2023 NHL Draft Thread

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Tkachukwagon

I didn't realize how many picks they have in the first 100. I ran the FC Hockey Draft tool for Chicago and picked up:

#1 Connor Bedard C
#20 Ryan Leonard C
#35 Matthew Wood RW
#44 Daniil But LW
#52 Akey Beau D
#56 Tom Willander D
#67 Jakub Dvorak D
#89 Jaden Lipinski C
#99 Cam Squires RW

The Blackhawks are going to clean up in this draft. Instant rebuild if even half their picks pan out.

That's another team that could put up a package for a bonafide NHL player. I know picks are important for a rebuilding team, but they have a lot of them, and it would be hard to say no to 20th OA + 44th/52nd OA + prospect for Hanifin, assuming there's an extension. He would be a good D partner with Seth Jones while Korchinkski continues to develop.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

That's another team that could put up a package for a bonafide NHL player. I know picks are important for a rebuilding team, but they have a lot of them, and it would be hard to say no to 20th OA + 44th/52nd OA + prospect for Hanifin, assuming there's an extension. He would be a good D partner with Seth Jones while Korchinkski continues to develop.

Chicago is apparently not interested in signing any older guys to long term contracts, so I doubt Hanifin interests them, notwithstanding that he is good.

They want to save the cap space for their youngsters when they get good. They'll sign older guys to 1-2 years contracts in the meantime.

They plan to do a Seattle type plan to some extent.

And I doubt they are trading the 19oa unless it's part of a trade to move up.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Chicago is apparently not interested in signing any older guys to long term contracts, so I doubt Hanifin interests them, notwithstanding that he is good.

They want to save the cap space for their youngsters when they get good. They'll sign older guys to 1-2 years contracts in the meantime.

They plan to do a Seattle type plan to some extent.

And I doubt they are trading the 19oa unless it's part of a trade to move up.

No worries, just a thought. I would hate for them to take forever to rebuild like Buffalo did, stockpiling picks and never getting the team better. Bedard can only do so much.

[Tkachukwagon]

Daily Faceoff has a good article on 15 overagers of interest for the 2023 draft, including 5 goalies. I am in the camp of taking an overager in the later rounds, as they have had more development time and potentially closer to their potential.

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/20...rage-prospects

The list includes one of the Mittelstadts

Luke Mittelstadt, D, 20 (University of Minnesota, NCAA)

It’s hard to really put into words just how good Mittelstadt was this year. The youngest of three hockey-playing brothers, Mittelstadt was the best player in the game that sent Minnesota to the NCAA national championship game, only to come up short against Quinnipiac. He has solid offensive instincts, putting up 16 assists and 21 points as a freshman playing some key minutes with the Golden Gophers – and his college journey has only just begun. Mittelstadt had a good USHL season last year but nothing out of the ordinary for a 19-year-old skilled defenseman. His adjustment to the college game definitely turned some heads as a potential third- or fourth-rounder.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Okay, hypothetical time.

Say in the rainbow unicorn fart universe where CLB actually traded pick 3 to the Flames for Lindholm:

Who you got?

For me it Leo Carlsson 7 times a week and twice on Sundays.

Does anyone think Smith jumps up of Carlsson?

Totally agree, I believe the top-3 of Bedard/Fantilli/Carlsson are pretty much set in stone. LC had one of the all-time best seasons for a draft-eligible player from Sweden. Michkov may slide a bit IMO, due to his three year contract in the KHL, and the escalating Russian factor.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Tkachukwagon

Daily Faceoff has a good article on 15 overagers of interest for the 2023 draft, including 5 goalies. I am in the camp of taking an overager in the later rounds, as they have had more development time and potentially closer to their potential.

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/20...rage-prospects

The list includes one of the Mittelstadts

I wonder if Buffalo takes a flier on him

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Totally agree, I believe the top-3 of Bedard/Fantilli/Carlsson are pretty much set in stone. LC had one of the all-time best seasons for a draft-eligible player from Sweden. Michkov may slide a bit IMO, due to his three year contract in the KHL, and the escalating Russian factor.

