HF Habs: 2023 Early Bird 15th Annual Mock Draft (COMPLETE)

[MarkovsKnee]

The Tampa Bay Lightning are pleased to select from Chicago Steel (USHL), Michael Emerson (RW). A big, strong, two-way power forward Emerson didn't have a good rookie season in the USHL last season. He got off to a poor start offensively then got a season ending injury. He's been a top forward for Chicago this year. He'll play at North Dakota next season.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Pittsburgh is next @Natey

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Ok, OP is updated to latest pick.

We're down to our Final Four picks! Whooo-hoo! Awesome.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Tampa Bay has completed their draft. They had one 6th round, and two 7th round picks. Really not a lot you can do with that. Lmao

6th Round (188 OA): Kai Uchacz (RW) - He's been passed over in 2 drafts already. He's 20 in June, but he's improved every year in the WHL, and had a dramatic offensive increase in his 19 year old season. He plays a hard, fast game. Tampa can sign him to an AHLC this year, or send him back for a 20 year old season. He gives them immediate access to a prospect, which they need.

7th Round (196 OA): Nicholas Wolfenberg (RD) - A long-term project who'll likely spend minimum 3 years at College then 2 years in AHL. Call it the Kovacevic/Pateryn route. He's big & physical. Offensive skills are developing.

7th Round (220 OA): Michael Emerson (RW): He was passed over in last year's draft due to a poor rookie season in USHL. He's turned it around this year. There's definite offensive skill, as he absolutely dominated at the AAA U18 level in New Jersey the year prior. He plays a two-way power game.

That's it for Tampa Bay.

 

[Natey]

With the 221st selection in the HF Habs Early Bird Draft, the Pittsburgh Penguins are proud to select, from Brynas IF of the SHL, center, ANTON OHLSSON.
​

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Ok, down to 3 picks. New Jersey is next @Stive Morgan

 

[Stive Morgan]

New Jersey selects overage goaltender Thomas Milic from the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL

62. Luca Pinelli (C) - Ottawa 67s (OHL)
126. Dominik Petr (C) - Luuko (SM-sarja U20)
158. Gabriel Szturc (LW) - Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
190. Samuel Fiala (C) - Liberec U20 (Czechia)
222. Thomas Milic (G) - Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)

Carolina / @WeThreeKings will be PM'ed

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Last 2 picks!

 

[MarkovsKnee]

OP is updated.

Just waiting on 2 picks now.

 

[WeThreeKings]

With pick 223 in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, the Carolina Hurricanes are proud to select from the Frolunda program in Sweden, Left Winger, Teodor Forssander!

Final draft for Carolina:
31. Carolina: Lukas Dragicevic (RD) - Tri-City Americans (WHL)
63. Carolina: Jacob Fowler (G) - Youngstown Phamtoms (USHL)
72. Carolina (from Phil): Tanner Ludtke (C) - Lincoln Stars (USHL)
127. Carolina: Felix Unger Sorum (F) - Leksands IF (J20 Nationell)
134. Carolina (from Vanc): Petter Vesterheim (C) - Mora Jr. (J20 Nationell)
159. Carolina: Adam Dybal (G) - Karlovy Vary U20 Czechia
162. Carolina (from Chi): Ryan Conmy (RW) - Sioux City (USHL)
191. Carolina: Nicholas Vantassell (RW) - Green Bay (USHL)
223. Carolina: Teodor Forssander (LW) Frolunda (J20 Nationell)

 

[MarkovsKnee]

And with that, we come to our last pick of the 2023 Early Bird Mock Draft.

Boston.

@Weber Fan

 

[SOLR]

Overall happy with this draft, but it was a competitive one, it seems like we HFboardian all have a few players higher than the lists...I put the emphasis on finding as many NHLers as possible, as our prospect pool is not very rich. We'll still be tanking next year...Celebrini is claimed, don't even try, ok thanks bye.

3. San Jose: Matvei Michkov (RW) - Sochi (KHL): Our new franchise player, easy selection. With the few Russians currently on the lineup, he'll get a warm welcome and some friendly surroundings whenever he arrives.

30. Otto Stenberg (F) - Frolunda HC (SHL): Potential top 6 winger, he's a great shooter and could be a great partner for Bystedt who is our top center prospect. Patience is key here.

35. Charlie Stramel (C) - U18 USNTDP: We are not too alarmed by his ranking slide, he was one of the top performers for Team USA at the WJC, and has that Tkachuk factor of being in the right place at the right time, while not the fastest. Middle C forward. Very useful player given his size, just not at the top of lineup.

