ESPN Staff Jun 28, 2023 8:00pm ET7 Minute Read
Connor Bedard shares his excitement about the trip to Chicago
Connor Bedard describes what it felt like to don the Blackhawks jersey for the first time after being picked No. 1 overall.
Welcome to the 2023 NHL Draft. From the first round through pick #224, this page lets you follow every pick, including team fitness notes for the 32 players selected in the first round by Ryan S. Clark, Kristen Shilton and Greg Wyshynski were selected.
ESPN will simulcast the first round of the draft to ESPN+. Rounds 2 through 7 will take place Thursday at 11 a.m. ET and will be televised on the NHL Network, with a stream available on ESPN+.
More: Interest Rankings
The mockery of Kevin Weekes
The hype surrounding draft week
Connor Bedard’s rise
Team: Regina (WHL) | Rank: NAS1
Birth date: 07/17/05 | Ht: 5-9.75 | Weight: 185 | Shot: R
Statistics 2022-23: GP: 57 | G: 71 | A: 72 | P: 143
How it fits: There’s a reason this was colloquially known as the “Bedard Draft.” Bedard is considered a generational talent by several reviewers. He gives the rebuilt Blackhawks a playmaker that’s also productive. The 17-year-old has 71 goals and 143 points for the Regina Pats in the WHL this season. All Bedard has to offer is reason to believe he can be the face of a new Blackhawks era as the club enter its debut season without Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews for the first time since 2007 . — Wyshynsky
Team: Orebro (SWEDEN) | Rank: INS1
Birth date: 12/26/04 | Ht: 6-3 | Weight: 198 | Shot: L
Statistics 2022-23: GP: 44 | G: 10 | A: 15 | P: 25
How it fits: Getting a center was a priority for the Ducks as they had several options. They surprised a number of people by taking Leo Carlsson with them. The 6ft 3 center showed his skills at all levels in the 2022/23 season, playing for Örebro in SHL, the top division of Swedish ice hockey, and representing Sweden in various international competitions. The formidable two-way center joins the already promising core of Jamie Drysdale, Mason Marchment, Troy Terry and Trevor Zegras. — Wyshynsky
The Ducks select Leo Carlsson as their #2 overall pick
The Anaheim Ducks pick Leo Carlsson as the #2 pick in the 2023 NHL draft.
Team: Michigan (BIG10) | Rank: NAS2
Birth date: 10/12/04 | Ht: 6-2 | Weight: 195 | Shot: L
Statistics 2022-23: GP: 36 | G: 30 | A: 35 | P: 65
How it fits: Columbus desperately needed a player like Adam Fantilli – and Anaheim’s surprise selection of Leo Carlsson for second place left Fantilli at the feet of the Blue Jackets. Fantilli — a standout freshman at the University of Michigan and reigning Hobey Baker winner for the NCAA’s top men’s hockey player — is an imposing center who will immediately make Columbus more dangerous down the middle (assuming he decides to leave, of course). the college scene). Regardless of when Fantilli steps in, he will be able to push his own line, nurture teammates and deliver a consistent performance across the board. He’s already put together a 65-point season for the Wolverines. What would his NHL output look like from the start? After the sorely disappointing season the Blue Jackets just ended, they have to hope that the answer will come sooner rather than later. — Shilton
The Blue Jackets rank Adam Fantilli as #3 overall
The Columbus Blue Jackets pick Michigan’s Adam Fantilli with the third overall pick of the 2023 NHL draft.
Team: USA U-18 (NTDP) | Rank: NAS3
Birth date: 03/17/05 | Ht: 5-11.75 | Weight: 181 | Shot: R
Statistics 2022-23: GP: 52 | G: 42 | A: 62 | P: 104
How it fits: The first thing we can tell about Will Smith – a center of the US national team development program – is that he has a healthy sense of humor: The Sharks draftee chose his exit song after being picked to make the theme song – – of course – “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” I have to appreciate that. What San Jose will appreciate is the top-notch skills Smith brings to their ranks. A shrewd two-way center, Smith is a gifted puck handler and prime-time playmaker who can make the players around him better and feature on special teams, particularly in the penalty-killer role. And given the rebuilding mode that San Jose has been going through in recent years, the promise of what Smith will eventually add regularly must be really exciting. Smith is a spark that would eventually become a top skater for the Sharks. — Shilton
Team: Kloten (SWITZERLAND) | Rank: INS5
Birth date: 10/25/04 | Ht: 6-2 | Weight: 185 | Shot: R
Statistics 2022-23: GP: 46 | G: 3 | A: 19 | P: 22
How it fits: Finally we have a defender off the field! And – fun fact – Reinbacher was seeded 5th in 2003 like fellow Austrian Thomas Vanek. The 18-year-old Reinbacher – a right-back – played in Switzerland’s top professional league Team HC Kloten last season and shone with ample chances in a productive season (three goals, 22 points in 46 games, most points by a draft player in history this league). Reinbacher has been used in every situation for Kloten and that bodes well for Montreal, who can add Reinbacher to his growing stable of up-and-coming young talent who will continue to lead the franchise in seasons to come. While Reinbacher will remain abroad for the upcoming season to attend to school commitments, he should still have plenty of room to play in the NHL. — Shilton
Team: Yaroslavl Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.) | Rank: INS19
Birth date: 2/4/05 | Ht: 6-4 | Weight: 198 | Shot: L
Statistics 2022-23: GP: 33 | G: 1 | A: 11 | P: 12
Team: SKA St. Petersburg (RUSSIA) | Rank: INS2
Birth date: 12/09/04 | ht: 5-10 | Weight: 172 | Shot: L
Statistics 2022-23: GP: 30 | G: 9 | A: 11 | P: 20