05/08/2023 – CanucksBanter

2023

By NHL Public Relations

May 8, 2023

SECAUCUS, N.J. (May 8, 2023) — The Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks own the first and second overall drafting positions, respectively, for the First Round of the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft as a result of the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery, conducted this evening at NHL Network’s Secaucus, N.J., studio.

Bridgestone Arena, home of the Nashville Predators, over two days. Round 1 will be held on Wednesday, June 28 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN, SN, TVAS), followed by Rounds 2-7 on Thursday, June 29 (11 a.m. ET, NHLN, SN, TVAS).

Connor Bedard, a center from the Western Hockey League’s Regina Pats, placed No. 1 among North American Draft prospects when the NHL Central Scouting Bureau released its final rankings presented by BioSteel on April 18. Bedard produced numbers the WHL has not seen in nearly a quarter of a century. His 71 goals were the most by a WHL player in 24 years (Pavel Brendl: 73 in 1998-99) and his 143 points the highest single-season total by a WHL skater in 27 years.

University of Michigan center Adam Fantilli is the No. 2 North American Skater, followed by No. 3-ranked William Smith, a center from USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program Under-18 Team; No. 4 Matthew Wood, a right wing for the University of Connecticut; and No. 5 Ryan Leonard, a right wing from the USA Hockey NTDP Under-18 Team.

Leo Carlsson, a center for Orebro of the Swedish Hockey League, ranks No. 1 among international skaters, while Carson Bjarnason of Brandon in the WHL and Alexander Hellnemo of the Skelleftea (Sweden) junior team rank No. 1 among goaltenders on the North America and International lists, respectively.

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