2023 NHL Draft Primer: Players, teams and storylines to watch

The 2023 NHL Draft has been one the hockey community has been excited about for some time.

Regarded as a class of players deep in talent and topped with some truly elite prospects, NHL teams have been very strategic with their picks and often dipped into their 2024 or even 2025 collection to make trades instead of parting with a '23.

Now that we're here, has that optimistic outlook dulled at all or is this still being regarded as the draft we'll be looking back on that had an oversized effect on various franchises?

"I've really been looking forward to this draft class. No question it's a high-end group. I find the talent at the top is exceptionally elite," Sportsnet's Jason Bukala, who previously worked drafts for the Nashville Predators and Florida Panthers in their scouting departments, said on the 32 Thoughts Podcast.

Sam Cosentino agrees this is a draft unlike most others, for a few reasons.

"It's unique for me for a couple reasons. First is the generational thing with Bedard," Cosentino said. "Next you have a lot of high-end forwards who are a little bit on the smaller side, so you're talking six-foot or under, 165 pounds to 185 pounds. Of course there's room for growth in those players, but typically when you're talking about a draft class being so high end it's bigger guys. The other element for me that makes it unique is that you're probably looking at three D going in the top half (of Round 1), then a gap after that and then a bit of a free for all after that for defencemen."

The other notable element about this draft class is all the different places the top prospects are coming from. Canada, Russia, USA, Slovakia, Sweden, Czechia, and Austria are all represented in first-round rankings. The top talent is phenomenal and the depth, it seems, is measuring up to the hype.

This is the Connor Bedard draft and the Chicago Blackhawks certainly will always remember this day. But 2023 is about so much more than just one player.

It all begins Wednesday night from the draft floor in Nashville. Here's everything you need to know about the event.

WHEN IS IT HAPPENING, AND WHERE CAN YOU WATCH?

As always, the draft is a two-day event and this year it kicks off on Wednesday, June 28 with coverage of the first round beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and SN NOW.

Hosted by David Amber, the main desk will provide timely analysis on each pick with experts Jason Bukala, Sam Cosentino and former Flyers and Wild GM, Chuck Fletcher. The news desk, with Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek, will provide breaking news on trades and other happenings, while Caroline Cameron will conduct player interviews and Kyle Bukauskas will report from the stands and meet the families.

On Sportsnet.ca, you can follow along with our live blog for all the picks, trade analysis and more, beginning just before the start of Round 1.

On Thursday, June 29 the rest of the draft will commence. Rounds 2-7 get going at 11 a.m.ET/ 8 a.m. PT and the picks are made more rapidly with less pomp and circumstance, usually finishing after a few hours.

WHO IS GOING FIRST OVERALL?

Well, hello, and welcome back from your trip under that rock for the past year.

Barring something completely unforeseen, Connor Bedard will officially be made the new face of the Chicago Blackhawks franchise on Wednesday night. And we've all seen this kid coming for some time now.

Bedard was the first player ever granted "exceptional status" into the WHL, getting it at 14 years old, which allowed him to play a full season in that league at 15 years old. That decision came just as the COVID-19 pandemic began, though, so Bedard played just 15 WHL games in 2020-21... and scored 12 goals and 28 points.

Bedard has only been a force at this level, totalling 122 goals and 243 points in 119 regular season WHL games over the past two years. The five-foot-nine, 185-pound centre has won a couple of WJC gold medals, leading the tournament in scoring this season and being named MVP. He was also the WHL Player of the Year and got his first playoff experience in major junior, blowing up with 10 goals and 20 points in just seven games.

With a wicked shot and nifty hands, Bedard is the standout player from this class and will likely jump straight to the NHL next season, where he could now share a line with Taylor Hall, the first overall pick in 2010.

Bedard is that guy. The top of this draft is set in stone, but it starts to get very interesting at No. 2, where some high-quality players will still be available.

