Draft Order NHL: 2023 NHL Draft Order: Round 1: The Chicago Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets are tied with the lowest point total in the NHL right now. We will know which NHL team gets the first overall pick on May 8, 2023 once the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery takes place.















2023 NHL Mock Draft: Debut




Round 1 Picks 17-32




Lisa Donovan Last Updated: April 1, 2023.


  1. Pittsburgh Penguins: Nate Danielson, C, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

    Pittsburgh needs to draft a successor for Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Jeff Carter at center. Luckily for Pittsburgh this draft actually has a first line center that the Pittsburgh Penguins can groom for the future with this pick.


    Nate Danielson was a top five pick in the 2019 WHL Draft that featured Matthew Savoie and Connor Geekie go first and second overall. Not much is stated about Danielson, but I found out he was the only team captain outside of Connor Bedard in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.


    Nate Danielson is 6-1 185. Danielson had 23 goals, 34 assists, and 57 points in 2021-2022. Danielson got promoted to alternate captain in the preseason before winning the captain job of the Brandon Wheat Kings. Danielson had 33 goals, 45 assists, and 78 points for the Brandon Wheat Kings in 2022-2023.


  2. Winnipeg Jets: David Reinbacher, D, Kloten Flyers (National League A)

    Winnipeg needs defense as Ville Heinola hasn't made the jump to the NHL yet that you'd like to see from Winnipeg's 2019 first round pick. David Reinbacher is from Austria. He's bigger and younger than Axel Sandin-Pellika, but unlike Sweden's defender he's only a one-year starter despite being bigger at 6-2. He's also not overly aggressive as an enforcer when hitting guys. He's got potential to play on a second line, but is also kind or raw. Winnipeg has Neal Pionk and Josh Morrissey, but the rest of their blue line sucks. Reinbacher might fix that if he anchors Winnipeg's second line in the NHL.


    Alex Sandin-Pellika got an 8/10 for NHL certainty and a 9.5/10 for Fantasy impact on Dobber Prospects. David Reinbacher got a 9.5/10 for NHL certainty and an 8/10 for Fantasy impact.



  3. Detroit Red Wings: Calum Ritchie, C, Oshawa Generals (OHL)

    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 drafts a center with more upside than last years first round pick Marco Kasper at nineteen. The downside to that is that Calum Ritchie may be a bigger project than Kasper from a development standpoint despite being a preseason top 10 pick heading into the year.


    Calum Ritchie had 19 goals, 26 assists, and 45 points as a rookie in 2021-2022. Ritchie ahs 24 goals, 35 assists, and 59 points this season. Ritchie is someone who could end up complimenting Dylan Larkin on Detroit's second line after being a preseason top 10 pick a year ago.


  4. Seattle Kraken: Gabe Perreault, LW, USNTDP (USHL)

    Seattle drafts the first line left winger on the US-Under 18 Team and the United States National Team Developmental Program. Seattle doens't need Gabe Perreault on an NHL roster right now, but he could be someone who pairs with Matthew Beniers or Shane Wright down the road.



  5. Chicago Blackhawks: Quentin Musty, LW, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

    Chicago got this first round pick from Tampa Bay in the Brandon Hagel trade. He's another core player like Alex Debrincat and Kirby Dach that got shipped away way too soon for draft capital in the NHL Entry Draft.


    Quentin Musty was the first overall pick in the 2021 OHL Draft. Musty also entered the preseason as a top 10 pick. Getting a winger this skilled to put on Chicago's second line will take pressure off of Chicago's first line which could feature Lukas Reichel, Connor Bedard, and Frank Nazar down the road.


    Quentin Musty at 6-2 197, was considered a top 10 prospect after having only 12 goals, 19 assists, and 31 points in 50 games. Musty has 26 goals, 52 assists, and 78 points in 2022-2023. Musty is versatile enough to play left wing or right wing and has improved his production massively.


