BN’s 2-Round 2023 NHL Mock Draft: Blackhawks, Connor Bedard Lead The Way

With the 2023 NHL Draft Combine in the rear view mirror and some trades already impacting the draft order in the first three rounds of the coming draft, we’ve now entered mock draft season with a lot of heat. There are going to be lots of folks throwing their predictions and projections for the 2023 NHL Draft out there, so why not drop a Bleacher Nation Mock Draft?

We know what the Blackhawks are doing with the first pick, but what will the rest of the first round look like? What about the second round — where the Blackhawks have four selections? Because the Blackhawks have so many picks in the first two rounds, I thought it would be fun to project out the entire first 64 picks in our first mock draft of the summer.

I’ll share some thoughts on each pick in the first round, and then a brief breakdown of the players I have going to the Blackhawks in the second round as well.

With that in mind, let’s go to work.

MOCK DRAFT — ROUND ONE

1 — 1: Chicago Blackhawks — Connor Bedard, C

This feels like as much of a no-brainer as we’ve had in a long time at No. 1 overall. Bedard is a generational talent who will change the trajectory of the Chicago Blackhawks. Mock drafts have had him penciled in at No. 1 in this draft for two years, we just needed to know which team was getting lucky. Thankfully for us, it’s Chicago.

1 — 2: Anaheim Ducks — Adam Fantilli, C

There has been a lot of conversation between Fantilli and Leo Carlsson as the No. 2 pick in this draft, but I think the Ducks will settle on the big center from the University of Michigan. There’s a chance he goes back to Michigan for a sophomore year; that might make sense with the Ducks still building. I see a lot of Matthew Tkachuk in his game, so this is a home run — not a consolation prize — for Anaheim.

1 — 3: Columbus Blue Jackets — Will Smith, C

Here’s where the draft gets a little crazy. Most scouts will tell you in a sober moment that Russian forward Matvei Michkov is probably the second-best talent in this draft, but his commitment to the KHL for two more years — and not seeing him play in international tournaments over the past couple years — is impacting his stock. Columbus has been aggressively adding on their blue line already this summer, so taking a big, athletic center here makes sense. It could be Carlsson, but I’m betting on the Jackets selecting the American center who will skate for Boston College in the fall.

1 — 4: San Jose Sharks — Leo Carlsson, C

Just as fellow Swede Nicklas Backstrom slid to No. 4 in 2006, I see Carlsson going here. Indeed, he’s been compared to Backstrom so the parallel makes a lot of sense. He’s a good playmaking center who many feel will slide into a top-line role quickly. He outperformed Fantilli at the World Juniors and played well at the World Championship as well.

1 — 5: Montreal Canadiens — David Reinbacher, RHD

Now we start to wonder where Michkov will land. Most of the mocks I’ve read have Reinbacher going here, and I concur with that assessment. He’s been graded on par with or ahead of Kevin Korchinski, who went seventh overall last year to the Blackhawks. He projects as a top-pair defenseman and the Habs need that badly.

1 — 6: Arizona Coyotes — Matvei Michkov, RW

In my mind, the slide for Michkov ends here for a number of reasons. First, the Coyotes need a game-breaking player. And they have a truckload of picks in this draft, so they can roll the dice a couple times on high-ceiling players. Perhaps most importantly, their current stadium/ownership questions are a big red flag for prospects. Having a couple years to sort that out while owning the rights to this potential superstar makes a lot of sense for all involved parties.

1 — 7: Philadelphia Flyers — Ryan Leonard, RW

New president Keith Jones has said he wants to build a strong back end on his team, so Reinbacher would be an option here if he slides. But with him off the board, I think Philly goes with one of the most well-liked prospects outside of the top five in this class. Leonard is headed to Boston College with Smith this fall and had a marvelous season for the US National Development Program team. He is your future star in Philadelphia.

1 — 8: Washington Capitals — Nate Danielson, C

This pick fascinates me, because the Caps need to start thinking about replacing two franchise icons: Backstrom and John Carlson. Backstrom might be done; Carlsson, 32, has missed time because of injuries as well. So Washington could go with either a center or a defenseman here. I’m going with the center here, and Danielson is a good one. At 6-1 and 185, he’s got the size to be a top-line center. And he produced (78 points in 68 regular-season games) in a really good WHL this past season with Brandon.

1 — 9: Detroit Red Wings — Zach Benson, LW

Detroit hoped to take a significant step forward last year, but the season did not play out that way. Benson is a creative player with a lot of high-end skill; Corey Pronman compared him to Vegas’ Jonathan Marchessault. There’s a chance the Wings consider a defenseman here, but they also have a number of picks — including three in a row early in the second round — to work with in this draft. Benson’s too good to pass.

