NHL Draft Rewind

06/29/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

NHL Draft 1st-Round Recap: Blackhawks Take Bedard No. 1 Overall; Flyers Select Michkov With 7th Pick

The 2023 NHL Draft took over Nashville on Wednesday night. The first four picks and six of the top 10 were centers, which was not a surprise. Neither was the No. 1 overall pick. The Chicago Blackhawks selected Connor Bedard — a teenage phenom who is the most-hyped prospect since another Connor (McDavid, 2015). Bedard led major junior hockey in goals and assists in the 2022-23 season, and he’s widely regarded as a generational talent, offensively. He’s undersized at 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, but he’s only 17 years old. The Blackhawks might have a skater to build around for the next two decades. Here’s a look at the top 10 picks:

NHL Draft (Top-10)

1. Blackhawks: C Connor Bedard (WHL/Canada)

2. Ducks: C Leo Carlsson (Sweden)

3. Blue Jackets: C Adam Fantilli (Michigan, NCAA)

4. Sharks: C William Smith (USA-18/NTDP)

5. Canadiens: D David Reinbacher (Switzerland)

6. Coyotes: D Dimitriy Simashev (Russia)

7. Flyers: RW Matvei Michkov (Russia)

8. Capitals: RW Ryan Leonard (USA-18/NTDP)

9. Red Wings: C Nate Danielson (WHL/Canada)

10. Blues: C Dalibor Dvorsky (Sweden)

Full NHL Draft 1st-Round Picks & Analysis

Blackhawk History at #1: The Blackhawks had the No. 1 selection just once in franchise history (2007) when they selected Patrick Kane. He won three Stanley Cups, one Conn Smythe, and one Hart Trophy.

Philly Takes a Flyer: The Flyers took the biggest risk of the draft by selecting RW Matvei Michkov with the seventh pick. The 18-year-old Russian was potentially the second-best player in the draft, but he’s on contract in the KHL through 2025-26. The Flyers won’t have his services for three seasons.

NHL Draft Schedule

Rounds 2-7 (Today, 11:00 am ET)

ESPN: Ducks Surprise, Take Carlsson Over Fantilli With No. 2 Pick

The Athletic: Flyers’ Matvei Michkov Pick is Boldest Sign About ‘New Era’

Photo: Dave Sandford / Getty Images