ANY OTHER PROSPECTS WHO COULD CAUSE HEADLINES?

The Anaheim Ducks didn't get lottery luck after the 2004-05 lockout and barely missed out on Sidney Crosby, ending up at pick No. 2. This year is similar in that they just barely missed out on another generational talent, but GM Pat Verbeek still has his pick of high upside centres at No. 2 in 2023.

Adam Fantilli is the favourite to go there. The Hobey Baker Award winner led all NCAA players in scoring, a rarity for freshmen. In fact, Fantilli was just the third freshman to ever win the top individual award in NCAA men's hockey.

But it's not necessarily a slam dunk that Fantilli will be Anaheim's guy. Swedish centre Leo Carlsson has made a strong push for late consideration at No. 2, finishing the year with a good showing at the senior men's World Championship. Carlsson is an offensive weapon, but has a two-way presence and the ability to shuffle off to the wing, which potentially could allow him to graduate to the NHL level quicker.

There are a few other wild cards within the top five, but those are the two favourites to go to Anaheim... or whoever holds the second overall pick Wednesday night.

Some other interesting names who could shake up the draft...

Matvei Michkov: Unlike most of the players in consideration for top-five picks, Michkov stands out as the only winger, but he has the tantalizing upside of a franchise-changer. Under contract with his KHL team through the 2025-26 season, there is some uncertainty as to when he would be available to the NHL, but Michkov is in Nashville at the draft and can communicate with teams about his intentions from here. Will that help push him up the draft board? Whenever Michkov's name is called, it will be a moment to remember from this draft.

Will Smith: As dynamic as Michkov is, there don't seem to be many people who believe he'll leapfrog over Fantilli or Carlsson and into the top three. If there is a top three surprise, it could be Will Smith, a centre with immense offensive upside and production. If he goes third overall it would warp how many project the early parts of the draft to unfold, but he is the X-Factor who could upset that apple cart.

David Reinbacher: The Austrian-born defenceman could make history if he goes fifth overall and matches countryman Thomas Vanek as the highest-ever drafted player from that nation. Regardless, he'll be the highest Austrian defenceman ever taken at the draft, and could be the first blueliner taken overall on Wednesday night.

Gabe Perreault: Son of former NHLer Yanic, Gabe shared a line on the USNTDP with Smith and Ryan Leonard, two top-five hopefuls, and that trio will continue on playing together for Boston College next season. But this past season, Perreault set a new program record with 53 goals, 79 assists and 132 points. One of the top playmakers in this draft, Perreault is fourth all-time on the USNTDP assist list, trailing only Jack Hughes, Jeremy Bracco and Clayton Keller (only Hughes, Keller and linemate Smith have more all-time points than Perreault). Unlike his linemates, though, Perreault's ranking comes a little later in the first-round of this draft and expectations of where he will get picked range wildly.

Andrew Cristall: A highly divisive player, ask two people their opinion on this prospect and the answers could be night-and-day different. While our own Jason Bukala ranked Cristall 16th on his list, draft guru Sam Cosentino didn't have Cristall inside his top 32 at all. The upside is a player who can produce a ton of offence at the next level. Cristall scored 39 goals and 95 points in 54 games for the Kelowna Rockets this past season, so his proof of potential shines through with those numbers. But, he's on the smaller side and there have been questions about his skating and whether or not it will be good enough to compete at the next level against bigger players.

Michael Hrabal: It doesn't seem likely that a goalie will be taken in the first round of this draft, but if one does get called to the floor Wednesday night it will probably be Hrabal. Ranked 33rd by Bukala, Hrabal is a huge (six-foot-six) 18-year-old puck stopper who finished a pretty good first season in North America with the USHL's Omaha Lancers. Next stop will be the University of Massachusetts.

WHEN DO THE TEAMS PICK?

