3 Reasons Why the Blues Drafting Dvorsky Was the Right Move

Fills a Need Down the Middle

The Blues went into the NHL Draft with two positions of need, defenseman, and center. When two of the top blue liners went off the board, GM Doug Armstrong turned to down the middle of the ice and selected Dvorsky. This was the clear and obvious choice for the franchise if you look at what the Blues have among their prospect pool and what the state of the position could be in the future at the NHL level.

Robert Thomas is clearly their top centerman and will anchor the first line but after that, it gets kind of sketchy. The Blues have guys like Nikita Alexandrov and Zack Dean who could really help down the middle but they aren’t looked at like a Dvorsky is. They are really high Zachary Bolduc but he is projected to slide over to wing. The Blues did, however, draft centerman Otto Stenberg with their 25th overall pick, who is talented, but not on the level of Dvorsky.

At the NHL level (aside from Alexandrov), the Blues have good talent like Brayden Schenn and Kevin Hayes anchoring the second and third line down the middle but they are getting up there in age (both 31) and the tea, will be looking for youth to set their long-term plans, like Dvorsky.

Dvorsky has some things to improve upon but he projects as a second-line center at the highest level and that’s exactly what the Blues are hoping the 10th overall pick turns into.

His Shooting Ability

Coming into the draft, Dvorsky’s shooting ability was looked at as one of the best in this year’s class. Whether it’s his wrist shot or slap shot, the 18-year-old centerman displays power and quickness but what might be even more impressive about his shot is his accuracy. When he has space to set up shop and find his target, he can be a problem. Dvorsky can get himself into a scoring position and isn’t afraid to shoot, which is where his accuracy shines. He can create offense just off of his shot alone and has the patients to wait for the shot he is looking for. 

Another layer to his game that makes his shot so accurate is his strong puck-handling and puck-possession ability. This past season, he had six goals and eight assists in the Allsvenskan League, which is known to be a low-scoring league. He also put up an impressive 10 goals and 11 assists in 10 games for Sweden’s junior team while scoring eight goals and having five assists in seven games for Team Slovakia in the 2023 IIHF World Under-18 Championship. Dvorsky has shown he can score, making him a great addition for the Blues looking to improve in that area.

He’s a Berube-type Player

The one thing the Blues have looked for over the past several years are Berube-type players and Dvorsky fits that description to a tee. As much as we talk about his shot and offense, he is an incredible two-way player, holding one of the best if not the best defensive games of a forward in the draft. He has incredible sense and anticipation on defense that allows him to read the play before it happens. Dvorsky’s backchecking and willingness to be physical are what sets him apart from others. 

This all makes Dvorsky a 200-foot player who works hard at both ends of the ice, emptying the tank no matter the situation. The toughness, grit, consistency, and workhorse mentality perfectly exemplify what head coach Craig Berube looks for in a player. His two-game shows that he can play extremely well both on the power-play and penalty kill, making him even more valuable.

Dvorsky is highly coachable that will do whatever is asked, which is why making this pick was the right choice. Assuming Berube is still with the Blues by the time Dvorsky makes it to the NHL, he will be one of the go-to guys for the team for a long time.

Final Thoughts

While Dvorsky obviously won’t be NHL-ready in 2023-24, there’s thought that he could be ready by 2024-25 at the earliest. While his strengths were very much highlighted, he does have a clear weakness and that’s his skating. While that part of his game is questionable, it’s something that can be worked on and improved before getting the call to the NHL. If he can elevate that part of his game, the sky is the limit. Dvorsky has a ton of upside to his game and can be an anchor down the middle as a projected second-line center.

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The trade was a fleece! Yes, I’m not afraid to say it, an absolute fleece! I’m so confident with what Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has done that I don’t even want to waste any more time. Let’s dive right in with three reasons this is a massive win for the Devils.  

Devils Fleece Flames for Tyler Toffoli

Who is Tyler Toffoli?

Toffoli is a 31-year-old top-six right-shot winger who can really rip the puck and play off the rush. He is a well-above-average goal scorer who also ranks in the 93rd percentile with in-zone exits. For the Devils, he is the perfect fit for what they’re looking for, it almost seems like a perfect marriage.  

