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2023 NHL Draft grades, analysis for every pick from Corey Pronman
2023 NHL Draft grades, analysis for every pick from Corey Pronman
Corey Pronman
Jun 29, 2023
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With the 2023 NHL Draft wrapped up, we conclude our coverage of this draft by way of a draft grade. These grades are based on how I think the clubs did, based on my knowledge of the players selected.
The only way I can fairly and reasonably go about this exercise is to assign grades based on which team added the most by way of draft picks to the organization. I don’t account for players acquired by trade, how well a player fits into the organization, or whether I think a team reached or got potential value on a pick. This is a ranking showing who got the most talent in the draft, divided by tiers represented by a letter grade. Teams are listed by their grade, but teams with the same grade are listed alphabetically. I realize this basically becomes highly correlated to draft slot and amount of picks. Your method may vary, and I realize there are other ways to analyze a draft performance. This is how I do it.
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To those who don’t like this type of exercise because you think a draft can’t be evaluated until five years later, or who want me to assign the grades based on how I think a team should have done relative to their pick slot, or incorporating trades, your concerns are heard — but I am still doing this anyway.
Read more: The Athletic’s complete coverage of the 2023 NHL Draft.
Chicago Blackhawks: A+
Chicago added a lot of talent this weekend. The headliner is Connor Bedard for obvious reasons — he’s a potential star you can rebuild around. But Oliver Moore could be a top-six forward one day. Adam Gajan is a very talented goalie, and several of the forwards they added after Gajan have chances to play. Chicago added a lot of skill, only taking one defenseman in 11 picks. This draft should be a big part of the turnaround in Chicago.
Columbus Blue Jackets: A
Adam Fantilli is a big reason for the high grade for Columbus. I’m a big believer in this player. I had him as the No. 2 prospect in the draft and I think he can be a star No. 1 center for the Blue Jackets. I do like his Michigan teammate Gavin Brindley quite a lot as well and think he has a real shot to be a top-nine forward. William Whitelaw, Andrew Strathmann and Luca Pinelli have varying chances to play games, but that Michigan duo brings an excellent infusion of speed, skill and compete into the Columbus organization.
Philadelphia Flyers: A
Not everyone in the NHL believed in Matvei Michkov. But I did, and Philadelphia eventually showed they did as well. He has a chance to be a game-breaker offensively if he hits, and despite all the risks in his profile I liked this pick a lot. After Michkov, the Flyers added talent. I think Oliver Bonk can have an NHL career. Carson Bjarnasson is a solid goalie prospect. And a couple of their other picks have shots to play games. But it will all come down to Michkov. If he hits, this draft can be a big success, but it is not a sure thing.
Anaheim Ducks: A-
Leo Carlsson is an excellent prospect. The Carlsson vs. Fantilli debate has been done a lot — I leaned the other way, and it’s not going to be rehashed here. Carlsson can be a star No. 1 center and that means a lot. Nico Myatovic, Carey Terrance, Coulson Pitre and Damian Clara all have real chances to play in the NHL too. The Ducks added a lot of skill while also getting a lot bigger. Carlsson is the only sure thing, but I think one of their Day 2 guys will be a career NHLer too.
Arizona Coyotes: A-
It’s been well documented that I was a believer in the two Lokomotiv players Dmitriy Simashev and Danil But. I thought they were high echelon pro prospects, and guys who if they played in the OHL would have been no doubt top 10 picks this season in the public discourse. It is a risk by Arizona in taking both of them, and getting them signed given the issues with their arena, but on talent they deserved to be picked where they did. They had a lot of picks on Day 2, and got a lot of big players who have varying degrees to make it, but it was led by Michael Hrabal, who was my favorite goalie prospect in the class. I think Simashev, But and Hrabal will have NHL careers, and potentially meaningful NHL careers.
San Jose Sharks: A-
I was a fan of what San Jose did here this weekend. Will Smith is an impact prospect, but even after Smith I thought they added a lot of talent. Quentin Musty could be a top-six wing. Kasper Halttunen, Brandon Svoboda, and Yegor Rimashevskiy have toolkits that look like NHL players even if with holes in their game. Luca Cagnoni is tiny but a very talented defenseman. Axel Landen is a pain in the rear to play against. I could see two to three NHL regulars coming from this group.
