Editor's note: Scouting reports for the majority of the draft picks come from B/R's 2023 NHL Draft Big Board. You can read those reports here.

Welcome to the 2023 NHL draft!

The first round, which begins Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET, should begin with the Chicago Blackhawks taking Connor Bedard first overall.

What happens afterward is anyone's guess. The 2023 NHL draft class is the best the league has seen since 2015 when Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel went 1-2. The stakes are high as teams attempt to parse through a talented pool of players and somehow figure out which one of the many available will be the best. Wednesday's few hours will singlehandedly change the courses of numerous NHL franchises for the next decade to come. No pressure!

Bleacher Report's Adam Herman will update this slideshow in real-time as each selection is made, offering insight into the players and grading how teams did in selecting them.

And to see who owns each pick in the draft, you can head over to CapFriendly.

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

B/R Rank: 1

Analysis: 

Connor Bedard is the best prospect the NHL has seen since Connor McDavid in 2015. The Chicago Blackhawks successfully walked up to the stage and announced his name into a microphone. That's all it was ever going to take for them to earn an 'A' grade for this selection.

Pick Grade: A

Scouting Report:

The spotlight put a threatening glow on Bedard this season. Considered the best prospect since Connor McDavid in 2015, Bedard had a litany of players behind him who in any other season might be considered for the first pick. Any falloff could have created doubt about his ability to handle the immense pressure of expectations.

He didn't even flinch. Bedard posted 71 goals and 72 assists in 57 games for the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League. His 2.51 points per game were the highest by a WHL player of any age since Ray Whitney's 2.57 in 1991.

His 23 points in seven games for Canada at the 2023 World Junior Championship topped the leaderboard, with USA's Logan Cooley (last year's No. 3 overall draft pick) a distant second with 14. In fact, it was the fourth-highest total by any player at the tournament all-time and easily the best by a draft-eligible player. The Vancouver resident beat out the previous record of 18 held by Jaromir Jagr (also in seven games).

Bedard's hands are what make him a generational talent. Simply put, he is one of the best shooters hockey has ever seen. His shot release is effortless. He has zero tell and casually hits the corners of the net with velocity.

His secret is that he doesn't need space. He attacks the middle lane and rifles off a shot the very second a lane becomes available to him. His small size (5'10", 185 pounds) actually becomes an advantage in this way as he just needs to find a small pocket to skate into and then the slimmest of shooting lanes. Bedard will push or pull the puck to the toe or heel of his blade to change the angle and shoot in a flash.

Defenders often feel compelled to mark him tightly, as even a window of space means danger. But doing so is also perilous. Bedard is a brilliant stickhandler who beats defenders with clever maneuvers and casual evasiveness. He changes the angle of attack the second he sniffs out a defender about to make an aggressive reach for the puck and navigates around them.

Even the best attempts to defend him are mostly futile. Bedard is the rare kind of shooter for whom there is no such thing as a low-danger shot. He beats goaltenders from bad angles with regularity.

This goal-scoring ability serves as the foundation for an almost equally impressive knack for setting up teammates. Teams cannot defend him as they would any other player, which creates all sorts of tears in their defensive structure. Bedard creates these breakdowns and then exploits them.

He has little physical game to speak of and has work to do defensively. That latter point will be particularly crucial given that he plays center. He's never going to be a complete player like a Sidney Crosby. Bedard is so good offensively that the weaker points of his game are write-offs.

It's easy to get wrapped up in draft hype—particularly with a draft class as strong as this one—but with Bedard, there is no such thing as getting carried away. As long as he remains committed and ends up in a healthy environment, Bedard should have a long career in which he is challenging for the league lead in goals and points perennially.

2. Anaheim Ducks: Leo Carlsson, C/LW, Örebro (SHL)

B/R Rank: 4

Analysis: 

There are a number of drafts in which Leo Carlsson would be the second-best player available. He has all the makings of a first-line center. This just happens to be a rare draft class, and I have Adam Fantilli as the better of the two. Still, the Ducks are getting a fantastic player.

Pick Grade: B-

Scouting Report:

Bedard, Fantilli and Michkov were locked in as the draft's three best prospects before the season began. The fourth spot is where the draft looks wide-open.

Leo Carlsson beats out heavy competition thanks to one of the most impressive seasons by a Swede in recent memory. The Örebro forward tallied 10 goals and 15 assists in 44 regular-season games, which puts him tied for ninth overall by points per game since 1990. Better yet, he played some of his best hockey for Örebro during the playoffs, collecting nine points in 13 games.

It can be easy to forget Carlsson's age. The left-hander is a clever stickhandler given his size (6'3", 194 pounds). He uses his length well to hold the puck away from defenders or get around them. Although he's not a particularly agile skater, he navigates around defenders with changes of direction with the puck.

Carlsson is predominantly a playmaker in the offensive zone. When he's at his best, he's moving the puck almost as quickly as he receives it. He has strong spatial awareness and knows his passing options prior to receiving the puck. As a result, he's often making quick one-two passing plays to find teammates in open spaces quicker than the defense can adjust for.

Carlsson lacks real shooting ability. The goals he does score come from soft hands around the net.

While at times he uses his size well, there are other moments where he looks underripe. He can be leveraged out of puck battles and unsuccessful when trying to tie up a puck-carrier.

Although he played on the wing for Örebro, Carlsson has played center at the junior level, and that's the position where his drafting team should initially aim to develop him. His high hockey IQ and playmaking abilities in the middle of the ice make him projectable at center. Regardless of whether he ends up, Carlsson projects as a first-line playmaker who thrives on the power play.

3. Columbus Blue Jackets: Adam Fantilli, C, University of Michigan (NCAA)

B/R Rank: 2

Analysis: 

The Blue Jackets get a first-overall type of player with the third overall pick. He's a 200-foot, two-way center whom the team should be able to build around for the next decade-plus. Ignoring Michkov, whose circumstances are complicated, Fantilli was far and away the best player available.

Pick Grade: A+

Scouting Report:

Here is a shining example of how rebuilding an NHL team requires luck as much as anything else. Some team that loses the Connor Bedard sweepstakes will nonetheless land a player that the lottery winners in both 2022 and 2021 wish were available to them at first overall.

With Fantilli, the opposition has a better idea of what he is about to do but is helpless in stopping him. There are no real flaws to his game physically. The 6'2", 187-pound Toronto resident skates up and down the ice like a freight train.

The ones who can keep up with him often lack the strength to deal with him physically. He attacks the middle lane and perseveres through like a linebacker bursting through an offensive line.

Fantilli is unpredictable with the puck. His wrist shot is powerful, and the left-hander picks his corners. On the power play, he sets up in the right circle for one-timers. He'll carry the puck to the net front and score from in-tight with soft hands. With shooting as his base, Fantilli will sell the shot to misdirect the defense and slip the puck to a teammate down low for tap-ins.

The Michigan freshman produced one of the greatest seasons in the history of NCAA hockey. His 1.81 points per game (from 65 points in 36 games) is the most by a draft-eligible player since Paul Kariya in 1992-93, and Fantilli scored more goals (30) than Kariya (25) in three fewer games. Over the last 20 NCAA seasons, Fantilli has the second-best PPG rate of any under-20 player; only a 19-year-old Kyle Connor produced better (1.87) seven seasons ago for the Wolverines.

Fantilli could make a career on offense alone. That is all the more reason he deserves praise for his all-around game. Fantilli is a heavy forechecker and ferocious hitter. He's a laborious backchecker who comes below his own goal line to support the play and helps create turnovers and zone exits.

And it's not just that he is able to play the penalty kill; he is fantastic in that role. He takes away lanes, forces turnovers and is a threat to create offense.