95. Jakub Stancl (LW) - Vaxjo (J20 Nationell) - Bottom 6 forward - very complete, solid, hard to play against etc.

99. Felix Nilsson (C) - Rogle (J20 Nationell) - Bottom 6 forward - brainy side of hard to play against, reads the play super well, adapts, good bottom 6 center prospect.

118. Drew Fortescue (LD) - U18 USNTDP - Was delighted he was still there, lots of potentials there, needs to round out his physique so he can play like Ed.

129. Emil Pieniniemi (LD) - Karpat U20 Finland - Lots of potential there for a very regular well-rounded D, defensive D of the useful type.

131. San Jose: Alex Hellnemo (G) - Skelleftea Jr. (J20 Nationell) - Late bloomer G, yade yada, we'll see if how he progresses, but his development recently has been quite rapid and stunning, hoping this momentum is real.

163. Maxim Vehovski (RW) - HC Viktovice U20 - Another forward with a good physique, needs some rounding out, but he has a background for dominating his younger age levels.

195. Austin Burnevik (LW) - USNTDP - Giant, will send him on the Thompson patience road.

198. Vojtech Husinecky (RD) - Calgary Hitmen - He was ranked in the top 30 by some central before the season, he has some great tools, we'll see how he progresses, seems like an adaptation year. He's very young.

211. Peteris Bulans (LD) - Sags - Great start with the sags in a small number of games. Very promising.

 

[Weber Fan]

With the last pick, the Boston Bruins are proud to select Mael Lavigne...

Maël Lavigne - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Maël Lavigne, 2005-02-11 Neuville, QC, CAN Canada. Most recently in the undefined with Victoriaville Tigres. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

This is clearly a sentimental choice! I play dekhockey with him during summer!!

 

[WinterLion]

ARIZONA 2023 DRAFT CLASS

5. Arizona: David Reinbacher (RD) - Kloten (NL)
14. Arizona (from Ott): Andrew Cristall (LW) - Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
37. Arizona: Carson Bjarnason (G) - Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
69. Arizona Denver Barkey (F) - London Knights (OHL)
79. Arizona Noel Nordh (F) - Brynas SHL
101. Zeb Forsfall (C) - Skelleftea (SHL)
133. Axel Hertig Rogel (SHL)
155. Ryan Koering - Eden Prairie MN (USHS)
161. Ryan Hopkins (RHD) - Penticton (BCHL)
165. Hudson Malinoski (F) Brooks Bandits (AJHL)

Very happy with the way the draft went. Getting Cristall and Reinbacher in the first left me open to take one of the G's I wanted and some risks on players I have never heard of !! haha

THANK YOU @MarkovsKnee THANK YOU !!!

 

[SOLR]

@MarkovsKnee Thank you! It must take you a ton of time to run this.

 

[Vachon23]

With the last pick, the Boston Bruins are proud to select Mael Lavigne...

Maël Lavigne - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Maël Lavigne, 2005-02-11 Neuville, QC, CAN Canada. Most recently in the undefined with Victoriaville Tigres. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

This is clearly a sentimental choice! I play dekhockey with him during summer!!

GREAT pick ! I want the Habs to used a late pick on him.

Wasn’t in a good situation in Baie Comeau but he‘s been playing very well since he arrived in Victo. Big Center that have a good IQ and can play physical. He will only be better when he will get stronger, it’s easy to see that he’s still raw.

He is my sleeper in this draft

 

[MarkovsKnee]

@MarkovsKnee Thank you! It must take you a ton of time to run this.

It's not too bad when the players are involved, which the people on this board are.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

That's it! We're done.

We started Saturday, March 4th and ended on Thursday, March 23rd.

19 days to make 224 picks. About 12 picks a day! That's amazing!

Thanks everyone!

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Here is my final write-up. I love the top end of this draft and it remains strong through the second round, but I think there is a significant drop-off afterwards and it really showed with no 2nd round pick.

8. Philadelphia: Colby Barlow (LW) - Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
I think he projects very well at the next level. He has progressed tremendously through the year, and areas of his game that were average have trended upwards. As opposed to others, I think his shot will still work at the NHL level and I can easily project him as a 30 goals scorer. I also think he has NHL-level understanding of the game, great work ethics and a well rounded skillset, and that he may be victim of the same scrutiny from fans as usual for this kind of non-sexy pick (I've heard enough joke about his age/looks). I thought strongly about Leonard there, which goes to show how open it gets after the top 6-7 considering he went 15th.