Per data from CapFriendly, Toffoli has a projected WAR% (Wins Above Replacement Percentage) of 91%. He has an Evolving Offense of 85% and an Evolving Defense of 73% with his finishing coming in at 87%. The guy is a playmaker in many facets of the game who will really give the Devils the scoring boost they’re looking for. You can also get used to seeing Toffoli on the power play where he’s going to feast on goalies in the Devils system.  

Toffoli was so good for the Flames last season, his totals were higher than his previous season. He averaged 0.93 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five and finished with 34 goals and 73 points.  

The Devils can now trot out a top-six of Meier-Hughes-Mercer and Bratt-Hischier-Toffoli giving both lines very capable scoring options. There’s no question the Devils are a much better team with Toffoli now in the mix. 

The Trade Package 

When reports were originally swirling that the Flames may be shopping Toffoli, the assumed return on assets seemed to be much more than what the Devils seemed to have given up.  

For a player of Toffoli’s caliber, coming off a career season on a sub $4.5 million contract, I would’ve expected the Flames to fetch Yegor Sharangovich, the Devils 2025 first-round pick (their 2024 first-round pick was used in a conditional trade for Timo Meier), and an A or B level prospect. Let’s say, Seamus Casey.  

Instead, the Devils were able to land Toffoli for only RFA Yegor Sharangovich and a third-round pick. The free third-round pick was acquired in the Damon Severson sign-and-trade only a week or so ago. Sharangovich and the Flames haven’t even kicked tires on contact talks yet. This isn’t a scenario where we see a sign-and-trade to get more value in assets coming back the other way. 

This was strictly a fleece from Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald. We’re talking about giving away a player who had a 16-point drop-off (Sharangovich) and a free third-round pick for a guy who the coach of the Montreal Canadians called “captain material”.  

Toffoli will bring leadership and added experience to the Devils. He has 733 games under his belt, 227 goals, and 239 assists, for 466 points.  

The Contract

A very interesting piece that makes Toffoli so attractive is his contract situation. He has a year left on his contract before he becomes a UFA (Unrestricted Free Agent), but he has a cap hit of $4.25 million with a base salary of only $3.5 million.   

In his 2021-2022 season, Toffoli totaled 20 goals and 29 assists for 49 points. This past season, Toffoli’s stats spiked to 34 goals and 39 assists for 73 points. His increase in production makes his contract situation much more appealing.  

Now with Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier as his center, there’s no doubt Toffoli will be ready to cook come next season. 

One could argue that Tom Fitzgerald and the New Jersey Devils have won the offseason so far to this point. We aren’t even to the NHL Draft yet and Fitzy seems to have made plenty of positive moves to better the team. I have full confidence that Fitzgerald will keep making the right decisions to better the Devils’ chances of becoming cup contenders for many years to come. Get ready Devils fans, it seems next season is going to be a heck of a ride.  

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LeBrun on Insider Trading: “The New Jersey Devils are one of the teams we understand that Connor Hellebuyck would be interested in signing an extension with in a sign-and-trade. New Jersey has investigated it, and they’ve had a conversation with Winnipeg, but I think what probably would give NJ pause and some other teams is the kind of money that Hellebuyck would want in an extension, we believe that to be in the Vasilevskiy range, $9.95M per year.” 

As exciting as landing a goalie of Hellebuyck’s caliber would be, today we’re going to play devil’s advocate and list four reasons why the New Jersey Devils should not trade for Connor Hellebuyck. 

Three Negatives on the New Jersey Devils Possibly Trading for Hellebuyck 

Too Much Money

As LeBrun mentioned above, Hellebuyck is asking for Vasilevskiy-type money which would be around the $9.5M range. If a trade were to take place, do the Devils have the money to take on a long-term extension for Hellebuyck? The answer should be no, but they could make it work if Hellebuyck is who they really want. 

The Devils already have five players on contracts making north of $7 million dollars with Timo Meier looking for an extension between the $8-9 million range.  

