Connor Hrabchak’s Mock Draft 1.0 – 2023 NHL Draft

Welcome in to Connor Hrabchak’s Mock Draft 1.0 for the 2023 NHL Draft.

I’ve decided to try my hand at a mock draft this season. Last year I personally did a top-50 ranking for my own enjoyment, and I am doing the same this year, but I am going to turn it into a few mock drafts this time around.

I used to never pay attention to the NHL draft, and for the past 2-3 years I have really ramped up my research on prospects. I’ve wanted to get to a point where I could do a mock draft and explain the picks, and here we are. Enjoy!

#1 – Chicago Blackhawks: Connor Bedard – C

I mean, duh. Connor Bedard has been slotted in the #1 spot since he was 16 years old. He’s going to be a superstar in the NHL. I don’t feel I need to explain much further.

#2 – Anaheim Ducks: Adam Fantilli – C/W

A phenomenal consolation prize. I think he’s a franchise player and is flying under the radar due to Bedard’s success. He will be phenomenal at the NHL level. He has got all the tools of a modern-day power-forward.

#3 – Columbus Blue Jackets: Leo Carlsson – C

I believe this pick is Carlsson or Will Smith. Like any team in the league, Columbus needs a high-level centre in the system and either of those guys can get there.

#4 – San Jose Sharks: Matvei Michkov – W

The second-best player in the draft slides a few spots due to his three-year contract over in Russia. The Sharks and new GM Mike Grier are getting a bonafide superstar when he comes over to North America and is an incredibly talented player.

#5 – Montreal Canadiens: Will Smith – C

The Canadiens avoid the headache of whether or not to take Michkov. Instead, they take Will Smith, and they improve their centre core. He is an incredible playmaker with the puck on his stick, and his hands are among the best in the class.

#6 – Arizona Coyotes: Zach Benson – W

Zach Benson is listed at 5’10, 159 lbs on Elite Prospects. I think people are making way too big a deal of his height and weight, because the truth is, he’s a top talent in this class. One of the smartest players on the ice who makes a ton of plays in short areas and is a great set-up man for his teammates. He’s a future 50+ assist guy at the NHL Level.

#7 – Philadelphia Flyers: David Reinbacher – RD

One of the safest bets in this draft is Austrian defenceman David Reinbacher, and the Flyers need a sure thing on their blue line. He projects to be a solid, top-four two-way defenceman at the NHL level.

#8 – Washington Capitals: Dalibor Dvorsky – C

Dvorsky is a 6’1, 201-pound centre that can affect the game in a multitude of ways. WSH at #8 is a prime spot for Michkov if he slides, but if he does go early, look for them to go with the most NHL-ready prospect. They need someone that can potentially help with the Ovi window.

#9 – Detroit Red Wings: Ryan Leonard – W

An incredibly high-motor player that played for the US developmental program last year. The Wings need help up front, so here they take the best forward still on the board.

#10 – St. Louis Blues: Gabe Perrault – W

Gabe Perrrault is an interesting prospect. He is the single-season record holder for points in a season at the US developmental program. He surpassed Jack Hughes and Auston Matthews by quite a bit on his way to the top.

My rankings have him higher than this pick, in the 7-8 range, but some scouts don’t believe in his all-around game, so I think the Blues snag him at this spot.

#11 – Vancouver Canucks: Axel Sandin Pellikka – RD

There has been a lot of smoke around the Canucks and a defenceman, so here they take offensive-defenceman Sandin Pellikka. A reach by some rankings, but there are mocks out there that have them taking Tom Willander, who by most rankings is in the 25-40 range. Who will they reach on is the question.

#12 – Arizona Coyotes: Oliver Moore – C

A popular pick for the Jets in some mocks, Moore is one of the best skaters in the class. He uses his speed very well to make plays, beat pressure, and slow it down when needed. The Coyotes now have Benson and Moore to add to an up-and-coming prospect pool.

#13 – Buffalo Sabres: Matthew Wood – RW

A big, power-forward with skill? He sounds like a Buffalo Sabre already! If Wood is still on the board at this pick, with the way their core is built, I think the Sabres would love this pick.

#14 – Pittsburgh Penguins: Eduard Sale – LW

Sale, a 6’1 winger, can beat you in multiple ways. Whether it’s speed, vision, hands, or long-distance shots, I think the Penguins make a bet on that talent being NHL-ready quickly and take him here at 14. They need players that can contribute in what is left of the Crosby/Malkin/Letang window.

#15 – Nashville Predators: Andrew Cristall – C/W

I have Cristall up in the 11-12 range in my rankings, but due to the fact that he is 5’10 and 165 lbs, NHL GMs are going to be scared to take him that highly. The Predators get a special player here. His speed won’t wow you, but he does everything else at a high level. Remember Barry Trotz’s whole “take chances” thing when regarding the draft? Yeah, Cristiall isn’t a bottom-six guy.

