NHL Entry Draft 2023 NHL Draft Thread

[Sens of Anarchy]

U18s Canada Skovaks 3-3 in OT now

16 y/o Celebrini wins it in OT.. Probably Canada's best player in the tournament imo

15 pts for the tournament ties Canada's record for most in the WJC U18s

Likely 1OA favorite for 2024.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

U18s Canada Skovaks 3-3 in OT now

thanks for the heads up, fun OT

 

[BondraTime]

U18s Canada Skovaks 3-3 in OT now

16 y/o Celebrini wins it in OT.. Probably Canada's best player in the tournament imo

15 pts for the tournament ties Canada's record for most in the WJC U18s

He’ll be going 1st overall next year, quite easily.

Think his brother could be a solid late 7th pickup that signs out of NCAA 4 years down the road

 

[Adele Dazeem]

Since this draft is apparently loaded; hoping for some gems to drop to the later rounds.
This is a draft where our scouting department can really show their worth.

 

[BondraTime]

Since this draft is apparently loaded; hoping for some gems to drop to the later rounds.
This is a draft where our scouting department can really show their worth.

The draft is loaded in the top 3/4 picks with guys who would compete for 1st any other year, it's no different than any other draft after that

 

[MatchesMalone]

The draft is loaded in the top 3/4 picks with guys who would compete for 1st any other year, it's no different than any other draft after that

I would just argue that it actually is deeper than an average draft at forward but a little underwhelming on defense, but yeah overall works out to just a little above average.

 

[MatchesMalone]

I thought I'd try ranking the biggest risers and fallers based on the U18s. Note that faller doesn't necessarily mean they had an awful tournament, but if they just stay the same while others around them are rising, that means they're fallers.

Biggest risers:

Maxim Strbak - I'd seen him play a fair amount but was always focused on other players like Slafkovsky, Nemec, Dvorsky as well as opposing players at international tournaments. I've always thought of him as a big defensive defenseman, but he brought an element of skill and confidence with the puck to this tournament that I had no idea he had. Led all defensemen in the tournament in ATOI with 25:46. With the race for top D in the draft so wide open, I think Strbak has put himself in the conversation.

Juraj Pekarcik - Wasn't ranked anywhere by anyone coming in. Playing pro as an early September birthday and struggling to produce - as good a reason as any for a player to have been overlooked. Grant McCagg of Recrutes recently said he could go 2nd round after this tournament. Finished 2nd to Dvorsky for most ice time by a forward in the tournament with 22:03

David Edstrom - I think most fans (myself included) barely knew who Edstrom was coming into the tournament. He was barely ranked on any major media scouting service. Finished 3rd in the tournament in ATOI by a forward behind Dvorsky and Pekarcik, with 20:39 (to Stenberg's 19:17). He also finished 1st in the tournament in both total faceoffs taken and won. He's gotta be a first rounder at this point.

Fallers:

Oliver Moore - I seem to have been a little lower on him than the consensus all year. His skating is phenomenal and he's great at top speed, but reminds me of what Torts infamously said when asked why Hagelin doesn't play on the powerplay, "he's just a jitterbug out there". To be a legit offensive play-driver, he also needs to learn to slow things down and control the pace of play a little bit.

Andrew Cristall - Again, I wasn't his biggest fan coming in, but I thought he was just average. Not a difference-maker on the ice or the scoresheet. Ultra-skilled playmaker at that size ought to come in and destroy a tournament like this.

Caden Price - I had high hopes for him coming in with no Akey, Molendyk, Bonk. Thought this would be Price's opportunity to step up and be the guy for Canada, but that was not the case.

I know a lot of people were really hyped on Sandin-Pellikka and the USA top line, but I didn't see anything from them at this tournament I didn't already know. With no Russia or Belarus they rolled 8 teams last year and it made sense, but they went back to 10 teams this year so the quality of competition was unusually low and some players racked up numbers they maybe shouldn't have otherwise. If anything, I thought Willander and Lindstein closed the gap a little between themselves and ASP.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

The draft is loaded in the top 3/4 picks with guys who would compete for 1st any other year, it's no different than any other draft after that

I like this potential top 5

1. Connor Bedard C, CAN, Regina WHL
2. Adam Fantilli C, CAN, U. of Michigan NCAA
3. Matvei Michkov RW/LW, RUS Sochi KHL
4. Leo Carlsson C/LW, SWE Örebro SHL
5. Will Smith C, USA U18 NTDP

I don't know if Michkov will go top 3 but the talent is there.

 

[MatchesMalone]

U18s Canada Skovaks 3-3 in OT now

16 y/o Celebrini wins it in OT.. Probably Canada's best player in the tournament imo

15 pts for the tournament ties Canada's record for most in the WJC U18s

Likely 1OA favorite for 2024.

