Mittelstadt, Gajan among 2023 NHL Draft prospects passed over in 2022

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, a look at players passed over in the 2022 NHL Draft who could be selected this year. NHL.com's full draft coverage can be found here.

Casey Mittelstadt can recall like yesterday those backyard battles with youngest brother, Luke Mittelstadt, during the frigid winters in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

"Me and my brother, John, actually stuck him in goal," the Buffalo Sabres forward told NHL.com. "We always played knee-hockey and made him goalie. I don't know if that led to him being a defenseman ... maybe my dad didn't let him be a goalie. But he kind of played both growing up and eventually ended up playing defense."

It's worked out for Luke, particularly this season after he had 21 points (five goals, 16 assists) with a plus-22 rating in 38 games as a freshman at the University of Minnesota.

"I think it's been hard for him the last few years; COVID probably hurt him in the 2021 NHL Draft and last year was a little crazy," Casey said. "He had an above-average freshman year, especially as an undrafted guy on a team full of draft picks. I don't think that's easy to do. On top of that, he represented the United States on the 2023 World Juniors team and played well."

Luke Mittelstadt (5-foot-11, 185 pounds), No. 97 on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters presented by BioSteel, had 55 points (19 goals, 36 assists) in 60 games with Madison of the United States Hockey League in 2021-22. The 20-year-old was No. 168 on Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters in 2022 and No. 98 in 2021.

"I think there probably were people who were surprised that he did get passed over," said Pat Cullen of Central Scouting. "I think he's separated himself this season. He's come in on a veteran defensive team in Minnesota, played on one of the power plays, and received good minutes. His skating got better and his hockey brain is really good ... probably the hockey family lineage."

Minnesota coach Bob Motzko knew he had something special in Luke the moment he saw the defenseman in the first practice of the season.

"When you start practice to start a year, you watch the players and say, 'There's a good one,' and he had it right from the start," Motzko said. "I know he wasn't drafted but I saw a candidate for the World Junior Championship team. He had a terrific season in the United States Hockey League and was really great from the first day he stepped on the ice with us. We had to spread our minutes around because we played seven defensemen ... it was the strongest defense corps I ever had or ever will have."

Here are seven other players passed over in 2022 who could be drafted in 2023 (listed alphabetically):

Matt Copponi, C, Merrimack (NCAA):Copponi (5-10, 167) had 29 points (14 goals, 15 assists) in 37 games as a sophomore with Merrimack, which plays in Hockey East. The 19-year-old right-hand shot is No. 98 on Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters. He was No. 189 on the 2022 list of North American skaters.

"His pace of play has gotten to a very high level, top-end college level," Central Scouting director David Gregory said. "He's a leader on that team with his compete and intensity. When he needs to be physical, he's physical, but he has all kinds of skill and it's a big jump from what he was contributing last season. But he missed a whole year because of COVID-19 in prep school (Dexter School) and made a big jump right into college (in 2021-22). He was a player we knew about but he's just made himself so noticeable game in and game out so I think teams would have a lot of interest."

Adam Gajan, G, Chippewa (NAHL): Gajan (6-3, 180) opened eyes playing for Slovakia at the 2023 WJC, going 2-2 with a 2.40 GAA and .936 save percentage in four games and being named tournament's best goaltender. He was 19-12-3 with a 2.57 GAA, .917 save percentage and one shutout in 34 games for Chippewa, and 5-1-0 with a 2.48 GAA, .906 save percentage and one shutout in six games for Green Bay of the USHL. Gajan, who will play for Green Bay next season, wasn't ranked by Central Scouting last year but is No. 6 on Central Scouting's final ranking of North American goalies for the 2023 draft.

"We'll see how it will go in in Nashville (at the 2023 NHL Draft)," Gajan said during the NHL Scouting Combine presented by adidas on June 7. "I talked to pretty much every team so it's great talking to NHL teams. I don't think that anything bad can happen from here, so I'm excited for it. I'm not nervous at all."

Hudson Malinoski, C, Brooks (AJHL):The 18-year-old is No. 65 on Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters. He ranked fourth for Brooks in scoring with 69 points (16 goals, 53 assists) in 44 games in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. Malinoski (6-0, 175) is committed to Providence College in 2023-24.

"He missed an entire year of hockey in 2020-21 (due to COVID-19) and played last year in a league that is not usually covered by NHL scouts, so he's almost like a first-year eligible player," John Williams of Central Scouting said. "He has good size, is a good skater and has played a top-line role on arguably the top team in the AJHL as a first-year player. He can play both special teams and looks like the type of player who can contribute in a lot of different ways."

Austin Roest, C, Everett (WHL): The 19-year-old right-handed shot (5-9, 175), passed over last year when he was No. 180 on Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters, is No. 113 on this year's final list. Roest, born in Zurich, Switzerland, finished second in scoring for Everett with 78 points (32 goals, 46 assists) in 60 games this season.

"Just a good hockey player; he does everything well on both sides of the puck," Williams said. "He's improved his strength, which has allowed him to be that much tougher to play against and is much more confident offensively this year. He's still a bit undersized, which may hold him back."

Yegor Sidorov, RW, Saskatoon (WHL): The left-handed shot (5-11, 182), who can play both wings, had 76 points (40 goals, 36 assists) in 53 games with the Blades. He also ranked second on the team with 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) in 16 WHL playoff games. Sidorov is No. 81 on Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters. He was passed over in the 2022 draft when Central Scouting had him No. 95 on the final North American list.

"He's really taken a significant step this year in all facets of the game," Williams said. "He's an elite goal scorer. He's bigger and stronger, very elusive with and without the puck, and he's improved his play on the defensive side of things. He's also more physical."

Zaccharya Wisdom, RW, Cedar Rapids (USHL): Born in Toronto, Wisdom (6-0, 175) is No. 104 on Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters. He ranked second on Cedar Rapids in goals (28) and fourth in points (47) and led them with two short-handed goals in 44 games. Wisdom, committed to Colorado College in 2023-24, was No. 145 on Central Scouting's final ranking in 2022.

"He's got a great work ethic; he's relentless," Cullen said. "His skating is good, his compete level is good. He's done everything he can to put his name prominently in discussion for this year." He is the younger brother of Philadelphia Flyers forward prospect Zayde Wisdom.

Florian Xhekaj, LW, Hamilton (OHL): The younger brother of Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj is No. 131 on Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters. Florian (6-2, 175) had 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) and 76 penalty minutes in 68 regular-season games with Hamilton, and had three points (one goal, two assists) with 18 penalty minutes in six Ontario Hockey League playoff games.

"He's more than a fighter; he can play the power play, and has good hands around the net," Tim Campbell of Central Scouting said. "His thing is intimidation and being physical. He'll be a good American Hockey League player to start. ... He was one of Hamilton's most impactful players."

Photos: Minnesota Athletics

NHL.com independent correspondent Heather Engel contributed to this report

Listen: New episode of NHL Draft Class