Almost all of the draft positions in the 2023 NHL Draft have been finalized, and Connor Bedard is likely bound for the Windy City.
The Blackhawks won the 2023 NHL Draft lottery, receiving the No. 1 pick in this summer's class. Barring a catastrophic, fireable-worthy decision, Bedard will be joining the Original Six franchise in the fall.
Despite both the Ducks and Blue Jackets owning a higher chance at landing the stud 2023 prospect, the Blackhawks came away with the first pick in the draft. The club gets a chance to replace Patrick Kane and possibly Jonathan Toews right when their storied Chicago careers might have ended.
Don't worry Anaheim and Columbus fans. This draft class is overflowing with elite talent and while no one can compare to Bedard, there are still franchise-changing players available in the first five or so selections.
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With the draft lottery in the rearview, The Sporting News presents its 2023 NHL Mock Draft 3.0.
The Sporting News 2023 NHL Mock Draft 3.0
The first 16 picks of the NHL draft were solidified at the draft lottery. Barring a trade, the teams that pick Nos. 1-16 are locked into their spots.
With the first two rounds of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs concluded, the Nos. 17-28 slots are also finalized. The last four picks will be determined by the results of the conference finals and Stanley Cup Final.
As mentioned, there were a multitude of trades involving first-round picks at the 2023 trade deadline. As a result, the Canadiens, Coyotes, Red Wings, Predators, Blackhawks, Flyers and Sharks all have two selections in the first round, and the Blues own three.
The Senators, Islanders, Oilers, Lightning, Kings, Devils, Stars and Bruins all traded away their first-round draft picks and don't have a selection within the first 32 spots.
1. Chicago Blackhawks: Connor Bedard, C, Regina (WHL)
At the end of one era starts another. With the Blackhawks winning the draft lottery, Chicago gets its next superstar in Bedard. Between his historic World Juniors performance and his dominance in the WHL, there's no denying who's going No. 1 this year. The Blackhawks don't have much besides Seth Jones, but Chicago has its centerpiece going forward.
2. Anaheim Ducks: Adam Fantilli, C, Michigan (NCAA)
The Ducks held the highest odds at landing the No. 1 pick, but Anaheim lost the lottery and will pick second. Fantilli is an excellent consolation prize. The University of Michigan product led all NCAA skaters in points, averaging just under two points per game, and finished tied for first in goal. The 2023 Hobey Baker winner joins a young Ducks core of Trevor Zegras, Troy Terry, Mason McTavish, Jamie Drysdale and Olen Zellweger.
MORE: Who will be selected No. 2 in the 2023 NHL Draft?
3. Columbus Blue Jackets: Leo Carlsson, C, Örebro HK (SHL)
Blue Jackets fans can stop dreaming of a top line of Johnny Gaudreau, Patrik Laine and Bedard and start thinking about Carlsson centering the two star wings. The Swedish center is big, he's skilled and he's got speed to pair. Carlsson is a talented playmaker that carries a high hockey IQ. He makes a lot of plays look effortless and never seems to be phased, no matter the competition. He's a great get for Columbus.
4. San Jose Sharks: Matvei Michkov, RW, HK Sochi (KHL)
I could have seen Michkov falling out of the top four, but not with the Sharks selecting at No. 4. San Jose hasn't shied away from adding Russian players to the organization, plus the club used their first two picks last year on centers. Michkov is signed with SKA until the 2025-26 season, which is why some experts and scouts feel he could drop in the draft. The Russian winger is a bit undersized, but he is overflowing with elite skill. He's been a consistent producer no matter where he has played.
5. Montreal Canadiens: Will Smith, C, USA U18 (USHL)
No one has risen as far up draft boards over the back half of the season as Smith has. He is one of the most versatile players in the draft, and the USA U18 product owns one of the silkiest pairs of mitts you will find. He dominates in tight areas with his crafty hands and is a creative playmaker. If Smith is still on the board at No. 5, it's an easy decision for the Habs.
6. Arizona Coyotes: Zach Benson, LW, Winnipeg (WHL)
For the second consecutive season, the Coyotes use a first-round pick on a Winnipeg Ice member. Arizona takes Benson at No. 6, the linemate of Coyotes 2022 first-round pick Conor Geekie. Benson is a winger that carries a high hockey IQ and is a threat both to shoot and pass with efficiency. No one knows better than the Arizona scouting department that Benson doesn't just rely on his talented teammates; he's the main catalyst behind their offense.
