2023 NHL Draft: Complete First Round Draft Order
By Jim Lynch
The 2023 NHL Draft will be a make or break moment for a lot of different teams in the league right now. For some, this is a moment to start the process of rebuilding, while for others this will be a big day to continue to squeeze out the most amount of time in their contending window.
The NHL Draft is split in between two days. The first round takes place on day one, with the 32 best prospects going to some very lucky teams. Day two is made up of rounds two though seven, and there are still plenty of talented players available at that time. With the draft coming next week, let’s look at the complete order of the first round.
2023 NHL Draft: Complete First Round Draft Order
1. Chicago
2. Anaheim
3. Columbus
4. San Jose
5. Montreal
6. Arizona
7. Philadelphia
8. Washington
9. Detroit
10. St. Louis
11. Vancouver
12. Arizona (from OTT)
13. Buffalo
14. Pittsburgh
15. Nashville
16. Calgary
17. Detroit (from NYI via VAN)
18. Winnipeg
19. Chicago (from TBL)
20. Seattle
21. Minnesota
22. Philadelphia (from LAK via CBJ)
23. NY Rangers
24. Nashville (from EDM)
25. St. Louis (from TOR)
26. San Jose (from NJD)
27. Colorado
28. Toronto (from BOS via WSH)
29. St. Louis (from DAL via NYR)
30. Carolina
31. Montreal (from FLA)
32. Vegas
The Blackhawks won thedraft lottery in May and will have the chance to take the first pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. Some seasons, it is not really known who the top team will take, that is not the case this season with a player like Connor Bedard available.
After Chicago, the Anaheim Ducks will get to draft second overall. There is a ton of options for the Ducks at two, but Adam Fantilli is definitely the favorite. Fantilli and Bedard remind me of the 2015 draft when Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel went one and two. Both are really talented players and either franchise would be happy to have them.
The 2023 NHL Draft is on Wednesday, June 28 at 7 p.m. ET with day two picking up the next morning.