Mock Madness

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Draft Class: 2023

Created By: Duggysdanglers

Published: Jun. 19, 2023 at 2:38 a.m.

Description

This is what I’d do as GMs. It’s tough to call given the sheer depth of talent.

DRAFT

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Round 1
1. Connor Bedard (Chicago Blackhawks) (Details: Easy peasey.  Bedard is a top talent.).
2. Adam Fantilli (Anaheim Ducks) (Details: Ducks stack their C depth.  Fantilli has physicality to go along with his offensive ability.  Hobey Baker winner.  Has shown willingness and ability to play a well rounded game.).
3. Leo Carlsson (Columbus Blue Jackets) (Details: CBJ grabs a top line C.  Leo Carlsson showed he can C a top line with Sweden at the WHC this Spring.  This is the C they have been missing.).
4. Matvei Michkov (San Jose Sharks) (Details: Most mocks have SJ taking Michkov and I agree.  They have to wait for those aging contracts to expire so why not wait on MM??  On talent alone he makes it as a top line F.  Paired with Eklund and now they have the makings of some offence.).
5. Will Smith (Montreal Canadiens) (Details: As a Bruins fan I’d prefer the Habs draft poorly but they won’t.  Will Smith is a top line talent.  Him and Suzuki as 1-2 C punch is highly competitive.).
6. Zach Benson (Arizona Coyotes) (Details: AZ cannot pass up top end skill to complement Cooley.  Benson had a great season even though it was overshadowed by Bedard.).
7. David Reinbacher (Philadelphia Flyers) (Details: Flyers are gutting the whole place and do they should.  I’d start building from the blue line out. It’s tempting to take Dvorsky simply because he’s a C with a high ceiling but the Flyers have lacked a true bone fide top pair RD for a few decades.  I remember Eric Desjardins and a couple others but that’s it.  The failed Weber Offer Sheet.  So take Reinbacher.  He’s right there.  He already performs against top level players and will give them what they’ve missed for so long.).
8. Dalibor Dvorsky (Washington Capitals) (Details: It’s been what 18 years since the Caps picked this high??   Dvorsky has what they need.  Top level C with size, skating and skill.  That’s the Caps’ mold.).
9. Ryan Leonard (Detroit Red Wings) (Details: Steve Yzerman and Detroit are usually off the board.  Can totally see them trading down or up. I think Stevie Y has a good look at Leonard and reminisces about Shanahan.  Power Forward at RW.   Put up loads of points this past year.  Detroit needs more offense up front.).
10. Oliver Moore (St. Louis Blues) (Details: Blues need to draft C’s to match up with their elite wingers.  Oliver Moore should be able to up with Kyrou and Thomas.).
11. Axel Sandin Pellikka (Vancouver Canucks) (Details: The Vancouver Canucks organization is a dumpster fire these days so they should just draft the top talent available.   ASP will fit in really well down the road.).
12. Matthew Wood (Arizona Coyotes from Ottawa Senators) (Details: AZ cannot pass up the size and skill combo of Wood.  He led UConn in points as the youngest player in College hockey.  Has played C but mostly a right shot RW.  Slot him beside Benson and Cooley.).
13. Tom Willander (Buffalo Sabres) (Details: Sabres have every box checked except RD. They have Tage and Cozens down the middle.  Skinner and Olofsson and a few other wingers. Power and Dahlin in the back end. Tom Willander fits in really well back there because he has size and skating ability to support his well rounded game.  His game will support either Power or Dahlin really well and take some pressure off of them.).
14. Gabe Perreault (Pittsburgh Penguins) (Details: Gabe Perreault should really go higher but his size drops him down a bit but Dubas makes his first pick count here as he takes high end skill to play with Crosby/ Malkin.).
15. Colby Barlow (Nashville Predators) (Details: Preds need to boost their offense if they want back in the playoffs.  Barlow is BPA for that.).
16. Nate Danielson (Calgary Flames) (Details: Flames enter into a precarious offseason with many key players needing extensions.  Need an eye on the future vs immediate needs.  ND fits the Flames bill as a rangy 200 foot Right Handed C.  I like to think that he would be higher in the Draft boards had he played in a far better team.  Still is not a huge reach here for Conroy.  Might see a bit of himself in this player.  Kills penalties. Relentless work ethic.  Captain in his draft year.).