7. Philadelphia Flyers: Dalibor Dvorsky, C, AIK (HockeyAllsvenskan)
The Flyers desperately need a future No. 1 center, especially after going with Cutter Gauthier, a wing, at No. 5 in 2022. They get a center this year in Dvorsky. Last year felt like the start of a serious Slovak movement in the NHL, and once again, the country has a top-10 prospect this year. The center brings a strong, well-rounded game and the Flyers would be smart to snag Dvorsky.
8. Washington Capitals: David Reinbacher, D, Kloten (Swiss National League)
Reinbacher may have entered the 2022-23 season as a fairly unknown prospect, but there's now a strong chance he's the first defenseman off the board in 2023. The Austrian was one of the lone bright spots for his country at the 2023 World Juniors. He's a steady, two-way blue liner who has already shown he can eat up minutes. The Capitals need defensive prospects, so it may come as a reach at No. 8, but Reinbacher is one of the top two defensemen in this draft.
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9. Detroit Red Wings: Eduard Sale, RW, HC Kometa Brno (Czech Extraliga)
The Red Wings inject some more offensive power into their prospect system with the selection of Sale. The Czech winger's play has some consistency concerns, but when Sale is on, he's on. He's an all-offensive threat with a knack for playmaking and scoring. Detroit has a recent history of using first-round picks on Europeans (Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond, Simon Edvinsson, Marco Kasper) and that trend stays alive in 2023.
10. St. Louis Blues: Oliver Moore, C, USA U18 (USHL)
If a team needs a center that can forecheck hard and play at an elite level in his own zone, then Moore is your guy. The Blues add the hard-nosed University of Minnesota commit with the 10th pick. He has a great motor and utilizes his speed all over the ice. Imagine pairing Moore with a speedster like Jordan Kyrou in St. Louis.
11. Vancouver Canucks: Ryan Leonard, RW, USA U18 (USHL)
One of a number of prospects from the national program, Leonard, the brother of current Predator John Leonard, did the dirty work on a line with the skilled Smith and Gabe Perreault. He gets to the front of the net to wreak havoc in the crease and also has a strong shot that can beat goalies from distance. Vancouver can use a versatile option like Leonard in its lineup.
12. Arizona Coyotes (from Ottawa Senators): Axel Sandin Pellikka, D, Skelleftea (SHL)
The Coyotes don't have much coming through the system on the back end. Similarly to Reinbacher at No. 8, Sandin Pellikka is a bit of a reach at No. 12, but Arizona can take the risk with its second pick in the first round. The Swedish defenseman has shot up draft boards and is considered to be one of the top blueliners at the draft. He's mobile and has the makings of a potential power play quarterback in the NHL.
13. Buffalo Sabres: Matthew Wood, RW, UConn (NCAA)
Buffalo picked three smaller, skilled forwards in the first round of last year, so the club switches gears and goes with Wood this year. He's a big power forward that has high-end scoring ability and skill, despite standing at 6-3. It may take a bit for Wood to develop, but that's fine with the Sabres, who are overflowing with promising prospects and don't need Wood to immediately hit. Plus, UConn products have worked out pretty well for Buffalo recently (Tage Thompson, anyone?).
14. Pittsburgh Penguins: Calum Ritchie, C, Oshawa (OHL)
Eventually, the Penguins are going to need to replace Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin down the middle. Enter Ritchie. Pittsburgh hasn't had a pick in the top half of the first round since 2012, and use the selection on the center from the Oshawa Generals. Ritchie's appeal is his build, he stands at 6-2 as a center. He is more than capable of making an impact as both a scorer and a passer and is reliable in all three zones.
15. Nashville Predators: Brayden Yager, C, Moose Jaw (WHL)
Yager's stock has dropped over the last few months of the season, and the Predators take advantage, nabbing him at No. 15. The versatile center plays a strong two-way game and has one of the best shots of the draft. His release is quick, the puck gets on goaltenders at a high speed and most importantly, it's accurate.
