Hindsight is never an option in drafting, nor should it be. So many variables that only come into play post-draft influence where a player's career ends up; to judge based on hindsight is unhelpful at best.

Still, it's fun to revisit a draft class and consider how the selections stack up against each other after time has passed and we've had the opportunity to watch them in a variety of situations—international tournaments, overseas leagues, the NHL.

So where would we draft the NHL's 2023 top 10 now? A year isn't a lot of time in the totality of a hockey career, but at this stage of development, it's nothing to sneeze at either. We now have a better picture of who a lot of these guys could be as NHLers.

1. Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks

Obviously, pick No. 1 wasn't going to change. Connor Bedard is still hands-down the best player to come out of the 2023 draft class. Obstacles like a broken jaw and a terrible team did nothing to derail his successful Calder Trophy campaign, and it won't be long before he's knocking on the door of other, more prominent league trophies. He makes players around him better, though I'm sure he wishes that wasn't as necessary as Chicago has made it thus far.

Top of the list of his goals for this season is probably playing a full 82 games. If that happens, expect to see a points increase for that reason alone. With Tyler Bertuzzi likely to play on his wing—someone whose play should complement Bedard's style quite well—those totals should rise even more.

2. Matvei Michkov, Anaheim Ducks (Originally Selected 7th by Flyers)

Everyone's most anticipated overseas addition to the Philadelphia Flyers would, in this alternate universe, be taken where he should've been all along—second overall. And hey, with the Ducks' recent uniform overhaul, he'd even still be wearing all orange!

All jokes aside, Michkov's offensive skill is significant enough that it warrants this high of a rise, jumping from seventh to second. He's got incredible hockey sense and vision, allowing him to be a creative playmaker and problem-solver, and his arsenal of shots is already NHL-quality.

Are there legitimate concerns about Michkov's game? Of course. There are for everyone on this list, because that's how player development works. But I promise you, hockey fans: you're going to love watching him this season. Unless you're not a Flyers fan and he's playing against your team. Then you have my condolences.

3. Will Smith, Columbus Blue Jackets (Originally Selected 4th by Sharks)

Will Smith's hockey sense and playmaking abilities make bumping him up from fourth to third feel like a no-brainer. It's something that would've even made sense without the benefit of hindsight, which is zero slight to Adam Fantilli, who previously occupied this spot.

Smith is invigorating to watch, a playmaker of the sort that every coach wants in their lineup, taking boring, everyday plays and turning them into electric opportunities. His puckhandling skills are top notch.

Don't be fooled into thinking he's only a one-zone wonder, though. Smith is just as often caught working hard in his own end, anticipating where opponents are or will be and shutting down lanes with his stick and backchecking. Smith would fit right in with the crop of young forwards coming up in Columbus and would likely help drive their offense to new heights.

4. Adam Fantilli, San Jose Sharks (Originally Taken 3rd by Blue Jackets)

Adam Fantilli on a team with Macklin Celebrini? Sign me up. He only gets bumped down a slot because Smith's skill is just that slight hair higher. Fantilli has already proven that he can hang in the NHL, despite a lacerated calf muscle ending his season early.

He struggled to sustain offensive production for long stretches during the 49 games he played, but that's not an accurate representation of the player Fantilli is capable of becoming at his best—it's a guy adjusting to the grind of the NHL game after leaving college. That move looks different on everyone.

Reasons for the Sharks to draft Fantilli here in our alternate timeline are exactly the same as why the Blue Jackets actually took him at third. He's a two-way center with fantastic skating ability—his edgework and acceleration are to die for. The combination of his hockey IQ and playmaking with the physicality of his game means there's no way he'd stay on the board past fourth.

5. Leo Carlsson, Montreal Canadiens (Originally Selected 2nd by Ducks)

Let's be clear: Leo Carlsson being fifth in this re-draft says nothing negative about him; rather, it says only positive things about the players ahead of him.

Carlsson is another player who saw time in the NHL this season, though the Anaheim Ducks managed his workload so that he didn't play a full 82 games. Even so, he was able to showcase the skill that caused him to go second overall, and if he was still on the board at fifth in this alternate timeline, the Montreal Canadiens would not let him slip through their fingers.

