2023 NHL Draft: Central Division needs

The 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft will be held June 28-29 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. The first round will be June 28 (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN, TVAS) and Rounds 2-7 are June 29 (11 a.m. ET; NHLN, SN, TVAS). NHL.com is counting down to the draft with in-depth profiles on top prospects, podcasts and other features. Today, we examine draft needs for teams in the Central Division. NHL.com's full draft coverage can be found here.

The 2023 NHL Draft provides an opportunity for teams to shore up positions of need with an injection of young talent.

Here are what the eight teams in the Central Division could be looking to do at the draft (teams listed in alphabetical order):

ARIZONA COYOTES

Top priority: Top-six forwards

First pick: No. 6

The situation: The Coyotes were 27th in the NHL at 2.74 goals per game, the ninth straight season they've ranked in the bottom 10 in the NHL. That could start to change as some of their prospects mature. Forward Dylan Guenther, the No. 9 pick of the 2021 NHL Draft, should be a full-time NHL player next season after the 20-year-old had 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 33 NHL games and led Seattle to the Western Hockey League championship with a league-best 16 goals in 19 playoff games. Forward Logan Cooley, the No. 3 pick of the 2022 NHL Draft, was second among NCAA players as an 18-year-old freshman with 60 points (22 goals, 38 assists) in 39 games at the University of Minnesota, and forward Josh Doan turned pro after he had 38 points (16 goals, 22 assists) in 39 games at Arizona State. The Coyotes also have the No. 12 pick, obtained from the Ottawa Senators in the trade for defenseman Jakob Chychrun, giving them the option of selecting a top defenseman at No. 6 and taking advantage of a draft stocked with talented forwards and finding one at No. 12.

Possible fits: Zach Benson, LW, Winnipeg (WHL); Ryan Leonard, RW, USA U-18 (NTDP); David Reinbacher, D, Kloten (SUI)

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

Top priority: No. 1 center

First pick: No. 1

The situation: The Blackhawks are moving into a new era following the departure of Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, the cornerstones of their three most recent Stanley Cup championships (2010, 2013, 2015). Winning the NHL Draft Lottery on May 8 gives the Blackhawks the chance to lay in a new foundation. Chicago also has No. 19 in the first round, acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Brandon Hagel trade, and eight picks in the first three rounds of the draft.

Possible fits: Connor Bedard, C, Regina (WHL); Adam Fantilli, C, Michigan (NCAA); Leo Carlsson, C, Orebro (SWE)

RELATED: [More 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft coverage]

COLORADO AVALANCHE

Top priority: Forward depth

First pick: No. 27

The situation: The Avalanche have four picks in the 2023 draft, including one in the first four rounds, after trades brought in defenseman Josh Manson (second-round pick), goalie Alexandar Georgiev (third round) and defenseman Kurtis MacDermid (fourth round). The Avalanche need to add depth to all areas of their prospect depth after having two selections in the 2022 draft and four in the 2021 draft. If all things are equal, however, look for the Avalanche to add a forward in the first round, preferably a center.

Possible fits: Charlie Stramel, C, Wisconsin (NCAA); David Edstrom, C, Frolunda Jr. (SWE-JR); Etienne Morin, D, Moncton (QMJHL)

DALLAS STARS

Top priority: Prospect depth

First pick: No. 61

The situation: The Stars traded their first-round pick to the New York Rangers for defenseman Nils Lundkvist, who had 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) and averaged 16:19 of ice time in 60 games but did not play during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Stars' run to the Western Conference Final this season has been powered by recent draft picks, among them goalie Jake Oettinger, defensemen Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley, and forwards Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston, and they have more talent coming. Center Logan Stankoven (2021, No. 47), led the Western Hockey League playoffs with 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) in 14 games for Kamloops; center Mavrik Bourque (2020, No. 30), tied for ninth among American Hockey League rookies with 47 points (20 goals, 27 assists) in 70 games; and Christian Kyrou (2022, No. 50) was second among Ontario Hockey League defensemen with 77 points (20 goals, 57 assists) in 64 games for Sarnia and Erie. Adding the best available player to this rich crop will be the plan when their turn comes in the second round.

