2023 NHL Draft top 10 moments

NASHVILLE -- A sense of relief fell upon Connor Bedard when Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson announced him as the No. 1 pick in the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday.

"I can't put it into words," Bedard said. "Growing up, obviously, that was when [Chicago] was going on its runs, winning Cups, and I was watching a lot of them. You see the United Center going crazy and all of Chicago getting behind them. It's an Original Six team with so much history there. I'm so excited to be part of the organization."

The real work gets underway in September when the center from Regina in the Western Hockey League begins his quest to earn a roster spot and help make the Blackhawks a legitimate Stanley Cup Playoff contender.

If all goes according to plan, Bedard's first NHL game could be at the Pittsburgh Penguins against childhood idol Sidney Crosby on Oct. 10.

"I was trying not to look at the schedule," Bedard said. "People were telling me. I didn't want to look too hard into it. Man, if I'm able to make the squad come October, that's my idol ever since I can remember. That'd be unbelievable. It's a little bit of time away. Kind of dream about it now, but hopefully that comes."

RELATED: [Complete 2023 NHL Draft coverage]

Here are 10 moments to remember from the 2023 draft:

Curtain call

Nashville Predators retiring general manager David Poile was taking part in his final NHL Draft.

As a thank you, Poile was gifted a custom Gibson guitar from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, retired Predators goalie Pekka Rinne and their current captain Roman Josi.

"Thank you for this gift, it is beautiful," Poile said from the stage before the draft started. "Nashville, thank you for the greatest 26 years in my NHL hockey career."

In one other grand gesture of respect and appreciation, New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald, Nashville's first captain (1998-99), traded New Jersey's seventh-round pick (No. 218) in the 2023 draft to the Predators for a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft so that Poile could make one last selection. The 73-year-old thanked the fans in attendance one more time, announced Nashville was choosing right wing Aiden Fink from Brooks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, and received a standing ovation.

Poile presided over his 40th NHL Draft and 26th with the Predators. Barry Trotz will take over as GM on Saturday.

Austrian ascent

David Reinbacher became the first Austria-born defenseman ever to be selected in the first round when the Montreal Canadiens chose him at No. 5.

He's the third Austria-born player chosen in the first round since 2020, after centers Marco Kasper (No.8, Detroit Red Wings, 2022) and Video: Poile selects Fink with his final career draft pick (No. 9, Minnesota Wild, No. 2020), and the seventh overall.

"It's an incredible feeling to be picked by such a great organization," Reinbacher said. "It's awesome. I can't believe it still. They have a great history, they have great fans, great team, and coaches."

Program of excellence

Will Smith, a center, was Video: Poile selects Fink with his final career draft pick from the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team to be selected in the first round.

When Smith was picked No. 4 by the San Jose Sharks, it marked the fifth consecutive year at least one member of the NTDP Under-18 team was chosen among the top five. It's the longest such stretch by any team in NHL Draft history.

There were 13 NTDP players chosen across the seven rounds of this draft.

Joining Smith in the first round were right wing Ryan Leonard (No. 8, Washington Capitals), center Oliver Moore (No. 19, Blackhawks) and right wing Gabriel Perreault (No. 23, New York Rangers). Perreault, Smith and Leonard played on the top line and will each attend Boston College next season.

Carlsson's carpool

Leo Carlsson, selected No. 2 by the Anaheim Ducks, was forced to do the unimaginable in attempt to be in attendance for the first round Wednesday.

Because of weather and flight delays in the New York area, Carlsson's connecting flight to Nashville from Stockholm was canceled. The solution: Drive to Music City with the family in "some sort of minivan for 13, 14 hours," Carlsson said.

"A long drive. We got here 7 a.m. [Tuesday] and left like, 6 a.m. the day before. I think maybe five stops."

The Ducks made the trip well worth it, making the 18-year-old center the seventh Sweden-born player chosen among the top three picks in NHL Draft history. He joined Rasmus Dahlin (No. 1, Buffalo Sabres, 2018), Mats Sundin (No. 1, Quebec Nordiques, 1989), Victor Hedman (No. 2, Tampa Bay Lightning, 2009), Video: Poile selects Fink with his final career draft pick (No. 2, Colorado Avalanche, 2011), Daniel Sedin (No. 2, Vancouver Canucks, 1999) and Henrik Sedin (No. 3, Canucks, 1999).

"I think in the end, we were really intrigued with his hockey IQ, his creativity," Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said. "Obviously he's got really good size, and probably what I loved about him is really his two-way game, and I think there's a potential for him to really be a dominant player at both ends of the ice."

Russian resolve

In a bit of a surprise, defenseman Dmitriy Simashev of Yaroslavl in Russia's junior division was the first of four Russia-born players selected in the first round (Arizona Coyotes, No. 6).

Simashev, No. 19 in NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of International skaters presented by BioSteel, made his Kontinental Hockey League debut this season, playing 18 games. He also had 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in 29 games in the junior league.

