2023 NHL Mock Draft: Final Mock 7 Rounds

Round 1 Picks 17-32

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: June 28, 2023.

17. Detroit Red Wings: Matthew Wood, RW, Connecticut
    
    
    New York traded this first round pick to Vancouver for Bo Horvat. Vancouver traded this pick to Detrot for defenseman Filip Hronek probably due to the fact that this is such a suspect defensive draft or due to the fact that Vancouver didn't like any defenseman on the board this year. The 2022 NHL Entry Draft had five defensemen drafted in the top twelve and the 2024 NHL Entry Draft is currently projected to have five defensemen picked in the top 10.
    
    
    
    Detroit has Colby Barlow who I mocked at 9 as a first line left winger as my dark horse to make the NHL right away at the age of 18 after being drafted by Detroit in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Dylan Larkin as their first line center, and Lucas Raymond as their first line right winger. Detroit would have David Perron as their second line left winger, Andrew Copp as their second line center, and Dominik Kubalik as their second line right winger. Detroit will have Jonatan Berggren as their third line left winger, Joe Veleno as their third line center, and Michael Rasmussen as their third line right winger. Detroit will have Robby Fabbri as their fourth line left winger, Marco Kasper their 2022 first round pick as their fourth line center, and Filip Zadina as their fourth line right winger. That's a solid core of forwards if your core guys can avoid injuries.
    
    
    
    Detroit will have Moritz Seider anchoring the first line of Detroit's defense on the blue line with Jake Walman complimenting Seider on that top line. Ben Chiarot and Olli Maatta will play defense for Detroit on the Red Wings second line of defense. This means that Gustav Lindstrom and Simon Edvinsson, Detroit's 2021 first round pick who has yet to play in the NHL will play on Detroit's third line next season.
    
    
    
    Right now Ville Husso is the starting goalie. Backup goalie is a short-term need for 1-2 years before Detroit promotes 2021 first round pick Sebatian Cossa to the NHL. Cossa got demoted from the AHL on the Grand Rapids Griffins to the ECHL, but made tremendous progress after getting settled in to the ECHL.
    
    
    
    Both second line wingers David Perron and Dominick Kubalik are unrestircted Free Agents next year in 2024. That's why I think doubling up at winger and getting a right winger after taking Colby Barlow at 9 as a left winger is a smart play for Detroit. That's why I ultimately ended up mocking Connecticut Huskies second line right winger Matthew Wood to Detroit here.
    
    
    
    The 6-4 197 lb Matthew Wood is versatile enough to play right wing or left wing. Matthew Wood had 11 goals, 23 assists, 34 points, and a +7 +/- ratio in 35 games with Connecticut as a true freshman.
    
    
    
    Matthew Wood has the playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Matthew Wood can develop at Connecticut during his sophomore year and then you can sign him for the 2024-2025 NHL Season or the 2025-2026 NHL Season after his junior season as a potential second line right winger.
    
    
    
18. Winnipeg Jets: Riley Heidt, C, Prince George Cougars (WHL)
    
    
    The Winnipeg Jets Kyle Connor their 2015 first round pick as their first line left winger, Mark Schiefele their 2011 first round pick as their first line center, and Blake Wheeler as their first line right winger whose spent his twelve years in Winnipeg after the Atlanta Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg. Winnipeg has Nikolaj Ehlers their 2013 first round pick until 2025, Pierre Luc-Dubois was the second line center on Winnipeg, but he's been traded to the Los Angeles Kings which means Adam Lowry might get promoted from the third line to second line. Nino Neiderreiter is the second line right winger on Winnipeg. Scheifele, Wheeler, and Neiderreiter both enter contract years with Winnipeg. After that, Nikolaj Ehlers enters a contract year in 2024 with him eligible to become a 2025 unrestricted Free Agent with Kyle Connor entering a contract year in 2025 eligible to become an unrestricted Free Agent the following year in 2026.
    
    
    
    Winnipeg will have Cole Perfetti their 2020 first round pick as the third line left winger. Adam Lowry is Winnipeg's third line center. Morgan Barron was Winnipeg's third line left winger when Perfetti was injured, but I'd imagine he'd be Winnipeg's third line right winger. Morgan Barron is an RFA.
    
    
    
    Winnipeg has Axel Jonsson-Fjallby as their fourth line left winger whose an RFA, Kevin Stenlund as their fourth line center whose an RFA, and Mason Appleton as a fourth line right winger. Winnipeg has all twelve forwards bak for next season if they choose to keep their core of forwards for one more season.
    
    
    
    Winnipeg only has three quality defensemen with Joshua Morrissey, Neal Pionk, and Nate Schmidt. Morrissey is Winnipeg's best offensive defenseman while Neal Pionk has anchored the blue line as the Winnipeg Jets number one defensean. Nate Schmidt was a good second line defenseman on Washington's Presidents Trophy team, the Vegas Golden Knights 2018 Stanley Cup team, and Vancouver's team that got past the St. Louis Blues during the Covid bubble. The problem is there is nobody else besides these three that's remotely effective when it comes to defending for the Winnipeg Jets as Winnipeg has relied on their forwards and goaltending to carry this team for the past few seasons.
    
    
    
    Brenden Dillon is an AHL guy and the fact that Rick Bowness played him on the first line against the Vegas Golden Knights when Josh Morrissey was injured is one example of awful coaching as he's the fourth best defenseman on Winnipeg when Morrissey, Pionk, and Schmidt are healthy. Dylan Demelo and Kyle Capobiaco are horrendous third line defensemen. Winnipeg has drafted defenseman early in the NHL Draft dating back to the first two rounds of 2019, but neither defensemen that Winnipeg drafted that early reached the NHL in the last three years.
    
    
    
    Connor Hellebuyck is Winnipeg's starting goalie, but Winnipeg's 30 year old goalie and 2012 fifth round pick enters a contract year making him a UFA in 2024. David Rittich the backup goalie is an unrestricted Free Agent. Oskari Salminen has one year left on his contract, but he underperformed for someone who led the Mantioba Moose with 39 starts in th Winnipeg has RFA tenders to exercise on Evan Cormier and Arvid Holm who I believe would both be better options than Oskari Salminen for the backup goalie in Winnipeg since both goalies had better save percentages and gave up fewer goals when starting for the Manitoba Moose in the AHL. I won't be surprised if both goalies get tendered, especially if Connor Hellebuyck gts traded.
    
    
    
    There are rumors that Winnipeg is putting Blake Wheeler, Mark Schiefele, Pierre Luc-Dubois, and Connor Hellebuyck on the trading block this offseason for the right price, but Winnipeg has $12,992,144 in cap space for 2023 and Winnipeg will have over $50 million in cap space in 2024 when their core guys like Scheifele, Wheeler, and Hellebuyck become unrestriced free agents. Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck won't re-sign with the Jets meaning Winnipeg has to trade their long time starting goalie.
    
    
    
    It also helps that Winnipeg has the cap space to buy Auston Matthews and Leon Draisaitl if neither player gets extended this Summer. Theoretically Winnipeg could get both of those guys and Hellebuyck if either hits the market. Winnipeg could get Vladislav Gavrikov from the Los Angeles Kings on defense whose projected to get $4.9 million, Carson Soucy a key Seattle Kraken defender whose projected to make $2.5 million in Free Agency, along Connor Clifton a third line defenseman on the Boston Bruins for $1.75 million on one year or two year deals, use their RFA tenders, keep their core players, and still stay under the cap while going All in for a cup in 2023. Another option would be to use that money to extend Connor Hellebuyck since the Jets have some solid forwards in their prospect pool at the moment.
    
