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| 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