Hallmarks of Carlsson's game include his confident playmaking and awareness, as well as the ability to make his moves appear effortless. Pucks almost seem to come to him, and he's excellent at creating opportunities. In a universe where he's drafted by the Habs, he'd see time with guys like Nick Suzuki or Cole Caufield, and the combination would be electric.

6. Ryan Leonard, Arizona Coyotes (Originally Selected 8th by Capitals)

The hockey club formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes—now the Utah Hockey Club—initially chose Dmitriy Simashev at sixth overall. Ryan Leonard is a much better option for this spot, as his lethal goal-scoring and high-energy play are things every organization can benefit from.

Leonard also brings versatility, having played all three forward positions during his draft year—something that would have to appeal to a team like the Coyotes/Utah.

His playmaking and shot are high-end, though not elite, but it's the motor behind it all that elevates Leonard into a player you can't look away from. What made the line of Smith, Leonard, and Gabe Perreault so lethal at Boston College and with the NTDP was that no one guy was carrying the other two. They were all pushing each other higher. Leonard will likely bring that same quality to his NHL team.

7. Zach Benson, Philadelphia Flyers (Originally Taken 13th by Sabres)

Zach Benson is one of the few players from the 2023 draft who spent this season in the NHL, and as such, we have a more complete picture of how he handles himself in the league than we do about other players.

A highlight of Benson's season, with all its ups and downs, was his work ethic—and that's something that the Flyers, particularly head coach John Tortorella, would value.

That work ethic is what will allow him to showcase the skills he brings to the table this upcoming season. His forechecking and defensive skillset were on full display in his first year in the league, but it's his hockey IQ and anticipation that truly allowed him to shine. He's genuinely one of the smartest players in the 2023 draft—a big reason why he got bumped up from 13th—and those smarts, along with his elite passing skills, will cause an increase in his offensive production as he settles into the league and gets better teammates.

8. Gabe Perreault, Washington Capitals (Originally Taken 23rd by Rangers)

Moving Gabriel Perreault to eighth overall from 23rd feels like quite the mental leap on the surface. When you dig deeper into Perreault's skillset, however, it becomes clear that it's not really a stretch at all, and his actual draft position will look like a steal before too long.

He makes much more sense inside the top 10 when looking solely at talent. With Boston College linemates Will Smith and Ryan Leonard already off the board in this re-draft, why wouldn't the Capitals take a swing at him instead?

Perreault is a highly creative playmaker with elite instincts and anticipation. His skating is likely one factor that knocked him down the draft board (the other is his size), as it's not pretty. Skating coaches exist for a reason. It's far less likely that someone can be taught the vision and the instincts Perreault brings to the table, particularly when it is combined with the kind of poise he's able to maintain under pressure.

9. Dalibor Dvorský, Detroit Red Wings (Originally Taken 10th by Blues)

Dalibor Dvorský had a wild ride last season, but that ride ended in him tearing apart the OHL. It's been noted that Dvorský intends to try to compete for a roster spot with the Blues this fall. In this alternate universe where the Red Wings snag him before the Blues get the chance, he'd probably have an easier time cracking the lineup. He's a two-way guy with great instincts and a killer shot, and he would be an excellent addition to the rebuild happening in Detroit.

He's tenacious both with and without the puck. He'll dive into puck battles with the same energy, and he finds teammates and makes difficult passes. Dvorský's puck skills pair well with his above-average intelligence, and any hockey coach in the league would be delighted to have a player with his work ethic.

10. David Reinbacher, St. Louis Blues (Originally Selected 5th by Canadiens)

Much like Carlsson at fifth, Reinbacher falling to 10th is less commentary on him and more commentary on what we've seen from the players ahead of him. He's a mature, mobile defenseman who reads the ice well and is good at using his size and reach to kill plays and shut down opponents. The style of game he plays suits the Blues' system well, with defense taking priority, but he has good hockey sense and some playmaking potential. Getting his feet under him and playing consistent minutes could give him the opportunity to contribute on the offensive side of the game as well.

He does need to improve his gap control and be a little more active when it comes to taking away opponents' space in this particular way, especially at the NHL level. This is likely an area in which he'll improve with more time on NHL ice.