In a strong 2023 NHL draft class, there are five defenders who appear the most likely to be taken in the first round. Tony Ferrari explains the pros and cons of each of them.

The 2023 NHL draft is one of the strongest in recent memory. The depth of high-end talent runs deep, with a number of high-upside players likely to be selected on Day 2 of the draft. 

While the strength of the class mainly comes on offense, the defense crop features some intriguing names with question marks for projection and upside.

There are five defenders who seem to be considered first-round locks this year, with a few others finding their way into rankings and mock drafts. 

David Reinbacher, Axel Sandin Pellikka, Tom Willander, Dmitri Simashev and Mikhail Gulyayev are featured atop the group of rearguards. Each of them has a unique skill set and a range of projections.

Let’s take a look at the case for and against taking each of the top-end defensemen in the first round.

David Reinbacher, RHD, Kloten (Swiss NL)

For: Reinbacher is a 6-foot-2, 185-pound defender who has played against men all season long in the Swiss National League, which has been greatly improving, and he’s found success doing so. 

Reinbacher plays with a physical edge, and he has good defensive tendencies. He is a willing combatant in the corners and along the boards, engaging and using his strength to win puck battles. 

He racked up 22 points in 46 games, which should put him right at the top of the group statistically. The right-shot defender plays a premium position and skates well, especially for his size, which should only add to the intrigue.

Against: Despite Reinbacher's statistical profile indicating he is a defender with a good offensive toolset, he is a bit unrefined with the puck on his stick. The Austrian blueliner can make simple passes in the offensive zone, and he can identify easy breakout passes. But once he's pressured or the pace increases, Reinbacher simplifies his game and fires the puck into traffic or off of the glass and out to the opposing defenders. Reinbacher also tends to chase hits at times which causes him to be behind the play in the defensive zone.

Axel Sandin Pellikka, RHD, Skelleftea (SHL)

For: The dynamic and skilled defender has excelled all season long. Sandin Pellikka has improved as much or more than any defender in the class defensively this season, and while there’s more work to do, he has shown the capability to continue improving that aspect of his game. 

The Swedish defender has the shiftiness and four-way mobility that allow him to manipulate opposing players all over the ice, from dealing with forecheckers in his own end to finding space in the offensive zone. Sandin Pellikka is a wiz in transition, and his puck skill makes him a dangerous player off the rush.

Against: Sandin Pellikka is a bit undersized, coming in at 5-foot-11. His defensive game will still need work as well, although there has been an improvement. Sandin Pellikka must put on some muscle so he isn’t as outmatched along the boards as he was at times in the SHL this season. If his offensive game doesn’t hit, his floor isn’t quite as high as some of the other top defenders.

Tom Willander, RHD, Rogle (J20 Nationell)

For: There may not be a defender in this group that rose as much throughout the season as Willander. 

The young Swede stands 6-foot-1 and skates like the wind. His engagement never wanes, and he has a well-rounded defensive game. His offensive game is intriguing because when he is in a position to take the lead and play an offensive role, he excels. Willander flashes some high-octane offensive traits but refrains from trying too much, too often. There isn’t much that Willander can’t do.

Against: Although there isn’t much Willander can’t do, he lacks the upper-tier dynamism that a few others have. He doesn’t quite have the dominant factor typically present in a top-pair defender’s game. Willander has a high floor, but his ceiling isn’t where the rest of the group’s is.

Dmitri Simashev, LHD, Yaroslavl (KHL)

For: The 6-foot-4 Russian has all of the tools you could want in a defender. He skates at a high level, defends with his brain and his tools, excels in transition with a blend of crisp passing and excellent footwork, and an understanding of what he can and can’t do in the offensive zone. Simashev plays a clean and intelligent game in the defensive zone, willing to use his size while defending with a great stick and excellent awareness. If he can bring all of his tools together and make the offensive flashes a bit more consistent, Simashev could be the best defender of the 2023 class.

Against: The production just flatly wasn’t there. He struggled to produce at the KHL level, and when he returned to the MHL, his production was good but not great. Every time Simashev stepped on the ice, I asked myself how he didn’t have more points. He was doing just about everything you could ask for, but he just wasn’t getting the bounces. Production never tells the full story, and Simashev has so much more to him, but the production has to be a concern on some level.

Mikhail Gulyayev, LHD, Omsk (KHL)

For: There is so much fun offensive potential in Gulyayev’s game. He can shift and shake opposing defenders to open passing and shooting lanes. His passing is crisp and smooth, amplified by his vision and creativity. Gulyayev understands how to read a forecheck and evade it when he has his eyes up ice, using his mobility and puck skill to move the puck out of trouble. In transition, Gulyayev is a smooth player who has a ton of firepower.

Against: The reality is that for as wonderful and fun the offensive side of Gulyayev is, the defensive side is concerning. He can get lackadaisical and unengaged. The young Russian is a smooth mover and will need to use that to his advantage because he doesn’t have the size or strength to bully opponents in a defensive situation. Gulyayev is one of the most intriguing defenders in the class because he is also the biggest boom-or-bust candidate on the blueline.