No matter how deep one parses the game of hockey down to its parts, Fantilli still holds up. Faceoffs? Fantilli is 52.9 percent at the dot, per InStat. Need some fire and passion? Fantilli will bring energy during a lull in the game or get into a chirping match after whistles. His only serious issue is a propensity for trying to do too much at times and make a hero play with the puck. It's a common problem for a talented young player who just moved to a higher level of competition.

Fantilli is not the best player in the draft, but he is the most complete. He's going to be a bona fide first-line center in the NHL who thrives in every situation and whom a coaching staff happily makes a team leader.

4. San Jose Sharks: Will Smith, C, US National Team Development Program

B/R Rank: 6

Analysis: 

Michkov aside, we had Zach Benson as the best prospect available at this spot. Still, the Sharks needed a franchise center desperately and Smith has everything necessary to become an All-Star. Even if they may have passed on a better prospect, in a vacuum, the Sharks are getting a player worthy of a fourth overall selection.

Pick Grade: B

Scouting Report:

Smith is a pure offensive center. The 6-foot pivot is commanding with the puck on his stick. He loves to take on defenders one-on-one and is adept at beating them with simple maneuvers to the outside or a quick pivot to penetrate the middle of the offensive zone. He's not as visually exhilarating with dekes compared to others in this draft class. But he is effective.

His movements open up space for his teammates as well.

He is the one you want in possession as he possesses both the head and hands to create offense. Smith is able to operate from anywhere within the offensive zone, but perhaps the most crucial element of his game is his ability to dictate play from the middle of the ice. He's incredibly analytical and makes some impressive passes from the interior.

But Smith is also very balanced. He has a superb wrist shot. When he doesn't have the puck, he finds areas of the ice where he can get open and support the play.

The Massachusetts-born center always appears to be an active part of the play. When he has the puck, he looks to attack. He makes plays in motion. He wants the puck and to be the one to make offense happen.

There are some who see Smith as a top-five player in this draft. I have a few concerns. Smith has earned a late bump up the board for some scouts in part as a response to his dominant U18 World Championship performance in which he tallied nine goals and 11 assists in just seven games.

Though that is impressive, he benefited from playing on a very familiar line with Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault; a rare benefit in an international tournament where linemates typically lack familiarity.

I also have questions about his two-way game. There are times where he forechecks hard and gets his hands dirty around his goalie's crease. He's a strong skater and definitely has the brain to become a complete player. He's not consistent enough and it leaves me with enough uncertainty to keep him out of the top-five.

Even still, Smith has very serious potential to develop into a top-six NHL center who drives offense for his team and makes his linemates better.

5. Montreal Canadiens: David Reinbacher, RD, Kloten (Swiss-A)

B/R Rank: 19

Analysis: 

Though Reinbacher was not the top defenseman on my board, I don't have a problem with his being the first to go in this draft class. No issue there. It's that this is not a defense-heavy draft. Reinbacher is big, athletic and smart, but he has yet to show major offensive upside. I like him as a potential second-pairing defenseman in the future. Fifth overall is too soon for that type of player in such a loaded draft class.

Pick Grade: D+

Scouting Report:

Reinbacher is a no-frills but effective two-way defenseman.

An Austrian who plays in the Swiss league is not the typical profile of a top prospect, but his game absolutely fits the bill.

The 6'2" defenseman has a lot of tools that will lead scouts to comfortably projecting him into the NHL. He's a strong skater with good crossovers and backward mechanics. His defensive zone game is staunch. Reinbacher's positioning is usually spot-in, keeping strong gaps when defending the rush. He maintains inside positioning against puck carriers before funneling them to the boards, then using his strength to create changes in possession. He battles in front of the net to box out opponents, give his goaltender sight lines, and prevent rebounds.

Reinbacher also has great awareness of the puck in the defensive zone. He is proficient at breaking the puck out of his own end. He finds the connectors supporting him in the defensive zone but can also stretch the ice with hard passes directly into the neutral zone.

And we see a similar style in the offensive zone. Reinbacher is a poised puck-mover who thrives on practicality. The downside is a lack of dynamism. He does have a good shot, but plays the role of keeping play going rather than stepping up and creating scoring chances.

Will he play in the NHL? That's a very safe bet. The foundation is already there. However, I am not buying his stock as a top-ten draft pick that others are levying. This is a weak draft for defensemen and Reinbacher offers a measure of comfort during an exercise that brings scouts a lot of uncertainty and anxiety. Plus, right-handed defensemen are usually viewed as a premium.

The reasonable upside for Reinbacher is a second-pairing defenseman who plays a shutdown game, transitions the puck out of his own end, and accumulates a decent number of points by virtue of driving possession forward for his team. A very important piece to the puzzle, but lacking in the dynamic ability and upside a top-ten pick calls for.

6. Arizona Coyotes: Dmitriy Simashev, LD, Loko Yaroslavl

B/R Rank: 24

Analysis: 

Simashev would not have been my pick here by any stretch. You can see that I had him in the 20s. However, at least compared to Montreal's pick of Reinbacher at fifth overall, I can imagine a world where Simashev justifies this selection. He is extremely talented and has all the tools to become a top-pairing NHL defenseman. I only worry about how likely he is to hit that upside. I don't like this pick, but it's not as awful as it might seem by the optics of B/R's rankings.

Pick Grade: C-

Scouting Report:

Every team is looking for the next Victor Hedman or Aaron Ekblad; a defenseman who checks off every part of the rubric.

Dmitriy Simashev is this draft's best chance at generating that type of player. He is 6'4" and uses that range well, using his stick to disrupt rushes, close off lanes and poke pucks past the other team in 50/50 situations.

He's also a brilliant skater. He has rapid straight-line speed, he's a strong backwards skater, and he's surprisingly nimble with quick pivots that lead to an ability to escape pressure in both the defensive and offensive zones.

These tools translate into a pretty strong defensive player. He's very good at defending the rush and either disrupting with his stick or driving players to the boards and punishing them with a heavy hit. He wins puck races behind the goal line and gets the puck up the ice.

One looks at his capabilities and can imagine a productive offensive contributor. When Simashev carries the puck up the ice, he looks like a freight train. It's intimidating.

But I'm unconvinced by the totality of his offensive game. He doesn't display any major red flags but he is average at best as a puck-handler, distributor, and shooter. His one goal and 11 assists in 33 MHL games are hardly inspiring, and if he is unable to turn his physical gifts into offense at the Russian junior level, what will that mean for him in the NHL?

Simashev has unteachable tools and it is possible that, with development and coaching, the offense could come. But while others have the Russian defenseman as a top-15 pick in this draft, that's too soon to daydream about an "everything goes right" outcome that hasn't shown many signs of bearing out in reality yet. I like him as a No. 4 shutdown defenseman in the NHL.

7. Philadelphia Flyers: Matvei Michkov, LW/RW, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

B/R Rank: 3

Analysis: 

The only reason Michkov was third on our board was because of the complicated nature of Russian politics at the moment and because he is committed to SKA in the KHL for the next three seasons. On ability alone, he's closer to Bedard than he is to being the third-best player in this draft class. If he lives up to his talent, then he's worth the wait. The Flyers just got a future superstar at seventh overall.

Pick Grade: A+

Scouting Report:

Here is a sentence I do not write lightly: Matvei Michkov is the best draft-eligible winger the NHL has seen since 2007, when the Chicago Blackhawks selected Patrick Kane first overall.

The best way to describe Michkov's game is "electric." Every time he touches the puck, one anticipates that something special could be imminent.

Michkov is at his best when he's starting along the walls or behind the net. Michkov is a threat to create even from these ostensibly low-danger positions. He carries pucks from the perimeter into dangerous areas of the ice. He's a high-end playmaker who penetrates the middle lanes and finds teammates in scoring areas.