Considering Dougie Hamilton is getting paid $9M, extending Hellebuyck to a $9.5 million dollar contract (what he’s asking for) would give the Devils two players on long-term extensions of $9 million or above. 

With Dawson Mercer, Luke Hughes, and Simon Nemec looking for extensions after their ELC (Entry Level Contracts) burns up, taking on another long-term extension could be a recipe for disaster. 

Age  

Let’s face it, Hellebuyck is already on the wrong side of 30. He’s got one year left on the expiring contract he already has and will be looking for a long-term extension of say eight years.  

Does GM Tom Fitzgerald really think signing an eight-year contract to an elite goaltender north of 30 is a good idea? We would be looking at Hellebuyck’s extension expiring near the age of 38 to 39.  

Don’t get me wrong, Hellebuyck is the real deal and has shown no flashes of regression, but you’ve got to think as he grows older the wheels will start to fall off or the risk of injury is much greater. 

This also comes from an organization that knows a thing or two about signing goalies to long-term contracts and ends in disaster, a la Corey Schneider.   

Asset Management 

So, let’s say the Devils and Jets agree to terms on a sign-and-trade to bring Hellebuyck to New Jersey. Even after a massive cap hit, there’s still another obstacle to hurdle. What assets would a sign-and-trade for an elite goaltender in Hellebuyck cost the Devils? 

Well, for starters, the Devils would almost certainly have to give up their 2025 first-round pick. The Devils 2024 first-rounder can’t be moved due to conditions from the Timo Meier trade.  

The Jets would then need a goaltender to replace Hellebuyck so one would assume they would try to pry Akira Schmid from the Devils. Though it’s doubtful the New Jersey Devils will give up Schmid, they’d likely try to give up Vitek Vanecek to shed some cap.  

Losing Vanecek to add Hellebuyck sounds like a pretty good deal for the Devils, right? Well, if Winnipeg was forced to take on Vanecek then they would most likely demand the rights to the number seven overall pick in the 2020 draft, Alex Holtz.  

I’d imagine Yegor Sharangovich would be part of a deal to give the Jets some added scoring and help on special teams as well.  

Another direction the Devils could move with Hellebuyck is adding him on a shorter-term contract to avoid regression and cap implications far into the future. Still, as earlier reported, that is not what Hellebuyck is looking for.  

Whatever Tom Fitzgerald and the New Jersey Devils decide to do with Hellebuyck, it will be a franchise-altering decision. Though nothing in the NHL is guaranteed, adding an elite goaltender in Hellebuyck could dramatically improve the Devils’ chances of winning a cup, but it could also damage the cap for the future.  

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The deal lands the Swedish winger the third highest-paid contract on the team sandwiched between center Jack Hughes ($8M AAV) and captain Nico Hischier ($7.25 AAV). 

Today, we’re going to go over four important takeaways from the lucrative contract the two sides agreed upon.  

Four Takeaways from Jesper Bratt’s New Contract 

Hidden Gem

One of the most fascinating takeaways is the fact that Bratt has come from being a #162 overall draft pick to a $63 million man at the young age of 24. Bratt was a sixth-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft who hit the ground running right out of camp.  

Finding a player that late in the draft with as much success in the NHL as Bratt has had is like finding a needle in a haystack. On average, only 15% of fifth and sixth-round picks play some games in the NHL, let alone becoming a star and bonafide play-driver.  

Bratt has turned into a dynamic two-way forward with an accurate shot and skilled rush play who has no issues with driving a line if needed. His 2022-2023 scorecard projects to have an Offensive WAR (Wins Above Replacement) value of 94% with a finishing WAR% coming in right below at 91%. There’s no question this guy knows how to generate offense and put the puck in the back of the net.  

I’ve seen a lot of Twitter GMs and Devil fans breaking down the value of Bratt’s contract and I think everyone needs to just stop what they’re doing and take a second to acknowledge the fact the New Jersey Devils hit a home run with Jesper Bratt and the progression he’s made since his eligible draft year. Not often do you find a star player of Bratt’s caliber in the sixth round of the NHL Draft. 