1 — 10: St. Louis Blues — Tom Willander, RHD

The Blues are in retool mode right now, but they need to rebuild their blue line. They could opt for Axel Sandin Pellikka here, but my sense is Willander is the right package of size (6-1, 180) and strong skating for the Blues to tab him here. There have been some mock drafts sending a center to St. Louis here, but my bet is on Willander.

1 — 11: Vancouver Canucks — Dalibor Dvorsky, C

This is a spot many have pointed to for the Blackhawks to potentially move up from No. 19 overall while taking some salary off the Canucks’ books. And, if Oliver Moore is still on the board, the Blackhawks might make that deal. If the Canucks stay put here, selecting Dvorsky could be a smart play. At 6-1 and 200 pounds, he has the size to play a top-line center role and his skill likely puts him in that category. He isn’t the greatest skater in the draft, but he’s considered a strong prospect because he’s played well against men in Sweden.

1 — 12: Arizona Coyotes — Dmitri Simashev, LHD

This might not be a popular pick for Coyotes fans — them going Russian with their first two picks — but both players are high-ceiling plays. Simashev is already listed at 6-4 and 200 pounds and Pronman has him ranked 10th overall in his most recent prospect rankings. And, again, if they have to wait to bring him over that might make sense for everyone because of their current off-ice issues.

1 — 13: Buffalo Sabres — Matthew Wood, C/LW

The Sabres are coming, and they’re able to add a big forward here in Wood (6-3, 185) who already has one full NCAA season under his belt. His freshman season didn’t go as well as Fantilli’s, but he still has the size and skill that teams covet in the NHL. Buffalo adding a big power forward here feels like the right time/place for this pick. He was compared to Buffalo’s Tage Thompson on Friday, so making them teammates kinda sorta feels like a plan here.

1 — 14: Pittsburgh Penguins — Oliver Moore, C

Pittsburgh missing the playoffs (thanks to the Blackhawks) led to a complete turnover of their front office. Kyle Dubas is now the president of hockey ops for the Pens, and he saw what speed can do to help a team compete in the Eastern Conference while he was the general manager in Toronto. Moore is one of the best skaters in this draft class and performed well for the US internationally this past year. They’re starting to think beyond the Crosby Era, and Moore is their next top-tier center.

1 — 15: Nashville Predators — Calum Ritchie, C

If the Blackhawks want Moore, they’ll need to trade up in front of Nashville because Barry Trotz has already said he wants to bring in big, top-tier centers. They would absolutely love to get one of Danielson or Moore here, but Ritchie is a nice option at this spot. And, at 6-2 and 185 pounds, he has the body Trotz is likely targeting down the middle.

1 — 16: Calgary Flames — Axel Sandin Pellikka, RHD

The Flames have a new front office after a disappointing season, and will have a new head coach calling the shots as well. Adding an extremely talented defenseman here who projects as a top-four player could help them sooner than later. The Flames haven’t drafted a defenseman in the first round since 2017.

1 — 17: Detroit Red Wings — Brayden Yager, C

If Steve Yzerman can pull off Benson and Yager in the first round, he might be the most popular general manager in Canada. Yager’s a stud; Pronman compares him to Travis Konecny. He slides in many mock drafts because he doesn’t have the ideal size for a top-line center and may ultimately move to the wing, but this pick would make Detroit’s first round a massive win.

1 — 18: Winnipeg Jets — Oliver Bonk, RHD

We have no idea what the summer holds for Winnipeg, who reportedly have the For Sale sign up in front of most lockers in their room. They need just about everything, but defense stands out and Bonk is a good one with size (6-2, 180). Since selecting Josh Morrissey in the first round in 2013, Winnipeg has only used a first-round pick on a defenseman once (Ville Heinola in 2019).

1 — 19: Chicago Blackhawks — Gabe Perreault, LW

Perrault is an offensive force who broke records for the US Development Program this past year. Yanic Perreault’s son is committed to Boston College (yeah, they’re going to be GOOD this fall) and, not surprisingly, Gabe is considered one of the smartest players in this draft. So why is he still on the board? He doesn’t have great size and is a mediocre skater (something the Blackhawks will undoubtedly consider). But his skill is undeniable. On Friday, Director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr said: “He has eyes in the back of his head … He’s a magician.” He would make a lot of sense for the Blackhawks… that is, of course, if they don’t move up (or back).