17. Dmitri Simashev (Detroit Red Wings from New York Islanders) (Details: Another wild card prediction with Detroit.  I say Simashev because all of the past 5-7 Cup Champs have all had large mobile physical D Corps.  Yzerman built that prototype in TB then left before getting his name on the Cup with them.  This player gets compared to Ekholm and that almost has me taking him at 15 for Nashville.).
18. Calum Ritchie (Winnipeg Jets) (Details: The Jets will have several holes to fill in their lineup this offseason with everyone wanting out.  They need to fill out their C depth with their top 2 C’s leaving by this time next year.  Ritchie has all the tools and abilities.  Just needs to improve skating and mobility.).
19. Samuel Honzek (Chicago Blackhawks from Tampa Bay Lightning) (Details: Honzek looks like a great fit beside Bedard.  He has a power forward element along with his skill to keep up with CB.  His trajectory changed course after his injury so he should have a higher ceiling.).
20. Eduard Sale (Seattle Kraken) (Details: Sale is a smooth skating LW with excellent IQ and vision to facilitate offense.  These items will complement Seattle’s top young C’s.).
21. Brayden Yager (Minnesota Wild) (Details: The Wild need more C prospects.  They have Rossi coming along behind Boldy and Erikssen Ek.  Yager is a smooth skating agile right shot C who can shoot the puck really well.).
22. Daniil But (Philadelphia Flyers from Los Angeles Kings) (Details: Tempted to snag Stramel here since they drafted a RD earlier.  He would fit in well with the Flyers however But has a lot more offense to his game and will flank nicely beside Cutter Gauthier.  He has a similar trajectory to Tage Thompson.  Flyers would be thrilled to see him still on the board here.).
23. Andrew Cristall (New York Rangers) (Details: Cristall could easily go much higher.  The Rangers loads of prospects at every position really do why grab a super skilled LW?).
24. Mikhail Gulyayev (Nashville Predators from Edmonton Oilers) (Details: Preds need to restock their blue line.  Gulyayev has all of the finesse and skill and skating ability to drive offense.  Paired with a sturdy RD would be a solid recipe for success.).
25. Charlie Stramel (St. Louis Blues from Toronto Maple Leafs) (Details: Tempted towards either Edstrom or Stenberg but I say the Blues grab Stramel.  Just looking at Vegas’ team with 4 lines of larger F that are fast and physical and fearless.  They score in tight close to the net which is wear you have to be win in the playoffs.  There are some higher skilled players still on the board but I’d look hard at the teams that are winning Cups.).
26. Oliver Bonk (San Jose Sharks from New Jersey Devils) (Details: Bonk has NHL bloodlines.  Plays a well rounded 2 way game. Not flashy but is very effective on the ice.  Has second pair RD written all over him.).
27. David Edstrom (Colorado Avalanche) (Details: Edstrom was Sweden’s top line C at the U18s.  Good skill in tight areas. Plays with power and skill.  Needs to improve skating.  Avs need C depth and prospect depth everywhere overall.).
28. Danny Nelson (Toronto Maple Leafs from Boston Bruins) (Details: Danny Nelson is exactly the type of player that the Leafs need.  He’s a Swiss Army Knife type of player.  He has size and ability.  Relentless work ethic.  Takes on tough matchups which frees up the teams top lines to player against lesser opponents.  The Leafs need defensive minded sand paper gritty players if they ever expect to advance deep in to the playoffs.).
29. Kasper Halttunen (St. Louis Blues from Dallas Stars) (Details: Kasper fits the Blues mold perfectly.  Needs to work on his acceleration but most larger players do.  Lots of raw talent to work.  Shoot first net driving power forward RW.  Plays a physical menacing game away from the puck.).
30. Riley Heidt (Carolina Hurricanes) (Details: There’s always players that drop in the Draft and Canes will be happy to have him.   
97 points in his Draft year is pretty solid production.).
31. Hunter Brzustewicz (Montreal Canadiens from Florida Panthers) (Details: Habs can grab a RD version of Guhle who has some solid offensive ability but also holds his own in the D zone.).
32. Otto Stenberg (Vegas Golden Knights) (Details: Cup Champs take a flyer on Captain of Sweden’s U18 team.   Plays solid in tight and pulls pucks in from the perimeter.  Good motor.   Fit in really well at the SHL level so he’s got a solid pro game pedigree.   Note:  was tempted to take a G but it does not seem to matter who’s in net for Vegas.).

