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NHL Mock Draft 2023: Winners and losers from Round 1, including Coyotes’ inexplicable picks

NHL Draft 2023: Winners and losers from Round 1, including Coyotes’ inexplicable picks

The 2023 NHL Draft was a night of surprises, with some teams making great picks and others making head-scratching decisions. Here are some of the winners and losers from Round 1:

Winners

  1. Chicago Blackhawks: The Blackhawks were the big winners of the draft, landing Connor Bedard with the first overall pick. Bedard is a generational talent who is expected to be a star in the NHL for years to come.
  2. Columbus Blue Jackets: The Blue Jackets also had a great draft, picking up Adam Fantilli with the third overall pick. Fantilli is a dynamic center who is already producing at a high level in college hockey. He gives the Blue Jackets the top-line center they have been searching for.
  3. Philadelphia Flyers: The Flyers hit a home run with the seventh overall pick, taking Matvei Michkov. Michkov is a Russian sniper who is one of the most exciting prospects in the draft. He has the potential to be a superstar in the NHL.
  4. New Jersey Devils: The Devils didn't have a first-round pick, but they made a big move on Day 2, trading for Tyler Toffoli. Toffoli is a proven goal-scorer who will help the Devils in their rebuild.

Losers

  1. Arizona Coyotes: The Coyotes had a puzzling draft, making some questionable picks. They took Dmitriy Simashev with the 10th overall pick, a player who many scouts had ranked outside of the first round. They also took Danil But with the 27th overall pick, a player who is still developing and may not be ready for the NHL for a few years.
  2. Washington Capitals: The Capitals also had a disappointing draft, failing to address their needs at center. They took Ryan Leonard with the 20th overall pick, a player who is more of a winger. The Capitals could have used this pick to take a center who could help them in the future.

Overall, the 2023 NHL Draft was a mixed bag. There were some great picks, but there were also some head-scratching decisions. It will be interesting to see how these players develop and how they impact their respective teams in the years to come.