Pre-Game Talk: 2023 NHL Draft

[trick9]

This isn't a tank thread but rather a thread to discuss prospects and speculate where we might pick and who might be going in that range.

Will edit this post later on.

Draft Picks:

1st round: #
2nd round: #
4th round: #
5th round: #
7th round: #

Capitals don't have their 2023 3rd round pick (traded in the Larsson -deal or the 2023 6th round pick (Traded in the Johansson -deal).
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Draft Rankings:
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Bob McKenzie Pre-Season Rankings:
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1. Connor Bedard​	Center​	Regina (WHL)​	5'10 | 183 lbs​	Jul. 17, 2005​
2. Matvei Michkov​	Right Wing​	SKA (KHL)​	5'10 | 172 lbs​	Dec.9, 2004​
3. Adam Fantilli​	Center​	Michican (NCAA)​	6'1 1/2 | 191 lbs​	Oct.12, 2004​
4. Brayden Yager​	Center​	Moose Jaw (WHL)​	5'10 1/2 | 162 lbs​	Jan.5, 2005​
5. Leo Carlsson​	Center/Left Wing​	Orebro (SHL)​	6'1 | 172 lbs​	Dec.26, 2004​
6. Cal Ritchie​	Center​	Oshawa (OHL)​	6'1 | 184 lbs​	Jan.21, 2005​
7. Zach Benson​	Left Wing​	Winnipeg (WHL)​	5'8 1/2 | 160 lbs​	May.12, 2005​
8. Cam Allen​	Defense​	Guelph (OHL)​	5'11 1/2 | 189 lbs​	Jan.7, 2005​
9. Dalibor Dvorsky​	Center​	AIK (Swe-Als)​	6'1 | 190 lbs​	Jun.15, 2005​
10. Charlie Stramel​	Center​	Wisconsin (NCAA)​	6'3 | 212 lbs​	Oct.15, 2004​

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11. Nate Danielson​	Center​	Brandon (WHL)​	6'0 1/2 | 179 lbs​	Sept.27, 2004​
12. Ethan Gauthier​	Center​	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)​	5'11 | 177 lbs​	Jan.26, 2005​
13. Eduard Sale​	Left Wing​	Brno (CZE)​	6'1 | 163 lbs​	Mar.10, 2005​
14. Otto Stenberg​	Right Wing​	Frolunda (SWE J20)​	5'11 | 172 lbs​	May 29,2005​
15. Colby Barlow​	Left Wing​	Owen Sound (OHL)​	6'0 | 195 lbs​	Feb.14, 2005​
16. Kasper Halttunen​	Right Wing​	HIFK (SM Liiga)​	6'3 | 207 lbs​	Jun.5, 2005​

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Craig Button's Pre-Season Rankings:
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1. Connor Bedard​	Center​	Regina (WHL)​	5'10 | 183 lbs​	Jul.17, 2005​
2. Eduard Sale​	Right Wing​	Brno (CZE)​	6'1 | 163 lbs​	Mar.10, 2005​
3. Matvei Mitchkov​	Right Wing​	SKA (KHL)​	5'10 | 172 lbs​	Dec.9, 2004​
4. Adam Fantilli​	Center​	Michican (NCAA)​	6'1 1/2 | 191 lbs​	Oct.12, 2004​
5. Brayden Yager​	Center​	Moose Jaw (WHL)​	5'10 1/2 | 162 lbs​	Jan.5, 2005​
6. Leo Carlsson​	Center/Left Wing​	Orebro (SHL)​	6'1 | 172 lbs​	Dec.26, 2004​
7. Colby Barlow​	Left Wing​	Owen Sound (OHL)​	6'0 | 195 lbs​	Feb.14, 2005​
8. Dalibor Dvorsky​	Center​	AIK (Swe-Als)​	6'1 | 190 lbs​	Jun.15, 2005​
9. Zach Benson​	Left Wing​	Winnipeg (WHL)​	5'8 1/2 | 160 lbs​	May 12, 2005​
10. Calum Ritchie​	Center​	Oshawa (OHL)​	6'2 | 187 lbs​	Jan.21, 2005​

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11. Cam Allen	Defense	Guelph (OHL)	5'11 1/2 | 189 lbs	Jan.7, 2005
12. Emil Jarventie	Left Wing/Right Wing	Ilves (SM Liiga U20)	5'10 | 168 lbs	Apr.4, 2005
13. Mikhail Gulyayev	Defense	Omsk (MHL)	5'10 | 170 lbs	Apr.26, 2005
14. Ethan Gauthier	Right Wing	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	5'11 | 177 lbs	Jan.26, 2005
15. Charlie Stramel	Center	Wisconsin (NCAA)	6'3 | 212 lbs	Oct.15, 2004
16. Will Smith	Center	U.S National U18	6'0 | 172 lbs	Mar.17, 2005

