Detroit — This NHL Entry Draft is more than just Connor Bedard, who may be the next great superstar in the league.
It’s more than Michigan’s Adam Fantilli, who could be a huge star in his own right.
This year’s Entry Draft, June 28 (round 1) and 29 (rounds 2-7) in Nashville will have quite a few more players who will make an impact around the NHL.
And the Red Wings are in good position to pluck a few of them.
The Wings have two picks in the June 28 first-round — their own (No. 9) and the 17th overall pick, which they acquired in a trade for Filip Hronek.
Further, the Wings have three consecutive selections in the second round — picks No. 41 (the Wings’), No. 42 (from St. Louis) and No. 43 (from Vancouver), which puts the Wings in an advantageous position. Either the Wings can select those potential impact players, or they could package some of those picks (and some of their own players) for a proven player in a trade.
General manager Steve Yzerman has been known to be creative, and he certainly has opportunities here.
But, it’s going to take something special for Yzerman to think about trading.
This draft has been considered a deep one for more than a year, and after all the scouting and testing and interviewing, it’s safe to say this is a deep and talented draft.
“At least in the first round, we’re very optimistic and excited about the options we think we’ll have at that point,” Yzerman said in his end-of-season media availability.
There likely will be trades that will involve early-first-round picks that’ll upend the draft order, and numerous players could still rise or fall before the draft begins on June 28.
With two weeks to go, let’s take a first look at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft’s first round:
▶ 1. Chicago Blackhawks: Connor Bedard, C, Regina (WHL): A generational talent who has been the presumptive No. 1 for several years. Many scouts feel Bedard could have the same impact Connor McDavid had — or has had — in Edmonton.
▶ 2. Anaheim Ducks: Adam Fantilli, C, Michigan (NCAA): In most other drafts Fantilli would be the top pick and be talked about even more than he currently is. Many scouts are using Nathan MacKinnon as a comparable — and, if Fantilli comes close to that level, the Ducks will be extremely pleased.
▶ 3. Columbus Blue Jackets: Leo Carlsson, C, Orebreo (Sweden): The Blue Jackets have been waiting many years for a player of this caliber. Carlsson has a chance to be a first-line, high-end center for a long time and fill out a developing roster.
▶ 4. San Jose Sharks: Will Smith, C, U.S. National Development Team Program: Smith is likely to play one more year at Boston College, but he’ll be worth the wait. The Sharks need offense and Smith, with his speed and playmaking, will inject the Sharks with game-breaking ability.
▶ 5. Montreal Canadiens: Ryan Leonard, C, USNDTP: This one is tricky. Montreal could go toward Matvei Michkov and wait until he arrives in North America in 2025, or several other directions. But Leonard, with his combination of offense and grit, is too good to pass up.
▶ 6. Arizona Coyotes: David Reinbacher, D, Kloten (Switzerland): Arizona is another organization with the patience to wait for Michkov, whose talent level might be surpassed only by Bedard. But, Reinbacher is such a good two-way defensive prospect, the Coyotes opt to get help within the next year or two.
▶ 7. Philadelphia Flyers: Nate Danielson, C, Brandon (WHL). Danielson may never be a huge star, but he could be a fixture in the Flyers’ lineup for many years. With his pro-ready body and style of play, Danielson could be ready to plug in fairly soon, too.
▶ 8. Washington Capitals: C, Matvei Michkov, RW, SKA St. Petersburg (Russia): Michkov is too good to pass for Washington here. The Capitals have had tremendous success with Russian players and have had success getting them out of Russia quickly. Michkov could be quite a catch for the Capitals.
▶ 9. Detroit Red Wings: Dalibor Dvorsky, C, AIK (Sweden): Dvorsky sounds like a Red Wings type of player. Sounds similar to Marco Kasper actually, and that may turn out to be a good thing. Plays hard, is dangerous with the puck, and plays a pro-ready type of game. Gives the Wings depth up the middle in the organization.
▶ 10. St. Louis Blues: Oliver Moore, C, USNDTP: Moore has as much pure speed as any player in this draft class and was an elite scorer for the USA program. The Blues need more of this type of skill and speed.
▶ 11. Vancouver Canucks: Zach Benson, LW, Winnipeg (WHL): A few mock drafts actually have Benson going to the Wings. His combination of skill and competitiveness would certainly match what the Wings like and look for. The Canucks would be pleased to get Benson here.
▶ 12. Arizona Coyotes (from Ottawa): Gabriel Perreault, RW, USNDTP: This is a player who scored 132 points this season, breaking Auston Matthews’ record. Perreault isn’t big or otherwordly quick or fast, but he knows what to do with the puck.
▶ 13. Buffalo Sabres: Samuel Honzek, LW, Vancouver (WHL): Honzek could be a sleeper pick. He’s 6-foot-4, but only weighs about 185 pounds and needs to get physically stronger. If Honzek does, he could be a special player, because he has a lot of skill and scouts rave about Honzek’s hockey instincts.
