Rachel Doerrie and Tony Ferrari joined forces to create two NHL mock drafts for the first round – who they'd pick and who they think each team will pick.

The NHL draft is always one of the most exciting events of the year. New hope arises for downtrodden teams while contenders look to find the missing piece and add to their core.

Predicting how things might go down is always a difficult task. The Hockey News’ Rachel Doerrie and Tony Ferrari sat down and hashed out not one but two mock drafts together. First, the pair broke down how they think things will go down as NHL teams look to make their picks in June. Next, the pair debated who they would pick if they were in a position to do so.

Let’s dive into both what NHL teams might do and what Tony and Rachel think should happen in a first-round mock draft for the 2023 class.

Also, check out Ryan Kennedy's instant mock draft after the lottery ping pong balls gave the Chicago Blackhawks the No. 1 overall pick. And for even more draft preview coverage, THN's 2023 Draft Preview issue is now available.

1. Chicago Blackhawks

Team Pick: Connor Bedard, C | Our Pick: Connor Bedard, C

Chicago goes with the obvious here. There is little debate that Bedard is the best player available, and there shouldn’t be a question otherwise. He’s dominated the WHL, the World Junior Championship and just about every other game he’s played in the last few years. - Tony Ferrari

2. Anaheim Ducks

Team Pick: Adam Fantilli, C | Our Pick: Adam Fantilli, C

The prohibitive favorite for second overall is selected, giving Anaheim a one-two punch of Fantilli and McTavish down the middle. He’s a strong, point-producing center who tore up the NCAA this season, winning the Hobey Baker. This allows Zegras to move to the wing and gives the Ducks balance on two lines with significant offensive punch paired with two-way ability. - Rachel Doerrie

3. Columbus Blue Jackets

Team Pick: Leo Carlsson, C | Our Pick: Matvei Michkov, RW

The No. 3 pick is an interesting one. The Blue Jackets have a desperate need at center, which is why we have them taking the big Swedish pivot here. Carlsson has been a terrific player in the SHL, blending skill and strength seamlessly to produce one of the best draft-eligible seasons in the SHL in recent memory. On the flip side, Matvei Michkov is a true game-breaker, another type of player the Blue Jackets need. The wait will be worth getting the dynamic Russian scorer into the lineup when he does come over. Michkov could easily be the more impactful offensive player, while Carlsson has a well-rounded game down the middle. - Tony Ferrari

4. San Jose Sharks

Team Pick: Matvei Michkov, RW | Our Pick: Leo Carlsson, C

It isn’t a foregone conclusion that the Sharks take Michkov, but he certainly would fill a major scoring hole in the lineup. San Jose isn’t looking to compete right away and can afford to wait a couple of years for the second-most talented player in the draft. It does not come without risk, however. Leo Carlsson would provide the Sharks with a big, top-line center who won’t have any issues against the best of the West. His scoring ability, strength on the puck and size make him a candidate to have immediate impact at the NHL level. He immediately helps San Jose’s depth and can play below Couture and Hertl as he acclimates. - Rachel Doerrie

5. Montreal Canadiens

Team Pick: Will Smith, C | Our Pick: Oliver Moore, C

The Canadiens are given the choice of the “best of the rest” after the draft’s big four. While they might look at Will Smith, Rachel and I think Oliver Moore could be the best player from this year’s USA Hockey National Team Development Program when all is said and done. Moore’s game-changing speed and understanding of how to drive play up ice make him a lethal and translatable NHLer. He centered the second line for the NTDP, so he didn’t have the same complementary players as Smith and still put together an impressive season. Smith has incredible hands, puck skills, creative playmaking and offensive tools that could easily make him a force at the NHL level. He has some off-puck issues and doesn’t always put in a full effort defensively, but the upside is quite high. - Tony Ferrari

6. Arizona Coyotes

Team Pick: David Reinbacher, D | Our Pick: Will Smith, C

Reinbacher is this season’s riser, and it seems all but a foregone conclusion that the big defenseman will be the first rearguard to go this year. He showed offensive prowess in the Swiss National League while effectively defending in transition. He’s a lower-ceiling player but one a lot of teams believe can play tough minutes. Arizona is starved for a top-line center, however, and would get one in Will Smith. He benefited from playing in all the key situations with top players and made the most of it. He’s excellent with the puck, makes his teammates better and should score at the NHL level. His game lacks maturity in two-way play, consistency and defense, but Arizona can take their time with Smith and let him develop for a couple of years to play behind Cooley. - Rachel Doerrie