I think he (Michkov) slips to Washington.
Caps already got the Russian they drafted last year out of his deal I think.
Money talks. I don't think Michkov plays out that deal in the KHL and the team that takes the chance on him will benefit massively. People forget how good he was in last year's WJCs. Better than Bedard.

And agreed with Carlsson. And a strong season in Sweden is highly translatable to the NHL in terms of projections.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I think he (Michkov) slips to Washington.
Caps already got the Russian they drafted last year out of his deal I think.
Money talks. I don't think Michkov plays out that deal in the KHL and the team that takes the chance on him will benefit massively. People forget how good he was in last year's WJCs. Better than Bedard.

And agreed with Carlsson. And a strong season in Sweden is highly translatable to the NHL in terms of projections.

I agree, but then you have the Kotchetkov situation, and the more I read about the Nichuskin incident, the more it sounds like a Russian mob frame job.

[FlamesAddiction]

Maybe a stupid question, but could an NHL team payoff his KHL team or the league to get him out of the contract, or would the NHL try to prevent that?

I read on another board from someone who claimed to be an insider say that Michkov wasn't getting by the Habs and that they would buy him out in Russia, and that his team actually expects an NHL team to do that. I have my doubts that the person is a legit insider, but I was wondering if it is at least plausible.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I agree, but then you have the Kotchetkov situation, and the more I read about the Nichuskin incident, the more it sounds like a Russian mob frame job.

lol is that a real thing with Nichuskin?

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Bonded

lol is that a real thing with Nichuskin?

Well, he was whisked away with no charges, and there was a semi-conscious Ukrainian woman in his room who claimed that another guy took her passport.

Then you have the situation with Panarin- I think it stemmed from him criticizing Putin or something, but they came out with a bunch of false stories about women he assaulted.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Maybe a stupid question, but could an NHL team payoff his KHL team or the league to get him out of the contract, or would the NHL try to prevent that?

I read on another board from someone who claimed to be an insider say that Michkov wasn't getting by the Habs and that they would buy him out in Russia, and that his team actually expects an NHL team to do that. I have my doubts that the person is a legit insider, but I was wondering if it is at least plausible.

If they did it overtly the NHL would stop it because it would be like negotiating without a transfer agreement in place and set a precedent.

I am sure teams could/would find a way to do it through back channels so it wouldn't be obvious they are the ones buying out the contract.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Interesting response by Wheeler on the Athletic about who will be there for the Flames

Wheeler: More and more I think the expectation is that two or three of David Reinbacher, Sandin Pellikka and Willander will be gone by No. 16, with eight of Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov, Leo Carlsson, Will Smith, Dalibor Dvorsky, Ryan Leonard and Zach Benson gone at forward. If that leaves a next tier that includes forwards Barlow, Danielson, Gabe Perreault, Oliver Moore, Brayden Yager, Matthew Wood and Samuel Honzek, then you can do the math. There are 18 names there, which promises that at least two of them (likely both from that third group) will be there. I think there’s a chance one of Barlow or Danielson is one of the two that’s left.

[Monahammer]

It is pretty crazy that potentially the best player in the draft could fall to 8-9 just based on nationality. I think Bedard convincingly made his case for 1 regardless, but michkov has shown pretty surreal talent and every level, consistently. 20 points in 30 Khl games as a 17 year old is excellent.

[chummer]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

It is pretty crazy that potentially the best player in the draft could fall to 8-9 just based on nationality. I think Bedard convincingly made his case for 1 regardless, but michkov has shown pretty surreal talent and every level, consistently. 20 points in 30 Khl games as a 17 year old is excellent.

I think Montreal takes him at 5.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by chummer

I think Montreal takes him at 5.

There's been conflicting reports on that. After the first report of them all in on Michkov there we a couple other reports saying they don't want him.

[getbak]

All I care about is Philly drafting Will Smith.



If the Flames draft Barlow, how often will we have to hear, "He's so good they already named a road after him"?