1 — 20: Seattle Kraken — Colby Barlow, LW

Barlow will absolutely be an option for the Blackhawks if he’s available because he has good size (6-0, 190) and he scored 46 times in 53 games in the OHL last year. The Kraken have a nice collection of picks to use in this draft and adding Barlow to their mix up front would be a terrific addition. I could see him skating on a line with Matty Beniers in a couple years, giving other coaches in the Pacific Division nightmares.

1 — 21: Minnesota Wild — Eduard Sale, LW

Minnesota has some serious cap concerns this summer and need to stock their system a little more. But in Sale, they grab one of the more polarizing prospects (not named Michkov) in this draft. Scott Wheeler ranked him 14th overall; Corey Pronman has him 24th. He has good size (6-2, 175) and is a very good skater.

1 — 22: Philadelphia Flyers — Tanner Molendyk, LHD

With the addition of a second pick in the first round in the recent trade that sent Ivan Provorov to Columbus, the Flyers add the defenseman they want/need. He’s a terrific skater who uses his modest size (5-11, 182) very well. Molendyk is a good all-around defenseman who plays the entire ice sheet well and moves the puck with ease. I think Philly would love to get Bonk here, but if he’s gone this could be their second pick in the first round.

1 — 23: New York Rangers — David Edstrom, C

Edstrom is a riser on a lot of draft boards right now and could be a solid addition for the future of the Rangers, especially as their top lines age. Pronman — who ranked him No. 18 overall — compares him to Minnesota’s Joel Eriksson Ek, which would be a nice compliment to Filip Chytil down the middle in a couple years for the Rangers.

1 — 24: Nashville Predators — Samuel Honzek, LW

Nashville went with a center earlier in the first round, so a big winger here would help their offense as well. Honzek (6-3, 190) plays a strong two-way game and is defensively responsible. His compete is very good; he showed well in the WHL this past season. As teams look at the impact size is making in the Stanley Cup Final, the copycat league will likely place a premium on big forwards and Honzek has that for Trotz.

1 — 25: St. Louis Blues — Charlie Stramel, C

The Blues have plenty of wings in their system, so they’ll likely target defensemen and centers in this draft. If they go with a blue line prospect early, center is the call here. Stramel is another player who has a full NCAA season under his belt before the draft, playing at Wisconsin. His season didn’t go as well as some might have hoped, but he presents a big package (6-3, 212) and skates well, making him a nice add for the Blues late in the first round of our mock draft.

1 — 26: San Jose Sharks — Mikhail Gulyayev, LHD

After landing Carlsson to jump-start the offense early, the Sharks take a slight Russian defenseman with huge offensive upside here. This feels like a lottery ticket (remember Sam Rinzel?) and, at 5-10 and only 172 pounds, he doesn’t have great size. But he can skate well and moves the puck well. If he arrives in a couple years when Erik Karlsson is gone, he might be a nice transition piece.

1 — 27: Colorado Avalanche — Danil But, LW

Here’s another prospect who has a lot of people talking. But is a big prospect (6-5, 203) and he produced well in the junior ranks in Russia. There are some holes in his game, which is why a player with his size slides this far and some fans don’t want anything to do with him. But he has a good shot and — as we always say — you can’t teach size.

1 — 28: Toronto Maple Leafs — Andrew Cristall, LW

This pick would generate a ton of reaction on the interwebs. Cristall isn’t big (5-9, 167) and isn’t the best skater, which is why some mock drafts have him sliding into the second round. But let’s step back and appreciate that he scored 39 goals with 56 assists in 54 games with Kelowna in the WHL this past season. He’s an offensive threat with the puck who makes things happen. How he projects at the NHL level is fascinating, but in Toronto he could be a really nice complimentary piece with some of their other firepower. HOWEVER, Connor Bedard reportedly called Cristall “the smartest hockey player he’s ever played with” on Friday, so keep on eye on him for the Blackhawks as well.

1 — 29: St. Louis Blues — Lukas Dragicevic, RHD

With their third pick in the first round, the Blues go back to the blue line and take one of the more productive defensemen in this class. Dragicevic is listed at 6-1 and 190 and put up 75 points in 68 games for Tri-City in the OHL this past season. He isn’t the best skater, but his offensive game is good and his size is right. A trio of Willander, Stramel and Dragicevic would be a really nice first round for the Blues.

1 — 30: Carolina Hurricanes — Quentin Musty, LW

Carolina is *this close* to being a juggernaut. But health hurt their offense in the playoffs this year, and scoring has been their primary concern. Musty (6-2, 200) has good size and produced 78 points in 58 games for Sudbury in the OHL this past season. This could be a goaltender; they might trade back here, too. But Musty would be a nice add to their system if the Canes stay put.