7. Philadelphia Flyers

Team Pick: Ryan Leonard, RW | Our Pick: Zach Benson, LW

Ryan Leonard embodies Flyers hockey in a traditional sense, but our pick of Zach Benson is reminiscent of what new GM Danny Briere might be looking to bring in. Leonard is a power forward who attacks play head-on, lowering his shoulder while also possessing the skill to control the puck through traffic. Benson is an undersized but methodical player who may be the most intelligent in the draft class. His ability to diagnose play gives him a chance to change what Flyers hockey looks like in the modern day. - Tony Ferrari

8. Washington Capitals

Team Pick: Oliver Moore, C | Our Pick: Ryan Leonard, RW

With Michkov gone and Washington needing to replenish top-end center depth, they take Moore. We do expect they will take Michkov if he falls to No. 8. Moore is a high-end transition player with excellent speed and play-driving ability. This fills a significant need for Washington with question marks around Backstrom and Kuznetsov in the near future. Moore would inject a level of speed into the lineup that has been lacking the last couple of years. Leonard would be a great pick for Washington in that he can learn the NHL power forward ways from Tom Wilson, one of the league’s best. He plays through contact, has good details with and away from the puck and personifies the hard-to-play-against trope. - Rachel Doerrie

9. Detroit Red Wings

Team Pick: Axel Sandin Pellikka, D | Our Pick: Axel Sandin Pellikka, D

Yzerman has shown he’s unafraid to swing for the fences, and given Detroit’s love of Swedes, Sandin Pellikka makes a lot of sense. He would join a pipeline of young D-men that includes Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson, being the smallest of the three. He’s got high offensive upside, and Detroit will use all the time they have to develop both sides of his game. Smaller defensemen are always up against it in the NHL, but his offensive ceiling is so high that it cannot be ignored. Lane Hutson fell last year due to size concerns, and teams are not going to make the same mistake this year with Sandin Pellikka. - Rachel Doerrie

10. St. Louis Blues

Team Pick: Dalibor Dvorsky, C | Our Pick: Dalibor Dvorsky, C

The Blues are in retool mode, and nabbing a player like Dvorsky here with the 10th pick just makes sense. Dvorsky possesses a very good shot and could be a potential 30-goal scorer at the NHL level with power-play usage, and he brings smart defensive tendencies in his own zone. There is still room for growth as a puck carrier and play-driver, but Dvorsky safely projects as a middle-six center or top-six winger, depending on how teams view him. He could be a key piece in restoring the Blues to the heavy, 200-foot hockey that’s made them successful. - Tony Ferrari

11. Vancouver Canucks

Team Pick: Nate Danielson, C | Our Pick: Andrew Cristall, LW

Vancouver’s management has spoken ad nauseam about the need for strong depth in the middle. Danielson fits that mold to a tee, and with Reinbacher off the board, we expect them to take the big center. He put up good numbers in the WHL season, boosted by excellent power-play production. There are concerns about his development curve and inconsistent effort away from the puck. For our pick, we went with the high-ceiling Vancouver boy in Andrew Cristall. His U-18s left a sour taste, but there is no denying his high-end skill and hockey sense. He can be a game-changer at the NHL level, and that’s exactly what the Canucks need. - Rachel Doerrie

12. Arizona Coyotes (from OTT)

Team Pick: Zach Benson, LW | Our Pick: Gabe Perreault, LW

After taking a big rearguard with their first pick, Arizona takes a smart play-driver to complement some of the high-end scoring prospects in their development system. He’s one of the best passers in the draft and certainly one of the smartest. For our pick, we took Gabe Perreault, the prolific NTDP scorer. His skating needs to develop to be more of a threat at the NHL level, but his offensive ability gives Arizona another top-end scorer in the system to complement Dylan Guenther. He’s not overly physical and will need a few years to develop in the NCAA, but the ceiling is high, especially if he has chemistry with Cooley down the road. - Rachel Doerrie

