NHL Mock Draft: Pronman, Wheeler and Bultman pick two rounds as if they were the GMs (2024)

Today we’re trying a new type of mock draft. This is a two-round “If I were GM” mock draft. Most mocks are about predicting how the actual NHL Draft will go, even if they’re often highly unsuccessfully at doing so. Here, the three co-authors have put on their GM hats, studied their own draft lists and team depth charts, and made decisions as if they were making the picks for the clubs. Max Bultman joined Corey Pronman and Scott Wheeler for this exercise to provide as many different perspectives as possible, and also in part because he doesn’t have a published list, adding an element of surprise to the mock.

Final 2023 NHL Mock Draft

Round 1

1. Chicago Blackhawks (Pick by Corey Pronman): Connor Bedard, C, Regina
It’s easy to be tempted to make a joke about this being a no-brainer decision, but there was a point in the first half where I and several scouts I was talking to thought it would be a tough decision between Bedard and Adam Fantilli. Fantilli is bigger, more physical, is more likely to stick at center in the NHL, and has exceptional offensive abilities. He’s a rare prospect, and looks like a true building block for a contender.

But Bedard’s offensive abilities are special. He’s the definition of a game breaker skill-wise, and is nearly a full year younger than Fantilli and Leo Carlsson. You’re willing to give back on a few differences in physical traits for one of the most gifted scorers I’ve ever seen play junior hockey.

New @TheAthleticNHL: My 2023 NHL Draft rankings, with full writeups on 100+ players, this year presented with a swanky new user interface https://t.co/GDyV4pa3Gk

— Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) May 30, 2023

2. Anaheim Ducks (Pick by Max Bultman): Adam Fantilli, C, Michigan
Leo Carlsson’s performance at the men’s world championships was a compelling closing statement, but there’s still too much to Fantilli’s overall profile for me to pass up. A big, fast center who led college hockey in scoring as a freshman and plays with an edge is the dream — and gives Anaheim perhaps the most enviable young center situation in the league.

3. Columbus Blue Jackets (Pick by Scott Wheeler): Will Smith, C, NTDP
Blue Jackets fans are probably getting tired of us going this way, but this isn’t just a mock scenario that makes sense but one I think does too. They need a high-skill, point-producing center as much any team in the league and while they’ve had success bringing over Russian players (Kirill Marchenko, Dmitri Voronko, Yegor Chinakhov), I think position will, and should, determine that this is between Smith and Leo Carlsson if the Ducks take Fantilli. I’d strongly consider Carlsson here in their shoes, but I think Smith’s dynamic on-puck talent would win out for me.

Read more: NHL Staff Mock Draft 2.0: Bedard is No. 1, but where do Fantilli, Carlsson, Michkov land?

4. San Jose Sharks (Pick by Corey Pronman): Matvei Michkov, RW, SKA
Carlsson is a great player, but there is a wide difference on my grading between him and Michkov. The difference is big enough to where I’d gamble with my job security to get an offensive talent as rare as Michkov even with all the obvious risks known in Michkov’s case with a KHL contract through the 2026 season. The last time the two of them were on the same ice surface (Hlinka Gretzky of 2021) it wasn’t even close as to who looked like the better player. A lot of hockey has been played since, Carlsson has emerged as an elite center prospect, he’s a lot bigger and competes a little harder. But Michkov is a game-breaker with his skill, hockey sense and natural finishing ability on levels way above Carlsson.

Part 3 of a look at the best options available for the Sharks with the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NHL draft:

This is the case for Matvei Michkov …

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— Corey Masisak (@cmasisak22) June 5, 2023

5. Montreal Canadiens (Pick by Max Bultman): Leo Carlsson, C, Örebro
The Canadiens pick becomes easy in this scenario, with Carlsson the last remaining of a near-consensus top group — and a player who could have gone as early as No. 2. Carlsson is coming off an impressive showing at worlds, where he played center on Sweden’s top line and looked right at home in doing so. That should give confidence that he can stick there long term, but his offensive skill at his 6-foot-3 size would make him a strong top-five pick even without that certainty.