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Sportsnet Top 20 - November Rankings:
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#, name​	Position​	Team (league)​	Games​	Goals​	Assists​	Points​
1. Connor Bedard​	Center​	Regina (WHL)​	28​	27​	37​	64​
2. Leo Carlsson​	Center/Left WIng​	Orebro (SHL)​	23​	2​	11​	13​
3. Adam Fantilli​	Center​	Michigan (NCAA)​	16​	11​	15​	26​
4. Matvei Mitchkov​	Right Wing​	SKA-Neva (VHL)​	9​	8​	4​	12​
5. Brayden Yager​	Center​	Moose Jaw (WHL)​	28​	16​	18​	34​
6. Zach Benson​	Left Wing​	Winnipeg (WHL)​	26​	15​	24​	39​
7. Dalibor Dvorsky​	Center​	AIK (Swe-Als)​	21​	4​	4​	8​
8. Ryan Leonard​	Center​	U.S National U18 team​	22​	19​	14​	33​
9. Otto Stenberg​	Center/Right Wing​	Frolunda (J20)​	18​	6​	8​	14​

10. Will Smith​	Center​	U.S National U18 Team​	24​	17​	28​	45​
11. Calum Ritchie​	Center​	Oshawa (OHL)​	25​	8​	14​	22​
12. Kasper Halttunen​	Right Wing​	HIFK (SM Liiga)​	10​	0​	1​	1​
13. Colby Barlow​	Left Wing​	Owen Sound (OHL)​	23​	20​	15​	35​
14. Riley Heidt​	Center/Left Wing​	Prince George (WHL)​	27​	13​	27​	40​
15. Mikhail Gulyayev​	Defense​	Omsk (MHL)​	6​	1​	11​	12​
16. Oliver Moore​	Center​	U.S National U18 Team​	24​	14​	17​	31​
17. Jesse Kiiskinen​	Left Wing​	Pelicans (U20)​	19​	13​	17​	30​
18. Theo Lindstein​	Defense​	Brynas (J20)​	12​	2​	5​	7​
19. Nate Danielson​	Center​	Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)​	29​	14​	20​	34​

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20. Ethan Gauthier

Right Wing

Sherbrooke (QMJHL)

27

9

19

28

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McKeen's November Rankings:
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1. Connor Bedard​	Center​	Regina (WHL)​	5'10 | 183 lbs​	Jul.17, 2005​
2. Adam Fantilli​	Center​	Michigan (NCAA)​	6'1 1/2 | 191 lbs​	Oct.12, 2004​
3. Leo Carlsson​	Center / Left Wing​	Orebro (SHL)​	6'1 | 172 lbs​	Dec.26, 2004​
4. Matvei Mitchkov​	Right Wing​	SKA-Neva (VHL)​	5'10 | 172 lbs​	Dec.9, 2004​
5. Brayden Yager​	Center​	Moose Jaw (WHL)​	5'10 1/2 | 162 lbs​	Jan.5, 2005​
6. Eduard Sale​	Right Wing​	Brno (CZE)​	6'1 | 163 lbs​	Mar.10, 2005​
7. Calum Ritchie​	Center​	Oshawa (OHL)​	6'2 | 187 lbs​	Jan.21, 2005​
8. Dalibor Dvorsky​	Center​	AIK (Swe-Als)​	6'10 | 190 lbs​	Jun.15, 2005​
9. Will Smith​	Center​	U.S National U18 Team​	6'0 | 172 lbs​	Mar.17, 2005​
10. Zach Benson​	Left Wing​	Winnipeg (WHL)​	5'8 1/2 | 160 lbs​	May 12, 2005​

11. Colby Barlow​	Left Wing​	Owen Sound (OHL)​	6'0 | 195 lbs​	Feb.14, 2005​
12. Matthew Wood​	Right Wing/Left Wing​	Univ. Of Connecticut (NCAA)​	6'3 | 190 lbs​	Feb.6, 2005​
13. Nate Danielson​	Center​	Brandon (WHL)​	6'0 1/2 | 179 lbs​	Sept.27, 2004​
14. Andrew Cristall​	Left Wing​	Kelowna (WHL)​	5'10 | 165 lbs​	Feb.4, 2005​
15. Ethan Gauthier​	Right Wing​	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)​	5'11 | 177 lbs​	Jan.26, 2005​
16. Otto Stenberg​	Right Wing​	Frolunda (J20)​	5'11 | 172 lbs​	May 29, 2005​

Click to read more...

