The first round of the NHL draft was a coronation for Connor Bedard, who claimed the No. 1 pick at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena after years of being touted as a generational prospect.
The Anaheim Ducks shook things up a little with the No. 2 pick by taking Swedish center Leo Carlsson over the University of Michigan’s Adam Fantilli. David Reinbacher was the first defenseman taken, by the Montreal Canadiens at No. 5.
Talented Matvei Michkov, who’s signed for three more years in the Kontinental Hockey League, dropped to seventh overall, one pick behind fellow Russian Dmitriy Simashev.
Here are the winners and losers from the first round of the NHL draft:
SCOUTING REPORTS: Sizing up the first-round picks
Winner: The Blackhawks and Bedard
They get the most talented draft prospect since Connor McDavid, and Bedard will help their rebuild and be a good recruiting pitch for general manager Kyle Davidson during Saturday’s start of free agency. He has an elite-level shot. Davidson used his second first-round pick on Oliver Moore, who’s considered one of the best skaters in the draft.
Bedard will begin his NHL career on national television playing his idol, Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby. That, of course, is if he makes the opening day roster, as he says.
Losers: Fans of draft-day trades
The Colorado Avalanche dealt Alex Newhook to the Canadiens on Tuesday to land the 31st-overall pick, but the first round was devoid of trade activity on draft day Wednesday. No one moved up or down. The St. Louis Blues had three first-round picks and used them all. That’s a sign of how deep this year’s draft is.
They get Michkov, who is considered the second-most-skilled player in the draft. They had met with him twice before the draft and decided to wait for his arrival, considering they’re rebuilding. But when Michkov finally comes to North America, they’ll have an exciting player to build around.
The Capitals are known for their Russian stars, led by Alex Ovechkin. Considering that, wouldn’t Michkov have looked good in a Capitals jersey? But the Flyers took him one pick before Washington drafted at No. 8. The Capitals do get a very good prospect in right wing Ryan Leonard.
Winner: Adam Fantilli
The Wolverines’ Hobey Baker Award winner dropped to the Columbus Blue Jackets when the Ducks took Carlsson at No. 2 overall. He’s close to where he played college and there are former Michigan players on the Blue Jackets, including Zach Werenski and Kent Johnson. Plus, he’ll eventually get a chance to center Johnny Gaudreau.
Loser: Tongue-tied goalies
Canadiens great Carey Price and Predators standout Pekka Rinne were asked to announce their teams’ draft picks. Price had the viral moment of the draft when he couldn’t remember Reinbacher’s last name. Rinne had his chance but didn’t get Tanner Molendyk’s last name out right away.
Winner: Swedish hockey
Seven players from Swedish hockey leagues were taken in the first round, led by Carlsson. Six players were taken from the Western Hockey League, led by Bedard. There were four players taken from the U.S. National Team Development Program and four from Russia.
Loser: Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
No league players were taken in the first round for the first time since 2008.
Winner: Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald
The Devils didn’t have a first-round pick because they dealt it to the San Jose Sharks before the trade deadline for Timo Meier. Fitzgerald used the time wisely to get Meier signed to an eight-year, $70.4 million contract on draft day. He traded for Tyler Toffoli a day earlier to build on the team’s breakthrough season.
Mixed results: Sons of former NHL players
The sons of former NHL players Radek Bonk (Oliver, Flyers) and Yanic Perreault (Gabriel, New York Rangers) went back-to-back at No. 22 and 23. But Denis Gauthier’s son, Ethan, projected as a late first-round pick, had to wait until the second day of the draft. His brother, Julien, was drafted 21st overall in 2016.
Winner: David Poile and Jim Nill
Poile, the longtime Predators general manager who’s retiring after 40 years in the league, had a nice farewell draft. He received a custom Gibson guitar and many shout-outs from other teams before they made their picks. The Dallas Stars’ Nill was announced as the winner of the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year award.
Loser: General managers
The league and NHL Players’ Association announced before the draft that the salary cap is going up only $1 million to $83.5 million. That will make GMs’ jobs more difficult this summer.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL draft grades 2023: First-round winners (Bedard), losers (Capitals)