6: Arizona Coyotes (Pick by Scott Wheeler): Zach Benson, LW, Winnipeg
The Coyotes’ pool is stronger at forward than on defense, but it’s also lighter on left-shot wing prospects than centers or right-handed wingers, and I’m not convinced David Reinbacher is a better prospect than a Zach Benson or a Gabe Perreault. He might be a safer one, but this isn’t the time in the draft to play it safe. I think the gap between Reinbacher and the D who may be available with their second pick in the first round is small enough that I’d swing for a future linemate for Logan Cooley or Dylan Guenther here and add Benson, a player who can do it all, makes everyone better, and has plenty of skill. It doesn’t hurt that he’s 2022 first-rounder Conor Geekie’s current teammate in Winnipeg, either.

7. Philadelphia Flyers (Pick by Corey Pronman): David Reinbacher, RHD, Kloten
I’m thrilled to get the best defenseman in the draft in Reinbacher to couple with a premium center prospect in Cutter Gauthier. Those are two big, competitive, skilled players who can play at an NHL pace. This is not a no-brainer at No. 7 but I’m taking him and feeling very good about getting both the best player available and filling a premium position with someone whose gotten it done versus pros this season.

8. Washington Capitals (Pick by Max Bultman): Dalibor Dvorsky, C, AIK
The Capitals’ prospect pool has needs aplenty, but given the ages of Nicklas Bäckström and Evgeny Kuznetsov — and considering Washington likely hopes to not draft in the top 10 for the next couple of years, as the Alex Ovechkin clock ticks — I’ll take this opportunity to give them a young centerman. Despite being on the younger end of this class, Dvorsky is already playing against men, so he could plausibly join the fold before Ovechkin retires, and his World U18 showing was a reminder of his offensive abilities. When the Capitals’ eventual rebuild does arrive, he can be a big piece of it.

9. Detroit Red Wings (Pick by Scott Wheeler): Gabriel Perreault, LW, NTDP
The Red Wings need an injection of talent up front. A point producer. A true power-play type. Perreault’s the most purely talented player left for me, and while he may not have the physical build of a Ryan Leonard or an Oliver Moore, nor the power and scrappiness of the former or the speed of the latter, I think he’s got smarts, and playmaking, and individual skill to compensate.

10. St. Louis Blues (Pick by Corey Pronman): Nate Danielson, C, Brandon
The Blues system is craving a center like Danielson, a highly-skilled, play-driving center with size who can play both ways. He projects in a few years to be a very good partner to Robert Thomas high in the lineup. I was hoping to get Dvorsky or Danielson at this spot.

11. Vancouver Canucks (Pick by Max Bultman): Tom Willander, RHD, Rögle
It’s surprising to see Ryan Leonard still on the board here, but with Vancouver well-stocked on the wing and thinner in their D pipeline, snatching up Willander makes a lot of sense. He’s a remarkable skater with size and all-situations value, and projects to be a big-minute type on the right side for the Canucks.

12. Arizona Coyotes (Pick by Scott Wheeler): Ryan Leonard, RW, NTDP
My plan was to go Benson into Axel Sandin Pellikka for the Coyotes at No. 6 and No. 12, adding a premium asset at LW and RHD. But I wasn’t expecting Leonard to still be available, and the Coyotes shouldn’t be married to a plan. I’d be thrilled to get Benson and Leonard, two of the draft’s true competitors, and add them to a group of forwards that includes Cooley, Guenther, Geekie, Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz and Matias Maccelli. Suddenly you’ve got a lot to work with up front.

13. Buffalo Sabres (Pick by Corey Pronman): Daniil But, RW, Lokomotiv
I was between But and Dmitri Simashev here for Buffalo, both of whom I think would fit in perfectly into their depth charts. I think But is just a bit more talented, and can provide a unique combination of size, speed and skill into the Sabres lineup. This organization has also shown a recent history of drafting Russians and getting them signed.

14. Pittsburgh Penguins (Pick by Max Bultman): Samuel Honzek, LW, Vancouver
The Penguins badly need to restock their prospect pool, and in Honzek, they do that while also adding someone who may be able to contribute before the Crosby-Malkin era ends. He’s a big-bodied winger who can score and provide two-way value, and while he may not quite enter his prime before Pittsburgh’s core is done, he should still be able to help, and then become a building block for the next era.