He does not hesitate to carry the puck into the offensive zone even when he is alone against multiple defenders. Despite the mismatch, Michkov usually maintains possession long enough for teammates to join him. The Russian winger is the draft's best stickhandler, and it's in this way that his 5'10", 148-pound frame actually becomes an advantage; with short arms and a low center of gravity, Michkov maneuvers around defenders with ease even when he's seemingly backed into a corner.

He's a lethal goal scorer. Whenever Michkov has the puck, other teams take notice and often become paralyzed.

Michkov isn't a physical player, but he's active in stick battles. While he's not going to hand out many hits, he does not shy away from contact. He is strong at the waist and in the legs, and opposing players struggle to knock him off the puck.

Let's put his season in perspective. Michkov tallied nine goals and 11 assists in 27 games with Sochi of the KHL (plus three with St. Petersburg), which is far and away the league's best-ever showing by a first-time draft-eligible player. Michkov's 0.67 points per game ranks above what Artemi Panarin, Vladimir Tarasenko, Kirill Kaprizov and Pavel Buchnevich tallied in their age-19 season.

When watching him play, it's hard to miss the similarities between him and players like Panarin and Nikita Kucherov. Like Panarin, he creates zone entries in impossible situations and shows incredible playmaking ability. Like Kucherov, he is a lethal shooting threat. There is every reason to believe that Michkov will be a superstar just as those two are—maybe better.

Besides his skating and defense, the biggest concern with Michkov is his availability. Russia's war with Ukraine has created numerous geopolitical consequences that are bleeding into hockey. Even without that, Michkov is under contract with St. Petersburg of the KHL for three more seasons. The earliest Michkov's drafting team will see him is the spring of 2026.

But look, we're talking about a rare player who should be able to give his drafting team 10-15 years of superstardom. Michkov is the best Russian prospect since Evgeni Malkin in 2005. If not for the off-ice context, he'd be the second player on my list without hesitation. If he does fall because of optics and/or logistics, then it's going to be a franchise-changing moment for whoever decides to take the plunge.

8. Washington Capitals: Ryan Leonard, F, US National Team Development Program

B/R Rank: 14

Analysis: 

Leonard is going to be an NHLer and likely a good one. He does everything well. He plays with speed, works hard every shift and has the hands to contribute offensively. I see him more as a complementary top-six winger or elite third-liner rather than a true top forward on a contending team. There were other players available with higher upside. But he's a good prospect.

Pick Grade: C+

Scouting Report:

It's difficult to go a single period, if not shift, without noticing Leonard. He relentlessly pushes through all three zones for the entirety of his shift.

Buzzwords like "energy" in hockey can be dangerous. Some players can look like they're doing a lot out there without actually adding much substance. Leonard is the real deal. He has strong north-south speed and he uses it effectively.

What pro coaches are going to love about Leonard is that he plays a clinical game. Once in a while, he will surprise with a creative move on open ice, but in general, he does not overthink the play. Whether he believes the right move is a pass, a shot, or cutting bait and dumping the puck out of danger, Leonard always makes quick and decisive decisions with the puck. Usually, it's the right decision.

The closest thing Leonard owns as a "standout" skill is his wrist shot. Particularly when he's skating into his shot he can really launch it past goaltenders. But for the most part, Leonard's value lies in his ability to do a lot of things capably rather than anything exceptionally.

Although he was not the driver of his line, he played his role well alongside the more skilled Will Smith and Gabe Perreault, participating in a number of tic-tac-toe plays and playing the role of primary forechecker often to create offensive zone time for his teammates.

Leonard is a top prospect because of his roundedness. That includes his defensive game. He is an intense backchecker, pressures the points in the defensive zone, and is a solid penalty killer.

He lacks the high-end skill or the processing ability to execute imaginative plays and that will prevent him from becoming a top player at the NHL level. Still, he has few holes in his game, he can play both center and wing and is a coach's dream.

In a vacuum, Leonard projects as a second/third-line tweener. But because of his versatility and ability to keep up with more talented players, he could certainly move up the lineup.

9. Detroit Red Wings: Nate Danielson, C, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

B/R Rank: 22

Analysis: 

It never feels great to go against the wisdom of Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman, who has historically done well at the draft table. For me, this is too early for Danielson. He's big, defends well and plays hard. But he is one of the older players in the draft, and his offensive abilities hover around average across the board. If I had to guess, his future is as a third-line NHL center.

Pick Grade: C

Scouting Report:

Danielson is a 6'2" center who skates well and that's going to instantly draw the attention of scouts.

The Alberta-born forward is among the draft's best when it comes to north-south skating. With the puck, he creates zone entries by pushing through the neutral zone with just enough agility to skirt around forecheckers.

He is diligent off the puck. Danielson sticks to his checks and pressures pucks, closing down hard on puck carriers and harassing them with his stick. He's the Wheat Kings' top penalty killer who eats away time by keeping pucks in his offensive end and occasionally generating a shorthanded scoring chance.

Although Danielson creates a lot of offensive zone time, he lacks a killer instinct. He is a decent passer in the offensive zone, contributing to some east-west sequences and he has a decent shot from the pass. But Danielson lacks imagination and his shot grades as average.

And while his 33 goals and 45 assists in 78 WHL games are pleasing, Danielson is one of the oldest players in the draft; had he been born two weeks earlier he would have been 2022-eligible. He's ahead of the curve in terms of physical development and it's fair to wonder how high his ceiling is.

Certainly, Danielson has some impressive tools and a future as a second-line center is within the range of possibilities. More reasonably, his drafting team should probably be prepared for a 35-40 point third-line center who plays defensive minutes.

10. St. Louis Blues: Dalibor Dvorský, C, AIK (Allsvenskan)

B/R Rank: 7

Analysis: 

The Blues did pass on Zach Benson, who remains the best player available from B/R's Big Board. But Dvorský is not far behind. He very safely projects as a third-line NHL center as a baseline, and I think there are good odds that he pushes his way into a top-six role. This is very strong value for the Blues at 10th overall.

Pick Grade: A-

Scouting Report:

Dvorský has so much of what a head coach wants in a center.

Listed at 6'1", 201 pounds, his vitals don't truly indicate the power within his game. He's a bull in board battles and when fighting for position in front of either net. His skates stick to the ice like they've been superglued there. When he drives the net off the rush, it feels intimidating even for the observer.

His strength also shows through his shooting. Dvorský absolutely blows pucks past goaltenders with a devastating wrist shot. He's the type who can beat goaltenders even from well above the circles simply because of the force off his stick.

That being said, he does have a softer side to his game. Dvorský is a crafty stickhandler. He's not going to hold pucks for extended periods of time nor stickhandle through a parade of bodies, but he can beat a defender in tight space. He's a capable playmaker who hits teammates in lateral passing sequences.

And he may be the best defensive center in this draft. Defending in the defensive zone, he funnels puck carriers away from the slot and into the perimeter before using that strength to rub them off the puck. When he wins pucks, he has the deftness to move the puck to a supporting teammate. Coaches will love his work rate when he hits the ice.

The only knock on Dvorský's game from our September report was his skating, which we claimed was "average and lacked explosivity." While that's still true in the most general sense, especially compared to other top prospects, he's made progress in that regard. He now generates enough momentum to round the first forechecker and shows some ability to skate the puck forward with speed in open ice.

The best part? Dvorský, who turned 18 on June 15, is one of the youngest players in the draft. He has a long runway for development and maybe even has more physical growth coming his way. Outside of the elite prospects in this draft, Dvorský has the highest floor of anyone, as it's difficult to imagine him making the NHL as anything worse than a good third-line center.

