The 2023 NHL Entry Draft comes only two weeks after the end of the season. All eyes will be on the first prospect, Connor Bedard, in this draft, but there are a lot of talented players like Adam Fantilli and Leo Carlsson as well. The draft will run for two days to cover all seven rounds.
The NHL Entry Draft event this year will be at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. The draft starts at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday with the first round, while rounds 2–7 will be on the second day on Thursday.
The results of the 2023 NHL draft lottery are as follows: the Chicago Blackhawks have the first pick, followed by the Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, San Jose Sharks, and then the Montreal Canadiens.
| ℹ️ Tournament: | 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Annual Pre-season Event |
| 🏟️ Venue: | Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee, United States |
| 🗓️ Dates: | 28 June – 29 June 2023 |
| ⏰ Time: | start at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday |
This will be the 61st edition of the National Hockey League draft. The NHL draft is important for the teams, as they can add the best amateur ice hockey players to their rosters for the following seasons, and it gives the rebuilding teams a chance to get better. The order of the picks depends on the 2023 draft lottery event, which took place on May 8.
A lot of great players were also in the draft, like Connor McDavid, who was drafted as the first pick in 2015, while Mario Lemieux, for example, was drafted as the first pick in 1984.
Here’s a look at the top five players in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft odds from the best NCAA hockey bookies, depending on the order pick:
| Draft Players | 1st Pick Odds | 2nd Pick Odds | 3rd Pick Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connor Bedard | 1.001 (1/1000) | 101.0 (100/1) | 101.0 (100/1) |
| Adam Fantilli | — | 1.23 (1/4) | 7.0 (6/1) |
| Leo Carlsson | — | 4.50 (7/2) | 1.58 (3/5) |
| Matvei Michkov | — | 15.0 (14/1) | 9.0 (8/1) |
| Will Smith | — | 34.0 (33/1) | 3.50 (5/2) |
Connor Bedard is a generational talent, and there’s no doubt that the Chicago Blackhawks will take him with the first pick. He scored a mind-blowing 100 goals with the Regina Pats last season and won the Player of the Year award in the CHL. Adam Fantilli is the second-best prospect in this draft class, and the Anaheim Ducks should choose him as the second pick. He has won the Hobey Baker Award with the University of Michigan, and his size and talent are on another level.
Leo Carlsson is the Swedish Junior Hockey Player of the Year, and he had such a great season in Sweden this last season. Leo is one of the best European skaters and has a lot of talent. Matvei Michkov is a dangerous player who can make a difference with his shots, and he is a perfect match for the Sharks with the fourth pick. Will Smith is a skilled and creative player, and even though he is unlikely to be picked with the first three picks, he has a lot of potential and should be in the top five.
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Axel Sandin Pellikka is the best defensive player in this draft. He also has a high IQ offensively, which makes him a dangerous offensive defenseman. The NHL draft odds for this pick are really enticing, and have a big chance of winning. Axel also has the skill to be a great passer, even though he needs some work on his strength, but he should definitely be in the top 14 picks. Pellikka had two goals and three assists this season in the Swedish Hockey League and had some strong performances.
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Both players did well last season, and they are predicted to be at the end of the first round or early in the second. David Edstrom is a big Center, and he is coming from the Frolunda HC J20 team. Edstrom is good on defense and always puts in a lot of effort, but he will need some work on offense. His size makes him a really good pick with a lot of potential.
On the other hand, Charlie Stramel comes from the University of Wisconsin and is also a Center. Stramel needs a lot of improvement in his skating and mobility, and that’s why David is expected to be drafted first. Although the odds aren’t too high, all the reasons and factors show that it is a nice option to profit from real money bookmakers.
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This is one of the safest picks in the 2023 NHL draft order predictions. Oliver Moore has the ability to even be in the top-10 picks, as he has great skating and speed that make him ready to start in the NHL right away. Moore has been playing with the United States National U18 Team as a Center. His speed is the best among the Centers in this draft class, and he also has a really good shot, as he scored 26 goals last season.
This year’s NHL Draft will be exciting with this number of talented players. One of the best North American Skaters, Connor Bedard, is expected to be the first overall pick. Make sure to take advantage of the betting bonuses and bet on the online bookmakers to have more fun watching the event.