He’ll be going 1st overall next year, quite easily.

Think his brother could be a solid late 7th pickup that signs out of NCAA 4 years down the road

Agreed. Kiviharju was still my guy coming in, and he had a great showing in his own right (2nd in the tournament in ATOI behind Strbak with 24:59), but Celebrini looked on a different level. Finished 2nd among Canada forwards in ATOI (18:52) behind only Barlow (19:06). He centered what was the 2nd or 3rd best line in the tournament and he was the play-driver on that line at both ends of the ice.

I like this potential top 5

1. Connor Bedard C, CAN, Regina WHL
2. Adam Fantilli C, CAN, U. of Michigan NCAA
3. Matvei Michkov RW/LW, RUS Sochi KHL
4. Leo Carlsson C/LW, SWE Örebro SHL
5. Will Smith C, USA U18 NTDP

I don't know if Michkov will go top 3 but the talent is there.

Give me Dvorsky over Will Smith at this point.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Agreed. Kiviharju was still my guy coming in, and he had a great showing in his own right (2nd in the tournament in ATOI behind Strbak with 24:59), but Celebrini looked on a different level. Finished 2nd among Canada forwards in ATOI (18:52) behind only Barlow (19:06). He centered what was the 2nd or 3rd best line in the tournament and he was the play-driver on that line at both ends of the ice.


Give me Dvorsky over Will Smith at this point.

Dvorsky had a really good U18s with very little supporting cast. Could be very good. Benson will have consideration in that group as well.
Boston College is getting that whole top line from the US . What an intake.

 

[MatchesMalone]

And finally I wanted to try my hand at tournament awards:

MVP - Dalibor Dvorsky
Best forward - Macklin Celebrini
Best defenseman - Maxim Strbak
Best goaltender - Trey Augustine
All-star team -
LW - Otto Stenberg C - Macklin Celebrini RW - Ryan Leonard LD - Theo Lindstein RD - Max Strbak

 

[MatchesMalone]

Dvorsky had a really good U18s with very little supporting cast. Could be very good. Benson will have consideration in that group as well.
Boston College is getting that whole top line from the US . What an intake.

Plus Minnetian, who I thought had a pretty good tournament overall but took his play to another level in the gold medal game. As much as I love the maturity and composure of Sandin-Pellikka's game, I think Minnetian and Gulyayev are the most dynamic offensive defensemen in the draft.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

 

[Sens in Process]

If this team could get some draft luck and win the lottery, it would be an absolute game changer. Adding Fantilli to this core would be criminal.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Agreed. Kiviharju was still my guy coming in, and he had a great showing in his own right (2nd in the tournament in ATOI behind Strbak with 24:59), but Celebrini looked on a different level. Finished 2nd among Canada forwards in ATOI (18:52) behind only Barlow (19:06). He centered what was the 2nd or 3rd best line in the tournament and he was the play-driver on that line at both ends of the ice.


Give me Dvorsky over Will Smith at this point.

Kiviharju was never the actually in contention for 1st overall. Too small, and doesn’t skate well enough for a player to go that high. He also hasn’t been too much better over last year. He’s this years Timothy Liljegren - a hyped defender at such a young age but at the end of the day he won’t go top-10 because of his physical deficiencies.

Disagree hope heartedly with Dvorsky over Smith - for most of this year Dvorsky has been a player that has had trouble driving the offence for whatever team he has played on. He doesn’t have close to the high end upside that Smith has in my opinion. Smith has two-way potential just like Dvorsky but Controls the offence in ways Dvorsky hasn’t showed he can.

crazy that He‘s 2024 eligible

 

[FunkySeeFunkyDoo]

So I’ve lost track… what draft picks do the Sens actually hold this year (assuming they don’t win the lottery that is)?

 

[Micklebot]

So I’ve lost track… what draft picks do the Sens actually hold this year (assuming they don’t win the lottery that is)?

4, 5 and three 7s

 

[10robinho10]

Maxim Strbak revealed 3 NHL teams with the most interest of him. He also confirmed he will take part at NHL Combine

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Maxim Strbak revealed 3 NHL teams with the most interest of him. He also confirmed he will take part at NHL Combine

Arizona, Boston, Seattle

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

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Plenty of intrigue after Connor Bedard in Bob McKenzie's NHL Draft Lottery Edition ranking | TSN

There is no doubt whatsoever who will be taken No. 1 overall in the talent-laden 2023 NHL Draft. Beyond that, though, at Nos. 2 through 5? Check out TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie's Top 12 Lottery Edition Draft Ranking.

www.tsn.ca

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

2nd spin

 

[SixthSens]

Please lottery gods.

Please.

 

[Very Stable Genius]

Please lottery gods.

Please.

I think we've already used all our juju on Toronto's failure.

 

[Hale The Villain]

Anyone but the Habs please