June 27th 2023
Alex Rickman
We've reached the end of our 2023 first-round mock draft, and while the first overall pick is a no-brainer, the next nine teams are left with a tough decision depending on each GM's vision for the future and the team's positional needs.
Entering rebuild mode, the Blues will likely just look to take the best player available to begin rebuilding their prospect pool, and as it stands, Ryan Leonard may just be that player. He may not be the biggest player in the world, but Leonard isn’t afraid to get physical and be in your face. With his aggressive forechecking and astute defensive play, Leonard has the tools necessary to become an effective power forward in the NHL, and this profile sets him up to be an appealing prospect to many teams at the draft. On the back of a stellar U18 World Championship campaign, which saw Leonard score 8 goals and 17 points in 7 games en route to a gold medal with the USA, Leonard has shown the potential he has, and if he can reach his full potential he could be a major thorn in the sides of the Blues opponents.
While David Reinbacher is ranked as the top defenceman on many draft boards, a player like Sandin-Pellikka may appeal to Steve Yzerman and the Red Wings, especially after sending puck-moving, right-shot defenceman Filip Hronek to Vancouver earlier this year. Detroit may have young defencemen like Mo Seider and Simon Edvinsson in their organization, but neither of these players has the offensive upside that ASP possesses, and a left-shot defenceman like Edvinsson could make a good partner for Sandin-Pellikka long-term. The Wings may also look to add to their forward group by taking a player like Ryan Leonard, Matthew Wood, or Colby Barlow, among a host of others, but if they decide to add to their defence, Sandin-Pellikka makes sense based on what they have.
Washington could opt to trade this pick if they want to push for the playoffs in the final years of the careers of some of their older stars, but the responsible move for their future would be to select a player that these veterans can pass the torch to when they ride off into the sunset. There are a few ways they could go here, but taking a centre like Oliver Moore could be the best move for their future. It’s unclear when Nicklas Backstrom may come back to the Capitals, or what kind of a player he may be when he returns, so drafting a player like Moore, known for creativity and playmaking, gives them a guy who could fit a similar role to Backstrom’s in the future. Washington could opt to add another winger or a blueliner to try and sturdy up other areas, but if they feel that replacing Backstrom long-term is a top priority, Moore could be the way to go.
After years of Chuck Fletcher mortgaging the future for no real gain, the Flyers desperately need to restock the cupboards in almost every position, and adding a gifted young centre like Dvorsky would be a good first step in the regime's quest to give Flyers fans hope. Dvorsky’s offensive game, his shot especially, is top-notch, and this was on full display when he posted 13 points in 7 games representing Slovakia at the U18 World Championship. I could see the Flyers opting to go a variety of ways with this pick, including possibly opting for a winger or defenceman rather than a centre, but if they do go centre then Dvorsky could be a valuable player to them for years to come.
The Arizona Coyotes have a multitude of picks in the top 60 of this draft, so they can afford to make a high-risk high-reward selection, and nobody in this draft class fits that bill better than Matvei Michkov. At one point projected to be the 2nd overall pick behind Connor Bedard, a few factors, including his KHL contract, his lack of size, and rumours of attitude issues have seen Michkov drop down draft boards, including some publications now having him fall outside the top 10. While it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Michkov drop to the middle of the 1st round, I can see the Arizona Coyotes deciding to throw caution to the wind and hope that their organizational culture can help soothe his potential attitude issues and ensure he does choose to leave Russia for the NHL. If Michkov does hit on his potential, the sky’s the limit for the young winger.
Montreal could look to use this pick a few different ways, but Zach Benson could prove to be a very wise pick for the Habs. While Benson, like some of Montreal’s current key players, isn’t the biggest player in the world, his unique blend of intelligence and skill will have teams chomping at the bit to add him. The Langley, BC native posted an impressive 36 goals and 98 points in 68 WHL games this past season, and could potentially form a lethal line one day if partnered with a player like Nick Suzuki or Cole Caufield. Size may be something of a concern, especially with neither Suzuki nor Caufield being especially big themselves, but the risk may well be worth the reward in this case.
Smith’s combination of speed and hands paired with his decent frame will make him an appealing option to any team, and a Sharks team desperately in need of prospects in just about every position should jump on the opportunity to add the Massachusetts native to their ranks. Committed to Boston College for next year, Smith shined this past season representing Team USA in a variety of competitions, including putting up 20 points in 7 games at the World Juniors. A team in the Sharks' position should absolutely be focused on just taking the best player available, and in this scenario, Will Smith would be the best player available.
Set to potentially join forces with Canucks prospect Jonathan Lekkerimäki should he return to the SHL next season, Carlsson has all the makings of a potential top-line centre for years to come. Carlsson’s hockey IQ and 2-way play are what really make him stand out, which is a rarity for a player of his age, and 6’3 and 195 lbs at 18 he possesses the frame one would traditionally expect a centre to have. While he may lack the flash that some other prospects bring to the table, Carlsson has the tools to make an elite 2-way centre in the NHL, and that should be enough for the Blue Jackets, who already have Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine to give them that flair.
In any other year, Fantilli would be the clear favourite to be taken first overall, but thanks to Connor Bedard, Fantilli will fall into the lap of the Anaheim Ducks. Alongside Trevor Zegras and Mason McTavish, Fantilli will give the Ducks a top-class trio of young centres to work with, possibly enabling them to put Zegras on the wing for one of McTavish or Fantilli. While the Ducks may not be ready to contend yet, adding a player of Fantilli’s calibre to their already-loaded prospect pool will only make the future brighter in Southern California.
The best prospect to hit the NHL draft since Auston Matthews potentially, picking Bedard is a no-brainer for Kyle Davidson and the Blackhawks. Bedard has the potential to be among the best players in the NHL if he hits his potential, and is an absolute can’t-miss for a team with the first overall pick. The Blackhawks will have a franchise cornerstone for years to come in Bedard and will hope that he can lead them back to the heights they hit in the prime years of Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane’s careers.