    
    
    That group of prospects includes Chaz Lucius a 2021 first round pick, Brad Lambert a 2022 late first round pick, Nikita Chibrikov a 2021 second round pick that I had a first round grade on signed his entry level contract last month, Jimmy Snuggerud a 2022 first round pick in the NCAA, and Danny Zhilkin a 2022 third round pick as those players are future prospects that will able to allow Winnipeg to reload if core players test Free Agency or retire. Those ideas are way better strategies than trading your core players and blowing up the damn team like many in the mainstream media are speculating with Winnipeg when you have nearly $13 million in cap space. If Winnipeg had under $10 million, I'd say trade some guys for prospects plus draft capital, but Winnipeg has one more year to try to bring the Stanley Cup back to Canada even though it feels like their window of opportunity closed when Paul Maurice left.
    
    
    
    While it's entirely possible that Winnipeg trades a core player to start their rebuild earlier, that seems premature when you consider how much cap space Winnipeg has to work with in 2023 and 2024. Winnipeg couldn't find a viable replacement at head coach for Paul Maurice who took this team to the 2018 Western Conference Finals and the second round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs after Maurice along with Winnipeg decided to mutually part ways with each other last year and now Maurice has Florida in their first Stanley Cup since 1996. Former Dallas Stars head coach and Paul Maurice replacemet Rick Bowness stripped Blake Wheeler of his captaincy only to get called out by Wheeler following a game 5 loss to Vegas in the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The final issue I have with Winnipeg is they've neglected the blue line for years despite having a strong core of forwards along with stout goaltending thanks to Connor Hellebuyck.
    
    
    
    My top player left on the board at this point is Riley Heidt the Prince George Cougars center. I'm going best player over need especially with all of the trade rumors surrounding Winnipeg at the moment.
    
    
    
    The Prince George Cougars drafted Riley Heidt second overall in the first round of the 2020 WHL Draft. The one guy who was picked ahead of Heidt in that 2020 WHL Draft was Connor Bedard.
    
    
    
    The 5-10 180 lb Riley Heidt had 21 goals, 37 assists, 59 points, and a -20 +/- ratio in 2021-2022. Riley Heidt had 1 goal, 2 assists, and 3 points in 3 games during the 2022 WHL Playoffs. Riley Heidt had 25 goals, 72 assists, 97 points, and a -3 +/- ratio in 2022-2023. Riley Heidt had 2 goals, 6 assists, and 8 points in 9 games during the 2023 WHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Riley Heidt has the playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Riley Heidt is verssatile enough to play left wing, center, and right wing. Riley Heidt needs to add more muscle and play at a high level when his team is trailing more consistently. Riley Heidt is a project, but he's a top 20 talent in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
    
    
    
    
    
19. Chicago Blackhawks: Gabe Perreault, LW, USNTDP (USHL)
    
    
    Chicago will have Taylor Hall as their first line left winger, Connor Bedard as their first line center, and Lukas Reichel as their first line right winger until Frank Nazar the Chicago Blackhawks 2022 first round pick that was drafted fourteenth overall is ready for the NHL. I think Reichel will move back to left winger by this point because Taylor Hall's contract will be up by then too.
    
    
    
    Chicago needs to get some forwards for the second line. I think Colton Dach can be Chicago's second line center down the road. Getting a future second line winger seems like a priority. Gabe Perreault is the son of Yanic Perreault who spent 14 seasons in the NHL.
    
    
    
    The 5-10 163 lb Gabe Perreault is versatile enough to play left winger or right winger. He played on the United States National Team Developmental Program first line at left wing with Will Smith playing first line center and Ryan Leonard playing right wing on that first line.
    
    
    
    Gabe Perreault had 53 goals, 79 assists, and 132 points on the US-Under 18 Team breaking the previous record which was set by Auston Matthews in 2022-2023. Gabe Perrault had 19 goals, 26 assists, and 45 points in the USHL in 2022-2023.
    
    
    
    Gabe Perreault is going to Boston College with Will Smith and Ryan Leonard. Chicao can develop Gabe Perreault at Boston College and when he's done developing there, he can come up to the NHL and be Chicago's second line left winger.
    
    
    
    Gabe Perreault has the playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, and offensive awareness to succeed in the NHL. Gabe Perreault is amazing on special teams with the power play and penalty killing. He's got to get stronger, improve his defensive awareness, improve his skating, and improve his foot speed at Boston College if he wants to get to the NHL and be Chicago's second line left winger. The potential to be that player for Chicago down the road is there though.
    
    
    
20. Seattle Kraken: Dmitri Simashev, D, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)
    
    
    The Seattle Kraken had the best NHL Draft of any NHL team in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Seattle looks to strengthen that prospect pool even more in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
    
    
    
    Seattle has Andre Burakovsky as their first line left winger, Matthew Beniers as their first line center, and Jordan Eberle as their first line right winger. Seattle has Jaden Schwartz as their second line left winger, Alexander Wennberg as their second line center, and Jared McCann as their second line right winger. Seattle has Eeli Tolvanen as their third line left winger, Yanni Gourde as their third line center, and Oliver Bjorkstrand as their third line right winger. Seattle has Tye Kartye as their fourth line left winger, Morgan Geekie as their fourth line center who will be an RFA this summer, and Brandon Tanev as their fourth line right winger.
    
    
    
    The only forward that Seattle loses to Free Agency is fourth line left winger Ryan Donato who filled in for an injured Andre Burakovsky. With Andre Burakovsky coming back, Seattle won't need Donato. Alexander Wennberg and Jordan Eberle are Free Agents in 2024-2025, but Seattle will have Shane Wright their fourth pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft replacing Wennberg as their second line center and Jagger Firkus their thirty fifth overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft as a potential replacement to Jordan Eberle unless Eberle agrees to a team friendly extension. I had first round grades on both Shane Wright and Jagger Firkus in 2022. Jani Nyman, who Seattle drafted forty ninth overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft could potentially replace Brandon Tanev as Seattle's fourth line right winger while center David Goyette their sixty first overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft that I had a first round grade on could replace Yanni Gourde as Seattle's third line center in 2025-2026.
    
    
    
    Seattle has 12 quality forwards projected to be on their NHL roster in 2023-2024. They will have 12 quality forwards in 2024 with Wright and Firkus arriving. Then Seattle will still have 12 quality forwards in 2025 once Nyman and Goyette arrive.
    
    
    
    Seattle has Adam Larsson and Vince Dunn as their first line defensemen with Larsson anchoring the blue line on Seattle's first line. William Borgen and Jamie Oleksiak are the second line defensemen with Borgen anchoring the second line. Justin Schultz will anchor the third line of Seattle's blue line on defense. Carson Soucy was the number six defender on Seattle this past season, but he's an unrestricted Free Agent. Seattle has Jaycob Megna under contract next season as the number six defenseman in a contract year if Soucy walks. Seattle has $19,589,167 in cap space for the 2023-2024 NHL Season, so Seattle can bring back Soucy or let him walk and try to find someone better.
    
    
    
    Seattle also has Ty Nelson, a defenseman they selected sixty eighth overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and Nelson is a guy I had a first round grade on. Nelson improved his point total from 51 points in his draft year to 76 points this past season. Even though it's unlikely that Ty Nelson plays on the Seattle Kraken next season, I'm not ruling out that possibility since Nelson was the first overall pick in the 2020 OHL Draft one year after Shane Wright was the first overall pick in the 2019 OHL Draft. Somehow the Kraken ended up with both of those OHL studs which is just not fair. I can see Ty Nelson beating out Jaycob Megna for that number six defenseman job if Soucy goes elsewhere in Free Agency, but I can also see Seattle bringing Ty Nelson back to the OHL and giving their 2022 NHL Draft class one more year to develop before possibly bringing Nelson up as a replacement to Justin Schultz when his contract expires after next season. I think we will see Ty Nelson in the NHL by 2026 at the vary latest since he should be ready for the NHL by the time Jamie Oleksiak's deal is up by 2026.
    
    
    
    Seattle has Philipp Grubauer as their starting goalie for next season. Chris Driedger will be Seattle's backup goalie back from a season ending injury which placed him on injured reserve in a contract year with Martin Jones set to be a Free Agent.
    