Seven teams hold two first-round picks: Arizona, Detroit, Chicago, Philadelphia, Nashville, San Jose and Colorado. Most of their second picks come in the back half of Round 1, but the Coyotes are particularly strong holding the sixth and 12th picks overall. The Avalanche picks both come later with their own at 27th, and the 31st overall pick acquired on Tuesday.

The St. Louis Blues hold three first-round picks: their own at 10, Toronto's at 25 overall and Dallas' at 29.

As far as Canadian teams go, this draft isn't quite as busy as recent seasons. The Canadiens are the earliest to pick, going fifth overall, and then Vancouver is up at 11. But Edmonton and Ottawa are both without a pick in the first round — the Oilers sending theirs to Nashville in the Mattias Ekholm trade, and Ottawa sending theirs to Arizona in the Jakob Chychrun deal.

Here is how the first-round order currently looks:

1. Chicago
2. Anaheim
3. Columbus
4. San Jose
5. Montreal
6. Arizona
7. Philadelphia
8. Washington
9. Detroit
10. St. Louis
11. Vancouver
12. Arizona
13. Buffalo
14. Pittsburgh
15. Nashville
16. Calgary
17. Detroit
18. Winnipeg
19. Chicago
20. Seattle
21. Minnesota
22. Philadelphia
23. New York Rangers
24. Nashville
25. St. Louis
26. San Jose
27. Colorado
28. Toronto
29. St. Louis
30. Carolina
31. Colorado
32. Vegas

CANADIAN TEAM OUTLOOKS

Montreal Canadiens: Kent Hughes will be the first Canadian team GM to pick a player on Wednesday night... or will he be? There is plenty of intrigue around the fifth overall pick. Will Montreal take the shot on Matvei Michkov? Is Will Smith their guy, or his linemate Ryan Leonard? Will they take the first defenceman? Or will they trade away the fifth pick, to either move up or down?

Vancouver Canucks: Picking 11th, Canucks GM Patrik Allvin indicated on Tuesday that he was unlikely to trade up from there so we'd expect the newest addition to the Canucks to come at that slot. But this is a critical draft for the Canucks, who are caught between a rebuild and contending, though they insist they're trying to win games and be competitive next season. Meantime, the prospect cupboard isn't exactly brimming with potential.

Edmonton Oilers: This team is past focusing on the draft, and trying to do everything it can to get over the hump and win a Stanley Cup with this group. So, even though they only have picks in rounds two, six and seven this season, Mark Spector writes that the Oilers could still trade them, if it means upgrading the team with better depth right now.

Calgary Flames: With the Flames' futures of Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin and Mikael Backlund in doubt, this year's draft may be more about changing the core of the NHL roster than futures and prospect — although if this ends up being a rebuild, the Flames could be bigger players on the board.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Sort of like the Flames, though far less urgent, the Maple Leafs have a number of things to sort out on their roster and how new GM Brad Treliving navigates that could be the story of Toronto's draft. The Leafs do have one first-round pick, acquired in the Rasmus Sandin deal, and indications are they're likely to pick a player there. But Treliving hasn't been shy to make the big blockbuster at this event before.

Ottawa Senators: After years of rebuilding, the 2023 draft is no longer a highlight event for the Senators, who are looking to push into a new era with new ownership and sky-high expectations. They don't hold a first-round pick and if GM Pierre Dorion makes another move, it'll probably be for a roster player that helps them win now. Draft schmaft? Maybe not quite, but Ottawa is turning on to win now mode.

Winnipeg Jets: While the Flames and even Leafs have garnered tons of attention because of all the rumours about what they could do, maybe the team to watch here at the draft is Winnipeg. They could be the team that jumps up and surprises us with how active they are. The first move was made Tuesday when Pierre-Luc Dubois was sent to Los Angeles, but could Mark Scheifele or Connor Hellebuyck or Blake Wheeler follow him out? And what's the return for any of them? Will the Jets add another first-rounder, or keep their eyes set on NHL players?

WHO ARE SOME TRADE CANDIDATES?

