NASHVILLE, TN – If you think back to the time when you walked across a stage to receive your high school or college diploma, you remember just how special it was. All the years of effort and sacrifice, not just from you, but those who helped you along the way, return to your consciousness. Spectators who love you, there to see the special moment, and thinking of what is coming next for you, as the next chapter of your life emerges. It was an exciting time and a benchmark moment in your life.
That’s what the annual NHL Entry Draft represents, a new graduating class of qualified players has arrived and are now eligible through their playing age to be offered to National Hockey League franchises for draft selection.
It’s an exciting time for everyone involved in the professional game, the city of Nashville and the families and friends of those who have arrived at the next level. The NHL continues to put on an excellent event, attracting fans from far and wide who have made this week a vacation for many in one of the South’s most enjoyable cities.
In one of the nice touches by the General Managers, each team’s top hockey operations leader made it a point to thank retiring Nashville General Manager David Poile for the positive impact he had on their lives. Poile, Nashville’s only General Manager since 1998, was recognized at the very beginning of the night’s ceremonies.
As part of Poile’s retirement celebration, he was gifted a one-of-a-kind, custom Gibson guitar from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, retired Predators goalie Pekka Rinne and current Predators captain Roman Josi.
Despite the relatively weak free agent class and talk there may be a flurry of trades, it was all business on day one. 32 selections were made with several teams having multiple picks while others not having any picks. The business this night focused on replenishing depleted cupboards and building future teams. Few chosen in this draft will play in the big show next season.
Of certainty, though, is this year’s top pick, secured through lottery by the Chicago Blackhawks, who tonight, selected Connor Bedard from the Western Hockey League’s Regina Pats. A generational talent, Bedard will step onto United Center ice in October to begin his professional career.
Perhaps the more anticipated selections of the night came from picks two through five as there was little consensus on the order of selection these players would come.
After Chicago selected Bedard, Anaheim chose Leo Carlsson, a 6’2”, 194 lb. Swedish centerman who played last season with amateur Orebro. He will fill the middle well for the Ducks as they continue their rebuild. He may be able to join the big club, but in that defenseman take longer to develop, Carlsson might have to wait before joining the Ducks.
At number three, Columbus, in the middle of a rebuild, selected University of Michigan centerman Adam Fantilli. Along with his brother, Luca, the 6’2”, 195 lb. Canadian helped the Wolverines complete a 26-12-3 record, losing to eventual champion Quinnipiac in the Frozen Four. Fantilli is another who can jump right into the line-up for the Blue Jackets.
The run-on centers continued when San Jose selected the first American in the draft with Will Smith from the US Developmental program of the USHL. At 6’2”, 180 lbs., his hockey sense makes up for his slightly lighter side for a high-end pick. It would be the first of four picks from the US program and the first selection ever for new General Manager Mike Grier.
Next, Carey Price approached the microphone to make the Canadiens selection in the number 5 slot. Price had the first name, but needed help with the last name from General Manager Kent Hughes. Price announced “David” and then froze when not having the selection’s last name on the tip of his tongue. Hughes helped him when he edged in to announce “Reinbacher”.
The 6’2”, 194 lbs. defenseman from Kloten in the Swiss league could have had a better arrival under the Montreal banner but he leaves the event as the top at his position taken in the draft.
Arizona’s contingent arrived on stage decked in matching burgundy ensembles and made the first Russian selection of the night. From Yaroslav, Russia and from the Russian Junior team, the Coyotes selected 6’4”, 198 lbs. defenseman Dimitry Simashev. It would be the first of two Russians the Coyotes would select during round one.
The mystery of the night involved Russian player Matvei Michkov and where he might be selected, teams leery of his evasiveness, his contractual status being tied up with the KHL through the 2026-27 season and if he would leave Russia sooner for the NHL. At the seventh pick, the Philadelphia Flyers solved the mystery when they selected the 5’10”, 172lbs. right winger from SKA St. Petersburg.
The third US Developmental team player was chosen when Washington stepped to the stage with the eighth pick, selecting 6’, 190lb. right winger Ryan Leonard. The Capitals are in retooling mode as they enjoy Alex Ovechkin’s assault on Wayne Gretzky’s goal-scoring record while slowly turning over the roster.
The Motor City was up next when Steve Yzerman stepped up to choose the ninth pick in the draft. The Red Wings chose 6’2”, 190lb. Canadian right winger Nate Danielson from the Brandon Wheat Kings as Detroit continue to pack the prospect pool.
St. Louis rounded out the top ten and were thankful this guy was still on the board. The Blues selected 6’1”, 200 lbs. Slovakian centerman Dalibor Dvorsky who played from AIK in the Swedish second division. His size and skill fill a need up the middle where the Blues are replenishing their current roster while also, with this puck, building the position for the future.
Vancouver came next with the eleventh puck and moved to bolster their defense. The Canucks selected Swedish blueliner Tom Willander. The 6’1”, 180 lb. puck mover player for Rogle Jr. in Sweden. His selection indicates a commitment to building a formidable defense during the rebuilding process.
Arizona returned to the stage for the twelfth pick and their continued commitment to Russian talent when they selected 6’5”, 203 lb. left wing Danil But from Yaroslav in the Russian junior league.
Buffalo’s turn with the thirteenth pick brought 5’10”, 170lb. left wing Zach Benson who spent the season with Winnipeg Ice of the Western Hockey League.