▶ 14. Pittsburgh Penguins: Matt Wood RW, Connecticut (NCAA): Pittsburgh hasn’t picked this high in the draft in forever. They could go in many directions, but Wood could be a shrewd pick, at 6-foot-4, with a dangerous shot. Many scouts feel he isn’t close to fulfilling his potential.
▶ 15. Nashville Predators: Brayden Yager, C, Moose Jaw (WHL): Yager is a potential scoring machine who would also fit well in Pittsburgh. GM Barry Trotz, in his first draft, could strike gold with this big-time playmaker.
▶ 16. Calgary Flames: Eduard Sale, LW, Brno (Czechia): Sale has had success playing against men in Czechia and has the skating and puck skills that the Flames generally lack in the organization.
▶ 17. Detroit Red Wings (from N.Y. Islanders via Vancouver): Colby Barlow, LW, Owen Sound (OHL). Barlow could go higher, given his versatility, ability to finish and his physical build. Barlow could be the type of player who could be used in a variety of ways, and he’d fit nicely into the organization.
▶ 18. Winnipeg Jets: Tom Willander, D, Rogle Jr. (Sweden): The 6-foot-2 mobile defenseman is headed to Boston University, but he isn’t far away from reaching the NHL. The Blues need organizational depth, and a player like him can help the rebuilding Blues quickly.
▶ 19. Chicago Blackhawks (from Tampa Bay): Otto Stenberg, C, Frolunda Jr. (Sweden): Stenberg has been moving up in a lot of mock drafts. He’s another type of player who can plug in a lot of holes and has leadership qualities. Might be a Wings type of player, too.
▶ 20. Seattle Kraken: Andrew Cristall, LW, Kelowna (WHL): Cristall has played with Bedard and both thrived and dominated playing together. Cristall is only 5-foot-9 but he knows what to do with the puck and had 95 points in 54 games for Kelowna. Plays with an edge, too.
▶ 21. Minnesota Wild: Axel Sandin-Pellikka, D, Skelleftea Jr. (Sweden): If this defenseman is still here, the Wild would be thrilled. Sandin-Pellikka isn’t big (5-foot-11, 175-pounds) but he might be the best puck-transporter in the draft and is moving up many draft boards.
▶ 22. Philadelphia Flyers (from Los Angeles, via Columbus): Oliver Bonk, D, London (OHL). If the Flyers get a quality forward at No. 7, getting a defenseman such as Bonk here would make for a tremendous first day at the draft. Bonk has pro size at 6-foot-2 and doesn’t have any major weaknesses.
▶ 23. New York Rangers: Daniil But, LW, Yaroslavl Jr. (Russia): It might take a while for But to come over, but the 6-foot-5 winger has the skill and size to be worth the wait. The Rangers might be willing to wait.
▶ 24. Nashville Predators (from Edmonton): Calum Ritchie, C, Oshawa (OHL: Ritchie had 59 points in 59 games, a season cut short because of a shoulder injury. Ritchie plays the game hard and seems to be a good fit for the Predators.
▶ 25. St. Louis Blues (from Toronto): David Edstrom, C, Frolunda Jr. (Sweden). The Blues need young skill and Edstrom, a 6-foot-3 two-way center who could be snapped up earlier, would be a shrewd selection this late in the draft.
▶ 26. San Jose Sharks (from New Jersey): Gavin Brindley, C, Michigan. (NCAA) The Wolverine sophomore-to-be isn’t big (5-foot-8, 165 pounds) but plays much larger than that and has a whole lot of offensive ability.
▶ 27. Colorado Avalanche: Danny Nelson, C, USNDTP. Nelson is considered an early-second-round pick by some, but at 6-foot-3 and being an elite skater, plus having played defense in high school, he’s viewed as a versatile, raw player who might have a big upside.
▶ 28. Toronto Maple Leafs (from Boston, via Washington): Charlie Stramel, C, Wisconsin (NCAA). Might be more of a defensive forward in pro hockey, but Stramel would be a useful organizational asset for the Leafs.
▶ 29. St. Louis Blues (from Dallas, via N.Y. Rangers): Quentin Musty, LW, Sudbury (OHL). Musty could sneak into the high-teens or early 20s selections, being a 6-foot-2 power forward with good awareness on the ice. The Blues could come out of this first round with three players aiding their rebuild.
▶ 30. Carolina Hurricanes: Ethan Gauthier, RW, Sherbrooke (QMJHL). His dad, Denis, was a physical defenseman, but Ethan is more of an offensive force, although he plays tough and mean at 5-foot-11.
▶ 31. Montreal Canadiens (from Florida): Dmitri Shimashev, D, Yaroslavl Jr. (Russia). The Canadiens have had success with Russian players, and this mobile defenseman would be worth the wait until he arrives in North America.
▶ 32. Vegas Golden Knights: Nick Lardis, LW, Hamilton (OHL): This late in the draft, Vegas can take a project such as Lardis (5-foot-10, 165 pounds) who has an accurate and powerful shot.
ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @tkulfan