Tag: 2023 NHL Draft

Retiring Predators GM David Poile got the coolest send-off at the 2023 NHL Draft

Retiring Predators GM David Poile got the coolest send-off during Wednesday’s 2023 NHL Draft.

Retiring Nashville Predators general manager David Poile got plenty of love during this week’s 2023 NHL Draft.

As the draft was being held in Nashville at Bridgestone Arena, Poile went through his very last draft process with the Predators before he retires at the end of the month.

Former Nashville coach Barry Trotz is taking Poile’s place as the team’s general manager.

Known for pulling off quite a trade, Poile’s final trade with Nashville wound up being an incredibly special one.

In the draft’s seventh round, Poile swapped picks with New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald, who was Nashville’s very first captain.

With the pick, Poile selected right winger Aiden Fink out of Brooks (AJHL).

After the pick, Poile got a very well-deserved standing ovation from everyone in attendance at Wednesday’s draft rounds.

It’d be a moment for a lifetime in the building Poile helped bring hockey to, and he’ll undoubtedly go down as one of the most important figures in Predators (and NHL) history.

The NHL Draft 2023 winners (Blue Jackets and Flyers) and losers (no trades?) from the first round

Who won and lost from the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft.

The first round of the 2023 NHL Draft is over, and although there are six more rounds to go, there’s still plenty of awards to hand out after Thursday’s initial set of picks.

Our Mary Clarke graded every pick in the first round, but we’ll add in some of the winners and losers from a fun night that included the once-in-a-generation Connor Bedard getting taken by the Chicago Blackhawks. Beyond Bedard, there are some really intriguing names who might have been No. 1 in any other year (see below).

So let’s talk winners and losers as we get set for Day 2 of the NHL Draft:

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NHL draft order for Rounds 2 through 7 for Day 2 2023

Here’s the NHL Draft order for Day 2.

The first day of the 2023 NHL Draft is over.

It may forever be known as the Connor Bedard draft, but there were plenty of intriguing names taken in the first round on Thursday night — be sure to check out our first-round grades for every pick.

Now, starting at 11 a.m. ET — instead of at night as it was on Thursday — we get Rounds 2 through 7 of the entry draft, with lots of talent left on the board.

If you’re here, you may be looking for the draft order for the remaining rounds, especially after a bunch of trades leading up to it.

Here you go:

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2023 NHL Draft tracker: Grading every pick in the first round

The first round of the 2023 NHL Draft has come and gone. Let’s break it down with some analysis!

Welcome to the 2023 NHL Draft!

This summer’s NHL draft has been highly anticipated for some time. Between a generational hockey talent who went No. 1 overall and the general depth of this draft class, all eyes were on Wednesday’s first round of 32 picks.

Headed into Wednesday’s draft, NHL teams were quite active. Taylor Hall was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks to help usher in the franchise’s next era. The Winnipeg Jets got a haul and a half from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Pierre-Luc Dubois. And there’s no doubt more moves will be made as the NHL offseason finally kicks into high gear.

We all knew Connor Bedard was going No. 1 overall, but after that, hockey fans saw some real surprises across the board as the night progressed. Maybe the biggest stunner came when the Philadelphia Flyers selected Matvei Michkov at No. 7 overall after the talented forward fell out of the top five.

As the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft has hit its conclusion, here is the full list of all 32 picks made by teams, with analysis and grades as well!

MORE NHL:

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Sharks’ NHL Draft pick Will Smith awkwardly ‘sang’ the Fresh Prince theme song after his selection

Sharks pick Will Smith honored the Fresh Prince during the 2023 NHL Draft.

The Fresh Prince made his way into the 2023 NHL Draft…kind of.

San Jose Sharks fourth-overall draft pick Will Smith honored his namesake by playing the theme song for the beloved sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as he walked out during his selection.

As he talked with ESPN’s Emily Kaplan after the pick, the reporter got Smith to actually try his hand at singing along to the theme song’s opening stanzas.

Being a good sport, Smith jumped in and did a pretty fun (if definitely stilted) little rendition of the tune.

Y’know, for a draft that might not see a lot of these players get NHL minutes for the next few years, this is a good way to keep things entertaining.

We’re sure that once Smith gets called up to the NHL in San Jose, he’ll have plenty of opportunities to hear the Fresh Prince theme song.

Maybe that’ll be the song that plays when he scores a goal?