Barlow is so underrated it is criminal!

I have seen him live 3 times this season and the kid is a stud. His game is so translatable as he already has NHL size and a high end NHL shot. He has a high IQ and tracks/anticipates the play well as he has a knack for squaring himself to the puck regardless of where he is so that he is prepared to make a play immediately and is rarely surprised when the puck appears in front of him. These things are tough to teach but this is exactly the trait that all NHL scorers have. His release is compact and nasty and he has become very adept at dragging the puck in and out to screw the goalies angle and to use defenders as screens.

He also makes brilliant passes far more than the average stat watcher would expect given his goal/assist ratio. I have seen enough deft saucers and crisp seam passes from to know better than to allow the stats to form my narrative. The kid seriously has a high IQ and creates a ton of chances, most of which end up back on his stick but he is often the impetus that starts the play that he ends up finishing.

Combine this with his physicality and engine and I don't have very many players ahead of him. The field is so thick and subjective that he is one of many outside of the top 5 or 6 that could truly be homerun picks but I think his downside is a P*** and vinegar middle of the lineup player who can provide offence. His upside is a 40+ goal scorer, heart and soul leader who will go full dirtbag in big games.

The funny part is if he did not have the facial hair and his last name was European I think a lot of the people who dislike him him would be all over him as a top prospect. He seems to generate some level of hate as some people choose to view him as some kind of caricature representative of a type of person that they just don't like.

 

[Nevins]

View attachment 673814#214 Seattle Kraken

With our final pick, the 214th pick of the 2023 NHL entry draft the Seattle Kraken are proud to select for Zemgale of Lativa.

C –Rainers Rullers 6‘4‘’ 194lbs

View attachment 673813

Scouting report:

The top Latvian prospect for the 2023 draft is Rainers Rullers, who has played quite well in the top two tiers of Latvian professional hockey. He spent eight games in the second league, where he scored seven points and showed that his strength and skating could keep up with a higher level of competition. Rullers then received a promotion to the top Latvian league, where he scored 17 points in 28 games as a 17-year-old. Rullers has a massive frame for someone of his age. In Latvia he was the second highest scorer amongst U18 skaters and was the fourth highest among all U20 skaters.

Overall pretty happy with the draft.

#22 LW– Quentin Musty 6‘2‘’ 203lbs - Divisive and polarizing prospects, high-end skill level and significant NHL upside, his skills, creativity, shot, and vision all grade out as above average. -Star PFW / top 6
#50 RW- Mathieu Cataford 5‘11‘’ 187lbs – Sneaky in front of the net also a surprisingly good passer and will annoy the opponents with his off puck grindy type of game. -Middle 6/3rd liner
#54 LD – Jakub Dvorak 6‘5‘’ 203lbs – Excellent mobility active everywhere, everything you want out of Top 4 D. Good 2nd pair D / bottom pairing D
#61 RD – Tom Willander 6‘1‘’ 186lbs – good size, he also possesses mobility and tools that could give him an impressive upside. two way 2nd pair Dman / bottom pairing D
#86 LW – Martin Misiak 6‘2‘’ 190lbs – 3rd liner /Bottom 6 energy player
#119 G – Scott Ratzlaff 6‘1‘’ 170lbs – 1B / backup
#150 C –Kevin Bicker 6‘1‘’ 174lbs - Bottom 6 energy player / -
#170 G –Samuel Urban 6‘1‘’ 183lbs - 1B / backup
#182 C – Jiri Felcman 6‘4‘’ 190lbs – Bottom 6 with Size
#214 C –Rainers Rullers 6‘4‘’ 194lbs – Bottom 6 with Size

I would like to thank @MarkovsKnee and everyone that participated to make this early mock draft a big success, hope to see everyone back for the next one.

COL GM @Stive Morgan is now on the clock for pick #215
@Stive Morgan has been PM

Great draft

With pick #194. the Chicago Blackhawks are happy to select, from the Culver Military Academy Prep of the USHS-Prep, defenseman Larry Keenan .