Buffalo Sabres: B+
Zach Benson is an excellent starting point to Buffalo’s draft. I have mild concerns on how small their farm system is getting up front, and I thought Benson got slightly overhyped in the draft process, but he could be a top-six wing in the NHL. After Benson, Buffalo picked a lot of guys on Day 2 I was fans of in Anton Wahlberg, who was a heavier presence up front, Maxim Strbak, Gavin McCarthy and Scott Ratzlaff, who I thought was underrated due to his size. I could see several NHL players from this draft for Buffalo.
Detroit Red Wings: B+
Anyone who read my work in the lead-up to the draft knew I was going to endorse the Nate Danielson pick at No. 9. I think he’s excellent and will have a long, productive NHL career. Axel Sandin Pellikka is a good defenseman who complements the young defensemen in Detroit with the offense he provides. The three second-round picks have chances to play. Brady Cleveland was the most interesting as a trade-down. He’s a unique prospect due to his size, skating and elite physicality but he lacks offense. Detroit was chasing a type there and they’re hard to find. They probably get two players in their first-round picks, and in Trey Augustine they get much-needed goalie depth for their future.
Nashville Predators: B+
The host team didn’t pull off the splashy draft day trade, but they still added quality prospects for their future. Matthew Wood projects as a top-six wing. Tanner Molendyk could be a second pair defenseman. Felix Nilsson and Kalan Lind are hard-working centers who have legitimate shots to make it. There’s a lot more work to do in Nashville’s rebuild, but this is a quality starting point.
Seattle Kraken: B+
Seattle, unlike a lot of the teams with high grades, didn’t pick in the top 15, with their first pick, Eduard Sale, coming at 20, but they get a high grade because of the collective talent of their first four picks. Sale could be a top-six forward if he hits and becomes more consistent. Lukas Dragicevic has top two pair offensive tools even with some defensive issues. Carson Rehkopf is inconsistent but very talented. Oscar Fisker Molgaard could be a top-nine forward. Collectively that’s an impressive group. There are no sure things in that group, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this draft class produced two NHL regulars.
St. Louis Blues: B+
With three firsts, including a 10th overall, you should get players, and the Blues did. Dalibor Dvorsky is a potential top two line center for them in a few years. Otto Stenberg, Theo Lindstein, and Juraj Pekarcik all have real chances to play in the NHL too. They could get two NHL regulars from this group, maybe three.
Calgary Flames: B
Samuel Honzek has a very good chance to be a top-six forward for Calgary. He’s a toolsy player who had a promising season when healthy. Their next two picks in Etienne Morin and Aydar Suniev aren’t sure things, but they’re quality prospects with legit shots to play games.
Carolina Hurricanes: B
Carolina stuck to their typical guns, drafting a lot of skill into their system. Bradly Nadeau, their first pick, is the only one I think is likely going to play in the NHL. The rest of their Day 2 picks have chances, but I wasn’t over the moon with any of them in particular. An interesting trend is how Carolina has drafted nine Russians now in the past two NHL drafts.
Montréal Canadiens: B
Montreal’s draft class is led by David Reinbacher, who is an excellent defense prospect and could be a top-pair defender of the future for the Habs. This grade would be a bit different if it incorporated the Newhook deal. That’s not my process; you can quibble with it if you want in the comments. But they didn’t pick after Reinbacher until 69, and other than Jacob Fowler I wasn’t that enamored by some of their Day 2 picks. Reinbacher is likely the only NHL player from this class, and I think he will be a very good one.
Vegas Golden Knights: B
The Golden Knights only had four picks, and none until 32, but they picked a lot of prospects I was high on. I felt like I was the high man on David Edstrom and Arttu Karki. But Edstrom reminds me of the kinds of players Vegas just won a Stanley Cup with, and Karki has an NHL toolkit, even if he has a lot of issues to iron out. I think Edstrom will play and help Vegas win games.
Washington Capitals: B
Ryan Leonard is a very good two-way forward who fits into Washington’s timeline and should be a top-six wing for them in a few years. He’s the only guy from this draft I think is likely to play. Andrew Cristall and Cam Allen, for very different reasons, are good players with strong chances to play in the NHL but aren’t sure bets.
Colorado Avalanche: B-
Colorado got two players in Calum Ritchie and Mikhail Gulyayev in the first round who I think will play in the NHL — and potentially at a premium position if Ritchie can stick down the middle. But they didn’t pick again until 155, so there isn’t a ton of depth to this class. Two NHL players would be a massive boost for their system, though.
Pittsburgh Penguins: B-
The Penguins, as usual, didn’t have a ton of picks, but they made the pick at 14. Brayden Yager should be a top-six forward for them in a few years, whether at center or the wing. There haven’t been many players I can say that about in their pipeline in recent memory. I think defenseman Emil Pieniniemi has a chance to make it too.