15. Nashville Predators (Pick by Scott Wheeler): Oliver Moore, C, NTDP
The Preds’ pool is deepest on the wings, so this choice came down to center ice and defense, two premium positions they could stand to spend premium draft capital on. Right-shot Swedish defenseman Sandin Pellikka’s availability was tempting, but Moore, the best skater in the draft, is my best player available and a natural center. I also considered Moose Jaw pivot Brayden Yager here.

My final #2023NHLDraft ranking is out at @TheAthletic:
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— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) June 5, 2023

16. Calgary Flames (Pick by Corey Pronman): Dmitri Simashev, LHD, Lokomotiv
This is a tough one. I think Simashev is the best player available. I’m a little worried about this organization’s lack of track record drafting and recruiting Russians. Matthew Wood would be closely graded behind him, but he’s yet another winger with a team that’s drafted a lot of forwards high lately and could very much use a defenseman in their system. Brayden Yager would be the third-best available for me, but he’s not for sure an NHL center and the talent is not off-the-charts good. I swallow the risk and take a premier defense prospect in Simashev, and hope we can get him signed without issue.

17. Detroit Red Wings (Pick by Max Bultman): Colby Barlow, LW, Owen Sound (OHL)
The big decision here was between Barlow and Sandin Pellikka, with Detroit needing an RHD long term and having already chosen a winger in this mock. But the Red Wings forward pipeline could certainly use a big-time infusion, and Barlow is the type of scorer they lack — while also bringing the requisite competitive traits and decent size to the table. I’ll go with Barlow for those reasons, but this was a tough call, as using two top-20 picks on wingers may not be the very best use of resources.

18. Winnipeg Jets (Pick by Scott Wheeler): Axel Sandin Pellikka, RHD, Skelleftea
After using their last four first-round picks on forwards, I can’t ignore Sandin Pellikka still being around for the Jets. He fills an area of need, is in the BPA conversation, and gets to join Skelleftea teammate (and future Swedish world junior teammate) Elias Salomonsson in the Jets organization.

19. Chicago Blackhawks (Pick by Corey Pronman): Matthew Wood, RW, UConn
I debated Yager here but I’m not sure Chicago can have three 5-foot-10 or 5-foot-11 centers between him Bedard and Frank Nazar. Wood is my best talent on board, anyways, and could form a connection with Bedard on a power play one day.

20. Seattle Kraken (Pick by Max Bultman): Brayden Yager, C/W, Moose Jaw
The Kraken are in no such predicament and are happy to take Yager, who really stepped up in the playoffs for Moose Jaw. It was a reminder why he was so highly regarded entering his draft year, and not only do the Kraken not need to worry whether he sticks at center long term, they might even prefer him on the wing with Matty Beniers and Shane Wright already in tow.

21. Minnesota Wild (Pick by Scott Wheeler): Eduard Sale, LW, Brno
Ideally, the Wild would love to get a top-six center prospect here. But their pool is well-stocked across positions, the true top prospects down the middle are gone, and in their shoes I’d take a swing on a talent. They haven’t been shy before, and Sale is a worthwhile cut once the cream of the crop is gone. I’d make that judgment about here and live with it.

22. Philadelphia Flyers (Pick by Corey Pronman): David Edstrom, C, Frolunda
Philadelphia adds a very good two-way center with size and speed in Edstrom at No. 22. By adding him and Reinbacher in the same draft Philly has added legit talents at two premium positions in this draft.

23. New York Rangers (Pick by Max Bultman): Charlie Stramel, C, Wisconsin
Stramel fits nicely for the Rangers, a physical force down the middle who I feel has more offense than he showed as a college freshman. But even if the offense doesn’t come around at a high level, he should be a valuable playoff-style piece for the Rangers as a smooth-skating 6-foot-3 center with an edge.

