Final First Round Mock

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Draft Class: 2023

Published: Jun. 27, 2023 at 8:59 p.m.

DRAFT

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Round 1
1. Connor Bedard (Chicago Blackhawks) (Details: BPA).
2. Adam Fantilli (Anaheim Ducks) (Details: BPA).
3. Leo Carlsson (Columbus Blue Jackets) (Details: Could just as easily take Smith, but I think they will go Carlsson).
4. Will Smith (San Jose Sharks) (Details: They take whoever Columbus doesn't between Smith and Carlsson.).
5. David Reinbacher (Montreal Canadiens) (Details: Boost the blue line by adding the best defenseman in the draft class. Arguably the BPA outside of Michkov, who they don't want.).
6. Ryan Leonard (Arizona Coyotes) (Details: Adding a player who will make in impact by the end of this season. US-born, which seems to be something Arizona covets).
7. Matvei Michkov (Philadelphia Flyers) (Details: BPA - Russian factor doesn't scare Briere).
8. Dalibor Dvorsky (Washington Capitals) (Details: The skating deficiencies don't scare WSH as they don't emphasize a speed game.).
9. Oliver Moore (Detroit Red Wings) (Details: Amazing skater and high compete level, will fit in perfectly as the 2C behind Larkin.).
10. Nate Danielson (St. Louis Blues) (Details: Underrated talent. No way he makes it past Vancouver if he doesn't go here).
11. Zach Benson (Vancouver Canucks) (Details: BPA - Falls due to size, will make other GM's look silly when he lights it up in Vancouver.).
12. Gabe Perreault (Arizona Coyotes from Ottawa Senators) (Details: Another USDP product that should make the jump to the NHL at the same time as Cooley and Leonard.).
13. Matthew Wood (Buffalo Sabres) (Details: Bolstering the forward core considering they have a very deep defensive core with multiple top picks.).
14. Axel Sandin Pellikka (Pittsburgh Penguins) (Details: A future top 1/2/3 defenseman to take over as Letang is on his way out. High-end defenseman).
15. Tom Willander (Nashville Predators) (Details: Bolstering the blue line that looks a little shaky.).
16. Colby Barlow (Calgary Flames) (Details: Great goal scorer. Calgary might want to go Simashev here, but I doubt that Calgary goes after a perceived question mark. Barlow is a safer pick.).
17. Dmitri Simashev (Detroit Red Wings from New York Islanders) (Details: Could go higher but Russian factor causes him to drop. BPA).
18. Samuel Honzek (Winnipeg Jets) (Details: Plays a quiet game but has some sneaky skill. Killer backhand.).
19. Daniil But (Chicago Blackhawks from Tampa Bay Lightning) (Details: High-end scorer that could absolutely light it up with Bedard.).
20. Brayden Yager (Seattle Kraken) (Details: Future 3C or top 6 winger. Seattle continues to build on their core built around two high end centers in Wright and Beniers. If Yager goes higher, Seattle takes Barlow, But, or Honzek.).
21. Quentin Musty (Minnesota Wild) (Details: Strong power forward who can add some more bite to the Wild, which seems to be something they might be looking to do.).
22. Mikhail Gulyayev (Philadelphia Flyers from Los Angeles Kings) (Details: BPA - Briere is more than happy to take two Russians who fell into his lap this draft. (Side note: I don't think the Flyers are only picking twice in this first round. I think they're looking for another pick via trade).).
23. Eduard Sale (New York Rangers) (Details: Could see him actually going earlier, but if he falls into the Rangers' lap, they'll take him. Could be a steal if he falls into the 20s).
24. Calum Ritchie (Nashville Predators from Edmonton Oilers) (Details: Taking a good offensively-minded center who could be a perfect 2C in the future.).
25. Oliver Bonk (St. Louis Blues from Toronto Maple Leafs) (Details: Good, complete defenseman to supplement their blue line.).
26. Gavin Brindley (San Jose Sharks from New Jersey Devils) (Details: High-end skater with high compete level is exactly what the Sharks are looking for in a player.).
27. Andrew Cristall (Colorado Avalanche) (Details: Colorado goes for a high-risk high-reward player.).
28. Otto Stenberg (Toronto Maple Leafs from Boston Bruins) (Details: Doubt Toronto makes this pick, very likely traded to another team. Solid center here.).
29. Ethan Gauthier (St. Louis Blues from Dallas Stars) (Details: High end goal scorer.).
30. Charlie Stramel (Carolina Hurricanes) (Details: A center with huge size and ability to drive play.).
31. Riley Heidt (Colorado Avalanche from Florida Panthers) (Details: BPA - Even though they just took a forward, Colorado takes the best they can get.).
32. Lukas Dragicevic (Vegas Golden Knights) (Details: Great right-handed two-way defenseman with a strong offensive game.).