13. Buffalo Sabres

Team Pick: Dmitri Simashev, D | Our Pick: Dmitri Simashev, D

The Buffalo Sabres are at a point in their rebuild where they can take a chance on a player, and Simashev is one heck of a player to take a chance on. He has a robust defensive game, an understanding of how to use his size effectively, and smooth and crisp skating ability. At 6-foot-4, the tools that Simashev possesses are intriguing. His offensive game shows up in flashes. When you watch him, he looks like a player who should have more production. Maybe in a better system, he could unlock another level as well. There’s a world where he is the best defender in the 2023 class. - Tony Ferrari

14. Pittsburgh Penguins

Team Pick: Matthew Wood, RW | Our Pick: Eduard Sale, LW

It’s hard to know what the Penguins will do until their new GM is named, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the pick is traded. Should they keep it, Matthew Wood is a big, productive winger who uses his body effectively and shoots the puck well. He could slot in on the wing to Crosby or Malkin in the not-too-distant future. We went with a different forward in Sale, whose stock has fallen this season but has the tools to finish scoring chances. He’s got playmaking skills and would provide help to an aging Penguins roster in the near future. - Rachel Doerrie

15. Nashville Predators

Team Pick: Samuel Honzek, LW | Our Pick: Matthew Wood, RW

The Nashville Predators are in the mushy middle and need to figure out how to get out quickly and either take advantage of the all-world goaltending from Juuse Saros or move on from this group. Honzek is a big playmaking winger who is dangerous when he is moving his feet. He protects the puck well with his frame and reach. Honzek shouldn’t take too long to get to the NHL and be a functional complementary player. We took Wood because of his ability to produce offensively with a true play-driver. We’ve seen him at his best when he isn’t asked to carry the load but instead, ride shotgun with a good center. Wood is more of a project, but he could be a nice addition as a finisher for a team who could use a few goals. - Tony Ferrari

16. Calgary Flames

Team Pick: Colby Barlow, LW | Our Pick: Brayden Yager, C

The Calgary Flames take scoring winger Colby Barlow with their first pick. The big, scoring winger from Owen Sound gets to the dirty areas and finishes chances with efficiency. His strength on the puck and ability to play through contact will serve him well in the West, adding another dimension to Calgary’s prospect pool. We went with the smaller forward in Yager. The combination of speed and scoring prowess is difficult to ignore. While he’s smaller, he’s competitive in all zones and is able to score off-balance, making his shot unpredictable. Calgary needs players with high potential, and Yager fits the mold of a top-line player at his best. - Rachel Doerrie

17. Detroit Red Wings (from NYI via VAN)

Team Pick: Quentin Musty, LW | Our Pick: Quentin Musty, LW

Yzerman isn’t afraid to swing, and he lands one of the most talented playmakers in the draft. Musty has scouts divided, but it is difficult to ignore his package of size and playmaking ability in the middle of the ice. His ceiling is sky high, and he will have time to develop in Detroit’s system to what they hope is a scoring second-line center behind Larkin. He’s a boom-or-bust risk but is a player who could blossom into a high-end offensive playmaker with scoring ability. There is a lot to like about his toolbox, and with multiple first-round picks, he is worth a swing at 17. - Rachel Doerrie

18. Winnipeg Jets

Team Pick: Calum Ritchie, C | Our Pick: David Reinbacher, D

The Winnipeg Jets have a type, and Ritchie fits that type. With the futures of Dubois and Scheifele uncertain, the Jets take a two-way center with size and skill. He’s not flashy offensively, but he’s effective and efficient. He projects as a middle-impact player and likely fills a 2C or 3C role down the line. For our pick, we go with Reinbacher, who’s a boom or bust based on the league he plays in, his production and his lack of NHL comparables. He defends the rush well and has offensive flair, and he will help the Jets defend their net front with greater success. - Rachel Doerrie

19. Chicago Blackhawks (from TBL)

Team Pick: Tom Willander, D | Our Pick: Colby Barlow, LW

The Hawks grabbed Bedard at first overall, and they still have needs all over the place. Willander fills the need on the back end, bringing impressive mobility and intelligent play when dealing with a forecheck and starting the breakout. Willander has the talent to be a creative presence on the back end but plays a more reserved game, breaking out the creativity only when needed. Barlow could be an excellent running mate in the long term for Bedard, though. Barlow’s strengths come from his ability to play a simple north-south game by attacking the net, allowing Bedard to freelance and do his thing with the puck on his stick. This pick could go just about anywhere, with Chicago’s rebuild just starting to unfold. - Tony Ferrari

