Dr. Tee’s NHL Mock Draft 1.0
Introduction
If this year has taught us anything about junior hockey and scouting, it’s that things can change in a heartbeat. Matvei Michkov went from the persuadable #2 overall pick last summer leading up to the beginning of this year to falling almost outside the top 5… and then right back into the mix for #2 again. Connor Bedard - possibly the greatest prospect in team prospects - has done nothing but continue to raise the bar for himself once he finally enters the league, while players like Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson and Zach Benson - players who would be considered regular #1 overall picks - are making strong cases to become NHL superstars. And of course we can’t forget about possibly the best American-born player trio ever, with Gabriel Perreault, Ryan Leonard and Will Smith lighting up the U.S. National Team circuit this entire season.
So what will be the ultimate outcome of this highly touted draft? Will players meet expectations? Will Connor Bedard actually be better than Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid? And most importantly, can this draft really live up to the hype?
I think yes. After all the build up, the lottery and now finally the eclipse of the glorious month of June, today I will be giving you my first prediction of who’ll be the top 32 picks in the 2023 NHL Draft come that special night on Wednesday, June 28th.
Make sure to check out my full highlight video of Connor Bedard! Featuring “Party Girl” by Lil’ Uzi Vert, it is a in-sync mix of some of Bedard’s best plays from his time in Regina, and with team Canada.
#1 | Chicago Blackhawks
Connor Bedard, F, Regina Pats (WHL)
Bedard provides obvious exceptional talent to a bleak Blackhawks roster that has just been gutted out over the last year and half. Despite magician-like stickhandling abilities, otherworldly hockey sense and smooth edges, Bedard’s shot is what you will see on every channel on your TV that is showing the draft. He can get his shot off anywhere, and put it anywhere in the net. His patented ‘toe drag release’ has been beating goalies all year, allowing him to rack up a total of 90 goals in 71 games across all-competition matchups.
His shot is terrific and a nightmare for goalies, but once-in-a-generation-like hockey sense is what has really given him the title as the best prospect in hockey history. The game is played in slow-motion for him. He can make any play, anytime, anywhere, and always finds a way to do it. If you’ve been searching for a reason why he’s been considered “NHL ready” since he was 16, you’ve got it. Although what you consistently hear about in his game, like his shot and puck skills, is what will be shown in highlight reels, Bedard sticks out in lesser known areas of his game as well. I’ve found that Bedard’s amazing balance on his skates is something that has been overlooked when it comes to further solidifying his draft stock. At only 5’9” and 180 pounds, Bedard doesn’t have the quickest feet but he is great at keeping the puck on his stick by using his low center of gravity. Expect big things from Bedard - someone who has drawn comparisons to Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid.
#2 | Anaheim Ducks
Adam Fantilli, F, Michigan (NCAA)
Fantilli is coming off possibly the greatest single season by a freshman in NCAA history, one that saw him capture the Hobey Baker Award (given to the nation’s best player), while putting up an absurd stat line of 30 goals for 65 total points in just 36 games. A Toronto native, Fantilli’s game is reminiscent of Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews. Although the build is remarkably accurate, I will say that Fantilli possesses better overall on-ice awareness, and is better at getting his teammates involved than Matthews. What makes Fantilli’s game so unique is his combination of speed, skill and strength. He is the perfect power-forward to fit today’s game, as he has the skill to go 1-on-1 and beat almost anyone, but the tenacity to work in the dirty areas and battle for loose pucks. Like Bedard, he often finds ways to score from almost anywhere on the ice. He can put his shoulder down and ram you through the boards, but also fluently dissect your whole team with smooth edges and silky hands.
Although I do think that he’ll need to learn to keep his temper down at times, his raw talent and physical tools are something you don’t see everyday - let alone so individually developed in a single player. He plays like he’s a seasoned vet, but is in the young body of an 18-year-
#3 | Columbus Blue Jackets
Will Smith, F, U.S. National Team (USNTDP)
One of the biggest risers this year has been Will Smith of the U.S. National Team. Coming into this season with major expectations, Smith started off the season slow, and was initially viewed as a late to mid-1st round draft pick. Then he started to find chemistry with linemates Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard, which is where his game completely took off.
First, let’s look at the positives. Smith is a high-octane forward that can do just about anything on the offensive end. He can easily finish plays with his shot and in-tight dangles, but was casual when it came to dishing passes for easy scoring opportunities when making the initial pass may not have been so easy. His skating, although slightly above average at the very best, was still good enough for him to find success in transition. Do I see him as a Logan Cooley-like play driver? No. But is he a Rutger McGroarty “all I can do is stick my feet in front of the net” play driver? No. There’s a fine line in between those two play styles and I think Smith fits right on it.
