ceiling, making him a potentially significant investment for teams picking in the later rounds and a hidden gem in this draft.
“Shows potential to be one of the biggest steals late in this draft. As one of the youngest players, Zavragin shows incredible maturity and poise between the pipes.” – Andrew LeBlanc.
Standing at the well-preferred height of 6’2″, Zavragin has great stats in the Russian AAA leagues, and his stats in the MHL are just as good. If LeBlanc’s analysis is accurate, and Zavragin has excellent poise for a young player, then that is a quality that should carry around tons of excitement. Goalies who can keep themselves calm and keep themselves in a healthy mindset will do leaps and bounds better than all the others. Mental clarity is where it is at for goaltenders, so Zavragin’s early developments are intriguing, to say the least.
Thomas Suchanek, Tri-City Americans, WHL, #93-113 overall (3rd-4th Round).
“Such an athletically quick goalie who is fast to get over side-to-side. He battles hard in his crease, and his quick hands and legs allow him to come up with some big saves when it would’ve appeared that he was down and out.” – Jared Brown.
One just needs to see Suchanek’s highlights at World Juniors to see why he is so fun to watch. Regarding pure talent, Suchanek is one of the best in the draft. This talent sprouted late, however, or perhaps scouts are just waking up to this kid’s skill because he is a bit older than the others on this list at 19 years old. More senior players will always be overlooked in the draft rankings, but sometimes they are just so good that they can no longer be denied. And that is precisely the case we have with Suchanek.
Jacob Fowler, Boston College, NCAA, #114-134 overall (4th-5th Round).
“He makes himself big and takes away a lot of net. He controls rebounds and has an excellent glove hand.” – Jody Horak.
Having a 27-9-3 record with the Youngstown Phantoms this season, Fowler is undoubtedly a good goalie. He has yet to play a single season in his entire career with a save percentage of under .920. These are great stats, and Fowler also holds himself well in high-pressure situations. So far in his career, he doesn’t bring up many downsides. It’s telling just how underrated the goalies are this year if a guy like Fowler can’t crack the top 5.
Scott Ratzlaff, Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL, #91-101 overall (3rd-4th Round).
“A goaltender who has been hot and cold this year. His puck tracking seems to be his biggest hit-or-miss skill. When he’s on, he’s on, and when he’s not, wow. His positioning is often very good, and he is very capable of moving himself quickly into a position to make key saves. He’s a goaltender that may be a bit of a project or a handful of years away from becoming an NHLer, but he has all of the tools in his kit to become someone we see on a consistent basis.” – Matt Hnatiuk.
Playing on such a dominant team in the WHL right now, it’s fair to say Ratzlaff is a big reason for the Thunderbird’s success. He also absolutely dominated in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2022, where he put up almost a .980 save percentage in 4 games. He undoubtedly has potential, loads of it, but right now, he seems to be remaining on the junior level. That awkward stage of not being ready for AHL-level play but being too good in the CHL. By next year, he will likely be going far with Seattle again, and we will see just how much he can grow and develop in one year’s time.
Adam Gajan, University of Minnesota-Duluth, NCAA, #66-76 overall (3rd Round).
“Athletic, agile goaltender who excels playing the butterfly style and has great reflexes and flexibility.” – Jody Horak.
Another tall goalie, Gajan, stands at 6’4″ and weighs a little over 170 lbs. His lighter weight allows him to coast around the net easily, which makes him a highly effective goalie. If one can master the butterfly technique and couple it with good skating and reflexes, you pretty much have a top goaltender right there. He has played throughout Europe and America and plans to settle in the NCAA until he is ready for NHL/AHL action. Right now, Gajan’s only downside is his one-dimensional play, at least considered one-dimensional compared to others on this list. But as he grows and develops, he will likely find the confidence to spread his wings and develop new techniques. But right now, his size and speed will still bring him much success.
Michael Hrabal, Omaha Lancers, USHL, #65-75 overall (3rd Round).
“Hrabal is a huge goaltender that struggled to start the season. However, he has turned it on as of late, and while his numbers may not look the best, his peripherals show he’s a top-tier goaltender.” – Andrew LeBlanc.
Yeah, he is a huge goaltender, as he currently stands at 6’6″. That easily makes him the biggest player on this list, maybe the biggest player overall in the draft. But size isn’t everything, which Hrabal sadly proved at the start of this season, as LeBlanc mentions. But one only needs to see his performance at the World Juniors, where he put up a respectable .920 save percentage despite being on a losing team. Hrabal was mentioned by practically all of our scouts, and he is undoubtedly a top 5 goalie in this draft. It will be interesting to see Hrabal develop and witness how he will utilize his size in his developing play style.
Trey Augustine, Michigan State University, NCAA, #52-62 overall (2nd Round).
“He is a very focused goaltender who is a calming influence on his team. Augustine skates well and does not move excessively, and he has very good vision on the ice. He is one of the top two goaltenders available in this draft.” – Andy Miller.
Positioning and vision are the names of the game for Augustine. Augustine has one of the best heads on him and arguably the best poise out of all the goaltenders. I mentioned earlier just how important poise is for goalies, so Augustine’s bountiful amount of it makes him intriguing for all scouts. Out of the 9 World Juniors games he had this year, he went 9 and 1. For Augustine, stats like save percentage and goals against average are not so telling of who he is as a player compared to his wins, just how many wins he has, and his consistently good win/loss record. He plays to win and is one of the most technically sound goalies in the draft. It was closer than one would expect as to where Augustine would place on this list, as he was such a reliable goalie that he was almost placed #1, but one goalie offers a little more…
“A skilled goaltender who has been at or near the top of the rankings (for goalies) all season long. His ability to read plays, be in the right position and make key saves for his team is always very noticeable. He has excellent movement and always seems to have himself right where he needs to be each time.” – Matt Hnatiuk.
It’s a close call between Bjarnason and Augustine, but Bjarnason offers a little more razzle-dazzle. What does that? Well, Bjarnason is a bit more athletic, faster, and tenacious while still having excellent vision and positioning. Augustine’s positioning is better, which is a significant factor in determining a goalie’s efficiency, but Bjarnason’s positioning is not bad enough. In fact, it’s not bad at all. Bjarnason is the goalie to grab this year, as he offers just too much pure skill. Out of the six scouts who voted on the best goaltender: 4 voted him as the #1 goalie, 1 voted him #2, and 1 voted him #3. So it’s fair to say there is a solid consensus on Bjarnason’s place at the #1 spot. It’s going to be scary to imagine this guy as a seasoned goalie in the NHL. Everything skill he has dictates he will be a long-lasting centerpiece for the NHL for years to come. But for now, Carson Bjarnason of the Brandon Wheat Kings can say he is the best goaltender in the 2023 NHL draft class.
For more information on the 2023 NHL Draft class be sure to pick up your copy of the comprehensive DraftPro 2023 NHL Draft Guide.
