2023 NHL Draft June 28 and 29, Nashville, TN (Selections - 13, 39, 45, 86, 109, 141, 173, 205)

[Old Navy Goat]

Last time the Sabres thought they were getting a hometown kid in the first round... Pat Kane exploded after jumping from being a Michigan St. commit, heading up to London in the OHL.

This might also be the best top 3 for early prognostications in a while. Fantelli is so much of what everyone covets in a center - skill, speed, and power - that if he has the sort of season his talent indicates, he might push Bedard and Michkov off the top of the heap.

I think Dvorsky will go higher than Fantelli but still it's a packed top 10 this year with fantastic forwards

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[don22]

I think Dvorsky will go higher than Fantelli but still it's a packed top 10 this year with fantastic forwards

I agree. As of now, I expect the draft to go Bedard, Michkov, Dvorsky, Fantilli while most would swap Fantilli with Dvorsky. I think Dvorsky playing in the D1A hurt his stock a bit despite a stellar performance at U18 given he was playing against the likes of Japan, Norway, and Kazakhstan rather than teams closer to his skill level. I think being able to showcase his talent at the U18 top division would have had him above Fantilli at this point. Obviously, still a lot of hockey to be played and a lot of questions to be answered.

I wonder how much Nemec and Slafkovsky's performance next year will influence the likelihood of teams drafting another top Slovak high. I can see a kid like Leo Carlsson leap frogging both if he improves on his last SHL season since he is also a center with ideal size.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

I agree. As of now, I expect the draft to go Bedard, Michkov, Dvorsky, Fantilli while most would swap Fantilli with Dvorsky. I think Dvorsky playing in the D1A hurt his stock a bit despite a stellar performance at U18 given he was playing against the likes of Japan, Norway, and Kazakhstan rather than teams closer to his skill level. I think being able to showcase his talent at the U18 top division would have had him above Fantilli at this point. Obviously, still a lot of hockey to be played and a lot of questions to be answered.

I wonder how much Nemec and Slafkovsky's performance next year will influence the likelihood of teams drafting another top Slovak high. I can see a kid like Leo Carlsson leap frogging both if he improves on his last SHL season since he is also a center with ideal size.

The top of the draft will be interesting. Country of origin won't have as much bearing on Dvorsky due to the league he plays in. I'm intrigued by Ritchie as I ser him making a big jump over his preseason rankings like Gauthier

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Samuel Honzek is someone to keep an eye out for. Every time I see a highlight of him, he’s scoring a goal from in front of the net

 

[Chainshot]

I think Dvorsky will go higher than Fantelli but still it's a packed top 10 this year with fantastic forwards

He's another one of the amazing talents in this draft. It's funny to think that the Sabres may improve - even a lot - and yet still be in the neighborhood of the 8th OA again. We're going to have plenty of players to sift through to get a feel for who is who and where they might go.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

He's another one of the amazing talents in this draft. It's funny to think that the Sabres may improve - even a lot - and yet still be in the neighborhood of the 8th OA again. We're going to have plenty of players to sift through to get a feel for who is who and where they might go.

I can just imagine the consternation and gnashing of teeth if the Sabres pick 7ish and have to chose between Strammel, Fantilli, Yaeger, and Ritchie when they're all centers so that means we need to trade any C prospects between the 21-24yo bracket to make room

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

I can just imagine the consternation and gnashing of teeth if the Sabres pick 7ish and have to chose between Strammel, Fantilli, Yaeger, and Ritchie when they're all centers so that means we need to trade any C prospects between the 21-24yo bracket to make room

I realize you're mostly poking fun at our board, but the Sabres should relish that "problem" coming to fruition.

Tage has been a revelation at center, but might yet falter there. None of Cozens, Mitts, or Krebs has convinced me that he'll stick at center long-term. Savoie, Ostlund, Kulich haven't even sniffed the NHL, obviously,

I think centers are like pitchers in baseball - you can never have too many, It's far easier to convert a center to wing than vice-versa.

 

[Zach716]

How are the top RHD in this draft as of now?

 

[Chainshot]

How are the top RHD in this draft as of now?

Cam Allen from Guelph in the OHL is an early "front runner" as top RHD. Lukas Dragicevic (Tri-City, WHL), Beau Akey (Barrie, OHL) and Jordan Tournigny (Shawinigan - QMJHL) are as well. Maybe someone like Maxim Strbak (Slovak kid playing U20 for Jokerit) was someone I remember seeing/reading about when. Same with Kalem Parker (Victoria - WHL) who had a nice year for a 17-year old in the dub.

Usually at this point, it's less about who is at the top and just trying to start as fans identifying who is there. Players ranking shifts all year, especially those who are late risers.

