The 2023 NHL Draft begins two weeks from tomorrow in Nashville. This is going to be a fun draft to see how it unfolds. We know that Connor Bedard will go first overall to the Chicago Blackhawks. Then it’s a mystery.

This class appears deep with great potential through round one and into the early part of round two. The Buffalo Sabres currently sitting with picks 13, 39, and 45 have themselves in a strong spot to add more talent to their already-loaded prospect pool.

After spending the last two months talking with people and watching some of these players I’m ready to put out my top 32 rankings for this class. I’m not going to pretend that I’ve watched all of these players. I’ve been able to get at least one or two viewings of about half of them. I leaned a little more into feedback I received from people that have watched a lot more of them than I have to help me craft this list.

I’d also stress to pay attention to the tiering over the actual rank. These players are pretty close within their given tier, in my opinion. I’ll share some thoughts on the top 10 picks and then it’ll just be a listing from there.

Tier 1

1. Connor Bedard | F | WHL – Regina Pats

Bedard is the stand-alone top prospect in this draft. He’s good. Really good. I’m not sure what else to say here besides that.

Tier 2

2. Matvei Michkov | F | KHL – Sochi

For a few years leading up to this draft, 2023 was the Bedard and Michkov draft. Then the Russian forward hit some bumps and slid down some draft boards. After a strong finish to his draft-year season in the KHL with Sochi, he’s back in the conversation at the top of the draft in terms of rankings.

Where he’ll be selected is another question. There have been rumors that he may fall out of the top 10 altogether with concerns about his contract in the KHL (three more years) and other off-ice issues. Some scouts even have problems with his on-ice game.

I feel as though his ceiling makes him the second-best prospect in this class. The Buffalo Sabres are a team that has put themselves in a spot that can afford to wait for him to come over to North America in a few years. If he does fall down the board close to the 10th pick in the draft it wouldn’t surprise me if the Sabres consider moving up to get him.

3. Leo Carlsson | F | SHL – Orebro

Carlsson is one of my favorite players in this draft. I went back and forth between him and Michkov at second overall. Every time I watch this kid play he jumps off the screen. He has the prototypical size for a centerman.

He put up good numbers in the SHL and World Championships playing against men. His vision and hockey IQ are excellent. Carlsson has some work to do on his shot, but he’s not far from being ready to step into the NHL.

4. Adam Fantilli | F | NCAA – University of Michigan

The Hobey Baker Award winner will probably be the second overall pick by the Anaheim Ducks. Ranking him fourth isn’t a shot at the player because I think he has a ton of talent. This second tier is extremely close.

When it came down to it, I felt that Fantilli has the most ground to make up to be NHL-ready among the three. The bit of irony is that he may be the only one to play pro hockey in North America among this group.

Fantilli plays the game at 100 miles per hour all the time. There is no break pedal for this kid. That’s fun to watch, but it sometimes gets him in trouble. Once he figures out how to manage his pace at the NHL level he’ll be a top-line forward for a decade.

Tier 3

5. Will Smith | F | U18 US National Development Program

I debated putting Smith into that second tier, but ultimately decided on having him lead off the third group. The top center on the U18 US National Development team this year is another exciting player with all of the tools.

He reminds me a little bit of Jack Eichel in the sense that he can beat you multiple ways in the offensive zone. Smith has the shot, he can use his vision to feed his teammates, and he can win along the walls when it’s required.

6. Oliver Moore | F | U18 US National Development Program

Up next, is the second-line center on that national team. Moore has become my favorite realistic option for the Sabres at 13. He’s an electric skater with the offensive skill to go along with it.

https://twitter.com/Scouching/status/1667253412767977491?s=20

Moore is also the player you’ll see get praise from people in their tracking data. He’ll go play with 2022 second-overall pick Logan Cooley next season at the University of Minnesota.

7. David Reinbacher| RD | NL – EHC Kloten

The Austrian is the top defenseman on the board. He’s a complete two-way defender. I don’t have a lot to say about Reinbacher because he’s not flashy, but has all the tools to be a top-four defenseman in the NHL for a long time.

8. Zach Benson | F | WHL – Winnipeg Ice

Matt Savoie’s teammate for the Winnipeg Ice, Zach Benson, is so fun to watch. He’s only 5’10” (on a good day), but he flashes every time I tuned in to see Savoie. This player fits the Sabres’ style of being willing to go through a wall to get the puck.

He’s right up there with Moore as one of my favorite options at 13.

9. Dalibor Dvorsky | F | HockeyAllsvenskan – AIK

Dvorsky is the top Slovakian prospect in this draft class draft. It wouldn’t surprise me if he goes in the top five picks.

He already has a solid two-way game at this point in his career. Dvorsky knows how to control the puck with his body and create space for himself around the net.

10. Axel Sandin Pellikka | RD | SHL – Skelleftea

The Swedish defender was one of my favorite prospects coming into my research a few months ago. I haven’t soured on him, per se. The insane talent at forward in this class pushed him down to 10 for me.

He’s sliding down boards and it’s highly possible he’ll be there for the Sabres at 13. We’re seeing a situation where his height (5’9″) is becoming an issue. I don’t share that concern. He was one of the best players against his peers in the 2023 U20 World Juniors and was good against men in the SHL. ASP also fills a need for the Sabres.

11. Matthew Wood | F | NCAA – UConn

12. Gabe Perreault | F | U18 US National Development Program

13. Nate Danielson | F | WHL – Brandon Wheat Kings

14. Eduard Sale | F | Czechia – HC Brno

15. Ryan Leonard | F | U18 US National Development Program

16. Andrew Cristall | F | WHL – Kelowna Rockets

Tier 4

17. Dmitri Simashev | LD | KHL – Lokomotiv

18. Brayden Yager | F | WHL – Moose Jaw Warriors

19. Quentin Musty | F | OHL – Sudbury Wolves

20. Colby Barlow | F | OHL – Owen Sound Attack

21. Etienne Morin | LD | QMJHL – Moncton Wildcats

22. Calum Ritchie | F | OHL – Oshawa Generals

23. Gavin Brindley | F | NCAA – University of Michigan

24. Daniil But | F | KHL – Yaroslavl

25. Mikhail Gulyayev | LD | MHL – Omskie

Tier 5

26. Riley Heidt | F | WHL – Prince George Cougars

27. Jayden Perron | F | USHL – Chicago Steel

28. Tom Willander | RD | SHL – Rogle

29. Bradley Nadeau | F | BCHL – Penticton Vees

30. Otto Stenberg | F | SHL – Frolunda

31. Koehn Ziemmer | F | WHL – Prince George Cougars

32. Samuel Honzek | F | WHL – Vancouver Giants

Photo Credit: WHL