Notes and rumours ahead of the 2023 NHL Draft

Quick notes from Nashville:

• Pat Verbeek has people guessing about the second pick. Anaheim’s GM learned at the wingtips of Steve Yzerman, who plays it tight and isn’t afraid of a swerve. The Ducks aren’t trading it, but will they make the consensus number two — Adam Fantilli — their choice? 

• Montreal is the early wild card. The Canadiens have several teams offering to trade up to fifth, and it might come down to how things unfold in front of them. 

• Philadelphia is the “smokescreen queen” of this draft. Some are convinced they will take Matvei Michkov if available, others are going with Ryan Leonard. Watch it be someone else.

• Nashville is pushing hard to move into the top 10. They are also working very hard to find a centre.

• With Milan Lucic’s return to Boston all but imminent, it would be wild if Toronto signed Ryan Reaves. I think that’s possible if he does not sign in Minnesota. The Maple Leafs are looking to beef up their bottom six. Reaves and Austin Watson are possibilities. Maybe Miles Wood, too, depending on what he’s looking for. 

• I think Boston has one more move in them to clear space. We’ll see.

• One GM said if San Jose makes Erik Karlsson a four-times-$8M player for another team, things will get very interesting.

• I think Seattle is looking for some offensive punch, in addition to a centre. 

• JT Compher won’t return to Colorado, now a free agent after the Avalanche traded for Ross Colton and Ryan Johansen. Teams are always looking for centres.

• The Flame most likely to be traded was Tyler Toffoli. Now that this is done, we will see. They are still waiting on Elias Lindholm’s decision. There are varying levels of interest in Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev and Nikita Zadorov. Calgary will have options here, but they are determined to be patient.

• There’s a lot of noise around Anthony Duclair. I believe Florida is trying to figure out its long-term cap situation as soon as possible.

• I think Pittsburgh has some interest in Blake Wheeler, but I’m not convinced it’s going to happen.

• Tampa Bay GM Julien BriseBois said the Lightning are still trying to sign Tanner Jeannot and Alex Killorn. 

• Prospect I’m rooting for tonight on a personal level: Andrew Cristall from WHL Kelowna. His father, Alex, is an old acquaintance. We went to summer camp and Western University together. There, Alex met his wife Jodi (like many of us, she’s a much better catch than he is). It wasn’t an easy end to the season for Andrew, but the path is never smooth. This goes for everyone available over the next 24 hours, but these are the first days of the rest of your life. Do what you need to do and the path opens.

Good luck!