NHL Prospect Rankings By Team Pre Draft 2023

The fourth richest NHL team Chicago will likely use the first-overall opportunity to select 17-year-old center Connor Bedard from the Regina Pats of the WHL.

Bedard is highly regarded as a franchise-changing prospect, possessing exceptional skills that can significantly impact the team's performance. 

Despite being slightly undersized for the NHL at 5'10" and 185 pounds, Bedard's NHL-caliber shot and high-scoring ability make him an invaluable asset to the Blackhawks.

In the previous year's NHL Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks made 11 picks. Notably, the team's top picks included defenseman Kevin Korchinski, selected seventh overall; forward Frank Nazar, selected 13th overall; and defenseman Sam Rinzel, selected 25th overall.

Adam Fantilli is a talented center playing for the Michigan Wolverines. Fantilli is projected to be chosen second overall by Anaheim Ducks.

Adam is highly regarded for his exceptional combination of size, speed, and skill, making him a standout player and a top prospect in the draft.

In the previous year's draft, the Anaheim Ducks, ranked number 3 in the NHL farm system rankings, made eight selections: four forwards, three defensemen, and one goaltender.

Pavel Mintyukov, a left defenseman from Russia, and Nathan Gaucher, a center from Canada, were the top picks for the Ducks.

Matvei Michkov is a highly anticipated prospect likely to be chosen within the top five picks of the 2023 NHL Draft. Michkov is a dynamic right winger from the Kontinental Hockey League.

Next on the list is Leo Carlsson, the 18-year-old skilled center currently playing in the Swedish Hockey League. He was a vital cog of the Sweden national team that won the 2022 IIHF World U18 Championship.

Columbus Blue Jackets are number 3 in the 2023 NHL prospect pool rankings. Additionally, the team holds the third overall pick in the draft and has the opportunity to select one of these top prospects.

Unfortunately, Michkov suffered a lower-body injury during a KHL preseason game, and his recovery is expected to take at least two months.

Despite this setback, he is still regarded as a possible No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft with the Blue Jackets showing particular interest in him.

Carlsson is a highly skilled center from Sweden who is anticipated to be drafted by The San Jose Sharks. He is among the top 5 picks for the draft.

The Sharks are expected to have a variety of top-tier prospects to choose from with their fourth overall pick, including Carlsson.

Aside from Carlsson, William Smith and Matvei Michkov are among the potential prospects the San Jose Sharks may consider. The Sharks acquired nine new prospects in the previous year's draft with Filip Bystedt being their top pick in the first round as the 11th overall selection.

William Smith is predicted to be chosen as the fifth overall pick by the Montreal Canadiens hoping to bring an end to their Stanley Cup drought.

Interestingly, a skilled right-handed center, Smith has a personal connection with the Canadiens, which adds to the excitement of his potential selection. He played college hockey at Boston College, showcasing his impressive abilities.

In the 2022 NHL Draft, the Montreal Canadiens used their first-round pick to select Juraj Slafkovsky, an exciting winger from Slovakia. Filip Mesar, Owen Beck, Lane Huston, Vinzenz Rohre and Adam Engstrom were some other picks for the Canadiens. 

The impressive two-way play and versatility of Ryan Leonard have made him a highly sought-after prospect in the 2023 NHL Draft. 

NHL Central Scouting's midterm grading of the top North American skaters eligible for the draft has placed Leonard as the No. 4 prospect. 

Initially not considered a first-round talent, his rapid development and potential as a two-way player have propelled him to the top of the list. 

In addition, NHL writer Mike G. Morreale has identified Zach Benson as another top prospect for the Arizona Coyotes, praising his hockey smarts.

In the 2022 NHL Draft, the Arizona Coyotes selected Logan Cooley as the third overall pick and Conor Geekie as the 11th overall pick. The Coyotes held ten draft selections, and seven players were selected on the second draft day.

Oliver Moore is the potential to be chosen as a top-10 elite in the 2023 NHL Draft. Known for his speed and agility, Oliver is ranked eighth North American skater on the NHL Central Scouting final list.

Recently, Moore began his draft year's final chapter by participating in the U18 Worlds. He helped the USA win against Latvia in his first game by scoring two points.

In addition, Ryan Leonard is another potential pick for the Philadelphia Flyers. He has an impressive record of 94 points (43 assists and 51 goals) in 57 games with the NTDP. If chosen, Leonard will become teammates with Cutter Gautheir, the Flyers' No. 5 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.

Austrian hockey defenceman David Reinbacher is considered a top prospect for the 2023 NHL Draft, with projections placing him in the top 10. 

Currently playing for EHC Kloten in the Swiss National League, Reinbacher's impressive offensive abilities and capacity to play significant minutes against more seasoned players make him a hot commodity. 

Washington Capitals are among the teams considering him with their eighth, ninth, or tenth overall pick in the draft. Meanwhile, Slovakian Dalibor Dvorsky is also a candidate to be selected in the first round.

