National Hockey Now’s 2023 NHL Mock Draft

With an NHL-leading 13 picks in the 2023 draft, including the No. 15 and 24 overall picks in the first round, the Nashville Predators are poised to lay the foundation of the Barry Trotz era.

The incoming Preds GM has told his scouts he wants to take some high-end swings with the team’s two first rounders, searching for offensive contributors who will “put butts in seats.”

The last time the Predators had 13 selections was 2003, which is also the last time the team hosted the draft. Trotz is banking on Nashville finding some gems comparable to that year’s haul of picks which included defensemen Ryan Suter, Kevin Klein and Shea Weber.

Below is National Hockey Now’s 2023 first-round mock draft, complete with 32 picks from the network’s beat writers with a few guest contributions:

1. Chicago Blackhawks: Connor Bedard, C, Regina (WHL)

One of the two sure-fire picks of the draft. The Blackhawks are getting arguably the most anticipated player since Connor McDavid went to the Edmonton Oilers in 2015. Bedard is expected to jump start the rebuild and help Chicago exit faster than what looked like a long process. (Selection by Chicago Hockey Now’s Nate Brown)

2. Anaheim Ducks: Adam Fantilli, C, University of Michigan (NCAA)

Fantilli is opting to return to the University of Michigan next season. That will give the Ducks time to figure out how to best use their collection of quality young players. Anaheim is starting to collect an impressive group of young centers. His overall game is superb and he can be one of the NHL’s most dangerous players around the net in the near future. (Selection by Sirius draft analyst Russ Cohen)

3. Columbus Blue Jackets: Leo Carlsson, C, Orebro (SHL)

In other years, Carlsson could have been a No. 1 pick overall. The Blue Jackets need a center and he’s one of the best in the draft. Columbus Director of Pro Scouting Josef Boumedienne knows him from serving as assistant GM for Sweden’s national team. That team included potential Olympic selections for 2026. (Selection by Cohen)

4. San Jose Sharks: Will Smith, C, USNTDP

While Matvei Michkov is tempting here, there are obviously a lot of questions surrounding him, in terms of when he’ll be able to come over to North America. Smith is a safer pick in that regard, but still owns top-of-the-lineup offensive upside. (Selection by San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng)

5. Montreal Canadiens: Matvei Michkov, RW, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

Despite the concerns regarding his contract in Russia, Michkov is simply too talented to ignore. The Canadiens desperately need players with elite offensive instincts and Michkov fits the bill. He has the type of skill set that would usually result in a first-overall choice. His fantastic shot, creativity, and elusiveness will serve him well in the NHL. (Selection by Montreal Hockey Now’s Marc Dumont)

6. Arizona Coyotes:  David Reinbacher, D, Kloten HC, (Swiss National League) 

The Coyotes are in desperate need of defensive help in both the near and long term. Reinbacher projects favorably as a top-four defenseman with a chance to be a top pairing guy. He has size and mobility that will make an impact in Arizona’s system. (Selection by FloHockey senior content creator for Chris Peters)

7. Philadelphia Flyers: Ryan Leonard, C, USNTDP

The Flyers need help everywhere. Leonard plays with a physical edge — Philly fans love that — and he has shown a scorer’s touch. The 18-year-old plays with maximum effort and is defensive minded, too. He is going to Boston College in the fall to join Flyers prospect Cutter Gauthier. (Selection by Philly Hockey Now’s Chuck Bausman)

8. Washington Capitals: Dalibor Dvorsky, C, AIK (Allsvenskan)

The Capitals need to capitalize on the team’s first top-10 choice since 2007, and Dvorsky is the safe pick with Michkov and others already off the board. The 6’1” 201 lb. center is a cerebral playmaker and Central Scouting’s No. 3 International skater — drastically improving the Capitals’ prospect pool in one pick alone. (Selection by Washington Hockey Now’s Jared Serre)

9. Detroit Red Wings: Oliver Moore, C, USNTDP

Detroit GM Steve Yzerman is delighted to find Moore still on the board at No. 9. He’s the playmaking center that the Red Wings currently lack. With his explosive speed, he might also be the best skater in this draft class. As well, he’s sound defensively. Moore is destined for the University of Minnesota and the Wings will like that they can be patient with his development. (Selection by Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff)

