2023 Draft With Trades

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Draft Class: 2023

Published: May 31, 2023 at 10:24 p.m.

DRAFT

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Round 1
1. Connor Bedard (Chicago Blackhawks) (Details: No brainer. Nothing else need be said.).
2. Adam Fantilli (Anaheim Ducks) (Details: Again, no brainer. Nice “consolation prize” for Anaheim.).
3. Leo Carlsson (Columbus Blue Jackets) (Details: I’m torn between them taking Carlsson or Smith here, but I feel like Will Smith is similar in playing style to Kent Johnson, and with a European GM like Jarmo Kekalainen, I think he would value a big, reliable, European, two-way centre. That’s why I’m sticking with Carlsson. I don’t see them taking a gamble on Michkov.).
4. Will Smith (San Jose Sharks) (Details: I don’t see them as a fit for Michkov either. Not with an inexperienced GM like Mike Grier; will look to go with the “safer” pick in Smith.).
5. David Reinbacher (Montreal Canadiens) (Details: Kent Hughes is a ballsy GM. I could see him taking a swing with Michkov here, but Reinbacher could be a swing too. Being at pick #5 and the thought of being able to select the first or at least what you consider to be the “best” defenceman in the draft is too tempting to pass up.).
6. Zach Benson (Arizona Coyotes) (Details: Obvious connections to the Winnipeg Ice having drafted Connor Geekie last year).
7. Ryan Leonard (Philadelphia Flyers) (Details: I can just see his name on the back of a Flyers jersey. I think he plays the game with sandpaper and bite too which screams Flyers/old broad-street bullies).
8. Matvei Michkov (Washington Capitals) (Details: Look, Michkov “falling” this far might not happen, but I think the hockey world wants this, right? Arguably the most dynamic scoring prospects to come out of Russia since Ovechkin. Would be fitting to end up on the caps with Ovi himself; passing the torch.).
9. Colby Barlow (Detroit Red Wings) (Details: Much like Leonard/PHI, I can just see Barlows name on a Wings jersey. Also possesses leadership qualities like Steve Yzerman).
10. Axel Sandin Pellikka (St. Louis Blues) (Details: Ok, I swear this is the last one where I can just see the players name on a specific jersey lol, but I can with this player too.  Blues need defenceman prospects too).
11. Samuel Honzek (Vancouver Canucks) (Details: Maybe a bit of a reach, but there’s obvious connections having played his junior hockey for the Vancouver Giants. There’s probably no team that knows this prospect better than the Canucks.).
12. Dalibor Dvorsky (Arizona Coyotes from Ottawa Senators) (Details: *** Trade *** 
ARI trades pick #12 to NSH in exchange for picks #15 and #46 
(Nashville making moves as the draft host)
NSH selects Dvorsky).
13. Matthew Wood (Buffalo Sabres).
14. Brayden Yager (Pittsburgh Penguins) (Details: *** Trade ***
PIT trades pick #14, Mikael Granlund, and Pierre-Olivier Joseph to WPG for Mark Scheifele. 
(The Winnipeg “rebuild” begins?)
WPG selects Yager).
15. Oliver Moore (Nashville Predators) (Details: Arizona picking here after above mentioned trade.).
16. Gabe Perreault (Calgary Flames).
17. Tom Willander (Detroit Red Wings from New York Islanders) (Details: Detroit has a knack for sneaky-good D-man draft picks, don’t they? May find a “hidden gem” here.).
18. Nate Danielson (Winnipeg Jets).
19. Eduard Sale (Chicago Blackhawks from Tampa Bay Lightning).
20. Gracyn Sawchyn (Seattle Kraken) (Details: This seems like a bit of a stretch, but I’m making a bold prediction based solely on the fact that he played his junior hockey with the Seattle Thunderbirds. Much like VAN/Honzek, no team probably knows this player better than the Kraken.).
21. Andrew Cristall (Minnesota Wild).
22. Mikhail Gulyayev (Columbus Blue Jackets from Los Angeles Kings).
23. Calum Ritchie (New York Rangers).
24. Oliver Bonk (Nashville Predators from Edmonton Oilers) (Details: *** Trade ***
NSH trades pick #24, Ryan Johansson (50% salary retention), Dante Fabbro and Zachary L’Heureux to WSH in exchange for Tom Wilson and Nic Dowd.
(Nashville continues making noise as draft hosts. Barry Trotz has familiarity with the Caps having coached there)).
25. Otto Stenberg (St. Louis Blues from Toronto Maple Leafs).
26. Tanner Molendyk (San Jose Sharks from New Jersey Devils) (Details: This is my boldest prediction/biggest reach. Somewhat off-the-board pick, but SJ has a history with the Saskatoon Blades. 
I realize SJ also has a pick early in the second round. Maybe they take Molendyk with that pick instead, but they’re getting him one way or another, I swear. lol.).
27. Kasper Halttunen (Colorado Avalanche) (Details: Mikko Rantanen 2.0? Ok maybe that’s a little too hopeful/ambitious.).
28. Dmitri Simashev (Toronto Maple Leafs from Boston Bruins) (Details: *** Trade ***
TOR trades pick #28 and Matt Murray to CHI in exchange for a 2023 3rd round pick. 
CHI selects Simashev).
29. Lukas Dragicevic (St. Louis Blues from Dallas Stars) (Details: *** Trade *** 
STL trades pick #30 to ANA in exchange for picks #33 and #60
ANA selects Dragicevic).
30. Theo Lindstein (Carolina Hurricanes).
31. Ethan Gauthier (Montreal Canadiens from Florida Panthers).
32. Quentin Musty (Vegas Golden Knights).