Round 2

CapFriendly.com User-Generated Mock-Draft

ROUND 1	TEAM	ORIGINAL	PLAYER	DETAILS

1	-	Connor Bedard	BPA
2	-	Adam Fantilli	BPA
3	-	Leo Carlsson	Could just as easily take Smith, but I think they will go Carlsson
4	-	Will Smith	They take whoever Columbus doesn't between Smith and Carlsson.
5	-	David Reinbacher	Boost the blue line by adding the best defenseman in the draft class. Arguably the BPA outside of Michkov, who they don't want.
6	-	Ryan Leonard	Adding a player who will make in impact by the end of this season. US-born, which seems to be something Arizona covets
7	-	Matvei Michkov	BPA - Russian factor doesn't scare Briere
8	-	Dalibor Dvorsky	The skating deficiencies don't scare WSH as they don't emphasize a speed game.
9	-	Oliver Moore	Amazing skater and high compete level, will fit in perfectly as the 2C behind Larkin.
10	-	Nate Danielson	Underrated talent. No way he makes it past Vancouver if he doesn't go here
11	-	Zach Benson	BPA - Falls due to size, will make other GM's look silly when he lights it up in Vancouver.
12		Gabe Perreault	Another USDP product that should make the jump to the NHL at the same time as Cooley and Leonard.
13	-	Matthew Wood	Bolstering the forward core considering they have a very deep defensive core with multiple top picks.
14	-	Axel Sandin Pellikka	A future top 1/2/3 defenseman to take over as Letang is on his way out. High-end defenseman
15	-	Tom Willander	Bolstering the blue line that looks a little shaky.
16	-	Colby Barlow	Great goal scorer. Calgary might want to go Simashev here, but I doubt that Calgary goes after a perceived question mark. Barlow is a safer pick.
17		Dmitri Simashev	Could go higher but Russian factor causes him to drop. BPA
18	-	Samuel Honzek	Plays a quiet game but has some sneaky skill. Killer backhand.
19		Daniil But	High-end scorer that could absolutely light it up with Bedard.
20	-	Brayden Yager	Future 3C or top 6 winger. Seattle continues to build on their core built around two high end centers in Wright and Beniers. If Yager goes higher, Seattle takes Barlow, But, or Honzek.
21	-	Quentin Musty	Strong power forward who can add some more bite to the Wild, which seems to be something they might be looking to do.
22		Mikhail Gulyayev	BPA - Briere is more than happy to take two Russians who fell into his lap this draft. (Side note: I don't think the Flyers are only picking twice in this first round. I think they're looking for another pick via trade).
23	-	Eduard Sale	Could see him actually going earlier, but if he falls into the Rangers' lap, they'll take him. Could be a steal if he falls into the 20s
24		Calum Ritchie	Taking a good offensively-minded center who could be a perfect 2C in the future.
25		Oliver Bonk	Good, complete defenseman to supplement their blue line.
26		Gavin Brindley	High-end skater with high compete level is exactly what the Sharks are looking for in a player.
27	-	Andrew Cristall	Colorado goes for a high-risk high-reward player.
28		Otto Stenberg	Doubt Toronto makes this pick, very likely traded to another team. Solid center here.
29		Ethan Gauthier	High end goal scorer.
30	-	Charlie Stramel	A center with huge size and ability to drive play.
31		Riley Heidt	BPA - Even though they just took a forward, Colorado takes the best they can get.
32	-	Lukas Dragicevic	Great right-handed two-way defenseman with a strong offensive game.