Term That Should Age Well

In the last few months, much of the debate has been around GM Tom Fitzgerald’s comments stating he wanted to keep his players’ AAV below the Jack Hughes contract signed for $8 million. Getting lost in this topic was the length of the contract. 

With the NHL salary cap projected to rise within the next couple of years, we’ve seen RFA (Restricted Free Agent) contracts getting shorter. Star players are wanting to sign deals at a higher AAV on a lesser term contract of maybe three-to-five years. The process behind a deal like this offers a star player the opportunity to cash in on another contract when the cap goes up. 

With that being said, I expected Bratt and his camp to settle on a three-to-five-year contract of around $8 million so they can yet again cash in when Bratt hits the healthy age of around 28-30. However, that was not the case. Fitzgerald and the New Jersey Devils did a spectacular job of getting Bratt locked up for eight years.  

The term on the Bratt contract is a win in many different ways for the Devils. Having Bratt locked up at $7.875M for the next eight years will allow the Devils more cap space to work with down the road. Since the Devils’ core is all but locked up aside from Timo Meier, the added money can be used to add extra depth pieces in the bottom six when needed for a playoff run.  

Reasonable AAV

I’m not going to waste too much time on this one because it’s a topic that has been beaten to the ground the last few weeks. 

I don’t think the $7.875 AAV was a slam dunk or an out-of-the-park home run, but I do think it’s a healthy number for the Devils. Recent rumors had Bratt projected anywhere between $7.7M and $8.5M so it’s nice to see Bratt get in at the lower end of these projections.  

As I stated in the previous takeaway, GM Fitzgerald wanted to keep Bratt’s contract below star centerman Jack Hughes’ $8 million cap hit and that’s exactly what he got.  

Front Loaded Contract

As previously stated by New Jersey Devils team reporter Amanda Stein, Bratt’s contract has been front-loaded. Below is a breakdown of the contract.  

• 23-24: $10M 
• 24-25: $9M 
• 25-26: $9M 
• 26-27: $8M 
• 27-28: $7.2M 
• 28-29: $7.2M 
• 29-30: $6.6M 
• 30-31: $6M 

Total $63M (Bratt’s jersey number)  

 As you can see, the contract is very top-heavy in the beginning and drops off year by year. I’m a big fan of this considering the Devils have a few players coming in on ELC (Entry Level Contracts) this coming season. The Devils have the money now to take on a little extra cap to set themselves up down the road. Once the young players ’ELCs burn up, they will need a heavy extension and the fall-off on Bratt’s contract is a nice place to find some extra needed cap space for the future.  

Considering it took two years for Fitzgerald and Bratt’s camp to come together on a deal, this is a win for both sides. Fitzgerald stands his ground getting Bratt locked up below $8 million and Bratt gets a lucrative contract paying him for the next eight years while staying in New Jersey. 

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There was speculation for some time that Ruff would move into a front office role and hand the reins over to assistant head coach Andrew Brunette. However, this never came to fruition considering Ruff coached the Devils to a 55-22-8 record.  

Once Fitzgerald made it clear in the Devils end of season media availability that Ruff would be back as head coach, Brunette decided to part ways and take on a head coaching role with the Nashville Predators.  

Today we’re going to explain why Fitzgerald is making the right move in bringing Ruff back into a head coaching role. 

Bringing Back Lindy Ruff: New Jersey Devils

Jack Adams Award Finalist  

For the fourth time in his career, after already winning the award in 2006 with the Buffalo Sabers, Ruff has been named a Jack Adams Award finalist after making the biggest turnaround in NHL history. Though he didn’t win the award, it’d be very hard to let go of a coach who was in the running considering you almost never see Jack Adams finalists available looking for a new job.  

After coaching the Devils to their 55-22-8 record and finishing second to only the Carolina Hurricanes in a tight race for the Metro, the Devils didn’t stop there.  

They went on to win a round in the Stanley Cup Playoffs against their rival New York Rangers. Though Akira Schmid stole the show, the Devils certainly wouldn’t have won that series without Ruff’s adjustments to the Rangers. 