 

[Langway]

Allen & Stramel have fallen since, with both probably out of the top 20 as things stand. Right shot D and centers get some benefit of the doubt but in a strong year not that much. Ritchie's production also probably pushes him out of the top 10 at least.

Smith, Barlow, Leonard, Cristall, Dragicevic and Honzek are probably the biggest risers so far. Dragicevic may emerge as the top defender, another right shot as well, but that remains to be seen. At this point there are three scenarios I'd wager:

Stink and sell-off (7-10 range): Benson, Sale, Dvorsky, Barlow, Danielson
Bubble team miss (11-16): Leonard, Wood, Dragicevic, Cristall, Ritchie
Bubble team make (17-20): Moore, Heidt, Honzek, Gauthier, Reinbacher, Gulyayev

Plus wild cards like Stramel, Allen, Musty, Hulttanen, Dower Nilsson and others. Again, a very strong WHL crop with six of those 16 from that league. Bubble team miss seems like the most likely scenario and that's a solid group. Dragicevic/Cristall may be the upside plays there, albeit with consequential risk. And still plenty to play out between the WJCs, U18s and playoffs. I don't know that the 7-10 range is massively better than 11-16. There's more to choose from but the main benefit from selling off would be adding another first rounder or two, maybe another couple second rounders. Upgrading from five picks to something like a dozen would be a substantial investment, albeit one with big near-term consequences from roster departures.

 

[YippieKaey]

Allen & Stramel have fallen since, with both probably out of the top 20 as things stand. Right shot D and centers get some benefit of the doubt but in a strong year not that much. Ritchie's production also probably pushes him out of the top 10 at least.

Smith, Barlow, Leonard, Cristall, Dragicevic and Honzek are probably the biggest risers so far. Dragicevic may emerge as the top defender, another right shot as well, but that remains to be seen. At this point there are three scenarios I'd wager:

Stink and sell-off (7-10 range): Benson, Sale, Dvorsky, Barlow, Danielson
Bubble team miss (11-16): Leonard, Wood, Dragicevic, Cristall, Ritchie
Bubble team make (17-20): Moore, Heidt, Honzek, Gauthier, Reinbacher, Gulyayev

Plus wild cards like Stramel, Allen, Musty, Hulttanen, Dower Nilsson and others. Again, a very strong WHL crop with six of those 16 from that league. Bubble team miss seems like the most likely scenario and that's a solid group. Dragicevic/Cristall may be the upside plays there, albeit with consequential risk. And still plenty to play out between the WJCs, U18s and playoffs. I don't know that the 7-10 range is massively better than 11-16. There's more to choose from but the main benefit from selling off would be adding another first rounder or two, maybe another couple second rounders. Upgrading from five picks to something like a dozen would be a substantial investment, albeit one with big near-term consequences from roster departures.

Im kind of into these guys but don't know nearly enough to have a strong opinion.

 

[Langway]

Re: selling off, there are 19 games after the trade deadline. I don't expect them to draw sweeping conclusions toward dismantling the team with a quarter of the season remaining if it's close. They need to do their due diligence in the coming months to grasp options but I can see them opting for own-rentals. Specifically with Orlov/Jensen it's hard to imagine them upgrading over them in UFA. So while they could perhaps both return first rounders and maybe even could return in the summer I find it tough to move on from both at this stage. While there are potential Brent Burns type trade scenarios it's hard to bank on it lining up. Near-term I find it unlikely they'd fare any better without them. The rest? A lot more debatable.

Win against Philadelphia like they should and they're back at ".500" with NYR/MTL/FLA not much further ahead. NYI suddenly look like the most vulnerable of the playoff group. With some help on the way I don't doubt they make their push later this month and into January.

 

[Marshall]

If you want to get a jump on who the Caps will draft, Tre Kronor's WJC roster just released:

 

[Rayquaza64]

If you want to get a jump on who the Caps will draft, Tre Kronor's WJC roster just released:

View attachment 618202

shocked no suzdalev or persson there, although i assume they’ll both be there next year

 

[Rayquaza64]

Depending on where we pick obviously, I think Quentin Musty will be a guy the caps are looking at intensely. Fits in the “size and skill” category maclellan loves to go on about, and on pace for 100 points in his draft year. would like to see more goal scoring from him especially as a winger in the ohl but still has a good amount of skill offensively