    
    
    Seattle also has Niklas Kokko, a goalie on Oulun Karpat that Seattle drafted fifty eighth overall in the second round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft after Niklas Kokko had a 1.000 save percentage with two shutouts in two starts during his draft year. Kokko was under contract with Oulun Karpat in Finland until 2024-2025, but he signed his rookie deal so he may be going to the AHL to develop as early as next season, and could potentially take over as the starting goalie in 2027-2028 when Grubauer's contract expires.
    
    
    
    Seattle doesn't have to draft for need. The Kraken took a player that resembled Ron Francis in Matthew Beniers second overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft before killing it in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft by getting my top player in Shane Wright as well as three other players that I had first round grades on in Jagger Firkus, David Goyette, and Ty Nelson. The best player on my board is Dmitri Simashev, a defenseman on Lokomotiv Yaroslavl that's being proclaimed the Russian Miro Heiskanen by various NHL and KHL scouts.
    
    
    
    The 6-4 201 lb Dmitri Simashev is the best skating defenseman in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. Dmitri Simashev had 1 goal, 9 assists, and 10 points in the MHL. Dmitri Simashev had 0 points in 18 KHL games, but he showed his ability to be an impact player and got over 10 minutes in the KHL which is rare for an 18-year-old since most players that age in the KHL get 1 or 2 shifts a game sometimes sitting on the bench against grown men in Russia for the entire game.
    
    
    
    Dmitri Simashev has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Dmitri Simashev can play on the power play or the penalty kill. He needs to develop his shot more in the KHL, but he's under contract with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the KHL until the 2024-2025 KHL Season ends. Adam Larsson's contract with the Seattle Kraken expires in 2025 and that's the earliest that Simashev would be ready to play in the NHL.
    
    
    
    Dmitri Simashev has the size and athletic traits you want a first line defenseman to have. He's a great passer and forechecker. He can block shots at will too. He just needs to refine his shooting power and shooting accuracy on slap shots and wrist shots. That's the only thing holding him back from the NHL and with two more years to develop in the KHL he can do that while Adam Larsson plays out his contract.
    
    
    
    Seattle would have Dmitri Simashev and Vince Dunn on the first line in 2025-2026. William Borgen and Jamie Oleksiak on the second line. Ty Nelson and Ty Jugnauth, Seattle's 2022 fourth round pick drafted at one hundred could end up playing on the third line.
    
    
    
    Seattle already has short-term stability and long-term stability with their core of forwards. Seattle already has short-term stability and long-term stability with their goalies. Seattle already has short-term stability on the blue line, but not long term stability which may have been why they lost to Dallas in seven games. Drafting Dmitri Simashev at twenty gives Seattle long-term stability on their blue line positioning the Seattle Kraken as a prime contender to win the Western Conference by the time the 2025-2026 NHL Season rolls around.
    
    
    
    
    
21. Minnesota Wild: William Whitelaw, C, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
    
    
    The Minnesota Wild haven't played Marco Rossi on their top line yet. It's time to draft another center and hope he can be the first line center that Minnesota needs.
    
    
    
    The two centers Minnesota have been rumored to be targeting at 21 are Nate Danielson the first line center on the Brandon Wheat Kings in the WHL and William Whitelaw a first line center on the Youngstown Phantoms whose also versatile enough to play right winger. Columbus and Pittsburgh also both reportedly sent scouts to the 2023 Clarke Cup. William Whitelaw is a Minnesota native too, and he's higher on my board than Nate Danielson. Also, Columbus is on deck with the first round pick they got from the Los Angeles Kings.
    
    
    
    The 5-8 175 lb William Whitelaw was the first pick in the 2021 USHL Draft. He only played 9 games as a rookie, but dominated this past season.
    
    
    
    William Whitelaw had 36 goals, 25 assists, 61 points, and a +11 +/- ratio in 62 USHL regular season games in 2022-2023. William Whitelaw had 5 goals, 4 assists, and 9 points in 9 games during the 2023 USHL Playoffs leading the Youngstown Phantoms to a 2023 Clark Cup.
    
    
    
    William Whitelaw has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. William Whitelaw has better tape and traits on film compared to Nate Danielson even though Danielson had more points than Whitelaw despite being a team captain on the Brandon Wheat Kings.
    
    
    
    The thing is Whitelaw is going to Wisconsin. I think Whitelaw coud be in the NHL by 2025-2026 while Danielson is a guy that I see remaining in the WHL for two more years and then going to the AHL for a season before making the jump to the NHL in 2026-2027. With William Whitelaw, I see a guy that can go from the Youngstown Phantoms for two years, to the Wisconsin Badgers for two years, to the Minnesota Wild on their NHL roster in two years without having to spend any time on the Iowa Wild in the AHL. Frankly, that's what separates William Whitelaw from Nate Danielson in my opinion.
    
    
    
22. Philadelphia Flyers: Mikhail Gulyayev, D, Avangard Omsk (KHL)
    
    
    Columbus got this pick from the Los Angeles Kings for trading Vladislav Gavrikov to the Los Angeles Kings. Columbus ended up trading this pick and pick 34 to the Philadelphia Flyers for Ivan Provorov.
    
    
    
    The top twenty one prospects on my big board for the 2023 NHL Entry Draft are all off my board. The number twenty two prospect on my big board is a goalie, but with no consensus first round goalie, I think Philadelphia drafts a defenseman here evem though the two second round picks the Flyers obtained from Columbus and Los Angeles were 2024 second round picks.
    
    
    
    I gave Philadelphia Mikhail Gulyayev whose been proclaimed the Russian Cale Makar by various NHL and KHL scouts. Philadelphia Flyers scouts wanted the Philadelphia Flyers to draft Cale Makar second overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Ron Hextall was like screw you scouts Nolan Patrick was the consensus number one pick for most of the draft process before his durability concerns which led to Nico Hischer now the New Jersey Devils captain supplanting Patrick as the top prospect back in 2017. Nolan Patrick got injured three times in one year as captain of the Brandon Wheat Kings and ended up being a massive bust with the Flyers while Makar went on to win the Conn Smythe Trophy with the Colorado Avalanche a season ago as the fourth overall pick after being drafted one pick after Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen. Ron Hextall also screwed up pretty badly in Pittsburgh too, but let's get back to Mikhail Gulyayev as the potential replacement to Ivan Provorov.
    
    
    
    The 5-10 170 lb Mikhail Gulyayev had 2 goals, 23 assists, and 25 points with Omskie Yastreby in the MHL leading defensemen in points in the MHL in 2022-2023. Mikhail Gulyayev had 0 goals, 4 assists, and 4 points with Omskie Kyrile in the VHL in 2022-2023. Mikhail Gulyayev had 0 goals, 1 assist, and 1 point in 13 KHL games with Avangard Omsk against men in Russia in the KHL in 2022-2023.
    
    
    
    Mikhail Gulyayev has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Mikhail Gulyayev is a very similar Russian defenseman compared to Dmitri Simashev. Simashev is the better skater and is a much bigger defenseman at 6-4 201 while Gulyayev is 5-10 180. That's why Simashev went to the Seattle Kraken at 20 while Mikhail Gulyayev fell to the Philadelphia Flyers at 22. However, Gulyayev is a better shooter at this point even though Gulyayev needs to continue to improve his shot mainly the mechanics on his shot.
    