24. Nashville Predators (Pick by Scott Wheeler): Andrew Cristall, LW, Kelowna
After adding a center at No. 15 in Oliver Moore, the Preds feel a little more comfortable going to a winger here and use their second pick to take a swing on Cristall, one of the most productive non-Bedard CHL prospects to come through the draft in years. I recognize this would be a little rich for some but I don’t see it that way given the remaining prospects, and I don’t think a Preds team that has sorely needed skill for years should either.

25. St. Louis Blues (Pick by Corey Pronman): Tanner Molendyk, LHD, Saskatoon
The Blues add one of the best skaters in the draft and a competitive two-way defenseman in Molendyk, although one who isn’t that big. I would consider Oliver Bonk here too for the size element on defense.

26. San Jose Sharks (Pick by Max Bultman): Oliver Bonk, RHD, London
Since 2013, the Sharks have only used one first-round pick on a defenseman (Ryan Merkley in 2018, who is no longer in the organization). That changes here, as San Jose nabs Bonk and gets a much safer pick to complement their earlier swing on Michkov.

27. Colorado Avalanche (Pick by Scott Wheeler): Calum Ritchie, C, Oshawa
The Avs are in no position to be picky about position or need, with one of the thinnest pools in the league. Ritchie, the best available center and a player who belongs in the first round — with his good size and well-rounded skill, and another level to find — seems a good place to start.

28. Toronto Maple Leafs (Pick by Corey Pronman): Quentin Musty, LW, Sudbury
The Leafs add a big forward with a ton of skill and playmaking ability in Musty even though his footspeed is not the best.

29. St. Louis Blues (Pick by Max Bultman): Danny Nelson, C, U.S. NTDP
The Blues take a shot on one of the more interesting players in the draft, as Nelson joined the U.S. NTDP full time this year after playing high school hockey in 2021-22. He took tough assignments for Team USA, and while he didn’t necessarily light up the scoresheet, he still produced at a respectable rate and then had an impressive U18 worlds. He may just be scratching the surface of his potential, as a 6-foot-3 center who previously played defense.

30. Carolina Hurricanes (Pick by Scott Wheeler): Mikhail Gulyayev, LHD, Omsk
The Hurricanes took four Russians with their seven picks a year ago and they’re excited to go back to the podium and take another in Gulyayev, arguably the most talented offensive defenseman in the draft.

31. Montreal Canadiens (Pick by Corey Pronman): Otto Stenberg, LW, Frolunda
A part of me is hesitant to pick Stenberg here and opt for a blueliner for Montreal like Lukas Dragicevic or Maxim Strbak. Stenberg is the top-rated player on my board but I wonder between him, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Owen Beck and Filip Mesar how many sub 6-foot-1 guys can you have in one forward group? Mesar and Beck aren’t a sure thing though so I don’t overthink it and take a very well-rounded winger in Stenberg.

32. Vegas Golden Knights (Pick by Max Bultman): Gavin Brindley, C/W, Michigan
Brindley is quite small, but he has the wheels and motor to help compensate and is coming off an excellent freshman season at Michigan. I don’t know exactly how much he’ll score as a pro, but he did put up nearly a point per game as a freshman, and there are enough elements to his game to believe he finds a steady NHL role.

Round 2

33. Anaheim Ducks (Pick by Scott Wheeler): Bradly Nadeau, LW, Penticton
The Ducks’ deep pool at multiple positions gives them the flexibility to take a swing here, especially after getting Fantilli at the top. I wouldn’t hesitate to take Nadeau, who played to a near-historic pace in the BCHL and can skate and create with the best of them in this age group.

34. Columbus Blue Jackets (Pick by Corey Pronman): Lukas Dragicevic, RHD, Tri-City
Columbus continues to bolster a strong defense prospect pool by adding the highly skilled, although questionable, defender Dragicevic.

35. Chicago Blackhawks (Pick by Max Bultman): Anton Wahlberg, C, Malmö
GM Pronman mentioned Chicago’s center pipeline being on the smaller side earlier, and Wahlberg addresses that immediately as a 6-foot-3 pivot who already earned SHL action this season and had a productive U18s.