Round 2
33. Tanner Molendyk (Anaheim Ducks) (Details: Ducks continue to stock the cupboards on D. Tanner is as mobile as most any D in this Draft.).
34. Caden Price (Columbus Blue Jackets) (Details: Late birthday.  Raw tool kit. Lots of upside.).
35. Aram Minnetian (Chicago Blackhawks) (Details: Hawks have several LD in their system already. They likely take D with this pick given who they took in Round One.  I like this player. He’s a gamer with solid feet who defends really well and is mobile enough to support the play up ice and to get back in time to defend and maintain gap control.).
36. Gavin Brindley (San Jose Sharks) (Details: Brindley could easily go in Round One.  Sharks are happy to take his raw talent and wait on him to develop to eventually play alongside Michkov.).
37. Quentin Musty (Montreal Canadiens) (Details: Habs take Musty that skilled power forward with good net drive.  Needs to improve skating.).
38. Theo Lindstein (Arizona Coyotes) (Details: AZ takes a D since they already grabbed 2 F’s in Round One.).
39. Maxim Strbak (Buffalo Sabres from Philadelphia Flyers) (Details: Sabres take another steady RD. Strbak is a rock. Skating needs work but has size and tenacity.).
40. Cameron Allen (Washington Capitals) (Details: Caps load up a RD to develop behind Carlson. Allen was ranked pretty high to start the Draft year.).
41. Trey Augustine (Detroit Red Wings) (Details: Detroit with 3 straight picks.  Yzerman grabs a G right away.  Augustine won U18 Gokd and looks calm as can be in net.).
42. Lukas Dragicevic (Detroit Red Wings from St. Louis Blues) (Details: Stevie Y takes a chance here with an offensive RD that needs work.).
43. Bradly Nadeau (Detroit Red Wings from Vancouver Canucks) (Details: Nadeau is ranked really high in several mocks and Scott Wheeler has him in Round One.  Maybe it’s a steal similar to Brayden Point.).
44. Jakub Dvorak (Chicago Blackhawks from Ottawa Senators) (Details: Injuries set Dvorak back a bit but he is still 6’5” and 209 lbs.  Shut down LD.).
45. Ethan Gauthier (Buffalo Sabres).
46. Luca Pinelli (Nashville Predators from Pittsburgh Penguins).
47. Beau Akey (Nashville Predators).
48. Koehn Ziemmer (Calgary Flames).
49. Jesse Kiiskinen (New York Islanders).
50. Jayden Perron (Seattle Kraken from Winnipeg Jets).
51. Mathieu Cataford (Chicago Blackhawks from Tampa Bay Lightning).
52. Carson Rehkopf (Seattle Kraken).
53. Andrew Gibson (Minnesota Wild).
54. Étienne Morin (Los Angeles Kings).
55. Jacob Fowler (Chicago Blackhawks from New York Rangers).
56. Michael Hrabal (Edmonton Oilers) (Details: Oilers need a stud G to develop behind Skinner.  Kenny likely outright refuses to draft a G with his first pick in the Draft.  But I say Hrabal is the right pick here.  He could totally go sooner.).
57. Carson Bjarnason (Seattle Kraken from Toronto Maple Leafs).
58. Aydar Suniev (New Jersey Devils).
59. Gavin McCarthy (Anaheim Ducks from Colorado Avalanche).
60. Coulson Pitre (Anaheim Ducks from Boston Bruins).
61. William Whitelaw (Dallas Stars).
62. Luca Cagnoni (Carolina Hurricanes).
63. Noel Nordh (Florida Panthers).
64. Emil Järventie (Minnesota Wild from Vegas Golden Knights).