    
    
    Philadelphia Flyers contract with Russia in the KHL runs through the 2025 KHL Season. This means the earliest that Mikhail Gulyayev would play on the Philadelphia Flyers is 2025. Philadelphia has Cam York their 2019 first round pick, overpaid Ryan Ellis, Travis Sanheim their 2014 first round pick, an overpaid Rasmus Ristolainen, Anthony DeAngelo, and Nick Seeler a 2011 fifth round pick whose nothing more than an expendable journeyman at this point. Helge Grans a 2020 second round pick that the Los Angeles Kings sent Philadelphia and Eemil Andrae, Philadelphia's 2020 second round pick could potentially replace DeAngelo and Seeler on the third line in 2024. Philadelphia can let Mikhail Gulyayev develop in Russia until 2025 and develop him accordingly and Philadelpha wouldn't have to play Mikhail Gulyayev in the NHL until 2028 when both Ryan Ellis and Rasmus Ristolainen are both unrestricted Free Agents while Gulyayev plays out his AHL deal with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
    
    
    
    
    
23. New York Rangers: Gavin Brindley, RW, Michigan
    
    
    The New York Rangers are taking a forward here. The only question is whether they end up selecting a center or a right winger here. New York has Mika Zibanejad as thier first line center, Vincent Trocheck as their second line center, Filip Chytil as their third line center, and Barclay Goodrow as their fourth line center. This is a good core of centers, but I really don't see the New York Rangers winning a Stanley Cup without a superstar center that can generate 100 points during the regular season or a guy who can you over 20 points during the Stanley Cup Playoffs despite their depth at left wing. New York will have Artemi Panarin as their first line left winger and Kaapo Kakko their second overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft as their first line wingers with Mika Zibanejad next season. New York has Chris Kreider as their second line left winger and Alexis Lafreniere the first overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft as their third line left winger. Jimmy Vesey is a good fourth line left winger.
    
    
    
    New York has Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren as their first line defensemen with Fox a Norris Trophy Candidate anchoring that first line of the New York Rangers blue line. Jacob Trouba anchored the second line of New York's defense playing all 82 games. K'Andre Miller was second among defensemen on the New York Rangers with 43 points with Adam Fox being the only defenseman with more of an offensive impact on the New York Rangers than K'Andre Miller and Miller is complimenting Trouba on that second line for the New York Rangers defense. Miller and third line left winger Alexis Lafrieniere are both RFA's this offseason. It's sounding like Miller will in fact get priority over the former first overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft since Lafrieniere only had 39 points in his third season with the Rangers. Braden Schneider, New York's other 2020 first round pick along with Alexis Lafrieniere anchors the third line of this blue line. Ben Harpur will compliment Braden Schneider on this third line.
    
    
    
    Igor Shesterkin will be New York's starting goalie for at least two more seasons. Backup goalie Jaroslav Halak is a Free Agent. Louis Domingue started for the Hartford Wolfpack in the AHL and did great in the regular season. Dylan Garrand New York's 2020 fourth round pick did well with the Kamloops Blazers in the WHL. Garrand struggled during the regular season as the backup to Louis Domingue in the AHL, but stepped up during the 2023 AHL Playoffs. This tells me Igor Shesterkin is the starting goalie, Louis Domigue gets an opportunity as a backup goalie in his contract year, and Dylan Garrand, New York's 2020 fourth round pick gets a full season to develop in the AHL next season with the Hartford Wolfpack potentially making the New York Rangers in 2024-2025 if Domingue struggles in the NHL next season.
    
    
    
    Three of New York's right wingers are unrestricted Free Agents and the best player on my board at this point in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft is Michigan Wolverines right winger Gavin Brindley. The original plan was to give New York Oshawa Generals center Calum Ritchie since Ritchie was a preseason top 10 pick. However, all of New York's centers Zibanejad, Trocheck, Chytil, and Goodrow are under contract until 2027 locked up for four more seasons. This tells me that New York will draft a right winger at 23 if the best player on the board is a right winger.
    
    
    
    The 5-8 168 lb Gavin Brindley had 12 goals, 26 assists, 38 points, and a +21 +/- ratio during his freshman season at Michigan. Gavin Brindley was Michigan's second line right winger, but there were games where Brindley played on Michigan's top line. He can be the second line right winger behind Kaapo Kakko on the New York Rangers. With Florida Panthers 2021 first round pick Mackie Samoskevich signing his NHL entry level contract following Michigan's two Frozen Four seasons, it now looks like Gavin Brindley will be Michigan's first line right winger next season. Gavin Brindley showed flashes of being a special winger at times and it's entirely possible that Gavin Brindley arrives in the NHL in 2024-2025 one year after being drafted like Wyatt Johnston did with Dallas after the Dallas Stars drafted Wyatt Johnston twenty third overall in this exact spot two years ago.
    
    
    
    Gavin Brindley has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. The only knock on Gavin Brindley is the height. He looked like a well rounded forward in terms of his offense, defense, and skating ability on film. With Gavin Brindley getting promoted from the second line to the first line, it's possible for Brindley to crack the NHL in 2024-2025 rather than 2025-2026 since he will have more opportunities to break out and improve his point total at Michigan.
    
    
    
24. Nashville Predators: Eduard Sale, RW, HC Kometa Brno (Extraliga)
    
    
    Nashville uses Edmonton's 2023 first round pick in the trade that sent Mattias Ekholm from Nashville to Edmonton in exchange for Tyson Barrie and Edmonton's 2023 first round pick which now belongs to the Nashville Predators. Nashville drafts another right winger to add to their prospect pool. If you want to look at the Nashville Predators current roster for next season you can click the link that takes you to picks 1-16 in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 175 lb Eduard Sale had 7 goals, 7 assists, 14 points, and a -9 +/- ratio for HC Kometa Brno against men in the Extraliga league located in the Czech Republic in 2022-2023.
    
    
    
    Eduard Sale is the most polarizing prospect in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. Craig Button of TSN called him the fifth best player in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft stating that Sale has the floor of William Nylander, the second line right winger on the Toronto Maple Leafs and the ceiling of David Pastrnak whose the star first line right winger on the Boston Bruins. Other scouting services have this guy in the second round. Lisa Donovan put Sale in her top ten mocking him to Vancouver at 8 prior to the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery, yet I have him in the back end of the first round because Sale did not impress me on tape. He also had 0 points for HC Kometa Brno in 6 playoff games in Extraliga.
    
    
    
    This first round pick is essentially a luxury pick for Nashville. Eduard Sale is versatile enough to play left wing, right wing, and defense. In a game against the Sweden for the Czech Republic Under 18 Team he lined up as an extra defender on the power play. This is a first line winger on both HC Kometa Brno's roster as well as the power play unit and that should translate to the NHL down the road. Nashville has saturated their NHL roster with two-way forwards especially centers who are versatile enough to play center as well as winger.
    
    
    
    Eduard Sale has the playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Eduard Sale stride when skating is choppy. He needs to clean that part of his game up and improve his skating. He's not as aggressive as you'd like him to be. His defensive awareness also needs to improve. Those are the three biggest reasons I'm lower on Sale than the consensus. However, Nashville at 24 feels like a good spot for him.
    
    
    
    
    
25. St. Louis Blues: Tom Willander, D, Rogle BK (Elitserien)
    
    
    St. Louis traded Ryan O'Reilly to Toronto for this pick. St. Louis gets a defenseman here.
    
    
    
    St. Louis has every forward on their roster back next season except fourth line right winger Tyler Pitlick. I gave the St. Louis Blues center Oliver Moore the second line center on the United States National Team Developmental Program as a potential replacement to Ryan O'Reilly with the tenth pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. Robert Thomas, Pavel Buchnevic, Brayden Schenn, and Nathan Walker are all back at center with Nathan Walker as the only center in a contract year with Oliver Moore as a replacement to Pavel Buchnevich once Buchnevich's contract expires in 2025-2026.
    
    
    
    Brandon Saad and Jordan Kyrou compliment Robert Thomas on the first line at left wing and right wing is a good start. Samuel Blais and Kasperi Kapanen enter contract years as the second line wingers with Blais as left wing and Kapanen at right wing. Jake Neighbours is the third line right winger with Jakub Vrana right winger. I believe Neighbours will do well enough on the third line next season to earn a spot as one of the Blues top six forwards moving forward in 2024 when both Blias and Kapanen have expiring contracts.
    
    
    
    All seven defensemen with the St. Louis Blues are back. Justin Faulk and Colton Parayko should play on the Blues first line. That leaves Torry Krug and Nick Leddy for the St. Louis Blues second line of defense. Calle Rosen, Robert Bortuzzo, and Marco Scandella all enter contract years.
    