Pittsburgh was next with the fourteenth pick. Newly arrived General Manager Kyle Dubas wasted no time making his mark. The Penguins put their faith in Brayden Yager, a 5’11”, 170lb. centerman from the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League.
The host Nashville Predators turn came with the fifteenth pick and they chose 6’4”, 197lb. right winger Matthew Wood from the Connecticut Huskies of Hockey East from the US college system.
Calgary and their newly minted General Manager Craig Conroy selected sixteenth and chose Samuel Honzek, a 6’3”, 195lb. left wing from Slovakia, playing for the Western Hockey League’s Vancouver Giants.
Detroit returned to the stage for the second selection of the first round and selected 5’11”, 180lb. defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka from Skelleftea of the Swedish Junior league.
The Winnipeg Jets were next. A team in flux with the recent departure of Pierre Luc Dubois and what appears as a significant turnover of the roster in progress, Manitoba’s team selected 6’, 195lb. Canadian left win Colby Barlow from the Owen Sound Attack.
After coming away with the biggest price of the night, the Chicago Blackhawks returned for their second selection of the night and nineteenth overall. General Manager Kyle Davidson selected Oliver Moore, a 5’11”, 195 lb. centerman from the US Development program.
Seattle finished out the top twenty picks when they chose Eduard Sale from Brno in Czechia Eduard Sale. The 6’2”, 175 lb. left wing adds to an impressive system of prospects sure to continue making the impact they had in their second season with a second round, game seven defeat to the sticks of the Dallas Stars.
Minnesota was next with the number twenty-one slot when they chose 6’3”, 222 lb. centerman Charlie Stramel from the Wisconsin Badgers of the BIG 10 conference.
Philadelphia returned for the second selection of the night and made a solid pick at twenty-two when the chose 6’2”, 180 lb. Canadian defenseman Oliver Bonk. The gifted forward who played for the London Knights last season is the son of Radek Bonk. He was Ottawa’s 3rd overall pick from the 1994 NHL Draft and tonight marked the 29th anniversary of when he was selected.
At selection number twenty-three, the New York Rangers used their only first-round pick to tap 5’11”, 163 lb. Canadian right winger Gabriel Perreault who spent this past season with the US National Development program. Perreault is the son of Yanic Perreault who scored 247 goals in 859 games for six teams including the Toronto Maple Leafs who selected him with the 41st overall pick in the 1991 draft.
Nashville delighted their fans when they returned to the stage for the twenty-fourth selection, choosing 5’11”, 181 lb. Canadian defenseman Tanner Molendyk from the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League.
At twenty-five, Predators division rival St. Louis was next with their second of three picks in the first round. The Blues kept their attention on Europe when they selected 5’11″, 185 lb. Swedish centerman Otto Stenberg from Frolunda of the Swedish junior league.
San Jose thrushed forward to make their second selection of the first round and the twenty-sixth pick overall. The Sharks chose 6’2”, 200 lb. American left winger Quentin Musty from the Ontario Jockey League’s Sudbury Wolves.
Colorado arrived on the scene to make the twenty-seventh selection of the night and chose 6’2”, 184 lb. Canadian centerman Calum Ritchie of the Oshawa Generals from the Ontario Hockey League.
Brad Treliving made his first selection of the Toronto Maple Leafs when with the twenty-eighth pick, the new arrival to the club selected 5’10”, 170 lb. Canadian right winger Easton Cowan of the London Knights.
General Manager Doug Armstrong returned to make St. Louis third and final selection of the first round at pick twenty-nine and selected Theo Lindstein, 6’, 185 lb. Swedish defenseman from Brynas of the Swedish league. He was a under 18 silver medalist at the world championships this past season.
Carolina joined the party with the thirtieth selection in the draft and chose Bradley Nadeau of the British Columbia Hockey League. 5’10”, 160 lb. left winger had 45 goals and 58 assists in 54 games, turning heads enough to warrant a selection from a somewhat lesser source relative to an opening round selection.
Colorado chose with the thirty-first pick with puck-carrying defenseman Mikhail Gulyayev from Omsk of the Russian junior league. The 5’10”, 172 lb. Russian was the top-rated player left on the board and the Avalanche made no mistake in selecting the gifted player.
Use CodePHN15 – Now sit back and relax and think of how your team did in the draft.
To round out the night, the defending Stanley Cup Champion Vegas Golden Knights chose with the thirty-second pick David Edstrom, the 6’3”, 185 lb. Swedish centerman from Frolunda’s junior team.
After that pick, it was “Good night, Irene.” Fans headed to the exits, quick to return home for rest before a morning start for day two of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
Rounds two through seven begin Thursday morning at 11 AM Eastern Time. The pace will be much quicker as the day moves along when 192 selections will be made. One has to wonder if the excitement of all hockey operations leadership from the thirty-two teams in one place at the same time will transition to trades. None were made today during the draft and free agent options remain thin. The free agent window begins Saturday, July 1st.
Dennis Morrell has developed a deeply rooted passion for the great game over many decades as a writer, photographer, goalie coach, netminder and active USA Hockey-certified referee with over 2,000 games on the ice. His passion for the game began in the early 70s upon his first glance at skaters battling for the puck at Clayton’s Shaw Park. He has covered nine Stanley Cup Finals and a dozen of the NHL’s special event games. He can be reached at dennis.morrell@prohockeynews.com and you can follow him on Twitter at DMMORRELL.
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