16. Calgary Flames: Gabe Perreault, LW, USA U18 (USHL)
The third member of the USNTDP U18's dynamic top line comes off the board at No. 16, as the Flames select the dynamic Perreault. He's a point-producing machine, leading the U18 national team in scoring this season. Perreault is constantly creating offensive chances, whether that's by himself and creating space, or finding his teammates.
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17. Detroit Red Wings (from New York Islanders): Nate Danielson, C, Brandon (WHL)
It feels like Danielson does everything well. He plays a smart, two-way game and can be deployed in all situations. Danielson has a keen eye to read plays and get in position to make a play before it's developed. Detroit took a scoring wing in Sale at No. 9, but get a safer pick in Danielson to round out their offense.
18. Winnipeg Jets: Mikhail Gulyayev, D, Omskie Yastreby (MHL)
Winnipeg has used its last four first-round picks on forwards, so the Jets go to the blue line in 2023. Gulyayev is one of the top Russian prospects in this class, profiling as a smooth distributor of the puck. The Jets don't generate a ton of offense from the back end, and adding someone like Gulyayev could eventually help open up the offense more.
19. Chicago Blackhawks (from Tampa Bay Lightning): Andrew Cristall, LW, Kelowna (WHL)
Cristall is all over draft boards and while I think there is the potential for him to be a top-10 pick, he hasn't raised his stick like others have. As a result, the Blackhawks reunite him with Bedard, his childhood friend from North Vancouver. Cristall is crafty and willing to try different things in 1 on 1 coverage. Chicago is going to need talented wingers to pair eventually with Bedard, why not someone who already has chemistry with the top pick?
20. Seattle Kraken: Lukas Dragicevic, D, Tri-City (WHL)
The Kraken went heavy on forwards in 2022, so they use their first pick in 2023 on a defenseman. Dragicevic is always looking to create offense from the back end, whether that be by jumping up in the rush or creeping down low from the point. There aren't a ton of defensive prospects in Seattle systems, so it gets a boost with Dragicevic.
21. Minnesota Wild: Colby Barlow, RW, Owen Sound (OHL)
There's a strong argument to be made that no one has drafted better in recent years than the Wild, and they take another great selection in Barlow. The winger is a natural goal scorer whose speed stands out the most. I think with teams making runs on defensemen, some forwards like Barlow are going to fall lower than expected, which is why he's still available for Minnesota at No. 22.
22. Philadelphia Flyers (from Los Angeles Kings via Columbus Blue Jackets): Samuel Honzek, LW, Vancouver (WHL)
After selecting Dvorsky at No. 7, the Flyers bring in a promising, young Slovak talent in Honzek. The Vancouver Giant may have gone higher if not for a leg injury keeping him out for two months, but Philadelphia can take advantage and snag him in the middle of the second round. He's a well-rounded prospect that does a lot of little things right. The Flyers need any and all high-end forward draft picks.
23. New York Rangers: Riley Heidt, C, Prince George (WHL)
The Rangers hung onto this year's first-round pick and get rewarded with their selection of Heidt. He's a premier playmaker, who is always looking for an open teammate rather than holding on for a shot. New York hasn't taken a natural center in the first round since 2017, but that trend changes in 2023.
24. Nashville Predators (from Edmonton Oilers): Dmitri Simashev, D, Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)
After securing Yager at No. 15, the Predators go defense at No. 25 and select Simashev. The Russian defenseman has size to him at 6-4 and can cover a ton of ice. He's mobile for his height and has shown flashes of offensive potential. But he projects out more to be a physical, stingy defender, which the Oilers need to replace after trading away Mattias Ekholm.
25. St. Louis Blues (from Toronto Maple Leafs): Tanner Molendyk, D, Saskatoon (WHL)
After selecting Moore in the top 10, St. Louis takes Moldendyk here with the second of three selections in the first rounds. The Saskatoon Blades blue liner is an extremely fluid defenseman. His elite skating abilities allow him to be a threat in the transition game, and he also uses it to his advantage when gapping up on opponents. The Blues can use another mobile defenseman in its organization.
26. San Jose Sharks (from New Jersey Devils): Quentin Musty, LW, Sudbury (OHL)
The Sharks add an intriguing prospect in Musty after the Michkov pick at No. 4. The winger plays hard, as he's not afraid to throw the body around on the forecheck and muck it up in front of the net. But he also can beat defenders one-on-one with skill. I thought Musty was going to shoot up draft boards at the beginning of the year, but he didn't quite explode in his draft year as expected.
