Post-lottery 2023 NHL mock

[MasterMatt25]

1. selects Connor Bedard - C (Regina -WHL)
2. selects Adam Fantilli - C (University of Michigan - NCAA)
3. selects Leo Carlsson - C (Orebro - SHL)
4. selects Will Smith - C (US U18 National Team - USDP)
5. selects Dalibor Dvorsky - C (AIK - Allsvenskan)
6. selects Zach Benson - LW (Winnipeg - WHL)
7. selects David Reinbacher - D (Kloten - NL)
8. selects Matvei Michkov - RW (Sochi - KHL)
9. selects Ryan Leonard - RW (US U18 National Team - USDP)
10. selects Nate Danielson - C (Brandon - WHL)
11. selects Oliver Moore - C (US U18 National Team - USDP)
12. selects Matthew Wood - RW (University of Connecticut - NCAA)
13. selects Axel Sandin Pellikka - D (Skelleftea - SHL)
14. selects Colby Barlow - LW (Owen Sound - OHL)
15. selects Gabriel Perreault - LW (US U18 National Team - USDP)
16. selects Andrew Cristall - LW (Kelowna - WHL)

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[Schemp]

I don't see the Coyotes selecting Benson. If the draft unfolds like you mocked, and if the 'Yotes are apprehensive about Michkov, then I can see them trading down. So it's unlikely Michkov gets past 6.
GMBA wants to go big and Benson isn't.

 

[waitin425]

Oh dear god NO! If Michkov is available at 5, we have to take him. He is 1A in this draft. And I think a lot of people will be surprised by how small that gap is.

 

[Bluesnatic27]

I would break things in anger if the Blues selected Danielson with the first top-10 pick they've had since 2008.

 

[MasterMatt25]

Oh dear god NO! If Michkov is available at 5, we have to take him. He is 1A in this draft. And I think a lot of people will be surprised by how small that gap is.

Bro I want us to take him but I just dont see it

 

[waitin425]

Bro I want us to take him but I just dont see it

It would be the biggest mistake in our teams history if we don't take him.

 

[Gecklund]

It would be the biggest mistake in our teams history if we don't take him.

This seems like an overreaction

 

[waitin425]

This seems like an overreaction

I don't think it is. If Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson and Smith are all gone and Michkov is available...the gap between him and the rest is huge. Like Alex Ovechkin vs. Andrew Ladd. The other guys may have decent NHL careers, but Michkov is closest to Bedard and himself may be generational. So many people are sleeping on him.

 

[Gecklund]

I don't think it is. If Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson and Smith are all gone and Michkov is available...the gap between him and the rest is huge. Like Alex Ovechkin vs. Andrew Ladd. The other guys may have decent NHL careers, but Michkov is closest to Bedard and himself may be generational. So many people are sleeping on him.

I fully read this wrong and thought the guy you quoted, quoted the post about Danielson.

 

[spfan]

I'd really hate to see Caps get Michkov. I think he drops a little, but not quite that far.

 

[Boy Hedican]

Sharks take Michkov at 4. No way he slips by.

 

[MasterMatt25]

Sharks take Michkov at 4. No way he slips by.

Are you certain about that? Grier's son is close friends with Smith and he's already in North America

 

[kudla]

Bonkers if you think Michkov will end up behind Benson or Reinbacher

 

[Boy Hedican]

Are you certain about that? Grier's son is close friends with Smith and he's already in North America

Of course I’m not certain. No one here is. But Michkov is the BPA after Bedard. Sharks need everything. Including a scoring phenom. I’m not sleeping on Smiths skills at all, but he’s more common than a Michkov. No question about it. But besides his obvious attractive skill set, this will be part owners decision here. The Sharks (or anyone getting Mich) can market the F out of him. And he’s someone you can fit into any system if you wanted to, albeit sheltering him where necessary (or even if necessary- his short comings aren’t certain)

So no im not certain. But if the Russian factor isn’t a factor for the org (and so far it never has been) there’s enough reasons to draft the next elite dynamic scorer this league may have ever seen AT FREAKING 4OA.

And as far as him getting to 4…CBJ is more in a let’s try and win now/soon with their core. Carlsson or Smith would help them faster than Michkov. Sharks are like 15% into their rebuild. That said, wtf do I know. They could absolutely also think getting him trumps any plan due to his potential on the ice and off.

 

[MasterMatt25]

Bonkers if you think Michkov will end up behind Benson or Reinbacher

Well

 

[macleish1974]

No way Michkov falls to no. 8. Philly is in total rebuild and will take him at no. 7. @BigToe says so….right Toe????

 

[BigToe]

No way Michkov falls to no. 8. Philly is in total rebuild and will take him at no. 7. @BigToe says so….right Toe????

I have no idea who we’ll end up taking, brother.

 

[macleish1974]

I have no idea who we’ll end up taking, brother.

Remember Toe, you said if Michov was available you would take him at 7. That is what I meant. nothing more. I respect your opinion.

 

[HABitual Fan]

Everybody calls this the Bedard draft, but as a Habs fan I think it is more the Smith draft. Everything will come down to the Columbus selection. They are the ones that will dictate the order based on whether they choose to go Smith or Carlsson. If they choose Smith there is a good chance SJ takes Michkov over Carlsson and Carlsson goes to Montreal.