    
    
    St. Louis had Jordan Binnington as their starting goalie and Thomas Greiss as their backup with Binnington starting 60 games after moving on from Ville Husso. Thomas Greiss was a stop gap starting 16 games as thee backup goalie. Joel Hofer, the St. Louis Blues 2018 fourth round pick posted a 3.22 goals against average and .905 save percentage in six stats with the St. Louis Blues going 3-1-1 in those six games. Something tells me Hofer did well enough to be the backup to Binnington on the St. Louis Blues next season with Greiss gone.
    
    
    
    If the Blues draft a center at 10 then you can take a defenseman and a right winger with your remaining two first round picks at 25 and 29. That's been my thought process with the St. Louis Blues the entire time since the Blues ended up with three first round picks in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 180 lb Tom Willander had 4 goals, 21 assists, and 25 points on Rogle BK's Under 20 Team in 2022-2023. Tom Willander played 2 SHL games producing no points in 2022-2023. Tom Willander has the floor of a second line AHL defenseman on the Springfield Thunderbirds in the AHL, but also has the ceiling of a second line defenseman on the St. Louis Blues in the NHL.
    
    
    
    Tom Willander has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, and foot speed you want in a defenseman. The athletic traits are there. He's just got to refine his game offensively and defensively. I've seen Tom Willander mocked as high as seventeenth overall to Detroit with Craig Button of TSN giving Willander a top 10 grade.
    
    
    
26. San Jose Sharks: Ethan Gauthier, RW, Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL)
    
    
    San Jose got New Jersey's first round pick by trading Timo Meier their 2015 first round pick to the New Jersey Devils when Meier is in a contract year. This is a pick that I believe San Jose uses on the top goalie in the 2023 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 183 lb Ethan Gauthier was the first pick in the 2021 QMJHL Draft. Ethan Gauthier interviewed well in a video I watched on Youtube.
    
    
    
    Ethan Gauthier had 18 goals, 21 assists, 39 points, and a +10 +/- ratio in 65 QMJHL Games in 2021-2022. Ethan Gauthier had 1 goal, 3 assists, and 4 points in 11 games during the 2022 QMJHL Playoffs. Ethan Gauthier had 30 goals, 39 assists, 69 points, a +29 +/- ratio in 66 QMJHL games in 2022-2023. Ethan Gauthier had 4 goals, 7 assists, and 11 points in 11 games during the 2023 QMJHL Playoffs. Sherbrooke swept their first two opponents in the 2023 QMJHL Playoffs and took a 2-0 series lead on the Halifax Mooseheads before losing four in a row to Halifax.
    
    
    
    Ethan Gauthier has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. San Jose drafted Timo Meier ninth overall back in 2015 and Meier played with the Halifax Mooseheads in the QMJHL before tht. Ethan Gauthier would be a nice replacement for Timo Meier here if San Jose wants to draft a center like Will Smith at 4. San Jose would probably take a center here if San Jose Sharks GM Mike Grier took Matvei Michkov fourth overall.
    
    
    
    
    
27. Colorado Avalanche: Calum Ritchie, C, Oshawa Generals (OHL)
    
    
    I considered a left winger here with Gabriel Landeskog's injury and Lisa Donovan almost mocked a goalie here. However, Colorado is losing second line center J.T. Compher, third line center Lars Eller, and fourth line center Darren Helm to Free Agency in 2023. Losing all of those centers pretty much forces Colorado to reload at center.
    
    
    
    The Colorado Avalanche will have Arturri Lekhonen as their first line left winger until team captain Gabriel Landeskog returns to Colorado in 2024 and Colorado barely won the Central Division without Landeskog. Nathan MacKinnon is a top 5 center as well as a first line center in the NHL. Mikko Rantanen is a great first line right winger. Colorado has to promote their fourth line center Ben Meyers whose an RFA to second line left winger, go out and get a good UFA at left winger, or promote their 2021 first round pick Oskar Olausson to the NHL roster since Evan Rodrigues a third line left winger who got promoted to line 2 due to Landeskog's injury and Matthew Nieto a fourth line left winger who got promoted to line 3 are both unrestricted Free Agents. Colorado will have Ryan Johansen who they got in a trade with Nashville as their second line center and Valeri Nichushkin as their second line right winger.
    
    
    
    Sampo Ranta, Colorado's 2018 third round pick was promoted from the Colorado Eagles in the AHL to the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL on six different occaisions from November to January due to injuries. Ranta is an RFA and he's got a shot be a third or fourth line left winger if he gets promoted. Alex Newhook their 2019 first round pick will compete with Ryan Johansen to be the second line center. Colorado traded their third line center Alex Newhook who was also the 2019 first round pick of the Colorado Avalanche for the thirty first and thirty seventh overall picks in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft before trading the thirty seventh overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Ross Colton who will be Colorado's third line center. Logan O'Conner will either be the third line right winger. Colorado has Frederik Olafsson as their fourth line left winger.
    
    
    
    Defenseman Brad Hunt was a fourth line left winger due to how thin Colorado was at the wing. Ben Meyers who we mentioned earlier is an RFA as is fourth line right winger Denis Malign.
    
    
    
    Colorado's blue line is still strong. Cale Makar will continue to anchor the blue line on Colorado's first line while Devon Toews continues to compliment him. Bowen Byram the fourth overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft finally did enough to earn a promotion from the third line to being the number three defenseman on Colorado due to Josh Manson's injury during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Samuel Girard got demoted to the third line, but he still finisehd third among defensemen in points, so I'd imagine that Girard and Manson compete for that number four defensemen spot unless one gets traded in the offseason since both are top four defenseman on any other NHL roster with the loser of that competition anchoring the third line of Colorado's blue line.
    
    
    
    Both Erik Johnson the first overall pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft who resurrected his career in Colorado and Jack Johnson are UFA's. Colorado did acquire San Jose Sharks 2018 first round pick Ryan Merkley at the trade deadline. If Colorado uses a team friendly RFA tender on Merkley then he can be the number six defenseman rounding out the core of Colorado's defense or you can move fourth line left winger Brad Hunt back to defense since Hunt has one year left on his contract.
    
    
    
    Colorado won the 2022 Stanley Cup while Samuel Girard was injured, but couldn't beat the Kraken without Josh Manson this season while Makar had three different concussions. This is still one of the best blue lines in the NHL when fully healthy, but staying healthy has been a problem for this core as of late.
    
    
    
    Colorado has Alexander Georgiev and Pavel Francouz in a contract year both back at goalie. I feel like both goalies are backups at best and products of a really stout Colorado Avalanche blue line when Cale Makar and his teammates are all fully healthy.
    
    
    
    Colorado has $13,350,000 in cap space. However the Avalanche can place Gabriel Landeskog on the long term injured reserve list following his cartilage transplant in his right knee which will cause him to miss all of the 2023-2024 NHL season after missing all of the 2022-2023 NHL season following arthroscopic knee surgery on his right knee after Colorado won the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals over Tampa Bay by preventing a Tampa Bay Lightning three peat, but it will also give Colorado $7 million more in cap space bumping their cap space up to $20,350,000 for next season. Before Landeskog's season ending injury in 2022, he was healthy enough to lead Colorado to their first Stanley Cup as team captain during the 2021-2022 NHL Season.
    
    
    
    Colorado could still challenge for a top 2 spot in the Central Division next season with a strong Free Agency class if they can add a few forwards at left wing and center. I don't view them as a threat to the Dallas Stars until Landeksog comes back next season despite the fact that Colorado managed to win the Central Division without their team captain. Frankly the fact that Colorado won the Central Division with all of their injuries says more about the terrific job Jared Bednar has done as Colorado's head coach. Colorado got their Stanley Cup right before their window of opportunity closed last season.
    
