2023 NHL Projected Draft: Where Will Connor Bedard And Matvei Michkov Land?

The NHL will be holding the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery live tonight at 8 p.m. ET.
Tune in to ESPN for full coverage.

The Anaheim Ducks have the best odds to win this years NHL Lottery with the Columbus Blue Jackets just behind, with that in mind. Let's take a look at the NHL Draft class and the likely order the Draft will follow, all though anything is possible.

Here is a quick run down of the NHL Draft Lottery Rules:

This year's NHL Draft Lottery will be two draws.

The Draft Lottery is only for the 16 teams that did not make the cut into the playoffs (or teams that have acquired the first-round drafting positions from those non-playoff teams).

There is a limit on the total number of selections a team participating in the Draft Lottery can move up, in the event a team wins one of the Lottery Draws, which is a MAX of 10 positions - meaning:

Only Top 11 seeds will be eligible to receive 1st overall. Only Top 12 seeds will be eligible to move up to 2nd overall.

If a team in the 12-16 range wins the 1st drawing, the 1st pick will remain with the team with the lowest win percentage. (same rules apply to 2nd drawing for teams from 13-16 range).

If this is confusing, don't be discouraged. It will all make sense come Monday night, and it will seem and look a lot more similar watching live.
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This Draft is stacked with some amazing young talent, this class could possibly be one of the best in NHL history. No team will want to miss out on the big names this class has to offer.

With that said, Dylan Robillard looked into the most likely scenario for the upcoming NHL Draft in Nashville, Tennsanse.

1. Anaheim Ducks � Connor Bedard, C, Regina Pats
The Anaheim Ducks add to their young team with another incredible player in Connor Bedard. He finished with 100 points in his second season with Regina in the WHL and will still be 17 years old going into the draft. He will join Trevor Zegras and former teammate and friend Mason McTavish.

2. Columbus Blue Jackets � Adam Fantilli, C, Michigan
What a great addition Adam Fantilli would be for the Blue Jackets, as Fantilli and Johnny Gaudreau would work very well together.

3. Chicago Blackhawks � Will Smith, C, USNTDP
It is hard to tell where Will Smith will land in the draft this year, he has gone from 8th, 5th, to now 3rd projected. So it is unclear who will pass on him, but he would fit very well with a Blackhawks team, who lost Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.

4. San Jose Sharks � Matvei Michkov, RW, KHL
Matvei Michkov, is battling the loss of his father is unfortunately a big question mark. As it is unclear if teams will pass on his amazing potential due to his loss and things going on in Russia at the moment. Which is truly unfortunate ass the kid was projected 2nd-3rd overall in this years draft. He now sits projected 4th overall, where in this case the San Jose Sharks would land him.

5. Montreal Canadiens � Leo Carlsson, C/W, SHL
Another young team that is struggling with injuries, the Canadiens 1st round pick from last year Juraj Slafkovsky, is one of those players hurt. The Canadiens have been lucky with their picks and team this past couple years and Carlsson would just add to it.

6. Arizona Coyotes � Oliver Moore, C, USNTDP
The Gary Bettman project is begging for fixes, Clayton Keller and Oliver Moore would be steller together. Which would sure to put butts in seats.

7. Philadelphia Flyers � Zach Benson, C/W, Winnipeg
The Flyers have never won the lottery, they did pick first in 1975 put had to trade for it. After failing to tank and make fans happy it looks like the Flyers will be outside the top 5 without some luck. So it is really a throw up who Danny Briere could possibly take. The canadien Zach Benson looks strong and is open to moving around, many think the Flyers may even go to Dalibor Dvorsky.

Scouting Report: Benson's a multi-dimensional forward who has quick acceleration, he can handle the puck at speed and change tempos in control, shaping plays by opening up his hips, thrives in traffic, is a dual shot-pass threat, plays one step ahead of the game in possession, supports the play effectively, problem-solves as well as anyone in this class (in an age group that is full of intelligent playmakers.

8. Washington Capitals � Axel Sandin Pellikka, D, SHL
The Washington Capitals were in the playoffs talks but fell out and kept falling. It would be no surprise if this team gets moved up in the draft and gets lucky with the lottery, but landing a D-man would really help the Caps.

9. Detroit Red Wings � Eduard Sale, RW, Czech Rep.
The Red Wings and the city of Detroit is desperate for something big and Sale would be a great piece to helping move the team in the right direction.

10. St. Louis Blues � Ryan Leonard, C, USNTDP
This is one of the Blues 3 first round picks in this years draft, and they could possibly move even higher up. Ryan Leonard and the 2 other players the Blues get in this draft, could be huge and make up for the loses St Louis had to get the picks.

11. Vancouver Canucks � Andrew Cristall, LW, Kelowna
12. Arizona Coyotes (via OTT) � Brayden Yager, C, Moose Jaw
13. Buffalo Sabres � Matthew Wood, RW, UConn
14. Pittsburgh Penguins �Gabe Perrault, C, USNTDP
15. Nashville Predators � David Reinbacher, D, Austria
16. Calgary Flames � Dalibor Dvorsky, C, Slovakia
17. Montreal Canadiens (via FLA) � Mikhail Gulyayev, D, Russia
18. Detroit Red Wings (via NYI) � Gavin Brindley, RW, Michigan
19. Winnipeg Jets � Nate Danielson, C, Brandon
20. Chicago Blackhawks (via TBL) � Lukas Dragicevic, D, Tri-City
21. Seattle Kraken � Colby Barlow, LW, Owen Sound
22. Minnesota Wild � Dmitri Simashev, D, Russia
23. Columbus Blue Jackets (via LAK) � Samuel Honzek, C, Vancouver
24. New York Rangers � Riley Heidt, F, Prince George
25. Nashville Predators (via EDM) � Calum Ritchie, C, Oshawa
26. San Jose Sharks (via NJD) � Jayden Perron, F, Chicago
27. Colorado Avalanche � Otto Stenberg, C/W, SHL
28. Toronto Maple Leafs (via BOS) � Maxim Strbak, D, Michigan State
29. St. Louis Blues (via DAL) � Quentin Musty, LW, Sudbury
30. St. Louis Blues (via TOR) � Caden Price, D, Kelowna
*The Blues have 3 chances in this draft and they are looking to execute on both.
31. Vegas Golden Knights � Daniil But, LW, Russia
32. Carolina Hurricanes � Tanner Molendyk, D, Saskatoon