Players Coach 

There’s no question Ruff is highly respected in the locker room by players. Superstar Jack Hughes has made it very clear in post-game interviews that Ruff has been a big part of the identity and culture the Devils have developed in the 3 years he’s been behind the bench.  

Ruff has a knack for trusting young players with a lot of ice time and allowing them to develop in ways most coaches would never give an inexperienced player.  

For example, look at how he handled Luke Hughes towards the end of the Devils’ season. Ruff put his trust in Luke and he delivered, eventually getting rewarded with the second most ice-time in the last two games of the playoffs by a Devils defenseman.  

According to team reporter Amanda Stein, in Fitzgerald’s end-of-season media presser, he mentioned “I’ve always said that Lindy Ruff was the right coach for this team. So here we are today. He’s still the right coach for this group, he’s earned that right. He deserved that; we deserve him to be quite honest…those kids love him.” 

Experience

Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be the first to admit Ruff makes some head-scratching lineup decisions from time to time. He catches plenty of criticism when, for example, he takes Kevin Bahl out of the lineup for Brendan Smith. 

Ruff, at 63 years of age, has coached in 1,713 games with an overall record of 834-652-78-149. He is currently the fifth-most-winning coach in NHL history, as he was previously the coach of the Buffalo Sabers and Dallas Stars before he took over the New Jersey Devils. 

Experience is certainly not an issue with Ruff behind the bench for this young team and more importantly, he has plenty of playoff history as he’s coached in 120 games with a record of 66-54. 

Bringing back Lindy Ruff as the go-to guy behind the bench may not seem like an absolute slam dunk but it certainly is the right move. The positives immensely outweigh the negatives and if the players are happy then it’s a good sign we will even see him past the 2023-2034 season. 

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In April, Corey Pronman of The Athletic released his infamous NHL Prospect Pipeline Rankings. He had the New Jersey Devils ranked third. That’s an extremely promising pipeline for a team whose window is just opening for a long Stanley Cup run. The Devils will certainly need some of these guys on ELCs (Entry Level Contracts) to balance the Salary Cap. 

Let’s dive right into which star-studded prospects should have a chance to make the team next year! 

 New Jersey Devils: Prospects Who Could Shine in 2023

Luke Hughes 

Luke Hughes is all but a lock to make the team next year. He finished his college career with the Michigan Wolverines totaling 10 goals and 38 assists in 39 games, but most importantly, he sharpened up his defense.   

Lindy Ruff decided in the final game of the regular season to put Hughes out there and he shined. Hughes had an assist and the overtime game-winning goal against the Washington Capitals. He blew through the zone, toe-dragged through three defenders, and turned on his speed for a beautiful wrap-around goal. 

Hughes was then thrown to the wolves in the playoffs after gaining Ruff’s trust and held his ground. He finished with two points in three games and 19:15 of time on ice. He will no question be on the team next year. 

Šimon Nemec 

Šimon Nemec, the rangy Slovak right-shot defenseman taken second overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, has been more than solid in his first stint in American pro hockey. He played in 65 games and finished with 12 goals and 22 assists for a total of 34 points with a goal share of +5.2% at even-strength. Doing all this at only the age of 19. 

When the puck is on his stick, he shines with confidence and uses his deception and body control to his advantage. Nemec is an outstanding two-way defenseman with a high-end hockey sense. He excels with his passing and has a knack for finding the open man. Some compare his play to Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings. His control and patience are why he will find himself in the NHL next season.  

Akira Schmid  

Schmid is in an interesting position. He had an outstanding season and playoff performance. He stepped up and did everything right when called upon. I think everyone will agree, he saved the season against the New York Rangers with his incredible comeback.  

It’s really going to depend on what the organization decides to do at the goaltender position. Mackenzie Blackwood will be gone. Will GM Tom Fitzgerald want to pay up to bring in a proven goaltender like Connor Hellebuyck? I think that’s a terrible idea considering it would block Schmid’s development and crush the salary cap. 

Fitzgerald and the Devils should decide to run with Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid as their tandem next year and it shouldn’t be a surprise.  

