2023 NHL Entry Mock Draft: The Pool is Deep for the Toronto Maple Leafs
By Jeff Borsuk
1. Connor Bedard (C, 5’9″, 185 lbs) – Columbus Blue Jackets
The Prize of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft is undoubtedly Connor Bedard. The center has been tearing up the Western Hockey League (WHL) for the Regina Pats. This season, in 57 games, Bedard scored 71 goals with an additional 72 assists. It’s given him 143 points, which is an outstanding 2.51 points per game.
Bedard was also the leading scorer in this year’s U20 World Junior Championship (WJC).
He had 23 points in seven games after scoring nine goals and 14 assists. That was a production rate of 3.29 points per game. The next closest player in the tournament was Logan Cooley (selected third-overall in the 2022 draft by the Arizona Coyotes) who had nine fewer points than Bedard.
For the Columbus Blue Jackets, taking Bedard off the board right away is a no-brainer. It instantly makes that team better. They can put the youngster on the first line next to Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine or move one of them to the second line to add more depth.
2. Adam Fantilli (C, 6’2″, 195 lbs) – San Jose Sharks
Adam Fantilli is a player we’ve been watching closely for years.
He’s been on track to be a top NHL pick since his days playing for the Toronto Red Wings in the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) battling against Shane Wright with both players being underage in their division.
Fantilli is now playing for the University of Michigan. This season, in 34 games, he packaged 28 goals and 35 assists for 63 points. It’s not surprising after how strong Fantilli has looked in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) after his success in the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Chicago Steel.
Last year with the Steel, he recorded 74 points in 54 games, evenly split with 37 goals and 37 assists.
The San Jose Sharks will be very happy with Fantilli who could figure into their top six as soon as next season.