10. St Louis Blues: Matthew Wood, RW, Connecticut (NCAA) 

Blues need defense, but can likely grab a player they want with one of their later picks in the first round. Taking the best player available in this case would be selecting Wood. He’s the youngest player in NCAA hockey and dominated the BCHL the year before. Has some Tage Thompson qualities, although not as big. He’s 6-foot-3 (but is still growing) and the Blues want to get bigger. (Selection by Andy Strickland, Rink-side Reporter Bally Sports Midwest, Host 590 the Fan KFNS)

11. Vancouver Canucks: Tom Willander, D, Rogle BK (SHL)

Vancouver has forwards in the pipeline but could use a top-end D. Willander was super impressive at the combine in both the workouts as well as during interviews. (Selection by Strickland)

12. Arizona Coyotes: Nate Danielson, C, Brandon (WHL)

The Coyotes can get a dependable two-way center with some size and play-driving ability. There is debate about his overall puck skills as he lacks the dynamic element of some of the others available, but the Coyotes can add a projectable middle-six pivot by selecting Danielson. (Selection by Peters)

13. Buffalo Sabres: Quentin Musty, LW, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

Sabres GM Kevyn Adams appears to be looking to add a young power forward at #13. At the Draft Combine earlier this month, there was a lot of chatter about Buffalo being interested in Matthew Wood, but he went off the board to the Blues. Musty is a WNY product, who played for the Jr. Sabres before heading to Sudbury. The 6-foot-2, 190 -pound winger doubled his offensive output in his second OHL season with 78 points and is good two-way, but he needs to work on his skating. (Selection by Buffalo Hockey Now’s Mike Augello)

14. Pittsburgh Penguins: Zach Benson, LW, Winnipeg (WHL)

It’s very tempting to snag a center like Brayden Yager here, but Benson is too good to pass up. He’s undersized (5-foot-9, 163 pounds), but a lot of scouts think he’s a top-10 talent with speed and playmaking ability. He’s fearless in the corners and between the dots. A hard forechecker, Benson is compared to Mitch Marner. Despite the rough-and-tumble Metro Division, a difference maker on Evgeni Malkin’s or Sidney Crosby’s line is the type of pick that could add that bit of electricity back into the Penguins’ lineup sooner than later. (Selection by National Hockey Now Editor-in-Chief Dan Kingerski)

15. Nashville Predators: Gabe Perreault, RW, USNTDP

GM-in-waiting Barry Trotz wants some high-end swings from his scouting department and Perreault certainly fits that bill after a breakout 2022 season in which he set USNTDP records for single-season points (132) and assists (79). His elusive skating and excellent puck-handling make him a threat to create scoring chances from anywhere on the ice, and his ability (and desire) to attack defenders 1-on-1 is exactly the kind of aggressively offensive skill set that will thrive under newly hired head coach Andrew Brunette. (Selection by Nashville Hockey Now’s Michael Gallagher)

16. Calgary Flames: Brayden Yager, C, Moose Jaw (WHL)

The Flames need to focus on the future at center and Yager has an elite shot and finishing ability they need after all those one-goal losses. (Selection by Calgary Hockey Now’s Steve MacFarlane)

17. Detroit Red Wings: Axel Sandin-Pellikka, D, Skelleftea (SHL)

The flashy Swede is the best puck-moving defenseman in the draft. He’s slick with the puck, a superb decision-maker. The Red Wings are looking to add more right-shot young defensemen. (Selection made by Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen)

18. Winnipeg Jets: Dmitri Simashev, D, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)

The 6-foot-4-inch defenseman has a high ceiling. Already over 200 pounds, he has room to get stronger, is already a very good skater, and he’s slippery in the offensive zone creating chances for teammates. He has top-four defenseman written all over him. (Selection by Cohen)

19. Chicago Blackhawks: Colby Barlow, LW, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)

Many believe Andrew Cristall will go here, but there’s just too many boxes that Barlow checks to not take him. The Blackhawks are flush with centers and defensemen in the prospect pool, and this allows them to take a skilled winger. Barlow scored 46 goals in 59 games and is Owen Sound’s captain. He would be another leadership voice in a future Blackhawks locker room. Beyond that, his commitment at both ends of the ice along with his scoring gifts and other intangibles makes him Davidson’s pick at 19. (Selection by Brown)

20. Seattle Kraken: Riley Heidt, C, Prince George (WHL)

He has plenty of speed, a quick decision-maker on odd-man breaks and is a precision passer. The pivot has a pro-one-timer, too. (Selection by Cohen)

21. Minnesota Wild: Otto Stenberg, C, Frolunda (SHL)

Stenberg’s speed off the wall prompts scouts to believe that he will be a winger at the next level. His one-timer is terrific and he’s a two-way player who has excellent physical strength already. (Selection by Cohen)

