2023-06-29 01:59:39
The one to whom we have affixed the label of “generational” player is, according to several observers, promised a remarkable career in the same way as Sidney Crosby or Connor McDavid.
A native of Vancouver, Bedard already has an impressive track record with gold medals at the Junior World Championships in 2022 and 2023.
The competition’s MVP on the second occasion, he took the opportunity to become the Canadian player with the most goals (16) and points (34) in the history of the tournament.
With the Regina Pats, of the Western League (WHL), Bedard finished his last season in the junior ranks with a collection of 71 goals and 72 assists in 57 games to finish at the top of the points of the circuit.
In three seasons in Regina, he averaged more than two points per game (134 goals and 137 assists in 134 games).
The Blackhawks, 30th in the NHL standings at the end of last season, won the draft lottery on May 8, thereby securing the very first pick of the evening.
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The Anaheim Ducks have selected Leo Carlsson at No. 2.
Leo Carlsson et Gary Bettman
Photo : Getty Images / Bruce Bennett
Rated Europe’s top prospect by NHL Central Scouting, Leo Carlsson has all the qualities of a power forward in his center position.
With his 1.91 m and 98 kg (6 ft 3 in, 198 lb), Carlsson is already doing well in a men’s league with the club Orebro, in the Swedish Elite League.
During the last two seasons with the senior team, he tallied 13 goals and 21 assists in 79 games. In the lower ranks, he was part of Sweden’s gold medal-winning squad at the 2022 World Under-18 Championships.
Subsequently, the choice of the Columbus Blue Jackets was Adam Fantilli.
Adam Fantilli
Photo : Getty Images / Bruce Bennett
A product of the University of Michigan Wolverines, Fantilli was also a member of Canada’s gold medal-winning squad at world juniors in 2022 and 2023.
Rookie of the Year in 2022-23, he was also the recipient of the Hobey-Baker Trophy as NCAA Most Valuable Player.
At the end of what was his only university season, the Ontarian compiled a record of 30 goals and 35 assists in 36 games.
With their 4th pick, the San Jose Sharks selected Will Smith.
Will Smith
Photo : Getty Images / Bruce Bennett
Smith, a 1.83m, 82kg (6ft, 180lb) American forward, has spent the past two seasons with the United States National Squad Development Program.
It is also where talents such as Cole Caufield, Auston Matthews, Patrick Kane and Jack Hughes were trained. Last season, Smith rewrote the record books there with 117 points, surpassing the mark that belonged to Matthews.
This spring in Switzerland, he was voted MVP of the U18 World Championship by amassing 20 points in 7 games to lead the Americans to the gold medal.
The Montreal Canadiens have set their sights on defender David Reinbacher in 5th place.
David Reinbacher
Photo : Getty Images / Bruce Bennett
The Vancouver Canucks (11th, Tom Willander), Calgary Flames (16th, Samuel Honzek), Winnipeg Jets (18th, Colby Barlow) and Toronto Maple Leafs (28th, Easton Cowan) are the other Canadian teams that have a first-round pick.
Unless they make a trade by then to improve their situation, the Edmonton Oilers will have to wait until the 2nd round (56th choice) before selecting a player, while the Ottawa Senators will not talk only in the 4th round, with the 108th choice.
Only the first round is held on Wednesday evening. The second will begin Thursday at 11 a.m. (EDT). The repechage will continue until the evening to conclude at the end of the 7th round.
Other coveted players
Matvei Michkov will eventually end up in Philadelphia. General manager Daniel Brière took advantage of the Flyers’ 7th pick to get his hands on the Russian.
He was perhaps the greatest enigma of the 2023 vintage. Even if he displays modest statistics (11 goals and 14 assists in 43 games) with the clubs of Saint Petersburg SKA and Sochi HC, in the Continental League ( KHL), many NHL general managers were interested in him.
Due to his contract situation, however, he may not be able to see him in action in North America for another three or four years.
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Compared to the Brady brothers and Matthew Tkachuk by Kent Hughes during the recent Combine held in Buffalo, Ryan Leonard is also from the American development program. He was selected 8th overall by the Washington Capitals.
This robustly styled right winger is not afraid of the physical game, even if he often concedes nearly 10 cm (4 in) and a dozen kilos (from 20 to 30 lb) to his direct opponents.
With 21 goals and 14 assists in 50 games over the past two seasons, Leonard has seemingly done enough to earn himself a place among the most coveted players in the 2023 auction.
2023 NHL Draft Picks:
Blackhawks de Chicago – Connor Bedard (A)Ducks d’Anaheim – Leo Carlsson (A)Blue Jackets de Columbus – Adam Fantilli (A)Sharks de San Jose – Will Smith (A) Montreal Canadiens – David Reinbacher (R)Coyotes de l’Arizona – Dmitri Simashev (D) Flyers de Philadelphie – Matvei Michkov (A) Capitals de Washington – Ryan Leonard (A) Red Wings de Detroit – Nate Danielson (A) Blues de Saint Louis – Dalibor Dvorsky (A)Vancouver Canucks – Tom Willander (D)Coyotes de l’Arizona – Daniil But (A)Sabres de Buffalo – Zach Benson (A)Penguins de Pittsburgh – Brayden Yager (A)Predators de Nashville – Matthew Wood (A)Calgary Flames – Samuel Honzek (A)Red Wings de Detroit – Axel Sandin Pellikka (D)Jets de Winnipeg – Colby Barlow (A)Chicago Blackhawks – Oliver Moore (A)Seattle Kraken – Eduard Sale (A)
The American capital of country music welcomes the best hopes of 18 years in the heart of what constitutes, according to the experts, one of the best vintages of recent years.
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