NHL Draft 2023: Breaking Down Top Prospects in Draft Class

The 2023 NHL draft isn't set to take place until June 28 and 29 in Nashville. The order won't even be set until May 8. So it'll be nearly a month until each of the league's 32 teams know when they'll be picking, as well as who will be on the clock first.

Yet, the No. 1 pick isn't likely to bring much suspense. That's because one player appears to clearly be at the top of the class: Connor Bedard.

While only one franchise will be fortunate enough to land Bedard, there are plenty of other talented prospects who will be available in this year's draft. There is quite a bit of talent at the top of the class for this event.

Here's a look at several of the top prospects, starting with Bedard.

Connor Bedard, C, Regina (WHL)

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LANGLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JANUARY 25: Forward Connor Bedard #98 of the Regina Pats skates for Team Red during the 2023 Kubota CHL Top Prospects Game Practice at the Langley Events Centre on January 25, 2023 in Langley, British Columbia. (Photo by Dennis Pajot/Getty Images)

How high is Bedard's ceiling? The Athletic's Corey Pronman wrote that the 17-year-old center is a "potential franchise-changing No. 1 prospect," noting his "skill and shot are legit gamebreaking attributes."

Bedard has an impressive all-around game and should develop into a terrific NHL player. It's possible he'll eventually move from center to one of the wings, as he's 5'9" and 185 pounds, but he should generate offense no matter where he is on the ice.

A native of North Vancouver, Bedard put up huge numbers for the Regina Pats in the WHL during the 2022-23 campaign. He recorded 143 points (71 goals and 72 assists) in 57 games during the regular season, then notched 10 goals and 10 assists in seven playoff contests.

It's nearly a lock at this point that Bedard will be taken with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NHL draft, unless there are some unexpected developments. He has the potential to be a franchise player for one lucky team moving forward.

Adam Fantilli, C, Michigan

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ALLENTOWN, PA - MARCH 26: Michigan Wolverines Forward Adam Fantilli (19) skates with the puck during the first period of the 2023 NCAA Division I Mens Ice Hockey Regional Final between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Michigan Wolverines on March 26, 2023, at the PPL Center in Allentown, PA. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The top player coming out of the United States college ranks this year is likely Michigan center Adam Fantilli. The 18-year-old had a tremendous showing in the 2022-23 season, during which the Wolverines made it to the Frozen Four.

In his first year at Michigan, Fantilli tallied 30 goals and 35 assists in 36 games. In doing so, he displayed an impressive skill set that should make him among the first few players selected in the 2023 NHL draft.

"That he can create with so much pace is what makes him exciting from an NHL perspective," Pronman wrote. "He checks every box and projects as a No. 1 center on a good NHL team."

Fantilli, who is 6'2" and 195 pounds, may have a smooth transition to the league. It might not be long before he's making an impact at the NHL level.

Matvei Michkov, RW, Sochi

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SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - 2022/10/11: SKA Hockey Club player, Matvei Michkov (No.39) seen in action during the Kontinental Hockey League, regular season KHL 2022 - 2023 between SKA Saint Petersburg and Dinamo Minsk at the Ice Sports Palace. (Final score; SKA Saint Petersburg 3:2 Dinamo Minsk). (Photo by Maksim Konstantinov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Matvei Michkov isn't likely to be the first player taken in the 2023 NHL draft. But he shouldn't stay on the board long, as he has quite impressive talent himself, as Sportsnet's Sam Cosentino noted last month.

"From a pure skill perspective, he challenges Bedard for the most talented player available," Cosentino wrote.

As a 5'10", 172-pound wing with tremendous skills, Michkov seems likely to develop into a strong NHL player. He's coming off a solid season for HK Sochi of the KHL in Russia, as he had nine goals and 11 assists in 27 games.

The 18-year-old Michkov has only shown a bit of what he's capable of. So it will be entertaining to watch how the next stages of his career unfold, especially the earlier ones.