In terms of upside, Dvorský could turn into a fringe first-line center in the ilk of former St. Louis Blues star David Backes.

11. Vancouver Canucks: Tom Willander, RD, Rögle J20

B/R Rank: 18

Analysis: 

Benson continues to slide. If we ignore him, I think this is a defendable pick compared to the remaining players on the board. Willander is everything a coach wants in a modern shutdown defenseman and there is room for him to develop some offense as well. I like his chances of becoming a top-four defenseman in Vancouver. But in taking him, the Canucks passed on a potential star in Benson.

Pick Grade: C+

Scouting Report:

Willander is what a modern shutdown defenseman looks like. He is a great skater and pairs that ability with an engaged playing style.

He may be the most intelligent defenseman in the draft. He demonstrates superb gap control and puck carriers generally have a tough time driving into his side of the zone with possession.

Standing at 6-foot-1, Willander is physical along the walls and throws some heavy hits. He creates lots of turnovers with aggressive defending but does not often overdo it; he has a keen sense of timing his movements to tie up opponents or disrupt the puck's path at just the right moment.

He's a strong defender in front of his own net as well.

The Swede is competent, though unspectacular, in the offensive zone. At best, he'll be a steady hand on a second power-play unit. But Willander still creates offense. He's adept at moving the puck out of the defensive zone and is particularly skillful at stretching the ice and creating transition rushes for his team.

While he may not be a big point producer at higher levels, he could be the guy who tilts the ice in his team's favor and puts the skill players in a position to create offense. He has unmistakable upside as a second-pairing NHL defenseman.

12. Arizona Coyotes: Daniil But, LW, Loko Yaroslavl

B/R Rank: 26

Analysis: 

Daniil But is very raw and I don't think he offers enough certainty to justify the 12th overall pick. That being said, he's 6'5" and very skilled—similarly talented as the Coyotes' selection of fellow Russian Dimitriy Simashev at sixth overall. But has the upside as a top-six forward with a rare skill set that could justify this selection down the line.

Pick Grade: C+

Scouting Report:

What NHL player does Daniil But draw comparisons to? Well, nobody. It's hard to find another 6'5" forward who plays quite like he does.

Despite the size, it's But's skill game that gets him on the radar. He can make a lot of plays that are counterintuitive to what one would expect given his length. But is a gifted stickhandler who has considerable strength behind his shot. I like his ability to take on the role of playmaker from the perimeter, bringing pucks from the walls to the interior. In particular, But is a highly effective distributor from below the goal line.

He hasn't quite figured out how to utilize his size. But is still sometimes soft on pucks. He could become a bigger threat on the forecheck and leverage his body more in puck battles.

Skating is his biggest issue because although he is fairly agile for his size, he has subpar straight-line speed and he is unbalanced on his skates. I used the term "baby deer" in September and I think it still applies to But.

He was a point-per-game player in the MHL last season and had some bright moments in eight KHL games. It's going to take some patience and hands-on development, but the size-and-skill combination is enticing. But has upside as a middle-six winger in the NHL who can offer a playing style that is incredibly hard to find.

13. Buffalo Sabres: Zach Benson, LW, Winnipeg Ice (WHL)

B/R Rank: 5

Analysis: 

The Buffalo Sabres drafted Winnipeg Ice forward Matthew Savoie at ninth overall in 2022 after he slipped down the board despite elite numbers. Lightning has struck twice. Benson needs to mature physically, but he comfortably projects as a top-six NHL winger. And that might be a conservative guess. He's incredible value for the Sabres at 13th overall.

Pick Grade: A+

Scouting Report:

Benson stood out last season in the WHL by holding pace with the Ice's other top players; among them were Matthew Savoie (drafted ninth overall in 2022) and Connor Geekie (11th).

The 5'10", 159-pound winger managed to do even better this season as Winnipeg's best player, leading the team with 98 points in 60 games. Benson drives possession in a number of different scenarios. He's at his best when he's pushing the pace. With his combination of straight-line velocity and ability to change directions expeditiously, Benson is able to create and attack open ice.

Benson also makes sound decisions with the puck. When Benson is in the offensive zone, he is ambitious and decisive. When he finds a shooting lane, the left-hander takes it. When he dishes the puck to a teammate, he's immediately moving to the next spot to get open for a return pass. When Benson is at his best, he is making plays more quickly than the opposition can react.

But he can make plays in other ways as well. When lacking options, Benson can slow the game down and hold up the puck. He's effective in the cycle, despite his size, because of his tenacity and stickwork.

Benson is a true dual threat in the offensive zone as a passer and shooter who can create from the perimeter but also score in high-traffic areas.

He won't get the full credit he deserves because of his size, but Benson is a complete winger. He's dogged on the forecheck and backcheck. He fights for pucks and makes up for lack of strength by either creating leverage with his stick, working hard in the defensive end and forcing turnovers at the blue line.

Benson will not turn 18 until May 12; the British Columbia resident is one of the younger players in the draft and may have more room for growth. Because he already thinks the game at a high level, Benson will be NHL-ready once his body catches up.

"Benson is going to be a high-end decision maker with two-way utility the second he steps into the league," one NHL scout told Bleacher Report. "He's so physically raw that that might take a couple of years, but he's going to be a legit driver right off the hop."

In this way, Benson is something of a step down from the four names above him on this board; all of those players are either on the precipice or immediately ready to step onto NHL ice. Nevertheless, Benson is immensely talented and has all of the tools to become a first-line, possession-driving winger in the NHL.

14. Pittsburgh Penguins: Brayden Yager, C, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)

B/R Rank: 13

Analysis: 

With Benson off the board the draft is now wide open. Although B/R had five players ranked ahead of Yager, they are all in the same tier of value as he is. Yager didn't have the best pre-draft season, but I think the best is yet to come. He's a goal scorer and impressive defensive presence. And he'll presumably have time to ease into an NHL role behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin a few years from now.

Pick Grade: B

Scouting Report:

It wasn't a great season for Brayden Yager.

The much-hyped Moose Jaw Warriors center ranked fifth overall on the September version of B/R's draft rankings. He's taken a fall for reasons that are partially demonstrated by his stat line; 28 goals in 67 games is a downgrade from his 34 in 63 games last season.

I remain a strong believer in his game.

Yager has a wicked release. It's quick off his stick via one-timers and he whips it while shooting off the rush. Though he scores from the circles like most natural goal scorers, he also has a propensity for scoring from the middle of the ice; a not-so-easy skill that requires a fast release.

So what was the problem this season? Simple. The puck didn't go into the net. Yager averaged 3.48 shots on goal per game this season which was a notable tick-up from his 2.98 last season. Yet he scored fewer goals thanks to a sizable dip in shooting percentage.

The tricky part is figuring out which season is the real "Yager." Based on the way he has shown he can shoot the puck, I am inclined to believe this season's subpar total was the result of bad luck leading to a loss in confidence.

Beyond that, Yager did double his assist total. His 78 points only look weak relative to initial expectations; it's still tremendous production in the WHL for a draft-eligible center.

I also love his game off the puck. He's an intelligent forechecker who knows how to—if not himself force a turnover—check the opposition into coughing the puck up to a teammate. Yager is a diligent backchecker who follows his checks tightly, sticks with the play, and forces turnovers.

Another mark in his favor is that he improved his straight-line skating speed.

Even if his goal-scoring returns to his prior form, Yager lacks the dynamism with the puck necessary to be a game-breaker at the NHL level. That's enough to push him well outside the top-five, but scouts shouldn't sour on him too much beyond that. Yager has the upside to become a 25-30 goal-scoring center on an NHL second line. If not, he still plays a strong game that will lend well to a third-line, secondary-scoring role in the ilk of Detroit's Joe Veleno.

