First Round Mock Draft: Part Two (20-11)
June 24th 2023
Alex Rickman
Picking up where we left off, the 2023 draft class is stocked to the brim with high-end talent in every position. In this section of the mock draft, teams that were sent packing early in the playoffs or just barely missed out will select their newest top prospects.
Pick 20, Seattle Kraken- Gabe Perrault, RW, USA U18
With the centre position in good hands going forward in Seattle thanks to Matty Beniers and Shane Wright, the Kraken may look to give their young centres some support on the wing. In drafting Gabe Perrault, Seattle would be adding an elite playmaking winger, known for his stickhandling, power-play production, and intelligence, among a host of other skills. Partnering Perrault with one of Wright or Beniers could create an excellent one-two punch of young players high up the Kraken’s lineup, and Perrault’s ability on the power play could make playing Seattle a nightmare for defences across the NHL.
Pick 19, Chicago Blackhawks- Colby Barlow, LW, Owen Sound Attack
The Blackhawks are really in need of everything in their organization, but adding a power forward like Barlow who could one day provide support from the wing for Connor Bedard would be a wise use of the 19th pick of the draft. Barlow, who served as the captain of the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack, is an elite scorer at the junior level and is an excellent competitor and leader. While Barlow may not be the finest skater on the planet, it hasn’t hindered his ability to produce in the OHL, where he scored 46 goals in 59 games this past season. Should Barlow hit on his potential, the Blackhawks may well have a future 30-goal scoring power forward on their hands.
Pick 18, Winnipeg Jets- Tom Willander, D, Rögle BK
Willander has been rapidly rising up draft boards as of late, and it’s not hard to see why. Willander’s mobility and 2-way play combined with his solid frame (6’1, 180 lbs), in addition to his shrewd defensive and transitional play, give him all the tools necessary to become a very effective defenceman in the NHL. The general consensus with Willander is that he’s a very safe pick to become a top 4 defensive defenceman, but if his offensive game comes along his ceiling will be even higher than this. The Jets are likely to begin a rebuild after a disappointing playoff exit against the now-champion Vegas Golden Knights, and adding Willander would be a great way to start this rebuild on the right foot.
Pick 17, Detroit Red Wings- Otto Stenberg, C, Frölunda HC
After picking up a player to bolster their blue line with the 9th overall pick, the Red Wings will likely look to add a centre to their ranks at 17. Stenberg will give them a dynamic 2-way player whose vision and hockey IQ combined with a deadly shot give him the potential to be a major difference-maker at the NHL level. Stenberg is comfortable playing at centre or as a winger, and this versatility will also make him an intriguing asset to many teams on June 28th. The Red Wings currently have some Swedish players playing important roles in their lineup, and with the addition of Stenberg they’ll hope to add even more Swedish talent to their roster.
Pick 16, Calgary Flames- Andrew Cristall, LW, Kelowna Rockets
Under Daryl Sutter, it would be a surprise to see the Flames select a small, skill-based winger like Cristall with a high draft pick, but with a new era on the horizon in Calgary, whoever their new coach may be could be more appreciative of the talent Andrew Cristall has. Cristall’s hands and playmaking abilities are his bread and butter, and after the departure of Johnny Gaudreau last offseason, the Flames could look to select a player like Cristall to fill that void in their roster. After posting 95 points in 54 games this past season with the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets, Cristall has shown what he can do on offence at the junior level. If that can translate to the NHL, the Flames could have a great piece for the future on their hands.
Pick 15, Nashville Predators- Eduard Šalé, LW, Brno
It’s unclear what direction Nashville will look to take their team in under the guidance of new GM Barry Trotz, but adding a skillful, intelligent winger like Šalé would be a great first step towards creating a dynamic offence. Šalé’s attention to detail and hockey IQ will make him a coach's dream in the NHL, and with a former coach like Trotz at the wheel in Nashville coachability could well be a major factor in who they end up selecting. As for his on-ice play, Šalé has the tools to become an offensive weapon in the NHL, with a fantastic shot, great playmaking skills and hands, and the intelligence to outthink his opponents in key situations. It’s not clear what the future holds for the Nashville Predators, but they’ll be in a better position for wherever the future may take them with a player like Šalé in their ranks.
Pick 14, Pittsburgh Penguins- Brayden Yager, C, Moose Jaw Warriors
With their first selection of the Kyle Dubas era in Pittsburgh, the Penguins could be wise to take a centre who could one day try to take up one of the roster spots occupied by ageing veterans Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. While reaching the heights that those 2 reached is an incredibly tall order for any prospect, a dynamic offensive player like Yager seems capable of comfortably slotting into a role high up the lineup should the team that drafts him put in the effort to develop him. Yager’s shot and playmaking ability, as well as his strong 2-way game, will make him an intriguing prospect to many teams across the league. Pittsburgh will need to start thinking of the future to make sure the cupboards are well-stocked for when they lose their older players like Crosby, Malkin, and Kris Letang, and Yager would make an excellent first piece of the puzzle.
Pick 13, Buffalo Sabres- Matthew Wood, LW, University of Connecticut
While Wood was the youngest player in the NCAA this past season, you’d never know it by looking at what he did. Wood lead his team in both goals and assists, posting 34 points in his 35 games, and possesses a shot that can do damage at the NHL level. Wood also has the size that many NHL executives like to see in a player, standing at 6’4 and weighing 195 lbs. While Wood’s skating isn’t excellent, although it isn’t bad either, and his defensive game could use some work, these are both skills that can more or less be taught and may come around in time with good coaching. Should Buffalo call Matthew Wood’s name on June 28th, they’ll add a potential top sniper of the future to their organization.
Pick 12, Arizona Coyotes- Nate Danielson, C, Brandon Wheat Kings
With 2 picks in the early goings of the draft, Arizona may opt to use the 6th overall pick on a high-risk high-reward pickup and the 12th overall on a safer pick, and no available player fits the bill better than Nate Danielson. Danielson plays a very complete game, known for his high hockey IQ and defensive play in addition to being a great offensive play driver. Danielson has been described by some as one of the safest bets in this draft to have a long career in the NHL, and his steady, well-balanced style of play has been compared to that of Seattle Kraken forward Yanni Gourde, although Danielson has quite a size advantage over Gourde. Arizona are really in need of help all across the board, so their picks could go a variety of ways, but adding a solid centre for the future like Danielson will never be a bad idea.
Pick 11, Vancouver Canucks- David Reinbacher, D, EHC Kloten
With this pick, Vancouver would be adding the piece they’ve truly lacked since losing Chris Tanev; a legitimate top 4 RHD to partner with Quinn Hughes. While players like Luke Schenn and Ethan Bear have been passable when partnered with Hughes, and the addition of Filip Hronek has given them some support on the right side, there isn’t a player in the Canucks organization who seems a natural fit on the top pair with Quinn Hughes. Reinbacher’s blend of defensive instincts and physicality give him all the makings of a perfect partner for the small but offensively gifted Hughes, and could finally see the Canucks defence become a position of strength rather than a weakness. As it stands, this will be the Canucks only pick in the first 2 rounds of the draft, so it will be critical to the future of the organization for the Canucks to get this pick right.