    At the same time, Musty dropped from a preseason top ten pick to a late first round pick. Luckily for the Chicago Blackhawks they will end up with two preseason top 10 picks from the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The Blackhawks need those players with the fewest goals scored in the NHL this season.


  6. Colorado Avalanche: Otto Stenberg, C, Frolunda Indians (Elitserien)

    There's three teams that could draft one of the two goalies in my top 40 with Michael Hrabel of the Omaha Lancers and Adam Gajan of the Green Bay Gamblers as both USHL goalies are taking the NCAA route once they finish playing with their USHL teams this season. Those three teams in the market for a goalie are the Colorado Avalanche, the San Jose Sharks, who have the New Jersey Devils 2023 first round pick, and the Vegas Golden Knights. Hrabel was getting late first round consideration back in December while every other goalie in this draft has a second round grade. One more goalie to keep an eye on is Brandon Wheat Kings goalie Carson Bjarnason who is considered the consensus second best goalie behind Hrabel despite being my third best goalie behind Hrabel, Gajan, and Bjarnason. The Brandon Wheat Kings goalie is my top 50 despite being outside of my top 40.


    It's possible all three goalies go in round one, yet extremely unlikely with two first round goalies that could get picked anywhere between picks 17 and 25 in 2024 and a potential top 10 goalie in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft that should go in the top half of the first round. The most likely scenario is that Colorado, San Jose, or Vegas reaches for Michael Hrabel in the first round with Carson Bjarnason and Adam Gajan falling to the second round.


    I strongly considered Michael Hrabel. 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 is gonna close Colorado's window to win a Stanley Cup even if the Avalanche manage to make another run at Lord Stanley after losing their second line center Nazem Kadri and their starting goalie Darcy Kuemper who did a superb job replacing Phillip Grubauer.


    There is only one center with a consensus first round grade still on the board. That is Frolunda Indians center Otto Stenberg.


    Otto Stenberg is versatile enough to play left wing, center, or right wing. The Frolunda Indians have had six first round picks since I began typing game recaps for the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Draft Utopia back in 2015. Frolunda's first two first round picks were busts since 2015, but every first round pick Frolunda has had since defenseman Rasmus Dahlin went number one overall to the Buffalo Sabres in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has panned out. Those other two picks are Lucas Raymond and Simon Edvinsson were first round picks drafted by Steve Yzerman of the Detroit Red Wings in 2020 and 2021.


    Otto Stenberg started out on the Frolunda Indians Under 18 Team. Then he got promoted to the Under 20 Team. He got promoted to the Frolunda Indians SHL team in the league once known as Elitserien after that. Stenberg has 1 goal, 2 assists, and 3 points in 22 SHL games against men in Sweden.


    Colorado has Nate MacKinnon on the first line. Colorado can also put Alex Newhook their 2019 first round pick whose a restricted Free Agent as Colorado's line two left winger as the second line center next season. This means Colorado can put Stenberg somewhere on the back six as a third or fourth line center.



  7. New York Rangers: Charlie Stramel, C, Wisconsin

    Dallas traded this pick to the New York Rangers for defenseman Nils Lundkvist a 2018 first round pick that the New York Rangers drafted that the Rangers never fully utilized. Dallas seems to be happy with what Lundqvist despite benching him at times this season. This was the first time I can recall Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill trading a first round pick for a player to help his team win now. New York did a great job getting value with this pick.


    The New York Rangers need a first line center. Mika Zibanejad has really stepped up the last two years despite the fact that some of his critics think he's a stop gap rather than an asset. There's a reason New York extended Zibanejad for eight years, but there's nobody behind Zibanejad on the second line at center. Charlie Stramel missed half of his season with the United States National Team Developmental Program in the USHL prior to enrolling in Wisconsin.


    Charlie Stramel entered the preseason as the seventh best player and at one point had a higher draft ranking than top 5 pick Leo Carlson. This is a great player for the New York Rangers to stash for the future as New York can groom Stramel to be their first line center. With Mika Zibanejad under contract until 2030, Stramel will get to learn under Zibanejad for a few years before taking over as the first line guy around 2030. Him learning under Zibanjad is the equivalent of Sean Couturier learning under Claude Giroux for many years at center.