Looking back at the 2022 NHL Draft, Washington made six selections on the draft's second day. The picked players included defenseman Ryan Chesley and Brent Johnson, left-wing Alexander Suzdalev and Ludwig Persson, center Jake Karabela and goaltender Chase Clark.

Zach Benson is a highly-regarded center from the Winnipeg Ice in the WHL. His forceful and elusive style of play has attracted many NHL teams.

He is known for his ability to maneuver the puck skillfully in tight areas, position himself for tips or rebounds, and create scoring opportunities. However, Benson is projected to be chosen before the Detroit Red Wings' ninth overall pick. 

During the 2022 NHL Draft, the Detroit Red Wings made the eighth overall selection and picked center Marco Kasper. The team was able to acquire nine prospects in total throughout the draft.

Dalibor Dvorsky is a top forward prospect for the 2023 NHL Draft. Dalibor has gained experience playing over 50 games in HockeyAllsvenskan.

With his size and skill, he can play both in the middle or on the wing, making him an attractive choice for the St. Louis Blues. Reports suggest that the Blues are interested in selecting Dvorsky with their 10th overall pick in the upcoming draft.

In the 2022 NHL Draft, the Blues made six picks and started with the 23rd overall pick in the first round. They selected Jimmy Snuggerud, a versatile player who can play on either the right or left wing, from the U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP).

The Vancouver Canucks hold the 11th spot in the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery. Canucks are expected to pick Eduard Sale in the first round.

Sale is a talented right-winger from Brno, Czechia, who played in the Czechia U20 league during the 2021-22 season. He recorded 42 goals and 89 points in 39 games, showcasing his skill and potential for the NHL.

During the 2022 NHL Draft, they selected six players, including right-winger Jonathan Lekkerimaki, who was taken in the first round with the 15th overall pick.

However, the Canucks did not have a pick in the second round, as they traded it to the Arizona Coyotes for defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

Gabriel Perreault is the son of former NHL player Yanic Perreault. Gabriel is a talented left-wing player with huge prospects from Hinsdale, Illinois.

The Arizona Coyotes acquired the 12th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft from the Ottawa Senators and could potentially select Perreault.

David Reinbacher is another top prospect in the upcoming draft. He's a defenseman known for his strong play and ability to make effective passes out of his zone, despite his size.

In the 2022 NHL Draft, Ottawa Senators owned 11 picks, including the seventh overall pick. However, they traded this pick to the Chicago Blackhawks for forward Alex DeBrincat.

They selected defenceman Filip Nordberg with the 64th overall pick and Tomas Hamara with the 87th overall in the third round.

Matthew Wood is a right-wing player from the University of Connecticut. He scored 34 points, 23 assists, and 11 goals in 35 games as a freshman in college.

The Buffalo Sabres could select him in the 13th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. Likewise, Nate Danielson from Brandon is also a potential prospect for the Sabres.

In the 2022 NHL Draft, the Sabres made 11 picks in the first round; Matt Savoie with 9th overall, Noah Ostlund with 16th overall, and Jiri Kulich with 28th overall. They picked Topias Leinonen with their second-round pick. 

Nate Danielson is a skilled center who plays for the Brandon Wheat Kings in the Western Hockey League (WHL). Known for his all-around game, he is projected to be selected in the middle of the first round.

Danielson stands at 6 feet 1 inch and possesses exceptional hockey instincts. He has earned a reputation as the most potent offensive force, having topped his team's scoring chart with 32 goals and 76 points in 63 games.

In the 2022 NHL Draft, the Pittsburgh Penguins made five picks and selected Owen Pickering, a promising defenseman, as the 21st overall pick in the first round.

Nashville Predators is assigned the 15th spot in the NHL Draft Lottery, positioning them to make a selection from the top available prospects. 

Axel Sandin Pellikka is a highly-regarded prospect who has come up through the Skelleftea AIK junior program since 2019. Starting his career at the U16 level, he has progressed to the J18 and J20 teams, honing his skills and demonstrating his potential as a future NHL player.

Last year in 2022, the Predators made six selections, drafting four forwards and two defensemen. Their first-round pick, Joakim Kemell, was chosen at No. 17 overall.

Additionally, they traded Dennis Hildeby, their second pick of the fourth round, No. 122 overall, to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a fourth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Calgary has been assigned the 16th overall pick in the impending 2023 NHL Draft. Samuel Honzek is most likely to be their first-round pick. 

The 6'4" and 186-pound prospect hails from Trencin, Slovakia. Another prospect to watch is Otto Stenberg from Frolunda's junior team. Stenberg made his SHL debut last year and tallied three points in 23 games.

During the 2022 NHL Draft, the Calgary Flames had three picks and made a trade with the Canadiens to acquire Tyler Toffoli. Consequently, they traded away their first-round pick with Tyler Pitlick and Emil Heineman.