    
    
    There's two centers left in my top thirty two with Oshawa Generals center Calum Ritchie and Brandon Wheat Kings center Nate Danielson. Both of those guys are first line centers on their hockey teams in Canada. One more wild card center to keep an eye on is Penticon Vees center Bradly Nadeau in the BCHL.
    
    
    
    Bradly Nadeau and his older brother Josh Nadeau who plays right winger with Bradly Nadeau on the Penticon Vees both exceeded 100 points in the BCHL with the Penticon Vees this past season in 2022-2023. I'm intrigued by what both of John Nadeau's sons can do in the NHL down the road, but both Bradly and Josh Nadeau are going to Maine this Fall to start their NCAA careers with the Maine Black Bears. That tells me that either Calum Ritchie or Nate Danielson will be in the NHL before Bradly Nadeau even though Nadeau impressed me enough on tape to earn an honorable mention despite being outside of my top 32. Calum Ritchie is the tallest of those three centers and he interviewed really well after being drafted second overall in the 2021 OHL Draft behind Quentin Musty. Calum Ritchie was a preseason candidate to go in the top ten and now he gets to go to Colorado where he will be an effective third line center behind Nate MacKinnon and Alex Newhook once he finishes developing in the OHL.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 187 lb Calum Ritchie had 19 goals, 26 assists, 45 points, and a -7 +/- ratio in 65 OHL regular season games in 2021-2022. Calum Ritchie had 4 goals, 3 assists, and 7 points in the 2022 OHL Playoffs. Calum Ritchie had 24 goals, 35 assists, 59 points and a +1 +/- ratio in 59 OHL regular season games averaging a point per game as an alternate captain with the Oshawa Generals in 2022-2023. Calum Ritchie had 2 goals, 4 assists, and 6 points in 5 games for the Oshawa Generals during the 2023 OHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Calum Ritchie has the skating, playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Calum Ritchie has to improve as a skater and develop his slap shot by improving both his slap shot power and slap shot accuracy. Right now Ritchie's wrist shot is at an AHL level, but it could easily develop into an NHL wrist shot after another season on the Oshawa Generals in the OHL next season. He's a good player with most of the tools you want from an NHL center. Some say he's too nice and too unselfish of a teammate because he doesn't cease control of the game when given the opportunity. It's not a weakness because the talent is there, but it's certainly an area Ritchie has to incorporate into his game next season if he wants to make the NHL.
    
    
    
    Calum Ritchie's character and attitude is through the roof, but he's an average skater that lacks the top end speed you want from a first line center at the NHL level despite having most of the traits you want from an NHL center. He's great at using his hands to manipulate defenders and was once considered the sixth best overall player in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. Calum Ritchie interviewed well right after the 2021 OHL Draft and there's fewer red flags with Ritchie in the 2023 NHL Draft compared to Mazi Smith in the 2023 NFL Draft.
    
    
    
    Calum Ritchie scored in a penalty shootout and produced over a point per game in both of the Oshawa Generals OHL Playoff losses in 2022 and 2023. This is a guy whose gonna step up during the playoffs and the New York Rangers certainly need a guy like that since their gonna have to play Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier in the playoffs moving forward.
    
    
    
    Calum Ritchie will probably be a third line center down the road behind Nate MacKinnon and Ryan Johansen because he's the one center left in this draft with enough potential to develop into a 100 point player during the regular season and a 20 point player during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It's possible that he becomes Colorado's second line center down the road thanks to Colorado trading away Alex Newhook.
    
    
    
28. Toronto Maple Leafs: Nate Danielson, C, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
    
    
    Boston traded this pick to Washington for defenseman Dmitri Orlov. Washington traded this pick to Toronto for Rasmus Sandin. The Washington Capitals had two first round picks, but opted to move the pick seeing how this draft class doesn't have a top two defenseman.
    
    
    
    The Toronto Maple Leafs have Calle Jarnkrok as a first line left winger in a contract year, Auston Mathews as a first line center in a contract year, and Mitch Marner as a first line right winger in a contract year. Toronto has Matthew Knies as a second line left winger, John Tavares as a second line center, and William Nylander as a second line right winger. All of Toronto's third line players are unrestricted Free Agents with Michael Bunting, Ryan O'Reilly, and Noel Acciari all gone. Nicholas Robertson a fourth line left winger on Toronto and Sam Lafferty a fourth line right winger are back while David Kampf, Toronto's fourth line center is an unrestricted Free Agent.
    
    
    
    Toronto has Morgan Reilly anchoring the blue line on Toronto's first line of defense with Jake Muzzin complimenting Reilly on Toronto's first line. Toronto will have T.J. Brodie anchoring the blue line on Toronto's second line of defense and 2017 first round pick Timothy Liljegren complimenting T.J. Brodie. Jake McCabe will anchor Toronto's third line on the blue line with Mark Giordano complimenting Jake McCabe.
    
    
    
    Joseph Woll, Toronto's 2016 third round pick is back as Toronto's starting goalie. Matt Murray is Toronto's backup goalie. Ilya Samsonov is an RFA meaning Toronto can tender him.
    
    
    
    Toronto needs to use these any 2023 NHL Draft Picks they have to reload at forward. Toronto is set at defense and goaltending. I have Toronto taking Nate Danielson the team captain of the Brandon Wheat Kings with the late first round pick from the Boston Bruins that the Washington Capitals sent them in the Rasmus Sandin trade.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 186 lb Nate Danielson is the team captain of the Brandon Wheat Kings as Danielson had 33 goals, 45 assists, 78 points, and a -12 +/- ratio in 68 WHL games in 2022-2023. Toronto's third line center Ryan O'Reilly and their fourth line center are both unresticted Free Agents. Alex Kerfoot is also a Free Agent. With a lot of uncertainty surrounding the future of Toronto's four core players William Nylander their 2014 first round pick, Mitch Marner Toronto's 2015 first round pick, Auston Matthews Toronto's 2016 first round pick, and team captain John Tavares, I expect Toronto to reload at center here since Matthews and Nylander enter contract years while Marner and Tavares are Free Agents in 2025.
    
    
    
    Nate Danielson has the skating, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Nate Danielson isn't always accurate with his passing and his decision making needs to be refined. Sometimes he doesn't put enough velocity on his passes. At the same time this first line center has a lot of coachable traits. If Toronto wants him as a third line center he will only need a year or two on the Brandon Wheat Kings. If Toronto wants Danielson to be a second line center, he will need two more years with the Brandon Wheat Kings plus a year in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies. I'm not sure the Toronto Maple Leafs will be that patient with their window of opporutnity to get a Stanley Cup for Auston Matthews potentially closing.
    
    
    
    
    
29. St. Louis Blues: Jayden Perron, RW, Chicago Steel (USHL)
    
    
    St. Louis traded Vladamir Tarasenko to the New York Rangers for a 2023 first round pick. New York sent the St. Louis Blues the first round pick they got from Dallas in the Nils Lundqvist trade.
    
    
    
    The 5-9 166 lb Jayden Perron is versatile enough to play left wing, center, or right wing. Jayden Perron was the Chicago Steel's first round pick in the 2021 USHL Draft. Jayden Perron is also best friends with Macklin Celebrini the top pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
    
    
    
    Jayden Perron had 17 goals, 28 assists, 45 points, and a +13 +/- ratio during his rookie season in 2021-2022. Jayden Perron also had 1 goal, 2 assists, and 3 points during the 2022 USHL Playoffs before the Chicago Steel were eliminated. Jayden Perron had 24 goals, 48 assists, 72 points, and a +15 +/- ratio in 61 games in 2022-2023. Jayden Perron had 4 goals, 2 assists, and 6 points in 6 playoff games during the 2023 USHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Jayden Perron has the skating, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Jayden Perron checks off a lot of boxes. He just needs to get stronger and improve his power on shots. How can he improve power on his shots? That's pretty simple, just add more velocity on his shot as he adjusts from the USHL to the NCAA where he will play for North Dakota this Fall.
    
