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The 2023 NHL Draft class stands to be one of the most talented and deep in recent memory. At the top of the table, Connor Bedard will be a highly touted prospect who will surely be a 1.1 pickup.
Going into the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery, every team at the bottom of the standings will be making their prayers to the ping-pong ball gods to pick up a generational talent.
Despite there being a clear favorite for the No. 1 pick, many other young talents will go into the 2023 draft with a chip on their shoulders. Here are our projected top 10 picks in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
NHL Entry Draft 2023: Who will be picked top 10?
#1 Connor Bedard, F, Regina Pats (WHL) - Columbus Blue Jackets
The consensus top pick on nearly every NHL Draft site and currently tearing up the WHL, 17-year-old Connor Bedard is a generational talent. He is the most hyped prospect since Connor McDavid and has been in the limelight since he was 14. An instant boon to the franchise that picks him, Bedard would look nice alongside wingmate Johnny Gaudreau.
#2 Adam Fantilli, F, University of Michigan (NCAA) - Chicago Blackhawks
Adam Fantilli, 18, has been playing out of his mind throughout the 2022-23 season at the University of Michigan. Heralded as one of the fastest players in the NHL Draft, Fantilli could add instant offense to a team trying to build young talent through a ton of draft picks.
#3 Matvei Michkov, F, HK Sochi (KHL) - Anaheim Ducks
If it weren’t for Connor Bedard, Matvei Michkov might have been the most purely talented forward in the NHL Draft. Like young Russian talents of years past, 18-year-old Michkov has a penchant for score-creating and creativity. It would be so much fun to see him alongside Trevor Zegras.
#4 Leo Carlsson, F, Orebro HK (SHL) - Arizona Coyotes
Just about every draft board regards Leo Carlsson as the “best of the rest,” and that’s not a bad thing, either. Out of the top prospects, the 18-year-old Carlsson leads in size, strength and puck control. Carlsson also plays wing and center, making him doubly valuable on draft night.
#5 Will Smith, F, USNTDP - San Jose Sharks
One of the top prospects out of the United States, Will Smith, 17, has the chance to skyrocket up draft boards this spring. He’s one of the youngest players eligible for the 2023 NHL Draft, which could mean teams are more likely to take a flier early on.
#6 Colby Barlow, F, Owen Sound (OHL) - Montreal Canadiens
After picking first overall a year ago, the Canadiens are in the market for a true scorer. Colby Barlow fits the mod perfectly. The 2005-born LW might eclipse 50 goals himself this season in the CHL.
#7 Zach Benson, F, Winnipeg (WHL) - Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks have sold the farm in the last few weeks and will likely continue to sell leading up to the deadline. The Canucks should go with Zach Benson, the speedy winger from Winnipeg, who showed up in the CHL Top Prospects game last month.
#8 Ryan Leonard, C, USNTDP - St. Louis Blues
The Blues will be looking for offensive reinforcements in the 2023 NHL Draft after selling off their franchise this week. Ryan Leonard, 18, will offer instant offense as one of the fastest forwards in the draft. He can also play center or on the wing.
#9 Andrew Cristall, F, Kelowna Rockets “A” (WHL) - Detroit Red Wings
Heralded as one of the top defensive prospects in the entire NHL Draft, Andrew Cristall, 18, will be highly sought after by teams looking for a shutdown blue liner. The Red Wings could be that team. Cristall is also one of the most offense-focused D men in the draft and has a howitzer of a shot.
#10 Eduard Sale, F, HC Kometa Brno - Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers will be looking for talent across the board in one of their first top 10 picks in ages. Don’t be fooled by Eduard Sale’s diminutive size, as he can skate and shoot as well as anyone in this year's NHL Draft. The factor that sets the 18-year-old Sale apart from the rest is his top-tier hockey sense.