New York Rangers: B-
In Gabe Perreault, the Rangers got a potential top-six wing of the future. I know they have plenty of those already, but Perreault has legit high-end skill and hockey sense and it would have been hard to pass up at 23. Nobody else is a sure thing to make it from this group, but I am intrigued by the tools Rasmus Larsson has and think he has a shot.
Vancouver Canucks: B-
Tom Willander should be a top-four defenseman for the Canucks in a few season, and other than Quinn Hughes there haven’t been many young defensemen I could say that about recently from Canucks picks. Hunter Brzustewicz has a puncher’s shot to make it as well.
Winnipeg Jets: B-
Colby Barlow is a good prospect. He’s not a flashy prospect by any means, but he can be a quality top-six forward who works hard and scores goals. I don’t mind Zach Nehring, their next pick at 82. He has a chance, but this draft class is all about whether Barlow hits or not.
Los Angeles Kings: C+
Los Angeles didn’t pick until 54 and then picked Jakub Dvorak and Koehn Ziemmer. They’re both good players with flaws that may keep them out of the league. Dvorak is a Day 1 talent if healthy, which he hasn’t been for years, so his progress will be interesting to follow. If the Kings get an NHL player from this class it will likely be him.
Minnesota Wild: C+
I was a Charlie Stramel fan throughout the draft process. He’s not perfect by any means, but I think he’s going to play and help an NHL team down the middle. Rasmus Kumpulainen at 53 was a bit high for me. I knew people in the league who had him around that range but I couldn’t get there. Riley Heidt is very skilled and could make it if he rounds out his game over the next few years.
New York Islanders: C+
The Islanders didn’t pick until 49, but the guy they picked in Danny Nelson is a player I’m highly intrigued by. A former defenseman turned center this season with size, skating and skill, he could potentially be molded into a real player but there is the risk that he doesn’t pan out as well.
Dallas Stars: C
The Stars waited until the end of the second round to make their first pick, so unsurprisingly I don’t think there’s a probable NHL player from this class. The German goalie they took is an intriguing sleeper I heard mentioned this season and their first few picks all have some degree of chances to play games.
New Jersey Devils: C
New Jersey had to wait until 58 to make a selection, and I don’t think there’s a guy in this group I think will likely be an NHL player. Lenni Hameenaho and Daniil Karpovich I think have good chances.
Tampa Bay Lightning: C
Tampa Bay got a high second-round pick this week and used it to select Ethan Gauthier. Gauthier could be a top-nine wing in the NHL and I would argue is now Tampa’s best prospect. They didn’t pick again until 115, though, so this isn’t the deepest group.
Toronto Maple Leafs: C
The Easton Cowan pick at 28 surprised me a little. He’s a good player who had a great playoffs and was a big part of London’s deep run. He has a good chance to play in the NHL, but I didn’t see high-end skill or athletic traits, and I think he’s more of a potential bottom-six forward. Hudson Malinoski is intriguing with his speed and skill as a later pick.
Boston Bruins: C-
Chris Pelosi and Beckett Hendrickson are both skilled forward who have shots to play for the Bruins, but I can’t sit here and confidently say they will play NHL games. Boston’s scouts and I have often been at odds the last few years. I realize Bruins fans will probably roll their eyes at this grade. We will see with time how these players do.
Edmonton Oilers: C-
Beau Akey could play in the NHL. He’s a good skater with skill, but the offense or defending don’t stand out enough to see what his clear NHL path would be. With three picks and none after Akey until 184 there’s no guarantees this class produces NHL games.
Florida Panthers: C-
Gracyn Sawchyn, Florida’s first pick at 63, is skilled, competes and plays with pace but he’s not dynamic or that big. He could play in the NHL, and he has the best odds of anyone from their class, but I don’t think it’s a lock by any means.
Ottawa Senators: C-
Ottawa didn’t pick until 108. I didn’t mind the pick of Hoyt Stanley there — he’s toolsy — but Senators fans I’m sure are realistic that this draft class isn’t likely to deliver much for their future.
(Illustration: Sean Reilly / The Athletic. Photos: Jason Kempin / Getty Images, John Russell / NHLI via Getty Images, John Russell / NHLI via Getty Images)
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Corey Pronman is the senior NHL prospects writer for The Athletic. Previously, Corey worked in a similar role at ESPN. Follow Corey on Twitter @coreypronman
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