Not every day, a professional sports league receives a deep draft class with game-transforming talents. However, the NHL Draft 2023 picks is one of the deepest talent pools the NHL has ever seen, giving those teams at the bottom of the a chance to add a high-value prospect to their organization, with the potential to change the franchise’s fortunes.
While the Chicago Blackhawks will select Connor Bedard as the number one overall pick, there are excellent talents available for the number two and three picks, and there is NHL picks betting value to be found.
We’ll review the NHL odds and preview who will go second and third with our NHL Draft 2023 picks.
2023 NHL Draft Odds
We have two sets of odds to consider and five players on the board for our NHL Draft 2023 picks.
Here are the odds for the five players entering the 2023 NHL Draft:
| Player | Odds to be Picked Second | Odds to be Picked Third |
| Adam Fantilli | -500 | +800 |
| Leo Carlsson | +550 | -130 |
| Matvei Michkov | +800 | +350 |
| Will Smith | +1600 | +180 |
| Andrew Cristall | +4000 | +4000 |
2023 NHL Draft Player Analysis
Adam Fantilli – Center, University of Michigan
In any other NHL schedule season, Fantilli would likely be the consensus number-one overall draft pick if there wasn’t a generational talent and franchise cornerstone available ahead of him.
Fantilli is fresh off a great season at the Univeristy of Michigan, winning the Hobey Baker Award as the top NCAA men’s hockey player last season, leading the nation in scoring with 30 goals and 35 assists in 36 games. He was a key contributor to Canada’s 20th gold medal win at the World Junior Hockey Championships.
While only 18, Fantilli stands 6’2” and is already listed at 195 lbs, Fantilli seems poised to step directly into the NHL next season if he wants, and he’s going to do it with the Anaheim Ducks.
Our NHL picks start with Fantilli being taken second by the Anaheim Ducks, as do most scouting services and the oddsmakers.
Fantilli won’t drop to third unless the Ducks find a trade, or they really prefer our next player.
Leo Carlsson – Center, Orebro (SHL)
Leo Carlsson is another big, highly-skilled center currently playing in the Swedish Hockey League. A professional league, where he had 25 points in 44 games and nine points in 13 playoff games.
Like Fantilli, Carlsson, who stands 6’3” and weighs 190lbs at 18 years old, is another NHL-ready center that will have an impact the moment he takes to the ice. Carlsson could go back to Orebro for another season. If the Ducks think Carlsson is the better fit to join their roster of young and emerging highly-skilled forwards like Trevor Zegras and Troy Terry than Fantilli, Carlsson could jump to second.
However, with the Columbus Blue Jackets holding the number three pick, we think this could be in play. The team looks toward the future and thinks Carlsson is their franchise’s cornerstone center for the next decade.
We’re taking Carlsson to go third overall, but we think it might not be to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Can Smith or Michkov Crack the Top-Three?
Will Smith, not the legendary entertainment star but the forward from the USA National Development Program, has committed to Boston College for 2023-2024. However, Smith is ranked everywhere from third to ninth, depending on the scouting service. Although he is ranked third in North American skaters, we don’t think Smith with jump Fantilli or Carlsson for the second or third NHL Draft 2023 pick.
However, there is a Russian wild card in the mix. Matvei Michkov is under contract to SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL and spent time on loan to HK Sochi and played with the Russian U20 team in 2022-23. An accurate shooter with high-level speed, right-winger Michkov is smaller than Fantilli or Carlsson and comes with the baggage attached to Russian players.
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