#16 – Calgary Flames: Brayden Yager – C/W

I’m not really sure where the Flames will go here with this pick, but the puck-dominant Yager would add to a relatively dry prospect pool. They need to take the best player available, and Yager is in the same tier as some of the names following him in this draft.

#17 – Detroit Red Wings: Quentin Musty – C/W

Musty is a 6’2, 200-pound winger that put up 73 points in 58 games last season in the OHL. My rankings have him in the early teens, but I feel like the Red Wings are the type of team to find great talent in the middle of the first round.

#18 – Winnipeg Jets: Colby Barlow – C/W

Colby Barlow to the Winnipeg Jets just feels right. Scott Wheeler of The Athletic describes him as so: “He has a high floor and should safely become a strong third-line player but also has the upside to become more if things really click in his north-south game at the next level.”

An all-situations forward that has a great shot to go along with a high floor makes sense for the Jets in this spot. If I had to guess, I would say they’ll pick more than once come draft night.

#19 – Chicago Blackhawks (via TBL): Nate Danielson – C

The Blackhawks add to their thin forward prospect pool, and draft someone that can one-day either play alongside Bedard or anchor another line himself.

#20 – Seattle Kraken: Riley Heidt –

Heidt really impressed me off the rush when I watched the tape on him, which makes him a slam-dunk pick for arguably the best NHL team off of the rush. Makes a ton of sense for the Kraken, and adds to a potent young forward group with Matty Beniers, Shane Wright, and now himself.

#21 – Minnesota Wild: Samuel Honzek – LW

I really like Samuel Honzek’s game, and as a 6’4, 185-pound winger, I feel like the Minnesota Wild will too. He’s got the size and tools to develop into a beast at the NHL level, and the Wild are the team to take that gamble.

#22 – Philadelphia Flyers: Lukas Dragicevic – RD

Dragicevic is all over the place in terms of rankings, some have him in the early 20s, some in the late 30s. I think as a 6’2 RHD he goes higher than some expect. Flyers have now taken 2 RHD’s in this draft, solidifying that side.

#23 – New York Rangers: Gavin Brindley – W

The University of Michigan product is undersized at 5’9, but is incredibly talented and flew under the radar a tad because of Fantilli’s dominance. The Rangers bet on the talent here.

#24 – Nashville Predators (via EDM): Otto Stenberg – C

Stenberg’s production coming into this past season was great, but he was disappointing in his -D1 draft year which saw him slide down boards. The Predators are taking a gamble here on him re-establishing his game. This is their second forward of the first round, along with Cristall.

#25 – St. Louis Blues (via TOR): Oliver Bonk – RD

One of the Blues’ first-round picks has to be a defender, and Bonk fits the description. He’s a taller, steady RD that is a bit of a project but with the right coaching could develop into a solid #4.

#26 – San Jose Sharks (via NJD): Calum Ritchie – C/W

A 6’2 forward, Ritchie projects as a two-way player at the next level and he’s the exact type of player that will hit his stride right when Michkov is ready to come to North America. Good pick for the Sharks here.

#27 – Colorado Avalanche: Danil But – W

I’ve been really impressed with his shot, and at 6’5, has the size and tools to develop into a really nice player. This is a swing for the fences this late in the first-round, and the Avs strike me as the kind of team to do this.

#28 – Toronto Maple Leafs (via WSH): Dmitriy Simashev – LD

After trading away Sandin, the Leafs may look to replenish their LD prospect pool with Simashev. 6’4 defenceman that can skate, and scouts love that. It would not shock me if he goes higher than this, based on that alone.

#29 – St. Louis Blues (via NYR): Jayden Perron – W

Jayden Perron, the Winnipeg, Manitoba product! He is committed to the University of North Dakota next season, and would be the Blues second forward of the first round, along with Perrault. Elite prospects have him ranked #29, while Craig Button of TSN has him ranked #88. High variance player.

#30 – Carolina Hurricanes: Lenni Hameenaho – RW

The type of player that does everything well, but nothing at an elite level. He sounds like a Carolina Hurricane that will figure everything out and be a top-six staple with unreal underlying numbers.

#31 – Montreal Canadiens (via FLA): Mikhail Gulyayev – LD

Between Lane Hutson last year and Mikhail Gulyayev this year, the Canadiens would be building an uber-talented, but undersized left side of their defence core. Gulyayev checks all the boxes offensively, but at 5’10, 172 lbs, scouts question his ability to translate that to the defensive game. I say talent wins, which makes this a good pick for MTL.

#32 – Vegas Golden Knights: Michael Hrabal – G

Vegas, who just won the cup with Adin Hill in goal, takes a Goalie in round one? Maybe I re-think this pick. Meh, taking a goalie this high doesn’t happen often, but Vegas would be the one team I could see doing it. They’re loaded elsewhere.

That is all…. for now…

Mock Drafts are fun. With the draft roughly a week and a half away, lots may change over that time.

This will be titled Mock Draft 1.0, so the door remains open for me to make a second version if I feel updates are needed. Thank you for reading!