    Charlie Stramel whose got amazing size at 6-3 215 had 7 goals, 8 assists, and 15 points in limited action in the USHL. Stramel only had 5 goals, 7 assists, and 12 points as a freshman at Wisconsin which is why he's plummeted from a top 10 pick to a late first round prospect.


  8. Columbus Blue Jackets: 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 drafts another player from Avangard Omsk in the KHL.


    Columbus drafted Yegor Chinakhov with their 2020 first round pick despite some having a third or fourth round grade on him. Mikhail Gulyayev has a top 20 grade on some boards and is the consensus third best defenseman in this draft. Dobber Prospects gave him an 8.5 for both NHL certainty and Fantasy upside. I don't agree with that as I see a pure offensive defenseman that needs to improve his defense when watching the tape.


    With defenseman like Zach Werenski, Jake Bean, David Jiricek, Denton Mateychuk, and Adam Boqvist, you just need Mikhail Gulyayev to play on the third line complimenting an extremely effective core of defensemen when healthy.



  9. Nashville Predators: Gavin Brindley, RW, Michigan

    Nashville uses Edmonton's 2023 first round pick. Michigan Wolverines right winger Gavin Brindley plays on Michigan's second line with Adam Fantilli. Being line mates with the top College hockey player in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft has propelled Gavin Brindley into the late first round discussion.


    Brindley had 14 goals, 28 assists, and 42 points with the USNTDP in the USHl in 2021-2022. Brindley had 12 goals, 26 assists, and 38 points as a second line right winger complimenting Adam Fantilli. Brindley is kind of small at 5-8 158 lbs. He's physical and a great defender despite his undersized frame which is why he's a late first round pick.


  10. St. Louis Blues: Lukas Draicevec, D, Tri-City Americans (WHL)

    The St. Louis Blues got this pick from the New York Rangers in the trade that sent Vladimir Tarasenko to the New York Rangers. I mocked a defender here.


    Lukas Draicevec, a second line defenseman on the Tri-City Americans was considered a top 10 pick in November and a top 15 pick in December. He's now a late first round pick after once being the front runner to be the first defenseman off the board.


    Lukas Dragicevic is a big man at 6-2 181. The fourth overall pick in the 2020 WHL Draft has stepped up for the Tri-City Americans in his draft year with 15 goals, 60 assists, and 75 points in 2022-2023. He's also got 1 assist in the 2023 WHL Playoffs.


    Lukas Dragicevic has a 6.5/10 NHL certainty grade on Dobber Prospects which makes you think he might bust. At the same token, he may very well end up having the offensive upside of someone like Cale Makar. A team in the top 20 cannot gamble on that. However, a team like the St. Louis Blues that is in a total rebuild can gamble on his traits in the late first round by swinging for the fences.



  11. St. Louis Blues: Jayden Perron, RW, Chicago Steel (USHL)

    St. Louis traded Ryan O'Reilly to Toronto for this pick. St. Louis gets a replacement to Tarasenko here.


    Jayden Perron is versatile enough to play left wing, center, or right wing. St. Louis can keep Perron in the NCAA as long as he needs to develop. With prospects like Jake Neighbours their 2020 first round pick at left wing, Zachary Bolduc their 2021 first round pick at center, and Jimmy Snuggerud their 2022 first round pick at right winger. The St. Louis Blues rebuild should be quick and decisivie once these first round picks along with the Blues 2023 first round picks make the NHL.


    My only question would be can the Blues keep their core guys together while these six first round picks the Blues drafted from 2020 to 2023 develop. The other option involves the Blues continuing to blow up the roster in the coming years and firing head coach Craig Berube who seems to be one of the final pieces from the Blues 2019 team that won the 2019 Stanley Cup.


  12. San Jose Sharks: Michael Hrabel, G, Omaha Lancers (USHL)

    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.


