2023 NHL Mock Draft: Top 10

This summer’s NHL Draft is loaded with superstar talent, let’s mock the top 10 picks of the 2023 NHL Draft.

Chicago Blackhawks – Connor Bedard

This one is obvious. All we’ve heard about for two years now is Bedard this, Bedard that, and for good reason. In a loaded draft, Bedard is far and away the number one choice.

Here’s what NHL Central Scouting Vice President, Dan Marr, had to say about Bedard:

“Connor Bedard holds the title as the best draft-eligible prospect that I have scouted, as were other unique, elite talents before him such as Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby. It seems that each one of these ‘generational’ talents help set the platform for the next talent to surpass them and achieve success. Bedard has been in the spotlight for over three years and during that time has risen to impact and impress at every occasion while often being the youngest member on his teams, and he has done so with a humbleness and approach that all around him respect and those younger than him should use as a measuring stick.”

Anaheim Ducks – Adam Fantilli

In any other draft Adam Fantilli would easily be the number one overall pick. He’s THAT good. After a dominant freshman season at Michigan that saw Fantilli rack up 30 goals and 65 points, he would be named the seasons Hobey Baker Award winner.

“I can’t recall a player that’s come into the NCAA this focused and performed to the degree he has, making it to the NCAA Frozen Four, winning the Big 10 championship, the Hobey Baker Award and was that focused,” said Dan Marr, vice president of NHL Central Scouting. “It’s like he was on a mission this season. It was just so impressive, and he deserves to be where he’s ranked and deserves to go as high in the draft as he can. You don’t see players come along and put up that type of season very often.”

You can find the rest of Mike Morreale’s write up on Adam Fantilli here.

Columbus Blue Jackets – Leo Carlsson

Leo Carlsson is another player that has first overall pick potential in any other draft but in this one, most mock drafts have him going third to Columbus. Columbus are said to most likely draft a center and Carlsson should fall right into their lap at pick three.

Here’s what our very own Paul Pollock, also of Puck Preps and Future Considerations Hockey had to say on Carlsson:

“He just oozes hockey sense and projectability. Cerebral and well rounded playmaker who knows exactly how to attack offensively in every situation with an array of maneuvers and approaches. His off puck game is terrific as he supports well and finds ways to give his teammates options. Carlsson has great tools, but everything about his game comes down to his high end IQ. It allows him to see plays before they happen, set defenders up and beat them, take advantage of body positioning, retrieve pucks and come off walls, and adapt on the fly. Of course he then has the high end skills to execute those visions. I may end up having him ahead of Fantilli.”

San Jose Sharks – Matvei Michkov

Matvei Michkov has become the most polarizing player in this years NHL Draft and it has nothing to do with his skill or who he is as a player. Many scouting pundits have him as the second best player in the draft. The uncertainty of when he’ll be able to come to the NHL has some wondering if he may slide down the top 10.

NHL Central Scouting has him as their second best European skater behind only Leo Carlsson. I have to imagine the uncertainty factored into that decision.

Montreal Canadiens – Will Smith

An outstanding 2023 U18 Tournament for the United States has propelled Will Smith into the top five conversation of the 2023 NHL Draft. Smith finished his tenure with the USNDT with 127 points in just 60 games. His 191 career points are second to only Jack Hughes who scored 228. Pretty good.

At 6’0 tall, Smith weighs in at 180 lbs and is known for his hockey sense, on-ice vision, and his ability to seemingly pull offense out of his hat.

“It’s been great to see just the work that he’s put in here since day one,” NTDP U-18 coach Dan Muse said. “Just the drive that he has to really keep working towards the best version of himself. He’s a player that has this huge ceiling and he’s really exciting to work with because he’s very coachable. He really wants to find ways to keep taking steps in his game.”

You can read more of Mike Morreale’s interview with Will Smith here.

Arizona Coyotes – David Reinbacher

David Reinbacher has emerged has the best defensemen in this year’s NHL Draft and may find his was into the top 10 picks because of the lack of high upside defensemen this year.

Reinbacher is already being compared to Detroit’s Moritz Seider. Seider as you may remember was selected by Detroit sixth overall in the 2019 NHL Draft, much to the surprise of well…everyone.

“Is he the next Moritz Seider? I don’t think he has the same offensive attributes or natural [physical play] edge but there are some parallels,” said an NHL scout quoted in the Recrutes Draft Guide compiled by former Montreal Canadiens scout Grant McCagg.

Craig Button has similar thoughts to Grant McCagg on Reinbacher:

“I see him more in the Adam Larsson mold,” Craig Button said. “A very solid defender, even a shutdown defenseman. The offensive side? We’ll see. That could come in time. These are very young players.”

Reinbacher is 6’2 so he fits the mold of big and long but is the offensive ability there? Many pundits have him projected as a third defensemen at best. Which means a ceiling of second pair guy. Like I mentioned previously though, the defensive talent is slim in this draft so we could see a team or two reach.

Philadelphia Flyers – Ryan Leonard

Projected by many to go seventh overall, Ryan Leonard will be an absolute rockstar in Philadelphia. An offensively gifted player, Leonard can do it all. He is a force on the power play, has an excellent shot. Can play in transition. Set up teammates. Play the two-way game and welcomes physicality.