CapFriendly.com User-Generated Mock-Draft

ROUND 1	TEAM	ORIGINAL	PLAYER	DETAILS

1	-	Connor Bedard	No brainer. Nothing else need be said.
2	-	Adam Fantilli	Again, no brainer. Nice “consolation prize” for Anaheim.
3	-	Leo Carlsson	I’m torn between them taking Carlsson or Smith here, but I feel like Will Smith is similar in playing style to Kent Johnson, and with a European GM like Jarmo Kekalainen, I think he would value a big, reliable, European, two-way centre. That’s why I’m sticking with Carlsson. I don’t see them taking a gamble on Michkov.
4	-	Will Smith	I don’t see them as a fit for Michkov either. Not with an inexperienced GM like Mike Grier; will look to go with the “safer” pick in Smith.
5	-	David Reinbacher	Kent Hughes is a ballsy GM. I could see him taking a swing with Michkov here, but Reinbacher could be a swing too. Being at pick #5 and the thought of being able to select the first or at least what you consider to be the “best” defenceman in the draft is too tempting to pass up.
6	-	Zach Benson	Obvious connections to the Winnipeg Ice having drafted Connor Geekie last year
7	-	Ryan Leonard	I can just see his name on the back of a Flyers jersey. I think he plays the game with sandpaper and bite too which screams Flyers/old broad-street bullies
8	-	Matvei Michkov	Look, Michkov “falling” this far might not happen, but I think the hockey world wants this, right? Arguably the most dynamic scoring prospects to come out of Russia since Ovechkin. Would be fitting to end up on the caps with Ovi himself; passing the torch.
9	-	Colby Barlow	Much like Leonard/PHI, I can just see Barlows name on a Wings jersey. Also possesses leadership qualities like Steve Yzerman
10	-	Axel Sandin Pellikka	Ok, I swear this is the last one where I can just see the players name on a specific jersey lol, but I can with this player too. Blues need defenceman prospects too
11	-	Samuel Honzek	Maybe a bit of a reach, but there’s obvious connections having played his junior hockey for the Vancouver Giants. There’s probably no team that knows this prospect better than the Canucks.
12		Dalibor Dvorsky	* Trade * ARI trades pick #12 to NSH in exchange for picks #15 and #46 (Nashville making moves as the draft host) NSH selects Dvorsky
13	-	Matthew Wood
14	-	Brayden Yager	* Trade * PIT trades pick #14, Mikael Granlund, and Pierre-Olivier Joseph to WPG for Mark Scheifele. (The Winnipeg “rebuild” begins?) WPG selects Yager
15	-	Oliver Moore	Arizona picking here after above mentioned trade.
16	-	Gabe Perreault
17		Tom Willander	Detroit has a knack for sneaky-good D-man draft picks, don’t they? May find a “hidden gem” here.
18	-	Nate Danielson
19		Eduard Sale
20	-	Gracyn Sawchyn	This seems like a bit of a stretch, but I’m making a bold prediction based solely on the fact that he played his junior hockey with the Seattle Thunderbirds. Much like VAN/Honzek, no team probably knows this player better than the Kraken.
21	-	Andrew Cristall
22		Mikhail Gulyayev
23	-	Calum Ritchie
24		Oliver Bonk	* Trade * NSH trades pick #24, Ryan Johansson (50% salary retention), Dante Fabbro and Zachary L’Heureux to WSH in exchange for Tom Wilson and Nic Dowd. (Nashville continues making noise as draft hosts. Barry Trotz has familiarity with the Caps having coached there)
25		Otto Stenberg
26		Tanner Molendyk	This is my boldest prediction/biggest reach. Somewhat off-the-board pick, but SJ has a history with the Saskatoon Blades. I realize SJ also has a pick early in the second round. Maybe they take Molendyk with that pick instead, but they’re getting him one way or another, I swear. lol.
27	-	Kasper Halttunen	Mikko Rantanen 2.0? Ok maybe that’s a little too hopeful/ambitious.
28		Dmitri Simashev	* Trade * TOR trades pick #28 and Matt Murray to CHI in exchange for a 2023 3rd round pick. CHI selects Simashev
29		Lukas Dragicevic	* Trade * STL trades pick #30 to ANA in exchange for picks #33 and #60 ANA selects Dragicevic
30	-	Theo Lindstein
31		Ethan Gauthier
32	-	Quentin Musty

May 31, 2023 at 10:47 p.m.

mokumboi

Joined: Apr. 2019

Posts: 29,330

Likes: 11,374

Change ASP and Stenberg to Moore and Lindstein/Simashev/Molendyk/Price. The trade of the 3rd 1st could reasonably happen, but the Blues don't really need quantity of picks.

Jun. 1, 2023 at 9:53 a.m.

Logicalicesports

Joined: Feb. 2023

Posts: 1,792

Likes: 716

Honestly I really like this mock. I find it hard to believe the capitals would trade Wilson, but this is a pretty good hypothetical for what the return would most likely be like.

Jun. 1, 2023 at 1:12 p.m.

TMarch

Joined: Apr. 2017

Posts: 1,120

Likes: 439

All reasonable projections. I think the Michkov to WSH has a different angle, Putin's friend (Ovi) can help Michkov get out of his KHL contract. No other team has a connection like that.

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Forums/Mock-Draft

2023 Draft With Trades

2023 Draft With Trades

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