Possible fits: Matteo Mann, D, Chicoutimi (QMJHL); Trey Augustine, G, USA NTDP (U-18); Lenni Hameenaho, RW, Assat (FIN)

MINNESOTA WILD

Top priority: Center

First pick: No. 21

The situation: The Wild have great talent on the wing with Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy just hitting their prime. But they lack the kind of centers that could get the most out of them; Ryan Hartman and Joel Eriksson Ek are solid options but better suited to be lower in the lineup. Finding a player with the potential to be a top-line center likely will be the focus, but with a draft deep in talented forwards, they could opt for a right wing with Kaprizov and Boldy entranced on the left side.

Possible fits: Calum Ritchie, C, Oshawa (OHL); Otto Stenberg, C, Frolunda Jr. (SWE-JR); Ethan Gauthier, RW, Sherbrooke (QMJHL)

NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Top priority: High-skill players

First pick: No. 15

The situation: Barry Trotz, who will take over as general manager July 1, has told his scouts to "take some high-end swings on some guys." So while defenseman also is a need, look for the Predators to take advantage of a draft stocked with talented forwards. The preference likely would be a center since several of their best prospects play on the wing: Zachary L'Heureux (2021, No. 27), Reid Schaefer (trade, Edmonton Oilers), and Joakim Kemell (2022, No. 17). Nashville hasn't chosen a defenseman in the first round since Dante Fabbro (No. 17) in the 2016 NHL Draft, but that can be addressed with the No. 24 pick, acquired from the Oilers in the trade for defenseman Mattias Ekholm.

Possible fits: Oliver Moore, C, USA U-18 (NTDP); Brayden Yager, C, Moose Jaw (WHL); Axel Sandin Pellikka, D, Skelleftea Jr. (SWE-JR)

ST. LOUIS BLUES

Top priority: Forward depth

First pick: No. 10

The situation: The Blues are building a new core around forwards Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou and have three picks in the first round to add around them. In addition to No. 10, they also have No. 25 from the Toronto Maple Leafs, acquired in the trade of forwards Ryan O'Reilly and Noel Acciari, and No. 29 from the Stars, which they got from the Rangers in the Vladimir Tarasenko trade; the Rangers got the pick from the Stars for Lundkvist. Zachary Bolduc (2021, No. 17) will have a chance to make the NHL next season after he was tied for fourth in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with 50 goals and 110 points in 61 games with Quebec this season. Forward Jimmy Snuggerud (2022, No. 23) could be close behind after he had 50 points (21 goals, 29 assists) in 40 games as a freshman at the University of Minnesota. St. Louis will have plenty of options in a deep draft, but the guess is a forward will be the first selection.

Possible fits: Colby Barlow, LW, Owen Sound (OHL); Dalibor Dvorsky, C, AIK (SWE-2); Eduard Sale, LW, Brno (CZREP)

WINNIPEG JETS

Top priority: Defensemen

First pick: No. 18

The situation: The Jets' lack of depth at defenseman at the NHL level was exposed during the Stanley Cup Playoffs when Josh Morrissey missed most of the final three games of the Western Conference First Round against the Vegas Golden Knights and Winnipeg was eliminated in five games. That lack of depth comes from the Jets prioritizing forwards early in the draft the past three seasons, and defenseman Ville Heinola, their first pick in the 2019 NHL Draft (No. 20) unable to find a full-time NHL role. There will be options at defenseman, but the Jets also could opt to add depth at right wing.

Possible fits: Lukas Dragicevic, D, Tri-City (WHL); Oliver Bonk, D, London (OHL); Gabriel Perreault, RW, USA U-18 (NTDP)

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