 

[Zach716]

Cam Allen from Guelph in the OHL is an early "front runner" as top RHD. Lukas Dragicevic (Tri-City, WHL), Beau Akey (Barrie, OHL) and Jordan Tournigny (Shawinigan - QMJHL) are as well. Maybe someone like Maxim Strbak (Slovak kid playing U20 for Jokerit) was someone I remember seeing/reading about when. Same with Kalem Parker (Victoria - WHL) who had a nice year for a 17-year old in the dub.

Usually at this point, it's less about who is at the top and just trying to start as fans identifying who is there. Players ranking shifts all year, especially those who are late risers.

Thanks, I'll take an initial dive into some of these players. With this draft having so many promising forwards that will be selected at the top and us hopefully improving a bit, I could see a situation where maybe a great RD is right where we end up picking.

 

[Chainshot]

Thanks, I'll take an initial dive into some of these players. With this draft having so many promising forwards that will be selected at the top and us hopefully improving a bit, I could see a situation where maybe a great RD is right where we end up picking.

At this point, it's a nice to have but they may wind up being further along the line of trading for RHD some time down the line with their penchant for selecting up-tempo puck hawking forwards right now. Generally, nice to know who is out there. Dragicevic was someone on the Canadian U18 team just a few months back. Same with Hunter Brzustewicz (London - OHL) who was on the US team. It's a place to start at least.

​

 

[Old Navy Goat]

Samuel Honzek is someone to keep an eye out for. Every time I see a highlight of him, he’s scoring a goal from in front of the net

Just signed his WHL contract so will help his draft visibility as all eyes in the scouting world will be on the Dub

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Just signed his WHL contract so will help his draft visibility as all eyes in the scouting world will be on the Dub

The Slovaks have had some nice looking pieces in the past couple of years. Weirdly all of these kids were… kids when they just had their strong Olympic year

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[Old Navy Goat]

Interesting to see Canada's Hlinka Cup team beating the WJC split squad 6-4 in a scrimmage. Danielson showing early with the hatty. The draft eligible Hlinka kids run it back against the other squad today trying for the sweep.

 

[Slangston]

Anyone know how I'll be able to watch the Hlinka tournament here in the States?

 

[Chainshot]

Anyone know how I'll be able to watch the Hlinka tournament here in the States?

TSN will have it for those in Canada for sure. It isn't mentioned as being broadcast on the NHL Network's website.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

TSN will have it for those in Canada for sure. It isn't mentioned as being broadcast on the NHL Network's website.

TSN might. There’s also the high chance that it’s only available on TSN Go or on one of their extra sports channels and the main one will broadcast Leafs talk and poker.

 

[Chainshot]

TSN might. There’s also the high chance that it’s only available on TSN Go or on one of their extra sports channels and the main one will broadcast Leafs talk and poker.

They keep posting "Every game can be seen live on TSN, the TSN App and TSN Direct." on every run-up article on their site, so... yeah. Looking stuff up on the interwebz shows that it will be on TSN. The main will have Canada. TSN2 will have the rest.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

They keep posting "Every game can be seen live on TSN, the TSN App and TSN Direct." on every run-up article on their site, so... yeah. Looking stuff up on the interwebz shows that it will be on TSN. The main will have Canada. TSN2 will have the rest.

That’s surprising they’re bumping Leafs talk!

 

[Chainshot]

That’s surprising they’re bumping Leafs talk!

Well the first Canada game is at 9:00 pm Eastern so maybe Leaf fans will be winding down.

 

[Slangston]

So essentially my best chance of catching this tournament is via the interwebs somehow lol.

 

[Jim Bob]

2023 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Way Too Early Top 15 - The Hockey Writers Latest News, Analysis & More

The 2023 NHL draft class is extremely deep with a talented group of prospects that possess a lot of high-end and elite level talent.

thehockeywriters.com

I am hopeful that we are talking about guys in the 10-11 range or lower heading into the 2023 Draft...

And God help Adams if Musty is BPA when the Sabres are on the clock and he doesn't take him.

 

[Hockey62]

Looking at EP, Michal Vrabal had a strong season this past year playing for both Sparta Praha Under 17 AND Under 20 teams.

Yegor Zavragin put up some nice stats playing for Montry Yugry in the MHL.

Noa Vali had a strong season for TPS Under 18 and had even better stats in his 3 games for their Under 20 team.

Michael Hrabal - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Michael Hrabal, 2005-01-20 Praha, CZE Czechia. Most recently in the NCAA with Univ. of Massachusetts. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Yegor Zavragin at eliteprospects.com

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Yegor Zavragin, 2005-08-23 Novosibirsk, RUS Russia. Most recently in the MHL with Mamonty Yugry. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Noa Vali - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Noa Vali, 2005-04-19 Forssa, FIN Finland. Most recently in the Liiga with TPS. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

And you can’t forget about goalies who are second time eligible (Charlie Schenkel & Samuel Ivanov in the Soo, Gibson Homer [Chicago Steel last year, Arizona State this upcoming year]).

G Adam Dybal is also interesting to watch.
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/619025/adam-dybal