NHL Mock Draft: Connor Bedard No. 1, but who’s next?
By Marvin Azrak
2023 NHL Mock Draft:17. Detroit Red Wings: Colby Barlow, RW, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
On March 1, the Detroit Red Wings got hold of this pick through the Filip Hronek trade with the Vancouver Canucks. Meanwhile, the Canucks got the pick as part of their return from the New York Islanders in the Bo Horvat trade on Jan. 30.
Barlow had a strong performance in his sophomore season with the Attack. He paced the club with 46 goals and 79 points. He also tallied three goals in four playoff games. He played for Canada at the IIHF World Junior U-18 Championship and scored three goals and four points in six games. Barlow is 6 feet tall, weighs 195 pounds, and is known for his speed and willingness to play a physical game. These qualities could make him a valuable addition to the Red Wings’ prospect pool and potentially one of their top-nine forwards in the next few years.
2023 NHL Mock Draft: 18. Winnipeg Jets: Samuel Honzek, LW, Vancouver (WHL)
Honzek is a skilled winger with impressive stickhandling and puck-possession abilities. He’s a multifaceted goal scorer who also has some playmaking abilities. However, there are concerns about his skating and physical development. He’s projected to be a middle-six winger in the NHL.
2023 NHL Mock Draft: 19. Chicago Blackhawks: Brayden Yager, C, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Yager has improved his playmaking, shot, zone effectiveness, and faceoff skills. The 5-11, 170-pounder scored 78 points in 67 games and 16 points in 10 playoffs, making him a good draft option for the Blackhawks. He’s someone that can play with Bedard down the road The two are old rivals and good friends from their WHL days.
2023 NHL Mock Draft: 20. Seattle Kraken: Mihail Gulyayev, LD, Omskie Yastreby (MHL)
This draft has a lot of mobile defensemen, and Gulyayev stands out as one of the best. His skating is one of his biggest strengths, with quick turns, pivots, and easy backskating. He also has a quick first step and moves smoothly through the neutral zone. Although he may not be an elite scorer or playmaker in the offensive zone, he excels at pinching from the blue line and finding space to make plays. He’s particularly good at shooting for rebounds and redirections. Despite being on the smaller side, his defensive game is underrated, and he uses his footwork to defend the rush effectively. While he still needs to improve his defensive-zone recognitions, he often wins races to the puck and skates it out of danger. He’s recently shown an increased willingness to throw his body around, surprising some puck carriers. His style is similar to former Winnipeg Jet Toby Enstrom, and while he may only reach AHL or KHL level, he also has the potential to be a top-four offensive defenseman.