27. Colorado Avalanche: Daniil But, LW, Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)
I mentioned Wood earlier as a winger with size and skill. There's a Russian version of that in this draft class and it's But. The intriguing forward is 6-5 and over 200 pounds already. His shot is what scouts are drawn to, but he is also a force along the boards and down low. But needs to work on his skating, but the Avalanche, who have a barren prospect pool, can add a high-ceiling player like the Russian.
28. Toronto Maple Leafs (from Boston Bruins): Otto Stenberg, C, Frolunda (J20 Nationell)
Stenberg has yo-yoed in his draft year. At one point, he was seen as the second-best Swedish prospect behind Carlsson, but a so-so 2022-23 campaign has caused scouts to pump the brakes a bit. He's a crafty stickhandler with an accurate shot. Stenberg is a smooth skater who has a knack for creating space for himself. The Leafs don't have many prospects down the middle and can use this year's first-rounder that they acquired from the Bruins on him.
29. St. Louis Blues (from Dallas Stars): Jayden Perron, RW, Chicago (USHL)
Last year, the Blackhawks and Coyotes both reached with their third selections of the first round to draft projects, and I think the Blues follow a similar path by drafting Perron. The North Dakota commit has entered into the first-round conversation and makes perfect sense for the Blues to take with their final first-round pick. He's a smart, shifty player that can make defenders miss.
30. Carolina Hurricanes: Koehn Zimmer, RW, Prince George (WHL)
The Hurricanes need to add a scorer to its organization. Zimmer is a great fit for that role. He loves to shoot the puck, and when he does, he can let it fly. The Prince George winger also can play physically and as an older player out of the group, has flexed his strength when needed.
31. Montreal Canadiens (from Florida Panthers): Gavin Brindley, C, Michigan (NCAA)
Montreal goes with another American forward, taking Brindley after the Smith selection in the top-five. Brindley is versatile as he can play both center and wing, which certainly bodes well for him finding a spot on the Habs' roster. Brindley's intelligence at both ends of the ice is what makes him stand out among his peers. He's got the skill to produce in the top-six, however, he's also proven he can be an effective player in a bottom-six role.
32. Vegas Golden Knights: Gracyn Sawchyn, C, Seattle (WHL)
The Golden Knights traded (another) first-round pick when they dealt center Zack Dean to the Blues at the deadline, so once again, Vegas needs to re-vamped the prospect pool. Sawchyn has entered into the first-round conversation after a productive season with Seattle. He has a high motor and makes smart plays all over the ice, showcasing his reliability in all three zones.
When is the 2023 NHL Draft?
- Day 1 date: Wednesday, June 28
- Day 1 start time: TBD
- Day 2 date: Thursday, June 29
- Day 2 start time: TBD
The 2023 NHL Draft will span two days. The first round will take place Wednesday, June 28, with representatives from all 32 teams in Nashville.
On Thursday, June 29, the picks in Rounds 2-7 will be made.
Where is the 2023 NHL Draft?
- Venue: Bridgestone Arena
- City: Nashville, Tenn.
Bridgestone Arena, home of the Predators, will be the location of the 2023 NHL Draft.
This is the second time that Nashville will host a draft. The city was the site of the 2003 draft.
Complete list of No. 1 overall picks in NHL history
No team has had more No. 1 overall picks than the Canadiens. Picking first isn't always easy and many teams have failed to identify the best player in the draft while picking first.
Here's a list of every No. 1 overall pick in NHL Draft history.