The list is long and the buzz is running rampant, but here are a few names to keep an eye on Wednesday and Thursday.

Tyler Bertuzzi: A pending UFA, Bertuzzi is on a collision course for July 1 and an open market, but there remains a possibility that his negotiating rights are dealt first, allowing another team to sign him up before he gets that far.

Erik Karlsson: The Norris Trophy-winning $11.5 million defenceman made it clear that he'd prefer a move out of San Jose to a contending team — the challenge will be to find someone who can take his salary, and give the Sharks a strong enough return that they can live with retaining some of that money.

William Nylander: It feels more and more as if Toronto will run back the same core again, but if there is a significant move here one figures it'd have to be Marner or Nylander. Treliving said he was "confident" a Nylander extension would get done, but days away from a 10-team no-trade clause kicking in July 1, well, there are no assurances in this business. Treliving has made big deals at the draft before and if something presents itself in Nashville he could act.

Connor Hellebuyck/Juuse Saros/John Gibson: The goalie market is such an oddity that we can't get a handle on what a return in trade would look like for someone at the level of these three. High-end goalies are so rarely moved that a trade of this kind would define a market (and maybe lead to others?). The rumours are out there that these kinds of netminders could be moved, but will a blockbuster really come to fruition? It's been a while.

Noah Hanifin/Mikael Backlund: Hanifin, a 26-year-old defenceman, is not likely to be signing an extension with the Flames after his contract expires next summer, with a reported desire to play in the United States. Mikael Backlund may be on his way out, too, as he acknowledged there were "gonna be some changes" to Luke Fox this week and that he has his own future to consider. GM Craig Conroy started changing over the team Tuesday by trading Tyler Toffoli to New Jersey for Yegor Sharangovich.

WHICH TEAMS COULD SET OFF FIREWORKS?

We've discussed how active Toronto could be, why Calgary is facing some tough calls, and how Winnipeg could be the surprise team that comes out and absolutely owns the draft through trade business. Besides those Canadian markets, here's a look at some other teams that could really make the two draft days exciting on the transactions front.

St. Louis Blues: They hold three first-round picks, but few expect them to make three selections. GM Doug Armstrong will have his eyes set on getting this team back to the playoffs immediately, so if one or two of those picks helps him improve the team, they'll surely be flipped. The team has already attempted to move Torey Krug, who used his no-movement clause to shoot down a trade to Philadelphia. Really, any of the Blues defenders could move, though all of them are signed with term and have NMCs.

Nashville Predators: All indications are that new GM Barry Trotz really wants to make his mark on this team. He's talked about wanting to be a more offensive unit, and he wants his scouts to take more risks in high upside prospects. This philosophy could also lead to big changes on the NHL roster. Juuse Saros' name is out there, which would take a monster return to do. Ryan Johansen has already been moved. The Preds have two picks in the first-round, but as the hosts, would really steal the show with some trade action, too.

Boston Bruins: Taylor Hall was already moved to Chicago (with Nick Foligno) to clear up some cap room and as mentioned above, Bertuzzi's name has hit the rumour mill. But, the Bruins aren't likely eager to step back from contending right after re-signing David Pastrnak. This is a team that will be looking at ways to boost its roster again.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Everyone is wondering if the Blue Jackets will trade the third overall pick, though GM Jarmo Kekalainen said he expects to get a franchise centre there — and that is a position the team has sorely lacked. Kekalainen has already been active on the trade market scooping up defencemen Damon Severson and Ivan Provorov, but more goals (and centre depth) are required. The urgency to make a playoff push is kicking into high gear, so look for Columbus to find ways to upgrade.

Ottawa Senators: There must be some resolution nearing on Alex DeBrincat, an RFA who won't be signing a long-term extension and must be moved by the time he becomes UFA-eligible in 2024. Dorion has been aggressively adding pieces to accelerate Ottawa's build-up, so if/when DeBrincat is moved expect another doozy.