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NHL Draft Order Sports News

NHL Draft Order and Mock Predictions

By Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief Updated: 23 June 2023

Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief

Blake Roberts is the founder of Betting.US and is currently heading the creative team as Editor in Chief. Born and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia, Blake is a great sports fan, with football and basketball being his favorite. He’s our trusted voice for all betting-related matters.

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The 2023 NFL Draft will occur on June 28th and 29th at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. There has been a lot of buzz around this draft in the last couple of months, with many NHL experts, fans and the best NHL betting sites suggesting that this is the best draft class since 2015.

The Chicago Blackhawks look set to get their hands on Connor Bedard, but there are a lot of other top players worth looking at. This piece will take a closer look at the top prospects for the draft and where the players look set to play. We haven’t looked at all the first-round picks.

Top Prospects from the 2023 NHL Draft

Connor Bedard

Connor Bedard was a star long before his exploits in the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. We’re talking about a generational talent here, and the Chicago Blackhawks look all set to pick him up.

The Regina Pats captain became the first WHL player to record over 140 points in a season since 1996 last season. Berard is the full package and has been eyed by scouts since he was 15. He is deft with the puck, reads plays like a veteran, and is quick on the skates. He filled up WHL seats last season, so there’s no doubt that he’ll be doing the same for the NHL. We’re talking about someone who looks set to define the next era of the NHL.

Adam Fantilli

Fantilli would’ve been the best prospect in most other seasons if it wasn’t for Bedard. No player was more productive in the NCAA last season than Fantilli. He managed 29 goals and 35 assists in 35 games.

He was also honored with the Hobey Baker Memorial Award this season, but that shouldn’t take away from just how incredible his first season in the NCAA was. Fantilli is physically imposing, has great endurance, and has an excellent shot on him.

He was also a big fixture in Canada’s IIHF World Junior U20 Championship and the World Championship triumphs, which should help prepare him for the bright lights in the NHL. The Columbus Blue Jackets and Anaheim Ducks look set to fight for his signature. He’d be a great addition to either side.

Leo Carlsson

Leo Carlsson has taken Europe by storm, which is no guarantee that he’ll do well in the NHL, but 25 points in 44 games is extremely impressive. Carlsson is a big center and displayed his presence for Sweden in the 2023 IIHF World Junior U20 Championship and World Championship earlier this year.

The Columbia Blue Jackets look like the team most in need of a profile like Carlsson’s, so it won’t come as a surprise if they pick him, but that’ll mean letting go of someone like Matvei Michkov, who is the superior talent but won’t help them immediately. It’s going to be a tough choice for the Blue Jackets, but we think it’s better for them to go with Carlsson as he’d be a good fit with the players that are currently on their books.

Matvei Michkov

Who gambles on Matvei Michkov will be one of the fascinating aspects of this draft: Michkov will not be able to represent the team that picks him for another three years. The Russian has stated his desire to compete in the NHL and is a known quantity in the hockey community since 2020.

He has a contract with the KHL that’s effective till 2025-26, so when he eventually joins the NHL, he’ll enter the league with bags of experience. Michkov has a lethal shot, a smooth release, and lots of courage. He has been Russia’s top youth prospect since turning 16 years old. The San Jose Sharks look like his most likely destination.

Michkov will be a long-term signing, but he’s the sort of talent you simply can’t ignore. He’s the sort of player who will turn the team he joins into a championship contender.

Will Smith

Will Smith isn’t as hot a prospect as the names listed above, but the 18-year-old was the top goalscorer in IIHF World Junior U18 Championship and helped the USA win gold. He recorded 40 points in 20 games in the United States Hockey League, so there’s no doubting his talent. Smith looks like a player who needs more development than some of the other players on this list, but there’s no doubting the raw talent.

The Montreal Canadiens look like they’re going to get their hands on the center because of his relationship with their current manager Ken Hughes. Hughes was Smith’s coach at Boston Jr. Eagles. There’s no one more suitable for refining Smith’s game.