| Year | Team | Player | Previous |
| 1963 | Montreal Canadiens | Garry Monahan | St. Michael's Juveniles |
| 1964 | Detroit Red Wings | Claude Gauthier | Rosemount |
| 1965 | New York Rangers | Andre Veilleux | Montreal Ranger Jr. B |
| 1966 | Boston Bruins | Barry Gibbs | Estevan Bruins |
| 1967 | Los Angeles Kings | Rick Pagnutti | Garson-Falconbridge |
| 1968 | Montreal Canadiens | Michel Plasse | Drummondville Rangers |
| 1969 | Montreal Canadiens | Rejean Houle | Montreal Junior Canadiens |
| 1970 | Buffalo Sabres | Gilbert Perreault | Montreal Junior Canadiens |
| 1971 | Montreal Canadiens | Guy Lafleur | Quebec Remparts |
| 1972 | New York Islanders | Billy Harris | Toronto Marlboros |
| 1973 | New York Islanders | Denis Potvin | Ottawa 67's |
| 1974 | Washington Capitals | Greg Joly | Regina Pats |
| 1975 | Philadelphia Flyers | Mel Bridgman | Victoria Cougars |
| 1976 | Washington Capitals | Rick Green | London Knights |
| 1977 | Detroit Red Wings | Dale McCourt | St. Catharines Fincups |
| 1978 | Minnesota North Stars | Bobby Smith | Ottawa 67's |
| 1979 | Colorado Rockies | Rob Ramage | Birmingham Bulls |
| 1980 | Montreal Canadiens | Doug Wickenheiser | Regina Pats |
| 1981 | Winnipeg Jets | Dale Hawerchuk | Cornwall Royals |
| 1982 | Boston Bruins | Gord Kluzak | Billings Bighorns |
| 1983 | Minnesota North Stars | Brian Lawton | Mount St. Charles High School |
| 1984 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Mario Lemieux | Laval Voisins |
| 1985 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Wendel Clark | Saskatoon Blades |
| 1986 | Detroit Red Wings | Joe Murphy | Michigan State |
| 1987 | Buffalo Sabres | Pierre Turgeon | Granby Bisons |
| 1988 | Minnesota North Stars | Mike Modano | Prince Albert Raiders |
| 1989 | Quebec Nordiques | Mats Sundin | Nacka |
| 1990 | Quebec Nordiques | Owen Nolan | Cornwall Royals |
| 1991 | Quebec Nordiques | Eric Lindros | Oshawa Generals |
| 1992 | Tampa Bay Lightning | Roman Hamrlik | Zlin ZPS AC |
| 1993 | Ottawa Senators | Alexandre Daigle | Victoriaville Tigres |
| 1994 | Florida Panthers | Ed Jovanovski | Windsor Spitfires |
| 1995 | Ottawa Senators | Bryan Berard | Detroit Jr. Red Wings |
| 1996 | Ottawa Senators | Chris Phillips | Prince Albert Raiders |
| 1997 | Boston Bruins | Joe Thornton | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds |
| 1998 | Tampa Bay Lightning | Vincent Lecavalier | Rimouski Oceanic |
| 1999 | Atlanta Thrashers | Patrik Stefan | Long Beach Ice Dogs |
| 2000 | New York Islanders | Rick DiPietro | Boston University |
| 2001 | Atlanta Thrashers | Ilya Kovalchuk | Spartak |
| 2002 | Columbus Blue Jackets | Rick Nash | London Knights |
| 2003 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Marc-Andre Fleury | Cape Breton |
| 2004 | Washington Capitals | Alex Ovechkin | Dynamo |
| 2005 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Sidney Crosby | Rimouski Oceanic |
| 2006 | St. Louis Blues | Erik Johnson | USA U18 |
| 2007 | Chicago Blackhawks | Patrick Kane | London Knights |
| 2008 | Tampa Bay Lightning | Steven Stamkos | Sarnia Sting |
| 2009 | New York Islanders | John Tavares | London Knights |
| 2010 | Edmonton Oilers | Taylor Hall | Windsor Spitfires |
| 2011 | Edmonton Oilers | Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | Red Deer Rebels |
| 2012 | Edmonton Oilers | Nail Yakupov | Sarnia Sting |
| 2013 | Colorado Avalanche | Nathan MacKinnon | Halifax Mooseheads |
| 2014 | Florida Panthers | Aaron Ekblad | Barrie Colts |
| 2015 | Edmonton Oilers | Connor McDavid | Erie Otters |
| 2016 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Auston Matthews | Zurich |
| 2017 | New Jersey Devils | Nico Hischier | Halifax Mooseheads |
| 2018 | Buffalo Sabres | Rasmus Dahlin | Frolunda |
| 2019 | New Jersey Devils | Jack Hughes | USA U18 |
| 2020 | New York Rangers | Alexis Lafreniere | Rimouski Oceanic |
| 2021 | Buffalo Sabres | Owen Power | University of Michigan |
| 2022 | Montreal Canadiens | Juraj Slafkovsky | TPS |