CapFriendly.com User-Generated Mock-Draft

ROUND 1	TEAM	ORIGINAL	PLAYER	DETAILS

1	-	Connor Bedard	Easy peasey. Bedard is a top talent.
2	-	Adam Fantilli	Ducks stack their C depth. Fantilli has physicality to go along with his offensive ability. Hobey Baker winner. Has shown willingness and ability to play a well rounded game.
3	-	Leo Carlsson	CBJ grabs a top line C. Leo Carlsson showed he can C a top line with Sweden at the WHC this Spring. This is the C they have been missing.
4	-	Matvei Michkov	Most mocks have SJ taking Michkov and I agree. They have to wait for those aging contracts to expire so why not wait on MM?? On talent alone he makes it as a top line F. Paired with Eklund and now they have the makings of some offence.
5	-	Will Smith	As a Bruins fan I’d prefer the Habs draft poorly but they won’t. Will Smith is a top line talent. Him and Suzuki as 1-2 C punch is highly competitive.
6	-	Zach Benson	AZ cannot pass up top end skill to complement Cooley. Benson had a great season even though it was overshadowed by Bedard.
7	-	David Reinbacher	Flyers are gutting the whole place and do they should. I’d start building from the blue line out. It’s tempting to take Dvorsky simply because he’s a C with a high ceiling but the Flyers have lacked a true bone fide top pair RD for a few decades. I remember Eric Desjardins and a couple others but that’s it. The failed Weber Offer Sheet. So take Reinbacher. He’s right there. He already performs against top level players and will give them what they’ve missed for so long.
8	-	Dalibor Dvorsky	It’s been what 18 years since the Caps picked this high?? Dvorsky has what they need. Top level C with size, skating and skill. That’s the Caps’ mold.
9	-	Ryan Leonard	Steve Yzerman and Detroit are usually off the board. Can totally see them trading down or up. I think Stevie Y has a good look at Leonard and reminisces about Shanahan. Power Forward at RW. Put up loads of points this past year. Detroit needs more offense up front.
10	-	Oliver Moore	Blues need to draft C’s to match up with their elite wingers. Oliver Moore should be able to up with Kyrou and Thomas.
11	-	Axel Sandin Pellikka	The Vancouver Canucks organization is a dumpster fire these days so they should just draft the top talent available. ASP will fit in really well down the road.
12		Matthew Wood	AZ cannot pass up the size and skill combo of Wood. He led UConn in points as the youngest player in College hockey. Has played C but mostly a right shot RW. Slot him beside Benson and Cooley.
13	-	Tom Willander	Sabres have every box checked except RD. They have Tage and Cozens down the middle. Skinner and Olofsson and a few other wingers. Power and Dahlin in the back end. Tom Willander fits in really well back there because he has size and skating ability to support his well rounded game. His game will support either Power or Dahlin really well and take some pressure off of them.
14	-	Gabe Perreault	Gabe Perreault should really go higher but his size drops him down a bit but Dubas makes his first pick count here as he takes high end skill to play with Crosby/ Malkin.
15	-	Colby Barlow	Preds need to boost their offense if they want back in the playoffs. Barlow is BPA for that.
16	-	Nate Danielson	Flames enter into a precarious offseason with many key players needing extensions. Need an eye on the future vs immediate needs. ND fits the Flames bill as a rangy 200 foot Right Handed C. I like to think that he would be higher in the Draft boards had he played in a far better team. Still is not a huge reach here for Conroy. Might see a bit of himself in this player. Kills penalties. Relentless work ethic. Captain in his draft year.
17		Dmitri Simashev	Another wild card prediction with Detroit. I say Simashev because all of the past 5-7 Cup Champs have all had large mobile physical D Corps. Yzerman built that prototype in TB then left before getting his name on the Cup with them. This player gets compared to Ekholm and that almost has me taking him at 15 for Nashville.
18	-	Calum Ritchie	The Jets will have several holes to fill in their lineup this offseason with everyone wanting out. They need to fill out their C depth with their top 2 C’s leaving by this time next year. Ritchie has all the tools and abilities. Just needs to improve skating and mobility.
19		Samuel Honzek	Honzek looks like a great fit beside Bedard. He has a power forward element along with his skill to keep up with CB. His trajectory changed course after his injury so he should have a higher ceiling.
20	-	Eduard Sale	Sale is a smooth skating LW with excellent IQ and vision to facilitate offense. These items will complement Seattle’s top young C’s.
21	-	Brayden Yager	The Wild need more C prospects. They have Rossi coming along behind Boldy and Erikssen Ek. Yager is a smooth skating agile right shot C who can shoot the puck really well.
22		Daniil But	Tempted to snag Stramel here since they drafted a RD earlier. He would fit in well with the Flyers however But has a lot more offense to his game and will flank nicely beside Cutter Gauthier. He has a similar trajectory to Tage Thompson. Flyers would be thrilled to see him still on the board here.
23	-	Andrew Cristall	Cristall could easily go much higher. The Rangers loads of prospects at every position really do why grab a super skilled LW?
24		Mikhail Gulyayev	Preds need to restock their blue line. Gulyayev has all of the finesse and skill and skating ability to drive offense. Paired with a sturdy RD would be a solid recipe for success.
25		Charlie Stramel	Tempted towards either Edstrom or Stenberg but I say the Blues grab Stramel. Just looking at Vegas’ team with 4 lines of larger F that are fast and physical and fearless. They score in tight close to the net which is wear you have to be win in the playoffs. There are some higher skilled players still on the board but I’d look hard at the teams that are winning Cups.
26		Oliver Bonk	Bonk has NHL bloodlines. Plays a well rounded 2 way game. Not flashy but is very effective on the ice. Has second pair RD written all over him.
27	-	David Edstrom	Edstrom was Sweden’s top line C at the U18s. Good skill in tight areas. Plays with power and skill. Needs to improve skating. Avs need C depth and prospect depth everywhere overall.
28		Danny Nelson	Danny Nelson is exactly the type of player that the Leafs need. He’s a Swiss Army Knife type of player. He has size and ability. Relentless work ethic. Takes on tough matchups which frees up the teams top lines to player against lesser opponents. The Leafs need defensive minded sand paper gritty players if they ever expect to advance deep in to the playoffs.
29		Kasper Halttunen	Kasper fits the Blues mold perfectly. Needs to work on his acceleration but most larger players do. Lots of raw talent to work. Shoot first net driving power forward RW. Plays a physical menacing game away from the puck.
30	-	Riley Heidt	There’s always players that drop in the Draft and Canes will be happy to have him. 97 points in his Draft year is pretty solid production.
31		Hunter Brzustewicz	Habs can grab a RD version of Guhle who has some solid offensive ability but also holds his own in the D zone.
32	-	Otto Stenberg	Cup Champs take a flyer on Captain of Sweden’s U18 team. Plays solid in tight and pulls pucks in from the perimeter. Good motor. Fit in really well at the SHL level so he’s got a solid pro game pedigree. Note: was tempted to take a G but it does not seem to matter who’s in net for Vegas.

