2023 NHL Entry Draft version 1.0

Another year, another set of mock drafts. If you remember these from the previous seasons, you know that I like to roll out a handful of mock drafts starting in the dead of winter and extending through to the heat of summer, so far away. 

Anyway, here we go again - hope you enjoy. I've collected a group of prospects that I quite like, and written down brief, digestible analyses for busy readers like yourself. The 2023 draft is speculated to be historic - and that means it should be exciting, even though there's a very palpable, real chance that generational talent Connor Bedard goes to the Chicago Blackhawks. Yuck. 

21st overall: Gabe Perreault - W/C - USNTDP

Gabe Perreault can do just about everything there is to do in the offensive zone. I'd consider him one of the most versatile offensive weapons in the draft class for that reason. 

Son of Yanic and brother of Jacob, Gabe here is exceptionally creative and possesses a high amount of skill. He can stickhandle with the best of them, and is able to drive play with small amounts of ice - something that I think bodes well for his ability to ultimately end up in the top six at the NHL level. His skillset tells me that he should be able to log time at center, but that's never a given...either way, his acumen at driving offense and making these confusing and dangerous for defenders is mouthwatering. 

He'll probably never be someone you can count on to do the responsible thing in the defensive zone/kill penalties, but I really don't think you need to be drafting penalty-killing forwards in the first round of the draft. At least, I don't feel as though that should be the priority. 

52nd overall: Carey Terrance - C/W - Erie Otters / OHL

Why this kid isn't on more radars than he is right now is beyond me. Presently, he's projected as a mid/late second round draft choice but you have to think that NHL GM's would salivate over Carey Terrance's combination of size, blistering speed, and fierce shot. Who knows, maybe he'll start climbing lists as we move through the first half of 2023. Either way, this is a kid I would just love to see the Wild take a look at. The Wild haven't been a very fast team as of late, with the exception of Jonas Brodin - a defenseman. Sure, guys like Tyson Jost and Nico Sturm had that extra gear, but their lack of finish meant that the returns on their speed were diminishing. It never mattered if they were able to get into the offensive zone before the defense - you always would rather have had that puck on Kaprizov's stick anyway. Would love to see what Terrance develops into. 

84th overall: Yegor Zavragin - G - Mamonty Yugry / MHL 

Jesper Wallstedt is the future. Wallstedt has the potential to not just lock down the starting goalie spot for Minnesota for years to come, but he also has it in him to be an elite netminder every season. 

However, goalies are odd. And while I hate to harp on it every single mock, it's important to be diligent in refilling your goalie cupboard. Because what we've seen time and again is that even very well-built teams and teams loaded with star power struggle to reach the promised land due to insecurity at the goalie position. It wasn't that long ago where we were all saying that between Kaapo Kahkonen, Hunter Jones, and Filip Lindberg, the Wild were going to have plenty of options between the pipes. Now only Jones is even with the Wild - and his performances the past few years have been disappointing to say the least. 

Enter Zavragin - between his youth and his nationality, he's been partially ignored by the scouting community. But he's been in the MHL since he was 16, and largely been pretty damn good the entire time. As he continues to climb the ranks in Russia, I expect him to develop into Russia's premier goalies. If/when the Wild get him over here, he'd be a dynamite insurance plan for Wallstedt. And if we don't end up needing him - we could obviously always flip him to a goalie-desperate team for some draft capital and do it all again.

116th overall: Carter Southeran - RHD - Portland Winterhawks / WHL

Carter Southeran is a big, puck-moving defenseman playing for Portland. He's been climbing draft charts - but the fact that he's still projected to go into the back half of the draft says a lot about where he was before this cycle really got going. 

But between this guy's size, temperament, and well-rounded game, I have to think that no matter what organization he goes to, Southeran is going to find a place in the lineup. Couldn't hurt to have a guy like that in the Wild's system.

148th overall: Tanner Adams - C - Tri-City Storm / USHL

The one word I would use to describe Tanner Adams is strong. Despite not being the biggest, tallest, quickest dude on the ice, he fights for every single inch of it. His 200-foot game and physicality says to me that his game should translate pretty well when it comes time for him to make the NHL. There's a very good chance he's nothing more than a 3rd-line center, but that's okay. He's got enough upside to where I'd feel comfortable drafting him in the back half of the draft and sliding him into the cards. 

180th overall: Cole Knuble - RW - University of Notre Dame / NCAA

It's hard to project where Cole Knuble ends up being drafted. He has the intelligence and offensive acumen of a player you'd see chosen in the top 100 picks, and some real upside. However, his skating is so bad that plenty of teams are just going to take him off their board completely.

While I wouldn't take him too high, I think he's a fine player to have as a project if you're able to get him deep in the draft. He wins puck battles, has a great set of neutral ice passes, and is able to contribute despite being a far worse skater than the other kids he's playing with. If the Wild are able to fix this issue, Knuble has NHL potential. 

212nd overall: Alexis Daviault - LHD - Erie Otters / OHL

The production hasn't been there for Alexis Daviault yet...but his development has become obvious. He's a well rounded blueliner who's very smart positionally but has shown an ability to contribute on the rush and read the defense. 

He's flown under the radar so far, but I think he's more talented than his production would lead us to believe. He'd be a great pick late in the draft.