36. San Jose Sharks (Pick by Scott Wheeler): Riley Heidt, C, Prince George
Having already added a winger in Michkov and a defenseman in Bonk, the Sharks strike on Heidt, a competitive playmaking center who nearly hit 100 points in the WHL this season and has for years been a top prospect in a strong 2005 age group out of Western Canada.

37. Montreal Canadiens (Pick by Corey Pronman): Maxim Strbak, RHD, Sioux Falls
Strbak is a very competitive defenseman who can skate and has length. I debated him at No. 31 so was happy he was still there at No. 37.

38. Arizona Coyotes (Pick by Max Bultman): Michael Hrabal, G, Omaha
The Coyotes have made several early picks the last couple drafts, but have yet to spend one on a goalie. Here they get the potential top goalie in the class in Hrabal.

39. Buffalo Sabres (Pick by Scott Wheeler): Ethan Gauthier, RW, Sherbrooke
The Sabres have no shortage of talented forward prospects and Gauthier, who projects as a hard-working and well-rounded third-line guy who can move up and down the lineup, makes a lot of sense as a potential complement to them.

40. Washington Capitals (Pick by Corey Pronman): Oscar Fisker Molgaard, C, HV71
I was hoping to get Hrabal here but Arizona snatched him from my grasp. Alternatively, Washington adds another highly-skilled and competitive center prospect to join Dvorsky in Fisker Molgaard.

41. Detroit Red Wings (Pick by Max Bultman): Felix Nilsson, C, Rögle
Nilsson flew a bit under the radar for much of the year, but he fits the profile of a Detroit type and has big believers at Rögle, where plenty of Red Wings prospects have been brought along in recent years.

42. Detroit Red Wings (Pick by Scott Wheeler): Jayden Perron, RW, Chicago
The Red Wings should continue to prioritize skill and playmaking with their cluster of second-round picks, and that’s what taking Perron, one of the highest-IQ players in the draft offensively, represents.

43. Detroit Red Wings (Pick by Corey Pronman): Etienne Morin, LHD, Moncton
The Wings have added a lot of forwards in this draft so they turn to the blue line here getting one of the most offensively talented blueliners in the draft.

44. Chicago Blackhawks (Pick by Max Bultman): Theo Lindstein, LHD, Brynäs
The Blackhawks have likewise loaded up on forwards in this draft, and are glad to take Lindstein, who played much of the season in Sweden’s top league and was counted on for huge minutes at U18 worlds.

45. Buffalo Sabres (Pick by Scott Wheeler): Hunter Brzustewicz, RHD, Kitchener
After adding two wingers to their already-large pile with their first two picks of the draft, the Sabres are happy to add Brzustewicz, an athletic and smart defender who could some day factor into their depth behind stars Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power.

46. Nashville Predators (Pick by Corey Pronman): Arttu Karki, LHD, Taapara
The Preds have added several quality forwards in this draft but now it’s time to add skill, mobility and size on the blue line in Karki and give their system something to hope for on defense which they lack currently.

47. Nashville Predators (Pick by Max Bultman): Carson Rehkopf, C, Kitchener
Only Colby Barlow and Nick Lardis scored more goals among first-year draft eligibles in the OHL this season, and Rehkopf comes with the bonus of being a big-bodied center. The Predators are happy to take that swing here.

48. Calgary Flames (Pick by Scott Wheeler): Kasper Halttunen, RW, HIFK
After adding size and length on the blue line in the first round with Dmitri Simashev, the Flames add some up front to a pool whose top prospects skew smaller. Halttunen’s a 200-plus pound winger who can really shoot it.

49. New York Islanders (Pick by Corey Pronman): Juraj Pekarcik, LW, Nitra
The Islanders have a lot of needs, but getting a player, albeit a winger, with Pekarcik’s speed, skill and frame who is only a few days away from being 2024 eligible at No. 49 is highly intriguing.

50. Seattle Kraken (Pick by Max Bultman): Jesse Kiiskinen, RW, Pelicans
Kiiskinen was one of the highest-scoring U18 players in the Finnish junior league this year, coupled with being one of the youngest players in this draft class. My analytics staff will like that combination, and Kiiskinen has impressed when I’ve seen him live at the U18 Five Nations.