Alex Holtz

The Swedish winger has been a highly regarded pick in the New Jersey Devils system for some time now. Alex Holtz was drafted seventh overall and has high expectations. Many have expected him to be in the big league by now, but his skating and pace have really held him back.  

Holtz has an elite shot that has New Jersey Devils fans foaming at the mouth to get this guy on Jack Hughes’s wing already. The question is, can he keep pace with the speedy center? It’s been frustrating for both parties considering he hasn’t found his footing and he had a rocky season in the AHL as he only played in 14 games.  

In those 14 games though, he produced six goals and five assists. I think Holtz will finally take advantage of the opportunities in front of him and join the big-league next year. He’s just too talented.  

Graeme Clarke  

Graeme Clarke, the big brother of the highly touted defensive prospect for the Los Angelos Kings, Brandt Clarke. Graeme, however, hasn’t had the smoothest transition to the NHL like his little brother is expected to have. He was drafted in the third round at 80th overall in the 2019 draft class.  

In his D+1 season, he had a gruesome shoulder injury. In his D+2 season, the OHL canceled forcing him to develop in the Chechia league. 

However, Clarke has been improving year after year and lit it up this AHL season finishing with 25 goals and 33 assists in 68 games for the Utica Comets. He’s been one of Utica’s top players and has proven he can overcome adversity. Look for Clarke to possibly carve out a role as an NHL regular next year.  

Nolan Foote 

Nolan Foote was drafted 27th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the 2019 draft. He was eventually traded to the Devils as a piece of the Blake Coleman trade. Foote had a rough start to his development as he was injured for quite a while.  

By the time Foote was traded to the Devils, his injury was still nagging him, and he struggled in the AHL. Now he’s turned it up a notch scoring 20 goals and 17 assists for 37 points in 55 games.  

Foote’s most dangerous attribute is his shot. Like Holtz, Foote has had trouble keeping pace in the AHL but has certainly turned a corner this year and should have a shot at joining the Devils next season.  

Reilly Walsh

Reilly Walsh is an interesting prospect; I believe he could be playing in the NHL now if he was in a different organization. He’s probably hit the peak of his production as he’s 24 years of age.  

Walsh is an offensive defenseman who has above-average skating and a decent shot. His defense is what holds him back from really excelling in his development. Walsh has turned himself into one of Utica’s star players as he’s finished this season with nine goals and 32 assists in 71 games.  

I could see the Devils using Walsh next season as either the extra defenseman or sending him to another team in a trade to give Walsh a chance to better his career.  

 The New Jersey Devils have plenty of talented prospects in their system. It should be interesting to see how things unfold with some veterans leaving and younger prospects getting a shot at making the big club. Time will tell who is going to step up and make the best of their opportunities. 

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Top Five 2023 NBA Draft Prospects

5. Jarace Walker (PF)

With a 6’8″, 240-pound frame, Jarace Walker instantly comes into the league with the perfect size for an NBA forward. His strength and physicality play a big role on both ends of the floor. On offense, Walker has a knack for getting to the rim with multiple moves and finishing through contact. He can also use those same moves to be effective from midrange and beyond the arc, becoming an a scorer in many areas. Walker’s ability to pass is also one of his strong suits, hitting his teammates in stride off the dribble and making great outlet passes in transition.

That strength and physicality translate on defense as well, detouring opponents from getting to the paint and being able to gaurd it. Walker is a disruptive defender, using his 7-foot-2 wingspan to hover over his opponent and block shots as well as create turnovers. He is a smart defensive player and is one of the best all-around on that side of the floor. There’s a lot to like about Walker’s physical tools that can translate well into the NBA.

4. Amen Thompson (PG/SG)

The top three picks seemed to be stapled leading up to the 2023 NBA Draft but Amen Thompson has made a pretty good case to move up. Once he gets drafted, he will immediately become one of the best pure athletes in the league. Thompson’s playmaking and skillset jump off the charts. As a scorer, he is able to get to and attack the rim with his explosive first step and quick burst/blow by speed, finishing with the best of them. He can also get to the rim with his ball-handling/crossover moves.