Carey Price seemingly forgot Canadiens’ NHL Draft pick David Reinbacher’s name during selection

Oh no, Carey Price!

Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price got a bit of stage fright as he announced his team’s fifth-overall pick during Wednesday night’s first round of the 2023 NHL Draft.

As Price shared the selection of defenseman David Reinbacher, he said the draft pick’s first name of “David” but couldn’t quite bring it home as he forgot the prospect’s last name.

It took a few moments for the Canadiens to realize that Price wasn’t going to remember the draft pick’s last name before someone stepped in to announce the selection.

It’d be Montreal general manager Kent Hughes came in with the save to finish the announcement, but all poor Price could do is stand there awkwardly as the Canadiens contingent celebrated the pick.

A bit later in the night, Price joked about the on-camera flub.

Y’know, once the cameras start rolling, it’s easy to get a bit overwhelmed by the moment. Maybe Price wasn’t nervous at all and just forgot the name altogether.

All the same, this did make for a pretty funny moment during this year’s NHL Draft. Maybe Montreal will invite Price back next year to redeem himself?

Feature image courtesy of ESPN. 

Connor Bedard Chicago Blackhawks jersey, 2023 NHL Draft No. 1 pick gear

How to get yourself a new Connor Bedard #Blackhawks jersey:

The Chicago Blackhawks won the Connor Bedard sweepstakes following the NHL draft lottery… and now it’s official.

With the top selection at the 2023 NHL draft, Chicago picked the 17-year-old phenom. The Blackhawks could be landing their next generational star.

All of Chicago is eager to meet the player who will lead the city into a new era of Blackhawks hockey. There’s only one real way for Chicago fans to express that type of excitement.

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Gear up and celebrate the start of Bedard’s hopeful journey from NHL rookie to Stanley Cup champion  by grabbing some of his new Blackhawks gear including jerseys, t-shirts and more.

Who is Connor Bedard, the prospective No. 1 pick at the 2023 NHL Draft?

Connor Bedard is a name hockey fans will be hearing about for years to come.

The 2023 NHL Draft may be hockey fans’ most anticipated event of the summer thanks to a 17-year-old named Connor Bedard.

Yes, really. Even the exciting Stanley Cup Final we all just witnessed may pale in comparison to the upcoming NHL Draft on Wednesday, where one team’s fortunes will change quite significantly with the acquisition of Bedard. The Chicago Blackhawks currently hold the No. 1 overall pick and will almost certainly select Bedard in the top spot.

Hockey fans are going to hear a lot about Bedard in the weeks and months to come. So, to get you ready for the upcoming draft, let’s dive into who Bedard is and what makes him so special as a hockey player.

A hockey interviewer was clueless that he was talking to the Blackhawks’ GM on a Nashville street

This is absolutely hilarious.

This happens from time to time: Someone famous gets interviewed as a Person on the Street and the interviewer has NO idea that it’s a famous person. It’s delightful.

This happened to someone from Penalty Box Radio in Nashville, as the NHL world gets ready for the 2023 draft on Wednesday night. The man on the street happened to be Kyle Davidson, the Chicago Blackhawks’ general manager, and he plays the moment perfectly.

He’s asked how much he knows about hockey and says “a 4” from 1 to 10. He’s asked to name as many hockey players as he can and starts to name members of the Stanley Cup-winning Hawks from a decade ago.

Then? He’s asked if the NHL rigged the draft for the Blackhawks.

“No. … I’m very confident.”

LOLOLOL. THIS IS THE BEST!

2023 NHL Draft Order: Where each team will pick in the first round

The lottery balls have spoken and the Blackhawks will draft No. 1 overall.

The lottery balls have officially been drawn and the Chicago Blackhawks will officially select No. 1 overall at the 2023 NHL Draft.

May’s draft lottery was as highly-anticipated of an event as they come in the NHL. Given that the chance to draft Connor Bedard — a franchise-changing player — was on the line, it’s no wonder hockey fans tuned into the event in droves to see the results.

MORE NHL DRAFT: Who is Connor Bedard, the prospective No. 1 pick at the 2023 NHL Draft?

Of course, even though the Blackhawks won the lottery and will no doubt select Bedard at No. 1 overall, consensus No. 2 pick Adam Fantilli is no mere consolation prize either for the Anaheim Ducks.

Here is the full list of where teams are drafting in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft.

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