15. Nashville Predators: Matthew Wood, LW, UConn (NCAA)

B/R Rank: 11

Analysis: 

Incoming GM Barry Trotz told his scouting staff pre-draft that they should "take some swings." There was no bigger swing available than Matthew Wood. His skating needs a lot of work, but he is one of the most skilled players with the puck in this draft. He has bona fide top-six upside and, with Nashville in no rush to win, he'll be given the time he needs to work through those bumps in the road. Great pick by Nashville.

Pick Grade: A-

Scouting Report:

Imagine, for a moment, an NHL draft in which every single prospect reaches the peak of his potential. That's a draft in which Wood is a top-five selection.

Whether he actually manifests in his best form, or how close he can get, is the million-dollar question.

Wood is pure size and skill offensively. The 6'3", 190-pound forward plays with the size of a larger player like himself without sacrificing finesse on the puck. He is one of the draft's best stickhandlers, particularly so in open ice and in tight spots. With a series of clever dekes plus his long reach, he will create space for a pass or shot — or to simply get around a defender — when there initially was none.

He has a robust shot release from distance but also the dexterity to beat goaltenders with a softer touch in close. Wood is very quick to move the puck from heel to toe on his blade. He's also a gifted passer who waits for passing seams to open before sending diagonal pucks that break through the opposition's interior.

It is with this talent that Wood posted an impressive 11 goals and 23 assists as an accelerated freshman for UConn.

Yet lots of questions remain regarding whether Wood's game will carry over to higher levels. Everything he does is slow. That starts with his skating. He has a hunched-over stride and has inefficient movement in his feet.

But it's not just the skating. Wood does not play a very direct game. In college, he has the time to wait for plays to develop, create space for himself, and analyze the best decisions to make. At pro levels that won't be so easy.

To be fair, Wood's reach allows him to get away with this slow approach to a degree. He's proficient at protecting the puck while in motion. That does help him buy time.

It's a lazy comparison because of the UConn connection, but there are parallels between him and Buffalo Sabres star Tage Thompson. Like Wood, Thompson was a big, highly-skilled player who makes plays via delays in his stickhandling and decision-making. He was also a poor skater and very rough around the edges. For a long time it did not seem like Thompson would make it all click. Until he did.

Can Wood follow a similar path? It's possible. His drafting team must be prepared to be very patient, has to trust its development staff, and ultimately be able to live with a very real possibility that he doesn't put it all together.

16. Calgary Flames: Samuel Honzek, LW, Vancouver Giants (WHL)

B/R Rank: 23

Analysis: 

Honzek is a pretty safe bet to make the NHL. He's very big and has the ability to both pass and shoot. I do worry if his skating and hockey sense might limit him to a secondary scoring role rather than a future as a true top-six winger. There were wingers with a better chance of hitting top-six upside left on the board. Gabriel Perreault is chief among them.

Pick Grade: C+

Scouting Report:

Honzek is a rangy, 6'4" winger who shows a surprising amount of dexterity. He is a capable stickhandler who carries into the offensive zone and finagles past defenders using deceptive moves with his stick. He uses clever pushes and pulls of the puck to create the space to creep around defenders.

His puck-possession game is healthy. Honzek uses his range to shield pucks in the offensive zone. He is a force along the walls, bullying opposing players in perimeter scrums. On the penalty kill, he'll pin the puck to the boards and it will take multiple players to free the puck to get play going again.

The Slovak is a multifaceted goal scorer. He puts massive weight behind his wrist shot, but he also shows a delicate touch; he loves to drag the puck to his backhand when he has an opportunity in front of the net.

He doesn't get enough credit as a playmaker. Though Honzek is not a player a coach would design an offense around, he does show some vision and ability to make east-west passing plays. In fact, had he played on a better team than Vancouver, his assist total would have been much higher.

He's already physically ahead of the curve and although there is room to add muscle to his frame, he might struggle at higher levels when his physical advantage dissipates. Add in that he turned 18 last November, making him one of the draft's oldest players, there is legitimate concern about how much development is ahead of him.

And while his skating is hardly disqualifying, he has work to do. He is actually pretty efficient at changing directions but he lacks any sort of explosiveness in open ice.

Honzek projects as a middle-six winger in the NHL.

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

B/R Rank: 16

Analysis: 

I like the second of two Detroit first-round picks better than the one at ninth overall. Sandin-Pellikka has weaknesses in his game. I worry about his ability to defend, sometimes he tries too much, and his performances come in waves. But the Swede was the top defenseman on my board at the start of the draft and he could turn into a top-four offensive defenseman.

Pick Grade: B

Scouting Report:

It's been difficult to figure out what to make of Sandin Pelikka's season.

Sandin Pellikka has a lot of tools and vacillates between looking great, bad, and anywhere in between. He at times dominates against his peers but he was also dead-last among defensemen on Skelleftea by Corsi For percentage, per InStat.

He was uninspiring during the summer's Gretzky-Hlinka tournament, produced mixed results in the Swedish J20 league, struggled in the Swedish Elite League and then absolutely dominated the U18 World Championship.

What nobody can dispute is how good Sandin Pelikka's skating is. The Swedish defenseman has good straight-line speed, but particularly excels when he's skating on his edges. He attacks open ice but also has escapability in all four directions when under pressure.

He thrives at moving the puck from the defensive zone outwards, serving as the primary quarterback from the defensive zone.

He is similarly impressive at gaining the offensive zone as well. He scored 16 goals in 31 J20 games last season and it's easy to see why. He has a good shooting stance and picks the upper corners. He's just OK as a distributor in the offensive zone though. He'll make quick passes to teammates in shooting positions but isn't adept at manipulating play to create lanes.

Defense is where his main problems lie. He is often second to recognize a developing play and forwards can slip under him either to receive a pass entering the zone off the rush or when he's defending the slot area. At 5'11", he's not big and doesn't compensate for that with good reads, stickwork, or footwork. Sometimes he holds onto pucks too long and gets into trouble. The internal clock needs to tick faster.

There's a world where he turns into a Josh Morrissey type but, in my view, just as equal a chance that he follows in the footsteps of Julius Honka. He has high-end upside but I'm less convinced that he'll realize it — or get anywhere close — than others are.

18. Winnipeg Jets: Colby Barlow, RW, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)

B/R Rank: 17

Analysis: 

The Jets grab the best goal scorer left on the board. Barlow is physically mature, battles hard and absolutely rips shots. I don't think he'll ever have a complete game and he is probably farther along the developmental curve than others, but he could turn into a second-liner who thrives with a playmaker on his line. Perhaps fellow Jets prospect Brad Lambert could eventually turn into that player. I think at this point Gabriel Perreault is a tier above him in terms of wingers remaining, but had one said five hours ago that the Jets would land Barlow at 18th overall, it would have sounded like a perfectly good outcome to me.

Pick Grade: B-

Scouting Report:

Barlow is an uncomplicated player. He skates in straight lines and he scores goals.

What's to like is how diverse he is as a scorer. He has one of the best one-touch releases in the draft and he has a heavy shot off the rush. He gets to the net and puts quick tap-ins and redirections on goal. Barlow was a notable goal-scorer in the OHL last season when he potted 30 goals in 59 regular season games; he improved to 46 this season plus three in four playoff games.

He's a steady vertical skater. Barlow gets a lot of rush chances via quick breakouts or turnovers from the defensive end. It's one element that makes him a useful player in the defensive zone, particularly on the penalty kill. He's good for pressuring the points and creating the occasional shorthanded goal.