    
    
    Jayden Perron was a first line right winger on the Chicago Steel this past season as Perron broke out in his draft year. St. Louis can keep Perron in the NCAA at North Dakota as long as he needs to develop. Jake Neighbours the Blues 2020 first round pick is already in the NHL. With prospects like Zachary Bolduc their 2021 first round pick at center, Jimmy Snuggerud their 2022 first round pick at right winger, and their three first round picks in this years draft the Blues have an extremely promising prospect pool.
    
    
    
    The key to fixing this rebuild with the St. Louis Blues will be to keep their core guys together while their first round picks the Blues drafted from 2021 to 2023 develop. Jake Neighbours, the St. Louis Blues 2020 first round pick is now in the NHL.
    
    
    
    Zachary Bolduc has posted 99 and 110 points in the regular season in the QMJHL since being traded from the Rimouski Oceanic to the Quebec Remparts after getting drafted by the Blues in the first round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Bolduc will compete for an NHL spot in training camp, but could also get sent to the AHL.
    
    
    
    St Louis Blues 2022 first round pick Jimmy Snuggerud had 50 points in his first season at Minnesota. He may actually get signed after his sophomore season if Minnesota wins the Frozen Four next season.
    
    
    
    I gave the St. Louis Blues Oliver Moore a center at 10, Mikhail Gulyayev a defenseman from Russia at 25, and Jayden Perron at 29 as a replacement to Tarasenko and insurance plan if Snuggerud isn't in the NHL by 2024 or 2025. If the Blues draft all three players that I'm mocking them in the first round the earliest these three would play in the NHL is 2025 with the latest being 2027.
    
    
    
    St. Louis may struggle for a few years, but Doug Armstrong knows how to reload just like Jim Nill in Dallas. I got a feeling the Blues will be back on their feet sooner than people think.
    
    
    
30. Carolina Hurricanes: Lukas Dragicevec, D, Tri-City Americans (WHL)
    
    
    Carolina has Andrei Svechnikov back from a season ending injury next season as their first line left winger after drafting him second overall in 2018, Sebastian Aho as their first line center, and Seth Jarvis Carolina's 2020 first round pick as their first line right winger. Carolina has Stefan Noesen whose filled in for Svechnikov on Carolina's top line during Andrei's injury last year as the second line left winger, Jesperi Kotkaniemi is the second line center, and Teuvo Teravainen is the second line right winger. `Carolina's top six forward situation looks pretty good as long as the top six stays healthy. This team got to the Eastern Conference Finals without Svechnikov which is kind of amazing.
    
    
    
    Jack Drury is back as the third line left winger for the Carolina Hurricanes and so is Martin Necas as the third line right winger. Carolina's 2017 first round pick is an RFA, but he'll be back. I'm thinking Carolina will bring back their third line center and team captain Jordan Staal too because Carolina has just over $27-million in cap space for Free Agency following the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and Staal still outperformed Carolina's 2019 first round pick who was drafted as a center to be groomed for the future during the regular season. Staal also entered game 4 of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals with 8 points tied for fifth among players on the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Jordan Staal is projected to receive a 2-year deal worth $3.2-million. Carolina can extend Martin Necas and Staal while still having anywhere from $17 to $21 million dollars left to spend on players.
    
    
    
    Carolina's fourth line left winger Jordan Martinook played all 82 games and enters a contract year. Carolina's fourth line center and right winger are both unrestricted Free Agents. Ryan Suzuki the younger brother of Nick Suzuki was Carolina's 2019 first round pick and my guess is he ends up replacing Paul Stastny on the fourth line since Stastny isn't even listed as a top 50 Free Agents right now. Suzuki had 32 points with the Chicago Wolves in the AHL. He could be your fourth line center, but I don't think he's developed enough to replace Jordan Staal. Carolina's fourth line right winger Jesper Fast is projected to make $2.3 million over two or three years. Carolina actually has the money to bring back Jesper Fast had 9 points during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
    
    
    
    There's not a Free Agent currently projected to make more than 6.25-million in the 2023 NHL Free Agency Period. This is projected as one of the weaker Free Agency classes with Auston Matthews being a UFA in 2024 if Toronto doesn't re-sign him while Connor McDavid could be a UFA in 2025 if Edmonton doesn't re-sign him. NHL teams are already looking at 2024 and 2025 being better Free Agency classes than 2023. Carolina could also get Alex Killorn from Tampa Bay, Jonathan Toews from Chicago, or Patrick Kane from Chicago as role players to replace their unrestricted Free Agents.
    
    
    
    With all the cap space Carolina has with over $27-million, I expect the Carolina Hurricanes to go all in during Free Agency with their best center Sebastian Aho, Stefan Noesen second line left winger, Teuvo Teravainen second line right winger, Jordan Martinook, and Stefan Noesen entering contract years with all of those guys being unrestricted Free Agents in 2024.
    
    
    
    It's also possible that Aho gets an 8 year extension similar to what Tim Stutzle got in Ottawa and what Jack Hughes got in New Jersey prior to this season. If that happened, it would limit Carolina's cap space which could affect their ability to win a Stanley Cup. You also have to factor in that both Seth Jarvis your best right winger and Jack Drury your third line left wingers are RFA's after next season in 2023-2024. You can spend some money, but don't have the luxury to overspend either. I'm fairly certain that Aho and Jarvis will get long-term contracts, but I'm not sure how much cap space the Hurricanes will need to spend. That's why I can see Carolina giving the best Free Agents a bunch of 1 year contracts without overpaying them so the Hurricanes still have enough money to keep their core players.
    
    
    
    Carolina has Brent Burns and Jaccob Slavin back as their first line defensemen next season with both Burns and Slavin capable of anchoring the blue line as a number one defenseman. Brady Skjei and Brett Pesce are both in contract years as second line defensemen. Skjei has a modified no trade clause as Carolina's number three defenseman. Jalen Chatfield anchored the third line for the Carolina Hurricanes this year. Shayne Gostibehere is a Free Agent. I see Carolina letting him walk. Gostibehere is projected to make $4.8-million and if I'm being honest, I'd probably only pay half of that to keep him if he was desperate to stay in Carolina. it's also possible that Carolina signs a big name defenseman in Free agency moving Pesce down to the third line with Chatfield.
    
    
    
    Carolina played three goalies during the regular season. Those goalies were Frederik Anderesen, Antti Raanta, and Pyotr Kochetkov whose a 23 year old goalie that Carolina drafted in the second round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Kochtkov already got a four year extension where he will make $2-million per year for the next four years on a team friendly deal before he becomes an unrestricted Free Agent when his contract is up. Their starting AHL goalie Zachary Sawchenko is also an RFA, but is not an NHL goalie. I expect Carolina to either bring back Frederik Andersen or make a play for Pittsburgh Penguns goalie Tristan Jarry, whose made two NHL All Star games when healthy to be Carolina's starting goalie with Kochetkov as the backup goalie next season. Goalie is the one position I believe Carolina will be willing to overspend on knowing that next season is the last year they can keep their first round draft picks from 2015 to 2020 on team friendly deals before the Hurricanes front office has to open up the checkbook to start paying some guys.
    
    
    
    Carolina also has some players in their prospect pool. Carolina has a ton of quality forwards they drafted. A lot of those guys outside of Ryan Suzuki need one more AHL season on the Chicago Wolves. I loved Noel Gunler in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, but he needs another season maybe two. Koivunen, Rees, Pashin, Tieksola, Ponomarev, Perevalov, and Murray are all guys Carolina drafted from 2019 to 2021 at forward.
    
    
    
    Carolina drafted four defensemen from 2019 to 2021. Their 2020 seventh round pick Ronan Seeley, a former Everett Silvertips defenseman in the WHL that I had a fourth round grade on and Aleksi Heimosalmi a raw mobile puck-mover and third round prospect that Carolina took in the second round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft are your two best prospects. That's why logisitically taking another defenseman in the NHL Draft makes sense with three of your defenseman not named Brent Burns or Jacob Slaavin in contract years next season.
    