'' A big, puck moving canadian defenseman who decided to go the NCAA route and will be skating for the University of Massachusetts next season . He's a classic long term development project, with lots of raw tools to work with ''

2. Adam Fantilli (C) - U of Michigan (NCAA)
28. Ethan Gauthier (RW) - Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL)
34. Caden Price (LD) - Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
46. Kasper Halttunen (RW) - HIFK (Liiga)
57. Jordan Tourigny (RD) - Shawinigan Cataracts (QMJHL)
60. Beau Akey ( RD) - Barrie Colts ( OHL)
66. Trey Augustin (G) - USNTDP ( USHL)
90. Rasmus Kumpulainen (LW) - Pelicans (U20 SM-sarja)
98. Emil Järventie ( LW) - SaiPa ( Liiga)
130. Axel Landén ( RD) - HV71 ( SHL)
194. Larry Keenan ( LD) - Culver Military Academy ( USHS-prep)

@SOLR is up next and will be PMed.

This is it for me! I'm pretty happy all told with my mock, I went with guys with good pro tools/potential and I was able to stick pretty close to my initial list in the end. Big thanks to @MarkovsKnee once again for putting it together and to all you guys for participating . It was a lot of fun, I'm looking forward to doing it all over again next year

Great draft

 

[SOLR]

Barlow is so underrated it is criminal!

The funny part is if he did not have the facial hair and his last name was European I think a lot of the people who dislike him him would be all over him as a top prospect. He seems to generate some level of hate as some people choose to view him as some kind of caricature representative of a type of person that they just don't like.

100%

 

[Mrb1p]

ARIZONA 2023 DRAFT CLASS

5. Arizona: David Reinbacher (RD) - Kloten (NL)
14. Arizona (from Ott): Andrew Cristall (LW) - Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
37. Arizona: Carson Bjarnason (G) - Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
69. Arizona Denver Barkey (F) - London Knights (OHL)
79. Arizona Noel Nordh (F) - Brynas SHL
101. Zeb Forsfall (C) - Skelleftea (SHL)
133. Axel Hertig Rogel (SHL)
155. Ryan Koering - Eden Prairie MN (USHS)
161. Ryan Hopkins (RHD) - Penticton (BCHL)
165. Hudson Malinoski (F) Brooks Bandits (AJHL)

Very happy with the way the draft went. Getting Cristall and Reinbacher in the first left me open to take one of the G's I wanted and some risks on players I have never heard of !! haha

THANK YOU @MarkovsKnee THANK YOU !!!

This is the 2nd best haul after mine. And only because I had the 4th overall.

 

[Mrb1p]

That was my last pick.

17. F Matthew Wood
40. RD Oliver Bonk
49. G Adam Gajan
88. RD Andrew Gibson
145. G Juha Jatkola
177. RD Carter Sotheran
209. F Florian Xhekaj

In every mock I do, I always try to go according to the needs of the team I get, in Buffalo's case, right-handed dmen and goalies, which is what I tried to do.

In the first round though, I always try to go BPA, whatever the position, and to me it was Wood at 17, big winger who's having a fantastic freshman season in the NCAA already. Needs to work on his skating, but still.

After that, Bonk could be a safe, defensively apt RHD, Gajan had a great WJC and was suddenly on the radar, Gibson is the definition of high-risk/high-reward IMO, Jatkola is having a great season in the Liiga where he's their no.1 goalie already at 20 (21 in september), Sotheran is the quiet, effective, defensive stability to more offensive-minded D, and with Xhekaj I just didn't know anyone anymore, saw him, got him, overager, don't expect much from him, yeah he's tough, yeah he isn't scared of anyone, but skill-wise he isn't anything to write about.. still, who knows.

Thanks @MarkovsKnee to yet again hold that Early Bird mock, that was fun, efficient, and surprisingly fast, can't wait to see how wrong (or right) most of us were come the actual draft.

Wow! You had quite the draft man. Sotheran so late is godlike.

With the #210 pick, Winnipeg pick the best player of the draft. Ye I lyin.

Mikhail Ye. Ilyin of Cherepovets that is.

When I saw his name, I knew I had to draft him. He also played in the KHL for half of his D season, so there's that.

Ye' lying?

 

[WinterLion]

This is the 2nd best haul after mine. And only because I had the 4th overall.

Well thank you! I'm pretty sure many don't agree... but I know we both love Reinbacher!

 

[Treb]

Wow! You had quite the draft man. Sotheran so late is godlike.


Ye' lying?

I just love that name so much. I hope he becomes an NHL player just for the name.

He's apparently pretty decent as well. Ok size, good playmaker, PPG in the MHL and was able to hang around half the year on a PO KHL team.