The 2023 NHL Draft kicks off TONIGHT at 5 PM MT on ESPN! Meet some of the prospects who could be available at 27th and 31st overall before the Avs go on the clock in Nashville, Tennessee.
Otto Stenberg
Position: Forward
Last Team: Frolunda HC (SHL)
Facts and Stats:Averaged close to a point-per-game in the J20 Nationell League in Sweden. Won Best U18 Forward Award in 2022 as well as the U18 WJC Gold Medal that same year. Stenberg is also a Hlinka Gretzky Cup Silver Medalist (2023) and a WJAC-19 Bronze Medalist (2023).
Tom Willander
Position: Defenseman
Last Team: Rogle BK J20 (SHL)
Facts and Stats: Scored 25 points in 39 games with Rogle BK and tallied eight points in seven games at the 2023 World U18 Championship. Willander also made a college commitment to Boston University and was a U18 WJC Silver Medalist.
Michael Hrabal
Position: Goaltender
Last Team:Omaha Lancers (USHL)
Facts and Stats:Hrabal led all rookie goaltenders in the USHL with a 2.86 goals against average, a .908 save percentage and three shutouts. He also manned the net for Czechia during the U18 World Championship and earned himself the #2 spot on the NHL Central Scouting Mid-Term Rankings.
Theo Lindstein
Position:Defenseman
Last Team:Brynas IF (SHL)
Facts and Stats:Lindstein won gold with Sweden in the 2022 U18 WJC as well as a silver medal at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He also earned a gold medal at the U18 WJC in 2021-22.
Andrew Cristall
Position: Forward
Last Team: Kelowna Rockets
Facts and Stats: Scored 39 goals in 54 games with Kelowna and tallied 95 points. He also had two goals in the U18 WJC for Team Canada.
Eduard Sale
Position: Forward
Last Team: HC Kometa Brno (Czech Extraliga)
Facts and Stats: Sale was the Czech Extraliga Rookie of the Year in 2023 as well as a Top 3 Player on the Team at the U18 WJC in 2022 and 2023. He also notched a silver medal at the 2023 U20 WJC.
Ethan Gauthier
Position:Forward
Last Team:Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
Facts and Stats:Played two seasons for the Sherbrooke Phoenix, averaging over a point per game in the 2022-23 season with 69 points in 66 games with 30 goals. He was traded from Sherbrooke to Drummondville on June 10, 2023.