NASHVILLE, Tennessee – If you think about the time you went through some stage to receive your high school or college diploma, you remember how special it was. All the years of effort and sacrifice, not only from you, but those who helped you along the way, come back to your awareness. The spectators who love you, are there to see the special moment, and to think about what comes next, as the next chapter of your life unfolds. It was an exciting time and a defining moment in your life.
This is what the annual NHL Entry Draft stands for, a new graduating class of eligible players has arrived and are now eligible within their playing age to be submitted to National Hockey League franchises for draft selection.
It’s an exciting time for everyone involved in the professional game, the city of Nashville and the families and friends of those who have made it to the next level. The NHL continues to put on a stellar event, drawing fans from around the world who made this weekend a vacation for many in one of the South’s most entertaining cities.
In one of the kind touches by the general managers, each team’s hockey operations captain made it a point to thank retired Nashville general manager David Boyle for the positive impact he’s had on their lives. Boyle, Nashville’s only general manager since 1998, was honored at the start of the night festivities.
As part of Boyle’s retirement celebration, he was gifted a one-of-a-kind Gibson guitar from NHL Commissioner Gary Pittman, retired Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne, and current Predators captain Roman Josey.
Despite the relatively weak free agent class and the recent may be wave of deals, it was all business on day one. 32 selections were made with several teams having multiple picks while others had no picks. The action tonight focused on replenishing depleted coffers and building future teams. A few of those selected in this draft will play in the big show next season.
Sure enough, though, is the top pick of the year, secured through a lottery by the Chicago Blackhawks, who tonight selected Conor Bedard from the Western Hockey League’s Regina Bats. A generational talent, Bedard will step onto the United Center ice in October to start his career.
Perhaps the most anticipated picks of the night came from picks two through five as there was little consensus on the picking order these players would come up with.
After Chicago selected Bedard, Anaheim selected Leo Carlsson, 6’2″ and 194 pounds, the Swede who played last season with amateur Orebro. He’ll fill in the middle well for the Ducks as they continue to rebuild. He might be able to join the big club, but in This defender takes longer to develop, Carlson may have to wait before joining the Ducks.
In third place, Columbus, in the middle of a rebuild, selected Adam Fantelli of the University of Michigan. Along with his brother, Luca, the 6’2″, 195 lb. Canadian helped the Wolverines complete a 26-12-3 record, losing to eventual champion Quinnipiac in the Frozen Four. Fantilli is another person who could jump right into the Blue Jackets lineup.
The running positions continued when San Jose selected the first American in the draft along with Will Smith from the USHL’s United States Developmental Program. At 6’2″, 180 lbs., his hockey sense makes up for his slightly lighter side for a well-developed draft pick. He will be the first of four draft picks from the American program and first-ever draft pick for incoming general manager Mike Greer.
Then, Carey Price approached the microphone to make the Canadiens’ selection in the No. 5 slot. Price had a first name, but needed help with the last name from general manager Kent Hughes. Price pronounced “David” and then froze at not having the last name of choice on the tip of his tongue. Hughes helped him when he applied to advertise “Reinbacher”.
6’2″, 194 lbs. The Kloten defender in the Swiss League could have had a better reach under the Montreal pennant, but he left the action on top of his position in the draft.
Arizona took to the stage wearing matching burgundy ensembles and made their first Russian pick of the night. From Yaroslav, Russia and from the Russian junior team, the 6’4″, 198 lb. Coyotes selected Dmitriy Simachev. He will be the first of two Russians the Coyotes will select during the first round.
Tonight’s mystery concerned Russian player Matvey Michkov and where he might be picked, teams feared would play him off, tie his contract status with the KHL through the 2026-27 season and if he would sooner leave Russia for the NHL. In the seventh pick, the Philadelphia Flyers solved the mystery when they selected the 5’10”, 172 lb. right winger from SKA St. Petersburg.
The All-American third-team player was selected when Washington took to the stage with the eighth pick, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound pick. Right winger Ryan Leonard. The Capitals are in retooling mode as they enjoy Alex Ovechkin’s offense on Wayne Gretzky’s goal-scoring offense while slowly moving up the roster.
Motor City was next when Steve Yzerman stepped up to pick the ninth pick in the draft. The Red Wings selected 6’2″, 190lb. Canadian right winger Nate Danielson from the Brandon Wheat Kings as Detroit continues to muster the pool of prospects.
St. Louis rounded out the top 10 and was thankful that this guy was still on the board. The Blues selected 6’1″, 200 lb. Slovak midfielder Dalibor Dvorski who played from AIK in the Swedish second division. His size and skill fill a need in the middle as the Blues revamp their current roster while also, with this drive, building a position for the future.
Vancouver then came up with the 11th drive and moved to bolster their defence. The Canucks selected Swedish blueliner Tom Wilander. A 6’1″, 180lb puck drive player for Rogl Jr. of Sweden. His selection indicates his commitment to building a formidable defense during the rebuilding process.
Arizona returned to the stage for the 12th pick and their continued commitment to Russian talent when Danil selected the 6’5″, 203-pound left winger from Yaroslav in the Russian Junior League.
Buffalo’s role with the 13th pick brought the 5’10”, 170 lb. left winger Zach Benson who spent the season with the Winnipeg Ice of the Western Hockey League.
