Checking in on Bedard, Carlsson, Fantilli, Michkov and Other Top 2023 NHL Draft Picks

Just over a year since they heard their names called, we check in on notable 2023 NHL Draftees. How are Bedard, Carlsson, Fantilli, Michkov and others faring so far?

The top of the 2023 NHL Draft was loaded with several high-end prospects. Most notably, the projected top-four picks were all centers in Connor Bedard, Leo Carlsson, Adam Fantilli and Will Smith.

Then there was the ultimate wildcard of the draft in Matvei Michkov. Could he crash into the top-four? Or was there too many unanswered questions about him that teams couldn’t afford to gamble on?

The top-four went as expected although seeing Carlsson go second and Fantilli go third surprised some folks. Michkov fell to the Philadelphia Flyers at seventh overall.

We thought it would be a good time to check in on the 2023 NHL Draftees who have made an impact or just starting to make an impact in the NHL. We’ll attempt to answer a few questions. How are they faring so far? What role are they currently playing on their team? And what could they become in their career assuming they reach their ceiling?

Setting the Scene

To date, 10 players drafted in 2023 have appeared in at least one NHL game. Three of them are currently outside of the NHL. Those are Gavin Brindley who’s on injured reserve for the Blue Jackets, Bradly Nadeau who’s currently with the Chicago Wolves and Calum Ritchie who was just assigned back to OHL Oshawa after playing seven games for the Colorado Avalanche.

We will focus on the other seven players who are making an impact. Of those seven, two are currently on injured reserve in Zach Benson and Samuel Honzek.

Bedard, Carlsson and Fantilli are each in their second season while Smith and Michkov are rookies. The way too early results suggest that this class will ultimately live up to the hype given to them.

In reviewing the situations, some interesting trends have developed not only about the individual players, but the teams they’re currently on. So how have these 2023 Draftees fared so far?

Connor Bedard

It should be no surprise that Bedard leads all 2023 Draftees in every major offensive category. As of Monday night, he had 25 goals and 70 points in 77 games for the Blackhawks. He’s lived up to the hype. The same cannot be said about the team he plays for.

How is Bedard faring? He’s doing exactly what was expected of him. He’s almost a point per game player on a team in which he’s the clear number-one offensive option. He just needs more help around him.

The Blackhawks made it a priority this offseason to get help around him. Thus far in 2024-25, it hasn’t translated to wins. It reinforces the concept of just how hard rebuilds can be even with a player of Bedard’s caliber.

Still, Bedard has separated himself as the clear-cut best player in the 2023 NHL Draft to this point.