The much-anticipated NHL Entry Draft kicked off with a mix of expected selections and unexpected twists. As predicted, Canada’s Connor Bedard, crowned the 2023 IIHF Male Player of the Year, was chosen as the first overall pick by the Chicago team. However, the second overall selection brought a surprise when Sweden’s Leo Carlsson, who showcased impressive skills at the recent World Championship in Tampere, was picked by Anaheim.
Sweden’s presence remained strong throughout the first round, with a total of six Swedish players selected. Canada led the way with 12 picks, while the United States closely followed with six. Russia secured four selections, including three within the first 12 picks, while Slovakia, Czechia, and Austria each had representatives chosen. Notably, Europe contributed to 43.8 per cent of the draft’s first-round talent.
Nearly two-thirds of the drafted players had prior experience in international competitions, with 19 out of the 32 participants having played in the IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship. Impressively, 10 players had already competed in the IIHF World Juniors, despite having two more years of eligibility remaining.
Surprisingly, no Finnish players were selected in the first round, and not a single goalie was chosen among the 32 players. The draft emphasized forward talent, with 24 forwards and eight defenders making up the selections.
As the draft progressed, Columbus capitalized on the availability of Canadian Adam Fantilli from the University of Michigan, making him the third pick. Fantilli’s remarkable achievements, winning gold at both the World Juniors and World Championship, positioned him as only the 11th player ever to accomplish this remarkable feat.
The San Jose team followed suit by selecting American Will Smith from the USNTDP as the fourth overall pick. The first four selections showcased a diverse range of forward skills, including Bedard’s raw talent, Carlsson’s imposing two-way presence, Fantilli’s physical offensive prowess, and Smith’s passing and scoring abilities, with the latter likely heading to Boston College before pursuing an NHL career.
Montreal made a significant move by choosing Austrian blueliner David Reinbacher as the fifth pick, marking the highest-drafted Austrian defenseman in NHL history. In a surprising turn, Arizona raised eyebrows by selecting Dmitri Simashev, a lanky defender from Yaroslavl in Russia, as the sixth pick. Simashev’s high placement in the draft raised intrigue since he has yet to participate in any IIHF events, making comparisons within his age group challenging.
The surprises continued when the Philadelphia Flyers claimed Matvei Michkov, a relatively unknown talent due to his exclusive play in Russia and ongoing contract with the KHL. With uncertainties surrounding Michkov’s development, the Flyers took a calculated risk in securing a potential future superstar.
Washington opted for Ryan Leonard as the eighth choice, who had previously played alongside Will Smith in the USNTDP and is set to join Smith at Boston College. Leonard’s outstanding performances in the U18 tournaments, clinching silver in 2022 and gold in the recent April edition, showcased his physicality and skill.
Detroit selected Nate Danielson, a center from the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings, as the ninth pick. Although Danielson hadn’t participated in any IIHF junior events, his three seasons in the WHL have honed his skills, and he is poised to join training camp at the age of 19.