    
    
    Only four teams have more cap space than the Carolina Hurricanes. Those teams are the Chicago Blackhawks, Anaheim Ducks, New Jersey Devils, and Detroit Red Wings. Chicago and Anaheim are probably gonna save their cap space until either team is in position to contend. Detroit will spend accordingly without overpaying because that's the Yzerplan Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman wants to put together in Detroit. Now that New Jersey established themselves as a playoff team, I expect the Devils to spend some of their money by extending Timo Meier while also possibly pursuing one or two big name Free Agents.
    
    
    
    Now that I broke down the Carolina Hurricanes, offseason outlook, it's time to make a damn selection for the Hurricanes at 30. The top three players on my big board are all defenseman. Carolina has three defenseman that are going to be unrestricted Free Agents in 2024. Taking a defenseman at 30 makes the most logistical sense here.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 194 lb Lukas Dragicevic was the fourth overall pick in the 2020 WHL Draft. He only played 6 games in 2020-2021 as a rookie in limited action. Lukas Dragicevic had 6 goals, 26 assists, 32 points, and a -24 +/- ratio in his 62 games adjusting between the third and second lines on the Tri-City Americans in 2021-2022. Lukas Dragicevic had 15 goals, 60 assists, 75 points, a -2 +/- ratio in 68 games in 2022-2023 rotating between the first, second, and third lines on the Tri-City Americans in the WHL. Lukas Drgicevic had 0 goals, 4 assists, and 4 points in 6 games during the 2023 WHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Lukas Dragicevic has the skating, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Lukas Dragicevic is an offensive dynamo who will generate points as a defender. He's can hit hard and forecheck. He knows how to use his stick to anticipate plays. He's got to improve his +/- ratio. That's his big issue. He played on the second line in a majority of his WHL games, but showed the ability to develop into a first line defenseman that can anchor a blue line when watching Tri-City on tape.
    
    
    
    Lukas Dragicevic could be in the NHL as early as 2024 if he improves defensively while continuing to dominate offensively. Carolina is literally the perfect fit for him since he will get to start off as a second line defenseman anchoring the second line. He would also be capable of being a second line power play defenseman learning under Brent Burns. He's got the traits to develop into a second line penalty killing defenseman and that's an area I thnk Dragicevic improves in next season when he returns to the Tri-City Americans for one more season.
    
    
    
    
    
31. Colorado Avalanche: Caden Price, D, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
    
    
    Montreal got this pick from the Ben Chariot trade which sent one of Montreal's best defenseman to the Florida Panthers to compliment Aaron Ekblad. Montreal traded this pick and their early second round pick to the Colorado Avalanche at thirty one.
    
    
    
    Colorado takes the best player on their board at thirty one. Right now the top player on the board is Caden Price despite the fact that Colorado is already stacked on the blue line.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 190 lb Caden Price had 2 goals, 19 assists, 21 points, and a +24 +/- ratio in 47 games in 2021-2022. Caden Price played in 4 games during the 2022 WHL Playoffs, but didn't do anything in terms of generating points. Caden Price had 5 goals, 35 assists, 40 points, and a -12 +/- ratio in 65 games in 2022-2023. Caden Price had 1 goal, 1 assist, and 2 points in 4 games during the 2023 WHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Caden Price has the skating, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Caden Price may be the best penalty killer in this draft.
    
    
    
    I saw Caden Price on film against the Spokane Chiefs. The Spokane Chiefs had seven power plays in one game including three power plays in the first six minutes and four power plays in the first ten minutes. The Kelowna Rockets went 7/7 when penalty killing against the Spokane Chiefs. Caden Price is a big reason why. Caden Price still needs to refine both his wrist shot and slap shot in order to imrpove his goal scoring and consistency as a player. Once Price does that, he will be ready for the NHL possibly as early 2025. That's why Colordo needs to take Caden Price with Florida's first round pick.
    
    
    
32. Vegas Golden Knights: Oliver Bonk, D, London Knights (OHL)
    
    
    The Vegas Golden Knights weren't fully healthy during the regular season and still won their division. The scary thing is most of their core returned for the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Minnesota Wild, Calgary Flames, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Vancouver Canucks are the only teams with less cap space than the Vegas Golden Knights heading into 2023 which is why the Golden Knights needed to win the 2023 Stanley Cup this year before their window closed for good.
    
    
    
    Vegas Golden Knights first line left winger Ivan Barbashev re-signed with the Vegas Golden Knights five years for $5-million per year. First line center Jack Eichel will be back. Jonathan Marchessaults the first line right winger on the Vegas Golden Knights enters a contract year.
    
    
    
    Brett Howden the second line left winger on the Vegas Golden Knights is a restricted Free Agent. I have no doubt that Vegas wants to bring him back, but there's a chance Vegas may have to trade someone else on this core to lock Howden up in the offseason. Second line center William Karlsson and team captain Mark Stone, the second line right winger are both expected to be back with Vegas next season.
    
    
    
    Vegas traded their third line left winger Reilly Smith to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2024 third round pick, Chandler Stephenson as thier third line center in a contract year, and Nicolas Roy as their third line right winger. William Carrier will be in a contract year as the fourth line left winger. Teddy Blueger will be gone as the fourth line center after his heroic game-tying goal in the first game of the 2023 Western Conference Finals. Keegan Kolesar will be back as the fourth line right winger. Brendan Brisson, the Vegas Golden Knights 2020 first round pick is a potential replacement to Teddy Blueger.
    
    
    
    Vegas has all six defenseman back next season. Alex Pietrangelo who anchors the blue line on the first line and Alec Martinez who compliments Alex Pietrangelo will both be back. Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb will both be back on the Vegas Golden Knights second line. Zach Whitecloud and Nicholas Hague will both be back.
    
    
    
    Vegas will have Robin Lehner and Logan Thompson under contract at goalie for the next two seasons. Starting goalie Adin Hill, whose been great during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs is an unrestricted Free Agent. Adin Hill has a market value of $3.3-million. Las Vegas has just enough to bring him back, but would have to find a team willing to take on Robn Lehner's contract after his injuries with the Golden Knights the last two seasons.
    
    
    
    The Vegas Golden Knights remind me of the Los Angeles Rams. They stacked their roster with enough talent to attempt to win a Stanley Cup, yet mortaged draft capital to do so.
    
    
    
    Many Vegas Golden Knights fans will argue draft a winger here. The best player on my board is a defenseman. Radek Bonk's son, Oliver Bonk is my top player available. Vegas has two defensemen in their farm system with Lukas Cormier their 2020 third round pick that played for the Charlottetown Islanders for two years before having 10 goals, 25 assists, 35 points, and a -12 +/- ratio with the Henderson Silver Knights in 2022-2023. The other prospect Vegas has on their blue line is Daniil Chayka a 2021 second round pick that I had a first round grade on. Chayka had a rocky first season in the AHL with only 8 points and a -19 +/- ratio.
    
    
    
    As long as Lukas Cormier or Daniil Chayka is ready for the NHL in 2024-2025 when Alec Martinez has an expiring contract, then Vegas will be fine. Otherwise another defenseman will have to be drafted as insurance. Oliver Bonk is the one player left on the board that can push Lukas Cormier for that roster spot on this blue line when Martinez has an expiring contract.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 180 lb Oliver Bonk had 10 goals, 30 assists, 40 points, and a +17 +/- ratio in 67 games in his first full season as a starting defenseman for the London Knights in 2022-2023. Oliver Bonk also had 0 goals, 11 assists, and 11 points in 21 games during the OHL Playoffs before the Peterborough Petes defeated the London Knights.
    
    
    
    Oliver Bonk has the skating, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Oliver Bonk is raw, but he's got the best shot of any defenseman I've seen in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. If Oliver Bonk improves on his 2022-2023 Season with the London Knights, he's got an outside shot to beat out Lukas Cormier and Daniil Chayka for a roster spot on the Vegas Golden Knights when the contract of Alec Martinez expires in 2024.