Physically, Barlow's game is mixed. No doubt, he is well-built. He finishes his checks and they are surely unpleasant for the target. He battles hard in the net front. However, I don't find him to be overly effective in puck battles around the perimeter nor do I see him creating much offensively directly via the forecheck.

Counterintuitively, I worry about his physical advantages because of what may happen once others in his age group mature and the gap dissipates. He isn't great going east to west and lacks the finesse to beat defenders with his stick.

Despite his faults, Barlow will endear himself to his coaches because of his lunchpail style. His reasonable upside is as a 17-to-23 goal-scorer who kills penalties. He may be the sixth-best forward on the team but could play as high as the first line depending on tactical fit. A loose comparison might be Vancouver Canucks winger Tanner Pearson.

Every team has room for, and wants, a player like that. I'm just not sure it's an influential or uncommon enough archetype to warrant his getting selected any higher than the early 20s.

19. Chicago Blackhawks: Oliver Moore, C, US National Team Development Program

B/R Rank: 9

Analysis: 

People compare Oliver Moore's skating to that of Connor McDavid. He's that good. Of course, the rest of his game is well behind that standard, but it's rare to get this type of athlete at 19th overall. He's a very good playmaker, and his future in the NHL will depend on how much he can build up an ability to score. The Blackhawks got a great player here.

Pick Grade: A

Scouting Report:

If one were to rank the players in this draft by the uniqueness of their playing styles, Moore would rank close to the top.

The base of the Minnesotan's game is his skating. His acceleration is the best in this draft class, and his straight-line speed is superlative. He bursts through the neutral zone on transition rushes, and Moore is a zone-entry machine when rushing the puck. He's also the type to beat defenders up the ice on counterattacks. The term that showed up consistently in my notes for him the last two seasons is "separation speed."

Moore is primarily a playmaker who loves to circle around the offensive zone with the puck and feed teammates from the perimeter inward. Although he is not a threatening shooter, Moore has the hands to beat goaltenders from tough angles. Furthermore, Moore is adept at collecting tough passes and quickly transitioning to a shooting posture.

The University of Minnesota commit is not a complete player. The 5'11", 176-pounder lacks a physical game and isn't a true goal-scorer. But his combination of elite speed and gifted hands is rare; he makes plays that few others can. Though Dylan Larkin is bigger and a better shooter, Moore should aim to resemble him at the NHL level in terms of becoming a top-six forward who creates offense off the rush.

20. Seattle Kraken: Eduard Šalé, LW, Kometa Brno (Czech Extraliga)

B/R Rank: 10

Analysis: 

I rate Šalé higher than most, and I love this pick for Seattle. He's a skilled winger who plays with speed and can hold off checks, and I think he'll get even better as he matures. The Czech league is tough for a kid his age, but he looked great against his peers internationally. The draft should be about trying to land players who are otherwise hard to acquire. The Kraken, who are heavily invested in analytics, get this. He has second-line upside.

Pick Grade: A-

Scouting Report:

Šalé did not have ideal circumstances this pre-draft season. He played limited minutes in the top Czech league, averaging just 12 minutes per game, according to InStat. Further, there were times when it seemed that Šalé did not have a chance to impact play because his teammates were letting him down. For similar players in Sweden, Finland, and Russia, their ability to influence their draft stock is balanced by a lot of minutes at the junior level.

The Czech junior league is, shall we say, not on par with those in other countries. Šalé already dominated that level last year with 89 points in 39 games. He did not play in the Czech U20 league this season.

His overall season still grades out as pretty good with seven goals and seven assists in 43 games.

Šalé is a skilled winger capable of creating offense by himself. He has separation speed in open ice, particularly when carrying the puck. He looks to take on defenders with bursts of speed and a clever set of hands. He puts defenders on their heels and uses his 6'2" frame to ward off defenders and drive the net with power.

He is a superb playmaker off the rush, knowing how to shoot to create rebounds for teammates or how to find them across the slot.

In the top Czech league, he did sometimes get confused in defensive rotations. It's an understandable but still notable blemish in his game at the moment.

Salé is definitely raw but the upside is immense. He has a lot of credible tools — size, skating, and hands — that have admittedly only come in spurts at a level that he was probably not fully ready for. He'll need a few years to fill out physically and catch his bearings before he's ready for the NHL, but scouts might be talking about him very differently were he to have played this season against more even competition in the CHL or the Swedish junior league.

21. Minnesota Wild: Charlie Stramel, C, Wisconsin

B/R Rank: N/A

Analysis: 

Stramel is the first player drafted who did not make B/R's top 32. However, he did open the season at the 13th overall spot. Stramel is massive and has good hands for his size. I worry that his having developed physically earlier than everyone else may limit his upside and also could have limited his problem-solving skills. It's hard to run into problems when you're bigger than everyone around you at age 16. There is a high probability that Stramel makes the NHL and there is second-line upside, but I fear he could move to the wing and might be destined to become more of a depth player.

Pick Grade: D+

Scouting Report:

When Stramel earned the 13th-overall spot on B/R's September draft rankings it came with a warning; the then-6'3", 215-pound forward was at risk of dropping down the list as others caught up to him physically and his size was no longer a blatant advantage at the NCAA level.

That has become the case. While his size is still impressive and will be at any level of hockey, it's no longer as jarring as it was when he was 16 or 17 years old.

Make no mistake, Stramel is still a quality player. He put together a respectable season on a Wisconsin team that at times looked disjointed, collecting five goals and seven assists in 33 games.

True to his size, he plays a powerful game. Stramel is a workhorse on the ice, decently for his size. He is a heavy hitter who wins his battles along the walls and he thrives as a net-front player. Defensemen have a difficult time moving him and he has pretty good hands in small areas.

The one real offensive skill Stramel displays is playmaking capability. He has good vision and his long reach plus ability to hold up pucks create the opportunities to send passes from the walls into the interior.

The most optimistic scouts will look at Stramel and see something of a future Tom Wilson. And Stramel does have enough in the toolbox to get there if all goes well. More reasonably, his drafting team should feel comfortable projecting him into a bottom-six checking role.

22. Philadelphia Flyers: Oliver Bonk, RD, London Knights (OHL)

B/R Rank: N/A

Analysis: 

The rebuilding Flyers badly need to add upside to the prospect pool. Granted, they got exactly that at seventh overall with Matvei Michkov. That's not the case here. Bonk is a polished defender and he has very good odds of making the NHL, but I think he faces an uphill battle to become a top-four defenseman.

Pick Grade: D+

Scouting Report:

Bonk's strength is a lack of discernable weakness. He is competent in every aspect of the game.

The foundation of his game is responsible, shutdown defense. Bonk funnels puck carriers to the walls on rushes, defends responsibly in his own zone, and plays a physical style. He throws hits, he's not shy around his own net, and he's willing to take contact in order to get rid of the puck.

Bonk, who is the son of former NHLer Radek, makes a good first pass out of the defensive zone. He is a decent puck-mover in the offensive zone, doesn't look out of place joining the rush, and gets the puck on net when he has shooting opportunities.

The tradeoff for his well-roundedness is a lack of any real standout abilities. From skating to Hockey IQ to passing and so on, everything grades out as satisfactory. I like his odds of making the NHL and if you squint, you can see a second-pairing upside, but he seems more likely to be destined for a career on an NHL third pairing.

23. New York Rangers: Gabriel Perreault, LW, US National Team Development Program

B/R Rank: 8

Analysis: 

Left wing isn't the first-, second- or 10th-biggest need in the NYR organization, but talent is talent. You never know what your team will look like in five years and, as I like to say, it's better to have a great player you don't need than a bad one that you do. Perreault is a dual threat in the offensive zone as a passer and shooter. He is skilled, he has a great sense for the flow of play, and I like his effort off the puck more than most. The Rangers have sometimes frustrated parts of the fanbase with an overemphasis on size and grit. This is a clear-cut deviation from that ethos and a slam dunk by the Rangers' scouting staff.