ROUND 2	TEAM	ORIGINAL	PLAYER	DETAILS

33	-	Tanner Molendyk	Ducks continue to stock the cupboards on D. Tanner is as mobile as most any D in this Draft.
34	-	Caden Price	Late birthday. Raw tool kit. Lots of upside.
35	-	Aram Minnetian	Hawks have several LD in their system already. They likely take D with this pick given who they took in Round One. I like this player. He’s a gamer with solid feet who defends really well and is mobile enough to support the play up ice and to get back in time to defend and maintain gap control.
36	-	Gavin Brindley	Brindley could easily go in Round One. Sharks are happy to take his raw talent and wait on him to develop to eventually play alongside Michkov.
37	-	Quentin Musty	Habs take Musty that skilled power forward with good net drive. Needs to improve skating.
38	-	Theo Lindstein	AZ takes a D since they already grabbed 2 F’s in Round One.
39		Maxim Strbak	Sabres take another steady RD. Strbak is a rock. Skating needs work but has size and tenacity.
40	-	Cameron Allen	Caps load up a RD to develop behind Carlson. Allen was ranked pretty high to start the Draft year.
41	-	Trey Augustine	Detroit with 3 straight picks. Yzerman grabs a G right away. Augustine won U18 Gokd and looks calm as can be in net.
42		Lukas Dragicevic	Stevie Y takes a chance here with an offensive RD that needs work.
43		Bradly Nadeau	Nadeau is ranked really high in several mocks and Scott Wheeler has him in Round One. Maybe it’s a steal similar to Brayden Point.
44		Jakub Dvorak	Injuries set Dvorak back a bit but he is still 6’5” and 209 lbs. Shut down LD.
45	-	Ethan Gauthier
46		Luca Pinelli
47	-	Beau Akey
48	-	Koehn Ziemmer
49	-	Jesse Kiiskinen
50		Jayden Perron
51		Mathieu Cataford
52	-	Carson Rehkopf
53	-	Andrew Gibson
54	-	Étienne Morin
55		Jacob Fowler
56	-	Michael Hrabal	Oilers need a stud G to develop behind Skinner. Kenny likely outright refuses to draft a G with his first pick in the Draft. But I say Hrabal is the right pick here. He could totally go sooner.
57		Carson Bjarnason
58	-	Aydar Suniev
59		Gavin McCarthy
60		Coulson Pitre
61	-	William Whitelaw
62	-	Luca Cagnoni
63	-	Noel Nordh
64		Emil Järventie