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

-Since we're talking about Russians today, I wanted to mention a couple of teammates on Avto Yekaterinburg of the MHL that caught my eye who are first-time draft-eligibles, LW Artyom Kashtanov, and D Daniil Karpovich. I know very little about these two, so here's what I gathered from a writer on recruit scouting, Pavel Malyugin: First off, Kashtanov is 6'6 and had the 16th-best U-19 season in the MHL this year (although his ppg were better than 7 of the players above him) with 40 points in 43 games. Malyugin writes,"he's really impressed me with how well he's controlled open ice and how fluidly he's been able to generate puck movement. Kashtanov plays with an edge and explodes past opponents using his strong, lengthy stride." He goes on to say,"He plays by putting his foot down and working for what he wants. He pushes through opponents while incorporating little dekes, and stick plays that make him look so smooth and agile. Kashtonov isn't flashy, nor is he wholly rounded out, but he's an incredibly satisfying player to watch. The fact that he's able to pull off such smooth and controlled plays while standing so tall astonishes me." He also says that Kash likes open ice too much, flutters at times, and gets caught play-watching while not doing enough. Despite being used as a two-way presence on his team, it sounds like he has some defensive issues to work through,"but the tools he carries, along with his fluidity and size, make him a really attractive option for NHL teams in June."

-As far as Karpovich goes, he's a 6'3" 209lb LHD who placed 4th in the MHL for D-scoring, with 35 points in 47 games, which is quite a feat for an 18 year-old. I found some highlights, which are mostly of Karpovich walking the line, and finding a lane to unleash his high-velocity shot. It looks like he moves quite well for a big man, and from I've read, he's quite intimidating and physical. Central Scouting did not give him a "C" rating though, meaning they see him as a 7th rounder, if he gets picked at all. I've read that his decision-making is iffy.

-Another intriguing Russian is 6'1",201lb LHD Magomed Sharakanov, said to be the best player on his MHL team, MHK Dynamo Moskva, and he placed 8th in the league in D scoring with 32 points in 44 games. His ppg of 0.73 is right behind Karpovich's 0.74. Malyugin wrote,"Sharakanov plays a run-and-gun style of hockey where he goes full throttle with no remorse in terms of physicality. He purely relies on his size to tie up and dominate opponents in his zone and uses his massive frame to escape tight spots and even walk the ice like a day in the park. He is a Tasamanian Devil on the ice. He sings to his beat, and rocks to his drums. When he has the puck on his stick, anywhere on the ice, he drives the play himself and attempts to make the play he wants. He is not afraid to escape from his zone and rush across the ice to try to pull off a crazy move. Even defensively, he can control his opponents by forcing them into the worst spots to steal the puck and escape. But, alas, an issue arises. Sharakonov's willingness to explode and be the most dangerous guy on the ice comes with the issue of him not passing puck or, utilizing his teammates. He tends to ignore the simple pass on a breakout and goes right down the middle to look scary. Because of how skillful he is (which is impressive considering his size) he has enough confidence to pull off some of these moves. But when they don't work, it's so obvious that he doesn't pre-plan his attacks and his speed doesn't let him catch up quickly enough. I think the physicality alone makes him an attractive player because of how it lets him control the ice. In the offensive zone, he shields himself away and cycles the puck. In transition, he pushes through opponents without a finger laid on him, and defensively he completely takes the ice away. I do believe that he's got a North American style of play but being abe to play positional hockey while maintaining a consistent teammate style of play is a massive work in progress."

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I pray Anaheim falls in love with Carlsson or Smith so we can take Fantilli. If not Fantilli then I go with Carlsson. Smith and Carlsson are pretty much neck and neck for me but the nationality is the deciding factor. Yes, I went there.

I'm with you, Smith, Perreault and Leonard are all going to BC next year and I just wouldn't go down this road with a top pick, I assume Fantilli is going to Michigan but at least he's from Canada.

[Tkachukwagon]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1662104624432828419

https://twitter.com/user/status/1662105283597078529