Pick Grade: A

Scouting Report:

Gabe Perreault leading a U.S. national team in scoring once was not a fluke.

He did it again this season, tallying 132 points in 63 games for the under-18 team after netting 50 in 51 games for the U17 team two seasons ago. Although Perreault still does not rank as the top player available from the USNTDP, it is time to start taking his output seriously.

The son of former NHLer Yanic, Gabe is one of the draft's best players at operating within the offensive zone. The Quebec-born forward is equal parts creator and finisher and can take on whatever role the play requires from him. With soft hands and strong vision, Perreault threads passes through defensive setups and puts teammates in positions to score. Equally, the winger gets open away from the puck. Though he doesn't quite shoot like his brother, Anaheim Ducks prospect Jacob, the left-hander still has some heft behind his wrister and he picks the corners.

Perreault is at his best when he is working in combination with linemates Will Smith and Ryan Leonard. A big reason scoring is up in the NHL is teams are now prioritizing offense that comes from moving the puck across the offensive zone. Perreault understands this geometry perfectly and he has the hands to execute.

He'll never be a strong defensive forward, but any concerns about him in that regard are overstated. He hustles up and down the ice, is willing to take a hit and fights hard to create turnovers on the backcheck. Though Perreault does need to put in work to become a more rounded player when the other team has the puck, he makes an honest effort.

His skating is lacking, particularly for a 5'11", 165-pound forward, and that does hamper his upside. Perreault will not be the primary driver of his line, but he will be a top-six-point producer who plays on the power play.

24. Nashville Predators: Tanner Molendyk, LD, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

B/R Rank: N/A

Analysis: 

Molendyk is one of the best skaters in this draft and I love his ability to move the puck. He projects as a second-pairing defenseman who transitions play for his team, but there is room for more with the right development. He didn't make B/R's top 32, but he was one of the final cuts. At 24th overall, I don't have any problems with this selection. It's been a good night for the Preds in their home city.

Pick Grade: B

Scouting Report:

Everything Moldenyk does well begins and ends with his skating. He is agile in all four directions. His backskating ranks among the best in the draft. He's quick to hit a fast stride and he skates at a high speed in open ice.

That quickness gives him a lot of escapability with the puck in the defensive zone. He can beat the first forechecker and carry into the neutral zone. Molendyk is also more than capable of making a good first pass out of his zone.

The limits to his offensive game start to show in the offensive zone as his ability to rush the puck is limited to the left side of the ice. He's not going to cause breakdowns or losses of possession, but he isn't going to create scoring chances in the offensive zone. Aside from a decent shot from inside the circles, he's more of a deferential player offensively. Five other WHL first-time draft-eligible defensemen registered more points this season.

His 5'11", 176-pound frame does not prevent him from defending well. He combines his mobility with good instincts to take away space in the neutral zone, close down on and stay with puck-rushers, and get in passing and shooting lanes.

Molendyk can be the puck carrier on a pairing with a more physical shutdown defenseman or he can be a defensive presence who can keep up with an offensive defenseman. His realistic ceiling is as a No. 3 defenseman in the NHL who can play in all situations.

25. St. Louis Blues: Otto Stenberg, C, Frölunda (SHL)

B/R Rank: 25

Analysis: 

The best player on the board remains Quentin Musty, but Stenberg has high upside as well. He's highly skilled with the puck. He needs to round out the rest of his game in terms of defense and physical play, but the Blues will give him plenty of time to work on that in Sweden.

Pick Grade: B

Scouting Report:

Stenberg is a tough prospect to analyze. He was absolutely dominant in international tournaments. The Swede bookended the season with nine points in five games at the Gretzky-Hlinka Tournament and 16 points in seven games at the U18 World Championship, where he was named to the tournament's All-Star Team.

He held his own playing depth minutes for Frölunda in the Swedish Hockey League, but then was pitiful throughout the season in Swedish juniors. Stenberg's 26 points in 29 games in the J20 ranked 11th among all draft-eligible players. There are players who might not go until round three who out-produced him.

Stenberg is a crafty puck-handler, particularly in open ice. When he has the puck in space he pulls out all of the dekes and dangles to either beat a defender on the rush or create separation while stickhandling from a more stationary position

26. San Jose Sharks: Quentin Musty, LW, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

B/R Rank: 12

Analysis: 

The Sharks get the best player available. Musty is rough around the edges, but he's big and he's very skilled. Maybe he has question marks in terms of inconsistent performances, but the draft is about trying to find difference-makers. He has the ability to become a top-six forward who thrives on the power play. Love this pick for San Jose.

Pick Grade: A

Scouting Report:

One of the more divisive players in the draft, Musty will border the top 10 or the end of the first round depending on whose opinion you are seeking.

Regardless of where one ranks him, nobody can deny his talent. He has the potential to be the complete package offensively. Primarily, Musty is a playmaker. His vision is exceptional and he always seems to have a 360-degree assessment of the options available to him. He makes great one-touch passes, constantly moving the puck against the grain and changing the course of play. He excels at making critical passes across the slot.

As a shooter, Musty is not really one to lean into his shot but rather beats goaltenders with a quick release from almost a standing position. He has no trouble picking corners without having to cradle the puck before the release. The New York-born winger then uses that as his fastball to set up the off-speed pitch; Musty will fake the shot, drawing defenders out of position as they attempt to block what they think is coming, before changing directions and exploiting the space now open to move closer to the net and into a more threatening space.

Musty is generally phenomenal at carrying the puck up the ice and creating zone entries with possession. He uses his long range and east-west stickhandling to bank through the neutral zone.

Musty is tall at 6'2" and 190 pounds and has a projectable frame. Musty can out-leverage defenders for inside position when battling for pucks or going to the net front. At times, he does it. In other moments, one wishes he'd show a bit more bite.

Where things go south with Musty is his lack of consistency. As we wrote in September, he has a tendency to fade in and out of games. He's corrected that to a large extent, but the dynamic is still palpable. Too often Musty will try to make a hero play with the puck when the situation does not call for it. Or, he'll make a poorly considered pass across the middle of the ice that gets picked off and gives the other team an odd-man rush.

To his credit, Musty does show diligence in the defensive zone, actively working to get his stick in lanes and create turnovers.

NHL organizations now invest significantly in player development. Musty may have problems, but none of them are true red flags. If a GM does not trust his bevy of coaches and developmental staff to get the most out of a prospect like Musty then what even is the point?

Yes, ultimately Musty controls his own destiny and has to put the work in, but if the right team gets its hands on Musty then he has the talent to become a 200-foot first-line winger.

27. Colorado Avalanche: Calum Ritchie, C, Oshawa Generals (OHL)

B/R Rank: 21

Analysis: 

Ritchie isn't going to blow the roof off in Colorado, but the Avs aren't exactly starving for an elite talent. Ritchie is exactly the type of player who projects to fill in the gaps on the second or third line. He has a bit of skill, but his main job is to drive possession for his team and get the star players in positions to cook. He's good value at 27th overall.

Pick Grade: B+

Scouting Report:

Ritchie is one of the top off-the-puck players in the draft. Offensively, he's an accelerant. Defensively, he's a crutch. He seems to have a sixth sense for where the puck will go and where he needs to be at all times.

In the offensive zone, Ritchie displays brilliant hockey IQ. He's a top-notch forechecker.

He knows when and where to support the puck at all times. He wins puck battles and is an asset in the cycle, holding the puck along the walls to find openings. Ritchie has a knack for finding ways to pick up pucks along the perimeter and move his team's play into the interior of the offensive zone.