Jun. 19, 2023 at 7:56 a.m.

JoeROFLCOPTER

Joe

Joined: Nov. 2022

Posts: 7,733

Likes: 5,627

As much as I'd hate Simashev @ 17 (especially with Honzek available), the more I listen to the big Red Wings journalists preaching how this a reality (Max Bultman, Prashanth Iyer), the more I fear my hatred will become reality.

Jun. 19, 2023 at 8:16 a.m.

Duggysdanglers

Thread Starter

Joined: May 2017

Posts: 3,639

Likes: 620

Quoting: JoeROFLCOPTER

As much as I'd hate Simashev 17 (especially with Honzek available), the more I listen to the big Red Wings journalists preaching how this a reality (Max Bultman, Prashanth Iyer), the more I fear my hatred will become reality.

Hatred?? The last 5-7 Cup Chamos have all had large mobile D. Honzek is pretty solid. Never know what Yzerman will do though.

Jun. 19, 2023 at 8:31 a.m.

JoeROFLCOPTER

Joe

Joined: Nov. 2022

Posts: 7,733

Likes: 5,627

Quoting: Duggysdanglers

Hatred?? The last 5-7 Cup Chamos have all had large mobile D. Honzek is pretty solid. Never know what Yzerman will do though.

I mean, Detroit already has two of those in the prospect pool on the left side.
Edvinsson is 6'6", and although more of a nothing-gets-by-me defender, but he certainly is a great skater and alright offensively.
Wallinder is 6'4" and is also a puck-moving, great skating prospect that Simashev is projected. He was 10th in the SHL for TOI/60 as a 21 y/o. He recently won the "best young player award" in Euro Hockey (SHL, DEL, NL, etc).

As for my opinion on Honzek; Yzerman seemingly loves this kid. He himself was spotted scouting this kid. He's also been interviewed the most by Detroit. I can see him being taken 9OA by Yzerman (although would complain if Leonard is there).

Rougelegionnaire liked this.

Jun. 19, 2023 at 10:12 a.m.

Duggysdanglers

Thread Starter

Joined: May 2017

Posts: 3,639

Likes: 620

Quoting: JoeROFLCOPTER

Detroit does have a nice stable already. If a strong RD was there then I’d have them take that guy but both Willander and ASP will be gone at 17.

Jun. 19, 2023 at 10:14 a.m.

JoeROFLCOPTER

Joe

Joined: Nov. 2022

Posts: 7,733

Likes: 5,627

Quoting: Duggysdanglers

Detroit does have a nice stable already. If a strong RD was there then I’d have them take that guy but both Willander and ASP will be gone at 17.

Yeah I'd love one of those guys, but like I said I just cannot see Yzerman not picking Honzek. He typically doesn't show his hand, but I can't see this kid not being a Red Wing.

Duggysdanglers liked this.

Jun. 19, 2023 at 10:20 a.m.

Rougelegionnaire

Joined: Jun. 2023

Posts: 22

Likes: 6

I don't see the Jackets taking Caden Price as #2 in the second especially if Gavin Brindley is still on the board they have lots of D prospects coming up they don't need more they need more Center Depth. Leo Carlsson will be great for them but Brindley is just to good to pass on.

Duggysdanglers and JoeROFLCOPTER liked this.

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Mock Madness

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