1 — 31: Montreal Canadiens — Oscar Fisker Mølgaard, C

Here’s a prospect who has a lot of buzz right now and is climbing a lot of draft boards. He has decent size (6-0, 165) and will fill out more as he matures. He projects as a middle-six center with good hands and instincts, but considering the smoke around this player I think he slides into the late first round. Montreal could use another center as well; they went with a defenseman earlier in the round.

1 — 32: Vegas Golden Knights — Koehn Ziemmer, RW

Ziemmer (6-0, 200) was one of the top-scoring forwards in the WHL and has the size teams like, so why is he still here at the end of the first round? He’s a poor skater, and there are concerns that his offense will translate to the NHL level because of that element lacking. If we have Vegas picking last, that implies we’re projecting they win the Stanley Cup. They have a really good forward group right now, so there’s no rush on Ziemmer getting to the NHL and they can work on the skating part of his game.

MOCK DRAFT — ROUND TWO

2 — 33: Anaheim Ducks — Adam Gajan, G
2 — 34: Columbus Blue Jackets — Otto Stenberg, C
2 — 35: Chicago Blackhawks — Ethan Gauthier, RW

I know a lot of Blackhawks fans are going to scream about this not being Gavin Brindley, who could easily be gone by now. But I think Brindley’s size is going to cause a slide, and the Blackhawks pass on him to take a bigger player who was also very productive in Gauthier. At 5-11 and 175 pounds, Pronman compares him to Calle Jarnkrok as a tough to play against middle-six winger. He can skate and has good instincts. Landing him here in our mock draft is a nice pick for Chicago.

2 — 36: San Jose Sharks — Riley Heidt, C
2 — 37: Montreal Canadiens — Michael Hrabal, G
2 — 38: Arizona Coyotes — Gavin Brindley, C
2 — 39: Buffalo Sabres — Bradly Nadeau, LW
2 — 40: Washington Capitals — Étienne Morin, LHD
2 — 41: Detroit Red Wings — Danny Nelson, C
2 — 42: Detroit Red Wings — Juraj Pekarcik, LW
2 — 43: Detroit Red Wings — Jakub Dvorak, LHD
2 — 44: Chicago Blackhawks — Anton Wahlberg, C

Wahlberg has played both center and the wing and is a good skater with a lot of raw skill for his size. Pronman ranked him 33rd overall; Wheeler had him at him all the way down at No. 70. So this might be a lottery ticket pick, but we’ve seen the Blackhawks do that before (Rinzel). We’re landing a big forward the Blackhawks can leave in Europe for a year or two here in our mock draft.

2 — 45: Buffalo Sabres — Jayden Perron, RW
2 — 46: Nashville Predators — Hunter Brzustewicz, RHD
2 — 47: Nashville Predators — Kasper Halttunen, RW
2 — 48: Calgary Flames — Arttu Kärki, LHD
2 — 49: New York Islanders — Mathieu Cataford, C
2 — 50: Seattle Kraken — Carson Rehkopf, LW
2 — 51: Chicago Blackhawks — Carey Terrance, C

Terrance scored 30 goals for Kitchener in the OHL this past season. He has good size and is a strong skater. He likely projects as a middle-six wing and secondary scorer, but that’s what you get in the middle of the second round — even in a good, deep draft. Pronman has him at No. 49 while Wheeler has him down at No. 74. Mock drafts have Terrance going anywhere between the mid-second and third rounds, but I like his game so we’re taking him for the Blackhawks here.

2 — 52: Seattle Kraken — Beau Akey, RHD
2 — 53: Minnesota Wild — Maxim Strbak, RHD
2 — 54: Los Angeles Kings — Nico Myatovic, LW
2 — 55: Chicago Blackhawks — Andrew Gibson, RHD

I finally have the Blackhawks going to the blue line here with a right-shot player with size that fits what the Blackhawks have been adding over the past couple years. Gibson is a good skater who works hard and likely projects as a second or third pair defenseman at the next level. Chicago needs to add RHD to their system and he feels like the right player here.

2 — 56: Edmonton Oilers — Carson Bjarnason, G
2 — 57: Seattle Kraken — Coulson Pitre, RW
2 — 58: New Jersey Devils — Lenni Hämeenaho, RW
2 — 59: Anaheim Ducks — Daniil Karpovich, LHD
2 — 60: Anaheim Ducks — Martin Misiak, RW
2 — 61: Dallas Stars — Theo Lindstein, LHD
2 — 62: Carolina Hurricanes — Felix Nilsson, C
2 — 63: Florida Panthers — Kalan Lind, LW
2 — 64: Minnesota Wild — Jaden Lipinski, C