20. Seattle Kraken

Team Pick: Jayden Perron, RW | Our Pick: Gavin Brindley, RW

Seattle is a data-driven organization, and they select a data darling. Perron put up tremendous offensive numbers in the USHL this year and is one of the smartest players in the draft. He’s small, and that is concerning, but without Celebrini in the playoffs, he filled the void admirably as a playmaker and scorer. He’ll have time to develop at North Dakota and may be the NHL’s next small point-producing winger. For our pick, we took NTDP forward Gavin Brindley. He’s another undersized player who fits the mold of speed and tenacity in Seattle. He’s not going to wow with offensive flair, but he uses his frame to sneak through areas, dart in and out and show he can be effective against bigger players in the NCAA. - Rachel Doerrie

21. Minnesota Wild

Team Pick: Otto Stenberg, RW | Our Pick: Nate Danielson, C

The Minnesota Wild have quietly built a decent prospect pool, and they’ve done well with Swedes in the past. Stenberg brings some offensive flair and competitive nature to their forward pool, playing in the middle of the ice with speed and skill. The Swedish forward plays with pace and could fill a role in the top six to provide secondary scoring. They have a need down the middle as well, which is why our pick was Danielson here. The Wheat Kings center plays with speed and has done an excellent job in transition, moving the puck up ice with control. - Tony Ferrari

22. Columbus Blue Jackets (from LA)

Team Pick: Mikhail Gulyayev, D | Our Pick: Oscar Fisker Molgaard, LW

The Blue Jackets have never been afraid to draft Russians, and with Gulyayev on the board, it makes sense for them to snag the high-upside offensive blueliner. Gulyayev plays with speed and fluidity, creating offense and ensuring his team is clean on the breakout. He’s undersized, and his defense needs work, but the upside is intriguing. Our selection of Fisker Molgaard would give the Jackets a highly intelligent forward who can play pro-style hockey and chain plays together. O.F.M. is a dual-threat attacker who is beginning to incorporate all of his tools into a full picture of what he could be. - Tony Ferrari

23. New York Rangers

Team Pick: Gabe Perreault, LW | Our Pick: Jayden Perron, RW

The Rangers take a scoring winger in Perreault, who is no stranger to playing with high-end playmakers. Perreault is able to drive play or play off his linemates and should be a youthful injection to the Rangers' top six. He’ll be a power-play threat and, if developed properly, a prolific scorer. We selected Jayden Perron because the Rangers have enough size in their prospect cupboard and need an injection of skill. Getting one of the smartest players in the draft who can set up his teammates and create on his own will bode well for a team that doesn’t have a lot of creativity on the way. - Rachel Doerrie

24. Nashville Predators (from EDM)

Team Pick: Brayden Yager, C | Our Pick: Daniil But, LW

Yager is a very good shooter who developed as a playmaker this season, using his teammates well and reducing the plays in which he seemed to have tunnel vision in his draft-minus-one season. The Preds could use a center who has some skill and offensive fortitude, which Yager brings. Rachel and I went with big, skilled winger Daniil But. He needs to improve his open ice skating a bit, but he excels in the small-area games around the ice, along the boards and in traffic. He is quicker than you’d expect from a player at 6-foot-5, and his shooting talent will make him a threat on the power play and at 5-on-5. - Tony Ferrari

25. St. Louis Blues (from TOR)

Team Pick: Riley Heidt, C | Our Pick: Riley Heidt, C

With three picks in the first round, the Blues can take a chance with at least one of them, and after securing Dvorsky at 10th, they are snagging highly skilled, shifty playmaker Riley Heidt. The Prince George center makes those around him better, using a variety of passes in various hand positions, from hook-and-slip passes to cross-seam saucer passes. His shot is quite good, although he doesn’t use it enough. His one-timer is criminally underrated, and if a team can get him to use it more, he could be a sneaky good goal-scorer. - Tony Ferrari