But, there are some elements to Smith’s game that make some people question the legitimacy of his draft stock. Smith registered 51 goals, 127 total points in just 60 games for the U.S. team, but also played on a line with players whose talent almost gifted him points at times. For every Jack Hughes, Cole Caufield, and Trevor Zegras, there’s an Alex Turcotte.
#4 | San Jose Sharks
Leo Carlsson, F, Orebro HK (SHL)
Someone whose talents have been mightily slept on, overlooked, underappreciated, whatever you want to call it. Carlsson is maybe the most underrated prospect in a draft that we’ve seen in a long time. For a player whose talents resemble that of Mikko Rantenan, why hasn’t he gotten any respect out of the draft process? Well, the simple answer is bad timing. In a draft filled with players that have been shattering records and impressing not only on film but on the stat sheet, Leo Carlsson’s numbers don’t pop out to the casual hockey fan. In 44 Swedish pro league games, Carlsson has amassed 10 goals and 25 points - mere numbers compared to that of Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli. But what you find as you take a deeper look, is that Carlsson has been putting up one of the best seasons by a Swedish draft eligible player ever.
At only 18 years of age, Carlsson’s thick frame matched with his unique style of play is what makes him one of the best hockey players in the draft. At 6’3” 194 pounds, Carlsson may have the best hands in the draft compared to anyone not named Connor Bedard. And when I say best I mean best. His bigger frame helps him maintain longer and more powerful strides than his opposition, while his shere mass alone is enough to let defenders go right through him. Ever since losing Joe Pavelski and then Timo Meier, the Sharks have dug themselves into an even deeper hole than they’ve been in. Carlsson is the perfect breed of player to get them out of that hole.
Carlsson is no consolation prize, and a player that the Sharks (given the chance) should be very excited to draft.
#5 | Montreal Canadiens
Zach Benson, F, Winnipeg (WHL)
By far the best attribute in Benson’s game is his skating. Standing at just around 5’10” and weighing only 159 pounds (according to elite prospects), Benson’s high-paced, highly skilled game is molded around his ability to create time and space with his legs. With terrific speed and edge work, Benson is able to dish out passes and put the puck in the net with incredible ease and creativity. His game reminds me a lot of what you’d expect in a Jesper Bratt-type player: high motor and compete level, and extremely gifted offensively, yet still undersized. To say Benson wouldn’t benefit from a linemate of Juraj Slafkovsky or Cole Caufield would be an understatement. He plays the best when he’s able to move in space, which is exactly what a linemate of one of those two would open up for him.
Benson also put up prolific numbers on the scoresheet, despite playing in the same league as Connor Bedard, and really playing second-fiddle to Matthew Savoie the entire season. He finished top 3 in scoring with 98 points in 60 games (36 goals, 62 assists), while having one of the highest points per game by any WHL player with 1.63 notched on a per game basis.
Overall, I’m a fan of Benson’s elusive play style (as you can tell). Even though there are always many great things to talk about when giving opinions on players that usually will be drafted inside the top 5, and/or possess top 5 talent, for me, Benson falls into a different realm of players. I think there’s a high chance he falls in the draft due to his size and defensive capabilities. However, I see a lot of Lane Huston in his draft stock. He could prove a lot of people wrong if he can develop and hone his skill.
#6 | Arizona Coyotes
Ryan Leonard, F, U.S. National Team (USNTDP)
Probably one of the safest picks in this year’s draft you could make. Having all the tools to become a legitimate NHL All-Star, but also has a game that is very translatable to the pro-ranks. Leonard possesses a great shot, alongside a high hockey sense and an average skating ability. I would compare him to a more dual-threat version of Blues’ prospect Jimmy Snuggerud.
#7 | Philadelphia Flyers
Gabriel Perreault, F, U.S. National Team (USNTDP)
After putting up one of the best statistical seasons by a U.S.-Junior hockey player, the only major question mark in his game is his skating. He has one of the highest hockey IQ’s of anyone in the draft and could be a great middle-six player if all goes well for him. 53 goals and 132 points in just 63 games should say enough already - the real challenge will be if he can translate his game to the next level.
#8 | Washington Capitals
Matvei Michkov, F, HK Sochi (KHL)
One of the biggest draft headlines is who will take Russian-born phenom Matvei Michkov. Ever since dominating the Russian junior leagues, Michkov has been viewed as arguably the second best talent in this entire draft class. After being loaned to HK Sochi of the KHL, Michkov found his game and has been putting up amazing numbers for someone his age.