Leonard plays mean. Never backing down from confrontation. He takes board battles personally and more times than not, wins them. Many are comparing him to a Matthew Tkachuk type player already. That remains to be seen. Personally I’m not huge on player comparisons because no two players are exactly alike so they can sometimes be misleading.

Here’s a quick excerpt from Nicholas Cotsonika’s write-up on Leonard:

“Leonard blocked a shot, came back to the bench and shook off the pain. Then he went right back out and scored the golden goal, giving the United States a 3-2 overtime win against Sweden.

On the rush, he cut from the left wing to the middle and fired a quick wrist shot from the high slot. After he saw the puck go in, he flung off his gloves, tore off his helmet, threw up his hands and got mobbed by his teammates.”

“That’s a pretty good summary there of the type of player and person he is,” Muse said. “He can score from distance,” Muse said. “He scores a lot of goals going to the net. He scores with time and space; he scores without time and space. There’s versatility there.” “He’s a winner of a player,” Muse said. “I mean, I can’t stress the competitiveness enough. Like, he is ultra-competitive. It’s every single day, every practice.

“Anything that he does, it doesn’t matter — on the ice, off the ice. If you’re playing a board game, it doesn’t matter. He is extremely, extremely competitive, and that’s a big part of what drives his game, what drives him as a person.”

Asked for an example or anecdote, Muse laughed.

“It happens every day,” he said. “You see it every day playing in the small-area games. Anything that you can keep score in, he’s all in. He hates to lose; he loves to win. It’s every single day.”

Washington Capitals – Dalibor Dvorsky

Dalibor Dvorsky has been said to be the player with the safest floor. For some reason this is seen as a negative but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with taking a player with the floor of Dvorsky. He’s one of the most talented players in this draft and according to Russ Cohen, could actually be the best defensive prospect in the draft, regardless of position.

Here’s what Paul Pollock has to say on Dvorsky:

“Safe, big bodied two way center. One of the younger players in the draft which could be part of the reason his production was just okay but he’s also one of the more physically developed player already. I’ve questioned how much upside he has but I am coming around on him, though I think he’s still probably a 2C ceiling, not a 1C because of his skating and lack of dynamism in the offensive zone. He’s not a great skater but his technique indicates it could maybe be improved. Outside of that, he does a lot well. He possesses an above average shot, he’s very much a plus defensively, he plays a physical game, the hands are good, and he’s a smart player. His size, shot, and off puck play give him a good 3C floor. If he can improve skating and continue improving playmaking, which is solid, he can reach that 2C area.”

Detroit Red Wings – Zach Benson

Zach Benson falling to the Detroit Red Wings at nine is an absolute no brainer of a pick. Benson could easily go as high as five and probably should but recency bias and maybe team need have him slipping. Detroit will make sure he doesn’t slip any further.

According to Paul Pollock:

“Benson is a straight up gamer. You can make a case that he is the smartest player, highest compete, and best defensive forward in the draft. Super skilled as well with an emphasis on playmaking. He’s a very adaptable player and a guy I think could actually be a center long term, though many think he’s a wing. He supports his linemates, plays through the middle, and is sound off puck. Makes his linemates better. You’d like his skating to be better but it’s not a negative either and he plays at a high pace. Benson understands leverage so well, and combined with his hockey sense and skill, finds the play that no one else sees and attacks. He’s been the best player on Winnipeg for two years and that’s a loaded team that includes two first rounders a year ago. I wouldn’t be worried about his size at all.”

St. Louis Blues – Axel Sandin-Pellika

Axel Sandin-Pellika makes sense for the Blues because there aren’t many puck movers in the draft as good as ASP. The Blues have a pretty solid prospect pool and may look to add the best puck moving defenseman in the draft at 10.

Here’s what Paul had to say on Sandin-Pellika:

“Smoothest puck moving dman in the draft. Right shot; does a great job activating and getting his point shots through. His mobility is a big strength and that’s in puck retrievals, transition and pivoting/deking at the blue line. He sometimes makes head scratching decisions, in both zones. His pinches aren’t always the best decision and sometimes leave his team in a bad position when the puck turns over. He’s very effective offensively, but I don’t see the high end creativity/dynamism that you hope for from smaller offensive dmen. Defensively, his mobility is a big help and he is willing to engage and compete. He does lose battles and is sometimes beaten to the outside on rushes. He will need to improve in his own zone, but his skating, compete and offense can make him an effective 2nd pair dman.”

Round 1 will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 28 (ESPN, SN, TVAS), followed by Rounds 2‑7 starting at 11 a.m. ET on Thursday, June 29 (NHLN, SN, TVAS).

JIM IACOVONE IS A PROUD FLYERS MEDIA MEMBER AND FOUNDER OF HW HOCKEY
PHOTO: PHILADELPHIA FLYERS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
LISTEN TO HIGH AND WIDE RADIO ON APPLE PODCASTS OR SPOTIFY
FOR MORE FLYERS COVERAGE, FOLLOW AND SUBSCRIBE TO HIGH & WIDE HOCKEY ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND YOUTUBE!