NHL Draft grades 2023: Live results & analysis for every pick in Round 1

The wait is over. Tonight, the first 32 players selected in the 2023 NHL Draft will be announced, as their dreams of making the NHL officially come true. 

Wednesday night is Day 1 of this year’s draft, with Round 1 on the docket, followed up Rounds 2-7 concluding the action Thursday. 

There is a ton of high-end talent available this year. The 2023 draft class is considered one of the deepest in recent history. Connor Bedard is the biggest name, discussed in the same category as Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin in terms of most-hyped NHL prospects of all-time. 

MORE: Watch the 2023 NHL Draft on Fubo (free trial)

However, even after Bedard, there are plenty of prospects who appear destined to make an impact in the NHL.

The Sporting News is handing out grades for all 32 picks made in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft. 

TSN Draft Central
Full draft results | Top 100 big board

NHL Draft grades 2023: Expert analysis for Round 1

1. Chicago Blackhawks: Connor Bedard, C, Regina (WHL)

The Blackhawks aced this pick simply by winning the draft lottery. Bedard is a generational talent that will single-handedly re-shape this organization going forward. His shot release is already elite and will be among the best in the NHL, plus he has a silky set of mitts to match. Bedard is a franchise-altering player who arrives in Chicago at the perfect time, and should speed up the club’s rebuild by a couple of years. 

2. Anaheim Ducks:

3. Columbus Blue Jackets:

4. San Jose Sharks:

5. Montreal Canadiens: 

6. Arizona Coyotes:

7. Philadelphia Flyers:

8. Washington Capitals: 

9. Detroit Red Wings:

10. St. Louis Blues: 

11. Vancouver Canucks: 

12. Arizona Coyotes (from Ottawa Senators): 

13. Buffalo Sabres: 

14. Pittsburgh Penguins: 

15. Nashville Predators: 

16. Calgary Flames: 

17. Detroit Red Wings (from New York Islanders):

18. Winnipeg Jets: 

19. Chicago Blackhawks (from Tampa Bay Lightning): 

20. Seattle Kraken: 

21. Minnesota Wild:

22. Philadelphia Flyers (from Los Angeles Kings via Columbus Blue Jackets): 

23. New York Rangers: 

24. Nashville Predators (from Edmonton Oilers):

25. St. Louis Blues (from Toronto Maple Leafs): 

26. San Jose Sharks (from New Jersey Devils):

27. Colorado Avalanche:

28. Toronto Maple Leafs (from Boston Bruins):

29. St. Louis Blues (from Dallas Stars): 

30. Carolina Hurricanes: 

31. Colorado Avalanche (from Florida Panthers via Montreal Canadiens): 

32. Vegas Golden Knights: