2023-06-26 19:50:00
The NHL Draft 2023, which will be held this time in Nashville, Tennessee, will start on the night from Wednesday to Thursday (2 a.m. CEST). The most important questions when selecting talents …
The 2023 NHL Draft will be held in Nashville. Getty Images
Who are the most coveted talents?
The 2023 draft vintage is considered one of the best in a long time. It brings back memories of 2015, when following Connor McDavid in first place and Jack Eichel in second, players like Mitch Marner in fifth and Mikko Rantanen in tenth were also selected. Designated number one pick Connor Bedard is now also considered an upcoming superstar in 2023.
Behind Bedard there are three center forwards to choose from: Adam Fantilli, the Swede Leo Carlsson and the American Will Smith, all of whom are considered safe top players for a future in the NHL. In terms of talent, meanwhile, winger Matvei Michkov is on a similar level to Bedard, although he has another three years under contract in his Russian homeland SKA St. Petersburg (KHL).
The first defender to be selected this time might be an Austrian: Because David Reinbacher, who made it into the Swiss National League as a teenager, is considered a great defensive talent and might thus follow in the footsteps of Moritz Seider, who in 2019 had already been selected at position seven by the Detroit Red Wings.
What are the chances for German players?
Die Draft-Reihenfolge 2023 – Top 10 Chicago Anaheim Columbus San Jose Montreal Arizona Philadelphia Washington Detroit St. Louis
After the very strong years of 2019 (with Seider) and even more so in 2020, when Tim Stützle was taken at three, Lukas Reichel at 17 and JJ Peterka at position 34, a year to forget threatens from a German perspective. Because regardless of the vice world championship, it is unclear whether a German player will be selected at all in 2023.
The two strikers Kevin Bicker and Linus Brandl (both 18), who recently both played for the young eagles in the DNL, are considered candidates. Likewise defender Norwin Panocha (18), who – like Bicker in Mannheim – already sniffed DEL air at the Eisbären Berlin.
Speaking of Mannheim and Berlin: With keeper Arno Tiefensee (21) following strong play-offs with the Eagles and striker Bennet Roßmy (19), who drew positive attention to himself last year in the junior camp as a training guest at Berlin’s “parent club” Los Angeles Kings two other Germans might also be considered for selection as so-called “overagers”.
In 2022, Julian Lutz (2nd round) and Maksymilian Szuber (6th round), two Germans who were last active for the German champion EHC Red Bull Munich, were drawn – both with the Arizona Coyotes. Thanks to a good DEL season and winning silver medals at the World Cup in Finland and Latvia, Szuber even earned his entry-level contract in the NHL.
Which clubs might be particularly active?
A whole series of teams tried in advance, sometimes successfully, to sell players in order to free up leeway under the salary cap. The salary cap, which is still making maneuvering in the transfer market very difficult for the vast majority of the 32 clubs as a result of the pandemic and financial losses, is allowing many teams to get creative. Three-party deals, part-salary payrolls, and the departure of expensive players for no real value are becoming more and more commonplace.
The Boston Bruins, who have to calculate an additional four million US dollars below the upper salary limit of – in the coming year – 83.5 million US dollars as a penalty for exceeding the cap through bonus payments, are considered a “team to watch,” especially when it comes to departures ” and kicked things off with Taylor Hall’s transfer to Chicago on Monday, June 26. The Blackhawks, along with Arizona, Anaheim and the Red Wings, are one of the few teams with a lot of financial leeway for expensive deals – even following Hall’s commitment.
What can be expected from the clubs of Draisaitl & Co.?
The Edmonton Oilers, who held off the eventual Stanley Cup winner Vegas Golden Knights in the play-off round for two long periods, have their sights set on the title. Travis Konecny and even Erik Karlsson are being talked regarding as potential newcomers. But Edmonton also has financial constraints, which is why right winger Kailer Yamamoto is offered on the market, among others.
The Red Wings, who are on the upswing, are looking for reinforcements in front of Seider, especially in terms of scoring. Meanwhile, Tim Stützle’s Senators need more depth, experience and physique. Karlsson himself did not completely rule out a return. Buffalo also want to move up, here is a goalkeeper and generally further strengthening of the defensive network on the agenda.
In the case of Philipp Grubauer’s Seattle Kraken, following the somewhat surprising first play-off participation, the careful development should continue to be on the agenda in the second year of its existence.
1687818488
#Hall #Chicago #focus #Bedard
