First-Round Order & Top Prospects For The NHL Draft 2023
The first round’s sequence is predetermined, barring a trade, and the NHL draft is planned for June 28–29 in Nashville, Tennessee….
The Chicago Blackhawks won the lottery, moved up two positions, and were allowed to choose generational prospect Connor Bedard at the top of the draft.
Ivan Provorov, a defender, was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in early June, and the Philadelphia Flyers ended up with the No. 22 overall selection in exchange.
The Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights won the first-round spots in the Stanley Cup Final. The Panthers will choose 31st, followed by the defending champion Golden Knights. In the Ben Chiarot deal from the previous year, the Panthers traded their first-round pick to the Montreal Canadiens.
What is the NHL draft order for the first round in 2023?
- Chicago Blackhawks (won the lottery for the first pick)
- Anaheim Ducks (second-round draft selection winner)
- Columbus Blue Jackets (reduced by one position following lottery results)
- San Jose Sharks
- Montreal Canadiens
- Arizona Coyotes
- Philadelphia Flyers
- Washington Capitals
- Detroit Red Wings
- St. Louis Blues
- Vancouver Canucks
- The Arizona Coyotes acquired the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Jakob Chychrun.
- Buffalo Sabres
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- Nashville Predators
- Calgary Flames
- Detroit Red Wings (through the Vancouver Canucks and New York Islanders). In exchange for Filip Hronek, the Canucks sent the Red Wings the selection they received in the Bo Horvat trade.)
- Winnipeg Jets
- The Chicago Blackhawks acquired the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Brandon Hagel.
- Seattle Kraken
- Minnesota Wild
- Columbus Blue Jackets versus. Philadelphia Flyers (from the Los Angeles Kings). In exchange for Provorov, the Blue Jackets sent the Flyers the selection they received in the Vladislav Gavrikov/Jonas Korpisalo transaction.)
- New York Rangers
- Nashville Predators (acquired in a transaction involving Mattias Ekholm from Edmonton Oilers)
- St. Louis Blues (acquired in the Ryan O’Reilly trade from the Toronto Maple Leafs)
- San Jose Sharks (acquired in the Timo Meier deal from the New Jersey Devils)
- Colorado Avalanche
- Toronto Maple Leafs (through the Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins) the Capitals acquired Rasmus Sandin from the Maple Leafs in exchange for the selection received in the Dmitry Orlov deal.)
- St. Louis Blues (through the New York Rangers and Dallas Stars). In exchange for Vladimir Tarasenko, the Rangers sent the Blues the selection they received in the Nils Lundkvist deal. Dallas, who lost in the conference final, would have been selected 29th.
- The No. 2 overall NHL club, the Carolina Hurricanes, fell in the conference championship.
- Montreal Canadiens (acquired in the Ben Chiarot deal from the Stanley Cup runner-up Florida Panthers)
- Los Angeles Golden Knights, Stanley Cup champions
When and where is the NHL draft scheduled to take place?
On Wednesday, June 28, in Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, the first round will start at 7 p.m. ET. On Thursday, June 29, at 11 a.m. ET, the second through eighth rounds will take place.
How do I view the NHL draft?
ESPN will broadcast the opening day. The NHL Network will broadcast the remaining games.
There is a talent of a generation at the top of this deep draft.
Which possibilities represent some of the best?
With 71 goals and 143 points in 57 games this season, Bedard, a Canadian who stands 5-10 and weighs 185 pounds, topped the Western Hockey League. He also contributed 20 points in seven games to the Regina Pats’ first-round playoff defeat.
He was honored with the Player of the Year, Top Scorer, and Top Prospect celebrates in the Canadian Hockey League. After establishing a Team Canada record with nine goals and 23 points in seven games, he earned a gold medal and was voted world junior championships MVP.
Adam Fantilli, the University of Michigan player who won the Hobey Baker Award, is predicted to finish second overall after dominating college hockey with 30 goals and 65 points in 36 games. Forwards Matthew Wood (No. 4) of the University of Connecticut and forwards William Smith (No. 3) and Ryan Leonard (No. 5) of the U.S. National Team Development Programme round out the top five North American skaters.
The top-ranked skater internationally is Swedish center Leo Carlsson (25 points in 44 games). Matvei Michkov rated No. 2, is a wild card since he has a contract with the Kontinental Hockey League through 2025–2026 and is a gifted Russian winger.