Pittsburgh was next with the 14th pick. New General Manager Kyle Dubas wasted no time making his mark. The Penguins put their trust in Brayden Yager, 5’11”, 170 lbs. Centerman for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Collegiate Hockey League.
It was the Nashville Predators’ turn to host with the 15th pick and they selected the 6’4″, 197 lb. right winger Matthew Wood from the Connecticut Huskies of Hockey East of the American College System.
Calgary and their new general manager Craig Conroy selected the 16th overall and selected Samuel Hunzik, a 6’3″, 195 lb. Left winger from Slovakia, who plays for the Vancouver Giants in the Western Hockey League.
Detroit returned to the stage for the second pick of the first round and chose the 5’11”, 180 lbs. Defender Axel Sandin-Belica from Skelleftea of the Swedish Junior League.
The Winnipeg Jets were next. A team in flux With the recent departure of Pierre-Luc Dubois and what appears to be a significant roster turnover, the Manitoba team selected the 6′, 195lbs. Canadian left winger Colby Barlow wins from Owen’s sonic attack.
After coming up with the biggest price of the night, the Chicago Blackhawks returned for their second pick of the night and nineteenth overall. General Manager Kyle Davidson selected Oliver Moore, a 5’11”, 195-pound quarterback from the USA Development Program.
Seattle finished off the top twenty picks when they selected Eduard Sale of Brno’s Czech Republic, Eduard Sale. The 6’2-inch, 175-pound left winger adds to an impressive regimen of prospects who are sure to continue to make the impact they made in their second season with a run-in, game seven defeat to the Dallas Stars.
Minnesota was next with No. 21 when they selected 6’3″, 222-pound centerman Charlie Stramel from the Wisconsin Badgers of the BIG 10 Conference.
Philadelphia returned for the second pick of the night and got a solid pick in the 22nd when they selected the 6’2″, 180-pound Canadian fullback Oliver Bonk. The talented forward who played for the London Knights last season is the son of Radek Bonk. He was Ottawa’s third overall pick from the draft NHL Player of the Year in 1994, and tonight celebrates the 29th anniversary when he was selected.
With the 23rd pick, the New York Rangers used their only first-round pick to pressure 5’11”, 163 pounds Canadian right winger Gabriel Perrault who spent last season with the US National Development Program. Perreault is the son of Yanic Perreault who scored 247 goals in 859 games for six teams including the Toronto Maple Leafs who selected him with the 41st overall pick in the 1991 draft.
Nashville delighted their fans when they returned to the stage for the 24th pick, selecting the 5’11”, 181-pound Canadian fullback Tanner Molendyk from the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League.
At twenty-six, the Predators’ divisional rival, St. Louis, was a second of three first-round picks. The Blues kept their eyes on Europe when they selected the 5’11”, 185lb Swede Otto Steenberg from Frolunda of the Swedish Junior League.
San Jose surged forward to make the second first-round pick and twenty-sixth overall. The Sharks selected 6’2″, 200-pound American left winger Quentin Muste of the Sudbury Wolves of Ontario to jockey.
Colorado arrived on the scene to make the 27th pick of the night and selected the 6’2″, 184-pound Canadian quarterback Callum Ritchie of the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League.
Brad Treliving made his first selection for the Toronto Maple Leafs when the club’s freshman selected the 5’10”, 170-pound Canadian right winger Easton Cowan of the London Knights.
General Manager Doug Armstrong returned to make St. Louis’ third and final first-round pick at the twenty-nine pick and selected Theo Lindstein, the 6′, 185-pound Swedish fullback from Brenas of the Swedish League. He took the under-18 silver medal at the World Championships this past season.
Carolina joined the party with the thirtieth pick in the draft and selected Bradley Nadeau of the British Columbia Hockey League. The 5’10”, 160-pound left winger had 45 goals and 58 assists in 54 games, which earned him enough turnover to warrant selection from a somewhat lower source for an opening round pick.
Colorado selected the 31st pick along with holding defenseman Mikhail Gulyayev from Omsk of the Russian Junior League. The 5’10”, 172-pound Russian was the highest rated player on the board and the Avalanche made no mistake in selecting the talented player.
To wrap up the night, the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights selected 32nd-choice David Edstrom, the 6’3″, 185-pound Swedish centerman from Frolunda’s junior squad.
After this selection, it was “Goodnight, Irene”. Fans headed to the exits, and soon headed home to rest before the morning began for Day 2 of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
Rounds run from two to seven Thursday mornings at 11 a.m. ET. The pace will be much faster as the day moves along when 192 selections are made. One has to wonder if the excitement of all the hockey operations leadership of thirty-two teams in one place at the same time will carry over into the deals. Nothing was done today during the draft and free agent options remain thin. The free agent window begins on the first Saturday in July.
Dennis Morrell has developed a deep passion for the great game over many decades as a writer, photographer, goaltender coach, goaltender, and USA Hockey Certified Active Referee with more than 2,000 appearances on the ice. His passion for the game began in the early 1970s with his first glimpse of skaters fighting for the puck at Clayton Shaw Park. He has covered nine Stanley Cup Finals and dozens of ice hockey special event games. He can be reached at dennis.morrell@prohockeynews.com and you can follow him on Twitter at DMMORRELL.