Defensively, he doesn't often make errors in his coverages. He knows when to play a puck-handler tight versus when to leave space, or when to skate with him versus when to attack and try to take away the puck. Ritchie is proficient in the faceoff dot, particularly in the defensive zone; per InStat, Ritchie won 54.2 percent of his defensive zone draws in the OHL this past season.

Prospects in this range of the draft usually display a lot of skill but raise questions about inconsistency. For Ritchie, the opposite is true. His 200-foot game is robust but the skill only comes on in flashes. At the best moments, he looks just as skilled as most of his contemporaries. He loves to carry the puck on the rush and toe-drag around defenders. He has a good wrist shot when given space to shoot. He is excellent on breakaways showering goaltenders with clever dekes.

And as a passer, his understanding of spatial awareness is clear.

But for whatever reason, he does not play the role of executor nearly enough and the end product is 24 goals and 35 assists in 59 games; mediocre production in the context of an OHLer in the conversation as a potential top-15 selection.

Drafting Ritchie is definitely not the most exciting, flamboyant prospect, but he has the makings of an NHLer who can do a lot of things; a better version of Vlad Namestnikov. One can envision him as a third-line, shutdown center who offers secondary offense or a winger who plays a top-six role, collects 40 points, and makes life easy for higher-skilled linemates.

28. Toronto Maple Leafs: Easton Cowan, LW, London Knights (OHL)

B/R Rank: N/A

Analysis: 

This pick is so off the board that we don't have a scouting report prepared for Cowan. The left winger is an intelligent player who works hard every single shift and does a lot of great things for his team off the puck. He's a staunch defensive forward and does well in linkup sequences with his linemates. But he has not shown high-end offensive ability, as indicated by his 20 goals and 33 assists in 68 OHL games in 2022-23. Those are numbers that reflect a possible checking-line forward.

Pick Grade: D

29. St. Louis Blues: Theo Lindstein, LD, Brynäs (SHL)

B/R Rank: N/A

Analysis: 

Lindstein is a smooth-skating defenseman who defends the defensive and neutral zones well. He has struggled to show much offense and he hasn't, at least so far, moved the puck well from the back end. There are a number of translatable NHL attributes here, but I'm skeptical that he'll become anything more than a third-pairing defenseman. He was more of a late-second- or early-third-round value.

Pick Grade: C-

Scouting Report:

Lindstein entered the season as a perceived top prospect for the 2023 Draft. He made a name for himself in Sweden in 2021-22 after playing 12 games in the Swedish Hockey League as a 16-year-old.

The left-handed defenseman can be, at times, a soothing player to watch. Lindstein is a mobile defenseman who is calm with the puck.

At 6'1" and 170 pounds, he has NHL size, but I struggle to find any abilities of his worth leaning on. He will sometimes make plays from the point but generally lacks any real puck-moving acumen. In fact, sometimes his decision-making is poor. He is a solid defender but not so much that it outweighs the lack of ability to drive or create offense.

Lindstein did hold his own in a very difficult league but I do wonder how much of his potential to go in the first-round is anchored to past expectations rather than what he has done in his draft season. For me, he is more of a third-round value.

30. Carolina Hurricanes: Bradly Nadeau, LW, Penticton Vees (BCHL)

B/R Rank: N/A

Analysis: 

The success rate for 30th overall picks is lower than one might think. So while Nadeau may have some warts, who cares? So does everyone available at this time. The Hurricanes got one of the draft's best pure goal scorers here. He has All-Star upside, which is more than what many teams who have drafted ahead of Carolina can say. This organization prioritizes high-end skill at the draft and knows how to mine it. Nadeau will need a lot of development in college hockey. But if he comes out the other side as the best version of himself, this will be a steal for Carolina.

Pick Grade: B+

Scouting Report:

Nadeau is a true dual threat offensively.

His primary function is as a goal scorer. Nadeau's shot is blistering. His release is fast, the puck moves fast and he picks his spots. After the lottery players, he may be the draft's best pure shooter.

The University of Maine commit uses the threat of the shot as a mechanism for taking on the role of playmaker. Faking the shot, Nadeau will send slap passes to teammates around the crease for tap-ins. He's also excellent at finding teammates for passes across the slot and particularly from rush chances.

As good as Nadeau is at creating offense on the rush, or when he has space, such as on the power play, he hasn't shown nearly as much ability to create via more typical cycle sequences. Nadeau is merely an okay skating, laking real agility and ability to beat defenders one-on-one with his feet or his hands.

He's raw and needs to build a more complete game, but as one looks at the end of the first round and into the second round, Nadeau is the perfect type of high-upside player worth taking a chance on.

31. Colorado Avalanche: Mikhail Gulyayev, LD, Omskie Yastreby (MHL)

B/R Rank: 20

Analysis: 

Stop me if you've heard this before: The Colorado Avalanche have added a mobile, puck-moving defenseman. At some point the Avs will have to trim salary on defense and if, say, Sam Girard is the casualty, then it's not difficult imagining Gulyayev coming in a few years to refill that role. Colorado is having a tidy night.

Pick Grade: A-

Scouting Report:

This draft is loaded with mobile defensemen and Gulyayev hangs with the top of the class.

Every strength of his game incorporates skating. He is nimble on his edges and can make quick turns and pivots. He backskates with ease. Going forward, he has a quick first step and moves easily through the neutral zone.

Although his offensive-zone game doesn't jump out immediately in terms of elite playmaking or scoring, he does a lot of good for his team. He's maybe the best in the draft at pinching from the blue line to make himself open in soft space or win pucks that are rimming around the walls. Usually, he plays a direct game. Gulyayev is one of the best in the draft at purposefully shooting for redirections and rebounds.

Although he's going to get knocks for his being a frail 5'10", his defensive game is underrated. He does need to advance his defensive-zone recognitions, but he uses his footwork to defend the rush superbly. He also minimizes the time his team has to defend because he wins so many races to pucks and skates them out of danger in the defensive zone.

In September, we noted that his physical game was lacking. While it's still not quite his strength, he actually showed an increased willingness to throw his body around. Guylyayev keeps a low center of gravity and it's enough to surprise some puck carriers to separate them from the puck.

Stylistically, Gulyayev is reminiscent of former Winnipeg Jet Toby Enstrom. It's quite possible that Gulyayev tops out as an AHL or KHL offensive defenseman, but he also has legitimate potential as a top-four offensive defenseman.

32. Vegas Golden Knights: David Edstrom, C, Frölunda J20 (J20 Nationell)

B/R Rank: N/A

Analysis: 

Edstrom is a big, physical center who screams "future bottom-six NHL center." Not exactly the most exhilarating player to take here and the Knights did leave a few higher-upside players on the board, but I had him pegged as a player worth taking around picks 35-40. If it's a reach, it's the slightest of one.

Pick Grade: B-

Scouting Report:

Edstrom is a big player who plays to his size. The 6'3" center is one of the draft's better players when it comes to operating along the walls. He is so strong along the boards and wins the majority of his battles, either freeing pucks for a teammate to scoop up or outright coming away with possession, usually then kicking it to the point.

He's an ardent defensive center who cleans up play in the slot and supports the puck down low for zone exits. Plus, he is successful in the faceoff dot.

Edstrom grades out roughly average as a shooter, passer, and skater, which won't win him any awards but does enough to complement the rustic parts of his game. He's particularly good at scoring around the net front.

He's a well-rounded player with a game that is already close to ready for pro hockey. He'll need to do some work to become more comfortable with the puck and accentuate his offensive game. Edstrom could turn into a third-line shutdown center who provides a lot in the forecheck and cycle and provides secondary scoring. Not unlike Winnipeg Jets center Adam Lowry.