Matvei Michkov, a right wing with St. Petersburg of the KHL and No. 2 in Central Scouting's final ranking of International skaters, went No. 7 to the Philadelphia Flyers. Michkov was projected by many draft experts to be the first Russia-born player chosen, but there were concerns over his KHL contract with St. Petersburg that runs through 2025-26.

"We want people that are not afraid to play in Philadelphia, because let's face it, it's not always an easy place to play," Flyers GM Daniel Briere said. "It can be very special when you deliver and you play with passion. [The fans] respect that. But not everybody is up to that challenge. For Matvei, it was pretty cool to see him respond."

Slovakia stars

After a record three Slovakia-born players were chosen in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft, goalie Adam Gajan became the highest-selected Slovakia-born player at his position in NHL Draft history when the Blackhawks chose him in the second round (No. 35)

"It's great feeling," Gajan said. "Chicago was one of my favorite teams growing up, so I was hoping it would be Chicago and I'm so excited to be part of the organization now."

There were seven Slovakia-born players chosen in the 2023 draft, including center Dalibor Dvorsky (No. 10, St. Louis Blues) and left wing Samuel Honzek (No. 16, Calgary Flames) in the first round.

Gajan will play for Green Bay of the United States Hockey League next season. In four straights starts for Slovakia at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, Gajan had a 2.40 goals-against average, .936 save percentage and one shutout. He made 53 saves in a 4-3 overtime loss to Canada in the quarterfinals Jan. 2, when Bedard had three points (two goals, one assist), including an overtime goal against Gajan. The 19-year-old goalie is glad he might one day call Bedard a teammate.

"We met at the NHL Scouting Combine in the gym and I told him, 'Well, maybe one day we will be teammates' and he can score on me just in practices and not in games," Gajan said.

No-trade zone

For the first time since 2007, no NHL trades were made in the first round of the draft.

The fewest trades in the first round since that draft had been one, in 2019.

Buffalo general manager Kevyn Adams was stunned.

"That's shocking," Adams said. "I was just saying that to the guys at our [draft] table. I don't know what to make of that. I guess you have to process that a little bit, but it's definitely surprising."

Davidson said, "I think a lot of people just liked the players that are available to them, with respect to maybe the picks aspect. It seemed everyone always had someone left on their board. If I have my players left, I'm going to pick, and everyone picked, but zero movement is kind of interesting."

Michigan mates in Columbus

Adam Fantilli could hardly contain himself after learning good friend and University of Michigan linemate Gavin Brindley Video: Poile selects Fink with his final career draft pick in the second round (No. 34) on Thursday.

"I jumped out of my chair and ran over to the (Blue Jackets) table," said Fantilli, who was selected No. 3 by the Blue Jackets less than 24 hours earlier.

"I feel like when any team gets up there, you're kind of like, maybe, but with Adam being there and hearing your name called, it's pretty surreal," Brindley said. "Now I'll get to go play for the Columbus Blue Jackets with one of my best buddies ... it's tough to put into words how cool that is."

When Fantilli was chosen Wednesday, he and Brindley embraced, and the latter wished him tremendous success.

"I saw him when I was picked and hugged again," Brindley said.

Brindley, a center, was one of the most improved prospects over the second half of the season, finishing fifth on the Wolverines with 38 points (12 goals, 26 assists) in 41 games. He moved up 17 spots, from No. 40 in January to No. 23 in April, in Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters.

European euphoria

Fourteen players chosen on the opening night of the 2023 draft were born outside North America, tying for the fourth-highest total in the first round in NHL Draft history. A record 17 were selected last year.

Carlsson, Reinbacher, Simashev, Michkov and Dvorsky were among the top 10.

A breakdown of the picks by birth country in the 2023 draft: Canada (86); United States (50); Sweden (24); Russia (19); Finland (15); Czechia and Slovakia (7); Belarus (5); Germany (4); Kazakhstan, France, Switzerland, Norway, Italy, Denmark and Austria (1).

Last but not forgotten

Tyler Peddle earned the spotlight all to himself as Video: Poile selects Fink with his final career draft pick.

The 18-year-old left wing from Drummondville in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League sat through 223 picks before the Blue Jackets traded a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft to the Vegas Golden Knights for the right to choose him.

"Finally," Peddle said. "It was a whirlwind of emotions, right? I mean, it's the last pick so, kind of heard my name. I was in complete shock, and my father just grabbed me. Probably one of the scariest things leading up to it, but it's the best moment I ever experienced in my life and I'm grateful I had the opportunity."

The storybook finish enabled Peddle to celebrate the announcement with his 12 family members with him at Bridgestone Arena.

"I'm not really sure how to put it," he said. "We weren't sure where I was going to go. I felt like I was one of those guys who could have went anywhere, so that's kind of one reason I was staying. But I had a feeling, so sometimes a gut feeling can be right."

Peddle was second on Drummondville with 24 goals this season and had 41 points in 64 games.