    There's three teams that could draft one of the two goalies in my top 40 with Michael Hrabel of the Omaha Lancers and Adam Gajan of the Green Bay Gamblers as both USHL goalies are taking the NCAA route once they finish playing with their USHL teams this season. Those three teams in the market for a goalie are the Colorado Avalanche, the San Jose Sharks, who have the New Jersey Devils 2023 first round pick, and the Vegas Golden Knights. Hrabel was getting late first round consideration back in December while every other goalie in this draft has a second round grade. I almost gave Colorado .


    It's possible all three goalies go in round one, yet extremely unlikely with two first round goalies in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and a potential top 10 goalie in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. The most likely scenario is that Colorado, San Jose, or Vegas reaches for Omaha Lancers Michael Hrabel in the first round with Carson Bjarnason and Adam Gajan falling to the second round. Colorado has three centers that are unrestircted Free Agents in 2023. Those centers are all guys that played in lesser roles than second line center Nazem Kadri during Colorado's quest to win the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals which is ultimately why I gave Colorado a center over a goalie.


    San Jose on the other hand has nothing to lose by gambling on Michael Hrabel. Michael Hrabel is a huge goalie at 6-6 204. Hrabel's 2.92 GAA and .906 save percentage in 2022-2023 is impressive. His losing record is not, but if you look past that Hrabel checks off the boxes on tape.


    Most goalies use their leg, knee, or thigh on the pads. What makes Hrabel special is he uses his left and right toe to anticipate where the puck is going to go and then react accordingly whether it's using his save or his toes to pinpoint where the puck is going to go. He's a goalie that will get taken in the first round because he possesses this unique trait.


    San Jose will stash Michael Hrabel. He could be ready as early as 2025-2026 and as late as 2027-2028. I'm projecting that Hrabel makes the NHL in the 2026-2027 NHL season.



  13. Minnesota Wild: Samuel Honzek, C, Vancouver Giants (WHL)

    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.


    Samuel Honzek has ideal size for a center at 6-3 181. He came from Slovakia and was picked by the Vancouver Giants in the 2022 CHL Import Draft. Honzek had 23 goals, 33 assists, and 56 points in 2022-2023 in his first WHL season.


  14. Carolina Hurricanes: Tanner Molendyk, D, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

    Carolina drafts a defenseman here. Tanner Molendyk is the only first line defenseman in the entire first round of this 2023 NHL Mock Draft. The reason he got mocked so low is because Saskatoon's defense sucked last night during the 2023 WHL Playoffs. Tanner Molendyk had no answer for Connor Bedard despite being the fifth overall pick in the 2020 WHL Draft.



  15. Vegas Golden Knights: Ethan Gauthier, RW, Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL)

    The Vegas Golden Knights reload at right winger by taking the first overall pick in the 2021 QMJHL Draft. Ethan Gauthier is the son of Calgary Flames 1995 first round pick Denis Gauthier. His cousin is also 2016 first round pick Julien Gauthier.


    Ethan Gauthier at 5-11 176, had 18 goals, 21 assists, and 39 points as a rookie in 2021-2022. Gauthier improved with 30 goals, 39 assists, and 69 points in 2022-2023. The first pick in the 2021 QMJHL Draft is the only first round pick from the QMJHL in this 2023 NHL Entry Draft.


  16. Toronto Maple Leafs: Cameron Allen, D, Guelph Storm (OHL)

    Boston traded this pick to Washington for defenseman Dmitri Orlov. Washington traded this pick to Toronto for Rasmus Sandin. The Capitals like the Canucks had two first round picks, but opted to move the pick seeing how this draft class doesn't have a top two defenseman.


    Cameron Allen at 5-11 190, won OHL Rookie Of The Year in 2021-2022 with 13 goals, 24 assists, and 37 points. He entered the preseason as the top defenseman in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. However most mocks have him in the second round. Toronto gambles on him hoping he can be the man who replaces Rasmus Sandin.









Other 2022 NHL Mock Drafts

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    Lines: 2022 NHL Mock Draft



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