22. Philadelphia Flyers: Lukas Dragicevic, D, Tri-City (WHL)

After selecting Ryan Leonard at No. 7, the Flyers want to beef up their defensive corps. Dragicevic has size at 6-foot-1, 190 pounds and is an excellent skater. He likes to charge forward with the puck and will turn defense into much-needed offense. (Selection by Bausman)

23. New York Rangers: Gavin Brindley, RW, University of Michigan (NCAA)

Brindley is a smaller slippery forward who had 38 points in 41 games during his freshman season with the Wolverines. He’s a nifty stick-handler who competes hard and has proven he can thrive in high traffic areas. He has plenty of speed. (Selection by Cohen)

24. Nashville Predators: Andrew Cristall, LW, Kelowna (WHL)

Cristall averaged two points per game in 2022 and finished sixth in the WHL in scoring, despite missing 14 games. Tallying 35 goals and 95 points is the kind of production that will be expected out of a Brunette-coached offense, and Cristall is gifted playmaker who has offensive creativity in spades. He will likely fall to the mid-20s because of his 5-foot-10, 167-pound frame and Nashville will reap the benefits. (Selection by Gallagher)

25. St. Louis Blues: Eduard Sale, RW, Brno (Czechia)

Boasts some of the best hands in the draft, Sale knows how to find seams in the defense.  Doesn’t always seem dangerous, but if you lose track of him he will find the net. He buries his chances. Some teams have him rated close to the top 10. (Selection by Allen)

26. San Jose Sharks: Oliver Bonk, D, London Knights (OHL)

At the Trade Deadline, Mike Grier made a point of adding young defensemen Shakir Mukhamadullin, Nikita Okhotiuk, and Henry Thrun. He will likely continue his bid to re-shape the Sharks’ defense of the future by selecting the son of Radek; a 6-foot-2 blueliner who defends well and can move the puck. (Selection by Peng)

27. Colorado Avalanche: David Edstrom, C, Frolunda (SHL)

An ideal spot to trade down for the asset-poor Avs, but they select the very smart Edstrom. The 6-foot-3 center excelled at every level in Sweden before finishing strong at the U-18’s. A hard worker and good skater with high hockey-IQ. All the attributes Colorado looks for. (Selection by Colorado Hockey Now’s Evan Rawal)

28. Toronto Maple Leafs: Luca Cagnoni, D, Portland (WHL)

The Leafs will select the best player available late in the first round, but with the scouting staff of former GM Kyle Dubas still running the draft, they will not shy away from a smaller player. Toronto will feel fortunate if Cagnoni is there at No. 28. The 5’9″, 180-pound defenseman scored 64 points (17 goals, 47 assists) in 67 games for the Winterhawks and after trading Rasmus Sandin at the deadline, Toronto may want to bolster their organizational depth on the blueline. (Selection by Augello)

29. St. Louis Blues: Samuel Honzek, C/LW, Vancouver (WHL)

The skilled Slovak put up 56 points in 43 games for Vancouver. Honzek is 6-foot-4 and owns a quick release and hard shot. He will use his body and goes hard to the net.  Impressive on the power play, he projects to be a second line forward with the ability to score and play a strong all-around game. (Selection by Allen)

30. The Carolina Hurricanes: Jayden Perron, RW, Chicago Steel (USHL)

Perron’s speed sets up his offense, and his two-way game is on point keeping with the Hurricanes’ way. (Selection by Cohen)

31. Montreal Canadiens: Calum Ritchie, C, Oshawa Generals (OHL)

Ritchie projects as a two-way forward that can play a 200-foot game. His defensive awareness should allow him to find a role in the NHL and quickly become a coach’s favorite. (Selection by Dumont)

32. Vegas Golden Knights: Daniil But, LW, Yaroslavl (KHL)

A 6-foot-5 scorer, But is already playing well in the KHL. He owns a powerful shot and has good offensive instincts. He’s a project, but he has a high up-side. (Selection by Kingerski).

Check out our other Predators draft stories:

Which ‘Swing-For-The-Fences’ Players Could Barry Trotz Target?

Predators Staking Their Future On Late-Round Draft Success

Looking Back At The Predators’ History Drafting Inside The Top 15

Five Best Hidden-Gem Draft Picks In Predators History

Follow Michael Gallagher on Twitter @MGsports_

(Photo via John Russell/Nashville Predators)