Thompson has great instincts and basketball IQ that allow him to become a great facilitator. He sees the floor well to be a creative and decisive passer. His defensive abilities added on make him a great prospect. Thompson has active hands and the length to poke the ball away and create steals, becoming a desruptive defender for anyone. That, in turn, turns into instant offense with his ability to push the ball up the floor. While his shot might need a little improvement, Thompson’s skill makes him one of the best players in this draft.

3. Brandon Miller (SF)

Coming out of Alabama, Brandon Miller is known as one of the best shooters in this class. With his shot mechanics and release, he is a smooth mid-range shooter and has elite range to knock down threes from anywhere. Miller also can hit different kinds of shots, whether it’s in rhythm, off the dribble, or turnaround jumpers. His size at 6’9″, 200 pounds allows him to shoot over anyone with ease.

Miller also delivers in different ways with the ball, having great vision to accurately find his teammates anywhere on the court. On the defensive end, the young forward has quick lateral movement and uses his length to become an active shot-blocker. With Miller’s natural ability to score from anywhere, he becomes a valuable asset and would surprise no one if he went second overall.

2. Scoot Henderson (PG)

If it wasn’t for a generational talent at number one, Scoot Henderson would be on top. Now that just means the Hornets can get a number one pick at number two overall. His strength and athleticism stand out above the rest, making him a pure athlete at just 6’2″. His nearly 7-foot wingspan makes up for his lack of size as well.

His explosiveness on offense makes him one of the best scorers in the 2023 NBA Draft. While Henderson is a really good mid-range shooter, it would take his game to a whole other level as a shooter if he improved his three-point shot. He also combined his great scoring ability with his great passing ability, becoming a great facilitator. Scoot has room to improve on the defensive end but displays some feistiness. He will fight with Miller for the right to go number two overall.

1. Victor Wembanyama (PF/C)

Known as the best prospect since LeBron James in 2003, Victor Wembanyama is projected to change the course of a franchise for years to come and in this case, that would be the Spurs. If his 7’3″ frame wasn’t terrorizing enough, he also possesses the skills to be absolutely dominant in every aspect. Wembanyama is able to create his own offense, showing great shot-making ability while also being able to finish above the rim. He can move the ball quickly as a passer and is an elite playmaker anywhere on the floor.

If his offense wasn’t enough, his play on the other end of the court makes him the complete package. Wembanyama can be a future Defensive Player of the Year candidate. He uses his eight-foot wingspan to block shots at a high level whether it’s at the rim or away from it. The 19-year-old superstar also can knock defenders off of their path and deteriorate them from getting to the paint. He has all the tools to be one of the best players in NBA history.

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The Chicago Blackhawks hold the first overall pick, followed by the Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, San Jose Sharks, and Montreal Canadiens. As we have just over a month until the festivities of draft week begin, let’s take a look at the top prospects heading into next month.

Top Five 2023 NHL Draft Prospects

5. Zach Benson (Left Wing)

What makes Zach Benson one of the top 2023 NHL Draft Prospects is his overall hockey sense and decision-making. He’s consistently involved in the play with or without the puck. He can create plays due to his stick handling and quick hands. Benson also has the ability to pass and shoot through multiple lanes without hesitation. This makes him a dangerous scoring threat, especially in areas with a lot of traffic.

Despite his 5’10”, 159-pound frame, his all-around talent and skill set makes up for the lack of size. Benson is one of the smartest overall players in this draft and will show it when the opportunity comes in the league.

4. Leo Carlsson (Center)

With the physical and mental tools possessed on ice, Leo Carlsson can be a special player in this league for years to come. The 6’3″, 194-pound center is best known as a playmaker, using his high hockey IQ and awareness to move the puck with quickness to find teammates in open space. To further elaborate on that, Carlsson is constantly able to read and find his options when needed.

He will always be a pass-first type of player but don’t sleep on his ability to score because if you do, that’s when he’s at his most dangerous. The 18-year-old is expected to go in the top five and there are a few teams that need an all-around center down the middle to create plays.