#9 | Detroit Red Wings
Oliver Moore, F, U.S. National Team (USNTDP)
From one of the most overlooked prospects in the draft, to one of the most well-scouted, back to one of the most overlooked; Oliver Moore’s speedy offensive game would be an amazing addition to a young Red Wings team looking to add depth down the middle. The potential reality of him and Lucas Raymond tearing up team’s on the power play and in transition should be enough to get Stevie Y. to finally take a chance on a fantastic North American-born prospect.
#10 | St. Louis Blues
David Reinbacher, D, EHC Kloten (Swiss NL)
A fascinating draft prospect, Reinbacher has shot up draft boards ever since his solid World Junior performance. Standing at 6’2” and weighing nearly 190 pounds (according to elite prospects), Reinbacher is a sound skater for his size with a good offensive game. His big frame and defensive capabilities however, are exactly what the Blues need on their roster.
#11 | Vancouver Canucks
Dalibor Dvorsky, F, AIK (HockeyAllsvenskan)
At this point in the draft, the Canucks need help almost everywhere, with depth in young talent really starting to become a problem for the franchise. Here, they take one of the best shots in the draft in Dalibor Dvorsky. A Slovak native, Dvorsky’s stellar World Junior Championship performance helped revive his draft stock. Besides, who doesn’t want a power play with Elias Petterson swingin’ cross-ice passes to this guy?!
#12 | Arizona Coyotes (Via Ottawa Senators)
Dmitri Simashev, D, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (MHL)
The Coyotes have been through a lot. Here they should really help bare-down on the backend after taking high-end offensive talent with the 6th overall pick. Dimitri Simashev is a smooth skating, Russian-born defender that has much of the raw-intangibles that help make some of the league’s best defenders who they are today.
#13 | Buffalo Sabres
Axel Sandin-Pelikka, D, Skellefteå AIK (SHL)
After coming so close to kicking the now Stanley Cup bound Florida Panthers out of the playoff race, the Sabres need to focus on adding youth to the backend. Axel Sandin-Pelikka would be a fantastic country-man to help give Rasmus Dahlin some much needed help - someone who could also learn from Dahlin as they have much of the same play styles.
#14 | Pittsburgh Penguins
Oliver Bonk, D, London Knights (OHL)
The Penguins are in a tough position, but if they want to compete for a title now they should pick up someone who will compete for a starting job right away. With the dwindling years of Sidney Crosby and Yevgeni Malkin, Bonk would give the Penguins a young, and physical boost defensively, as well some decent upside when it comes to starting up the flow of the offense.
#15 | Nashville Predators
Gavin Brindley, F, Michigan (NCAA)
The Predators need someone who will consistently decimate teams through transition, and will always bring a high motor and tenacity on the forecheck. Michigan Wolverine Gavin Brindley is just the player to do that - although a little bit undersized - Brindley has a “no-quit” mentality, which when mixed with his offensive creativity is a deadly combo for team’s to handle.
#16 | Calgary Flames
Matthew Wood, F, UConn (NCAA)
One of my least favorite players in the draft, UConn Huskie Matthew Wood cannot skate to save his life. But that’s why you send the house to Florida to get Jonathan Huberdeau. At this point in his draft experience, Wood has proven that he has potential when it comes to fixing his flaws in skating, but still hasn’t done it. Right now you're betting on the raw upside that he’ll be a fantastic offensive contributor with his shot and stick skills and not much else.
Potential Sleeper Picks To Watch Out For…
#1: Wisconsin forward Charlie Stramel is drafted inside the top 15.
#2: Vancouver Canucks draft Axel Sandin-Pelikka at #11.
#3: Arizona Coyotes draft Matvei Michkov at #5.
#4: Philadelphia Flyers draft Ryan Leonard at #7.
#5: Gabe Perreault falls to the early 2nd round.
#6: Calgary Flames select Owen Sound Attack forward, Colby Barlow.
#7: Buffalo Sabres trade up to draft Matvei Michkov, (range picks 5-8).
#8: Detroit Red Wings trade away pick #8 in search of a bonified star.
#9: Calgary Flames select Kelowna Rockets forward, Andrew Cristall at #16.
#10: New York Rangers trade one of Alexis Lafreniere/Vladimir Taresenko/Mika Zibanejad/Artemi Panarin in exchange for a mid-1st round pick.
Hope Y’all Enjoyed,
And Until Next Time.