26. San Jose Sharks (from NJD)

Team Pick: Anton Wahlberg, RW | Our Pick: William Whitelaw, RW

Wahlberg has been quickly rising on draft boards because of his impressive U-18 performance, but his game has been growing and shining all season. His size and skill have always been evident, but his improvement as a skater is what makes him worthy of a first-round pick. He’s excellent at getting the puck off the wall and into the middle of the ice. William Whitelaw was our pick, though, going in a different route with an undersized waterbug-style player. Whitelaw plays with insane pace, looking to put defenders on their heels by flying the zone and looking for a big pass up ice. Whitelaw is a lethal scorer with slick hands. - Tony Ferrari

27. Colorado Avalanche

Team Pick: Gracyn Sawchyn, RW | Our Pick: Gracyn Sawchyn, RW

Sawchyn is a name that hasn’t been talked about nearly enough because he plays a middle-six role on one of the best teams in the CHL. The Thunderbirds forward is smart and skilled, plays with pace and understands how to use his puck skill in an effective way that should translate to the pro level. His production tailed off toward the end of the season because Seattle added Dylan Guenther and Brad Lambert, among others, but Sawchyn still found ways to shine in his more limited role. - Tony Ferrari

28. Toronto Maple Leafs (from BOS via WSH)

Team Pick: Oscar Fisker Molgaard, LW | Our Pick: Tom Willander, D

Either one of these picks is extremely Leafy, although we don’t know what impact the new GM’s vision will have. The Leafs are known to value skill and hockey sense, picking high-ceiling players. Molgaard produced well at both J20 and SHL levels this season, and with Toronto’s need for center depth in a few years, he is a great fit at No. 28. Willander has seen his stock rise sharply the past month, and it is no surprise with his package of creativity, mobility and decision making. He’s got the making of a top-4 transition defenseman who contributes offensively and runs a second power-play unit. - Rachel Doerrie

29. St. Louis Blues (from DAL via NYR)

Team Pick: Oliver Bonk, D | Our Pick: Tanner Molendyk, D

The Blues nabbed two forwards with their first two picks, so going defense here makes sense. Oliver Bonk is a defensive blueliner who is a strong skater and flashes some puck-moving ability but primarily has value as a player who shuts things down and then gets the puck to his forwards. We went with Molendyk, who may not have the in-zone defensive game of Bonk but is one of the most effective transition defenders, stepping up at the blueline and preventing opposing attacks before they get set up. Molendyk has the tools to be an offensive contributor but doesn’t always engage in the offensive zone, rather acting as a transition puck-mover and then a facilitator in the attacking zone. - Tony Ferrari

30. Carolina Hurricanes

Team Pick: Andrew Cristall, LW | Our Pick: David Edstrom, C

The fall of Cristall finally comes to an end on the team side of this mock. Cristall is uber-skilled, an excellent passer, lethal shooter, and one of the most productive players in the WHL. The problem? He’s a wholly underwhelming skater, and there are concerns outside of the offensive zone. If he plays with players who can get the puck to him in the attacking end, he can be a force offensively, but he is limited if he doesn’t have an elite transition player on his line. With our pick, we went with Swedish center David Edstrom. He is a smart pivot who protects the puck well with his size and plays a very projectable game. Edstrom has a knack for cleaning up loose pucks around the net and has underrated skill as well. - Tony Ferrari

31. Montreal Canadiens (from FLA)

Team Pick: Eduard Sale, RW | Our Pick: Otto Stenberg, RW

The Montreal Canadiens put Sale’s first-round fall to an end. From a potential lottery pick to the end of the first round, Montreal is happy to nab a dual-threat winger in Sale who will slide nicely into the middle of their lineup. He’s bigger than most of their offensive players and can finish scoring chances with ease. For our pick, we went with Otto Stenberg, a versatile secondary scoring option who brings a competitive bite. He’s got offensive flair that can be developed to obtain consistent production to complement his motor, not unlike Zach Hyman. - Rachel Doerrie

32. Vegas Golden Knights

Team Pick: Lukas Dragicevic, D | Our Pick: Lukas Dragicevic, D

The Golden Knights love drafting highly skilled players, and Kelly McCrimmon is only too familiar with the WHL. Dragicevic produced very well in the WHL this season and may be the future quarterback of the Vegas power play. The big right-hander will have time to grow and develop because of the depth on the right side. He makes good decisions with the puck and sees the ice very well. His abilities to break the puck out and distribute all over the ice make him an easy selection for Vegas at the end of the first round. - Rachel Doerrie