51. Chicago Blackhawks (Pick by Scott Wheeler): Nick Lardis, LW, Hamilton
The Blackhawks prioritized skating with their forwards at the draft last year when they took guys like Frank Nazar and Paul Ludwinski. I like the idea of doubling down here on Lardis, a breakout star of the second half who can fly. This next generation in Chicago is going to be fast.

52. Seattle Kraken (Pick by Corey Pronman): Nico Myatovic, LW, Seattle
We stay local and get a big winger in Myatovic who can contribute at both ends of the rink. I debated Luca Cagnoni here but I thought the prospect pool could use a little more size, especially after adding Yager and Kiiskinen.

53. Minnesota Wild (Pick by Max Bultman): Caden Price, LHD, Kelowna
The Wild don’t have any standout needs in their pool to address, so they keep it simple and take a well-rounded defenseman in Price.

54. Los Angeles Kings (Pick by Scott Wheeler): Koehn Ziemmer, RW, Prince George
The Kings’ pool is surprisingly thin on the wing, so I’m excited to get Ziemmer — a 40-goal scorer this season who has earned respect around the WHL and with Hockey Canada — in the 50s.

55. Chicago Blackhawks (Pick by Corey Pronman): Luca Cagnoni, LHD, Portland
Chicago has a lot of big, mobile blueliners in their system, and in Cagnoni they add some dynamic speed and skill on the back end albeit he is undersized.

56. Edmonton Oilers (Pick by Max Bultman): Carson Bjarnason, G, Branson
Stuart Skinner’s big rookie season helps, but Edmonton can use a high-upside youngster in the system long term, and this is a good spot for that swing with Bjarnason, Trey Augustine and Adam Gajan still on the board. We’ll go with Bjarnason, who wasn’t in the best situation this season in Brandon but made the most of it.

57. Seattle Kraken (Pick by Scott Wheeler): Trey Augustine, G, NTDP
After taking forwards with their first three picks of the draft, the Kraken fortify their pipeline in net with Augustine, a goalie I believe belongs in the conversation with Hrabal at the top of a fairly-strong goalie class.

58. New Jersey Devils (Pick by Corey Pronman): Carey Terrance, C, Erie
Terrance is one of the better skaters in the draft who also scored 30 goals in the OHL this season.

59. Anaheim Ducks (Pick by Max Bultman): Kalan Lind, LW, Red Deer
With the first of two back-to-back picks, the Ducks grab a player with appealing competitiveness. Between him, Fantilli and Mason McTavish, they can help form a tough identity in Anaheim.

60. Anaheim Ducks (Pick by Scott Wheeler): Alex Ciernik, LW, Sodertalje
The Ducks’ pool is strong across the board and they don’t need to draft for position here because of it. The skilled and speedy Ciernik, who has already had success playing pro in HockeyAllsvenskan and has a strong track record against his age group domestically and internationally, is my top prospect left.

61. Dallas Stars (Pick by Corey Pronman): Adam Gajan, G, Chippewa
Jake Oettinger is only 24 years old, but by the time Gajan is ready to help Dallas, Oettinger will be about 28 or 29. Gajan is my second-ranked goalie in the class, and a high-end athlete.

62. Carolina Hurricanes (Pick by Max Bultman): Cam Allen, RHD, Guelph
There was a time when Allen was considered the potential top D in this class. Instead, he seemed to take a step back in his draft year, but the Hurricanes will take the bet he can rediscover his underage-season form.

63. Florida Panthers (Pick by Scott Wheeler): Noah Dower Nilsson, LW, Frolunda
With their first pick in the draft, I like the idea of taking a skill-first player here for the Panthers, and the finesse game of Dower Nilsson, the most productive under-18 skater in Sweden’s J20 level this year, fits the bill.

64. Minnesota Wild (Pick by Corey Pronman): Beau Akey, RHD Barrie
With the last pick in our two-round mock we get the wild a skilled defenseman with decent size in Akey who is an excellent skater.

(Illustration: Sean Reilly / The Athletic; photos: Minas Panagiotakis, Dennis Pajot, Monika Majer / Getty Images)