3. Matvei Michkov (Right/Left Wing)

The top 2023 NHL Draft prospects in this class are center iceman but the best winger is Matvei Michkov. Many think his size at 5’10”, 148 pounds would be a disadvantage but it’s actually the opposite. Because of his size and skills as the best stick handler in the draft, he’s able to move around and get passed defenders when needed.

Michkov is a really good playmaker and his zone entries even further his ability to create for not only himself but others. His scoring ability only adds to his overall skill and that’s what makes him a future star in this league. It would be a surprise to no one if he went second overall in this draft.

2. Adam Fantilli (Center)

As the second-best center in this draft, Adam Fantilli does it all down the middle of the ice. What people most know him for is his elite offensive prowess. He has a powerful wrist shot and can score at the net. Fantilli is able to flip a switch and create offense in just a matter of moments.

For all the offensive talk, Fantilli displays a nice all-around game. He’s not afraid to throw his body around and force turnovers by taking away lanes from opponents, making him a pretty good forechecker that also can create offense off of that. Fantilli is a complete player, making him one of the most dangerous in the NHL Draft.

1. Connor Bedard (Center)

Vision, anticipation, execution, stickhandling, shooting/skating ability, quick hands. These elite skills and more is exactly why Connor Bedard is the best prospect since Connor McDavid in 2015. Whenever on the ice, he’s always a scoring threat and can make incredible plays that few rarely make.

In the Western Hockey League this year, Bedard had an outstanding 71 goals and 72 assists for 143 points in 57 games. He also had 2.51 points per game, the highest by a WHL player since 1991. In the 2023 World Junior Championship, he tallied 23 points for Team Canada, the fourth-highest total by any player all-time in the tournament. Bedard is a generational talent who is expected to change the course of a franchise, which will be the Blackhawks, who have the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

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Over the course of a few days, a special group of twenty-somethings will take the next step forward in their athletic existence. They have been weighed and measured, and now it’s time to get in where they fit in, so to speak.

It started out predictably with Alabama quarterback Bryce Young going to the Carolina Panthers with the first-overall pick, and then things turned a little chaotic. Trades and movement dominated the early stages of the NFL’s amateur selection process. Some highly-touted prospects fell out of the first round, like Kentucky QB Will Levis.

Things were pretty unpredictable, but there was one thing that everyone watching could count on: the same, old cliches.

As the talking heads at ESPN, the NFL Network, and possibly even the Travel Channel broke down this year’s Draft, they tend to always use similar terminology when describing certain positions on the field. It’s almost their way of trying to find what mold the new guy fits.

However, these mostly are worn-out tropes, regurgitated imagery, and even some silly stereotypes that just seem to ‘fit’ the way we picture a player.

For example, a saying that has traveled around the sporting world for years is, Blue-Collar Guy. This is a player who may not have the same physical skills as their contemporaries, but they make up for it with hard work. Also throw in terms like gritty, tough, hardnosed, and determined.

Anyone who has seen the movie ‘Invincible‘ knows the rags-to-riches story of prospects like that. They tend to get a lot of love from the fanbase and positive press.

And if they happen to get drafted into some ‘textile town’? Even better. Because Mel Kiper will tell you: They are going to love the way this kid plays up there in Buffalo. He brings his lunchbox to work and punches the clock. He just wants to put in the time.

NFL Draft Discussion Is Always a Mix of Imagery and Analysis

Besides Sesame Street? There’s no better place to learn about shapes and sizes than the NFL Draft

It’s a given fact that pro football players are larger than your average human. But how large or how lithe is where a myriad of metaphors can be used to describe them. When it comes to a big defensive tackle, he can often be known as a Run Stuffer. He also goes by aliases like run-stuffer or disrupter. Just like cholesterol, he’s a guy who clogs the middle.

Lining up against him, you’ll want to draft a real Hogmollie on your offensive line. One of those guys who can pass-protect and still act as a road-grader for the ground game. A big hoss who can clear the way and open up a hole. Sure, he’s only 300 pounds, but he plays more like he’s 350!

Because they push people for a living, the guys on both sides of the line are also often judged by their wingspan. Do they have good reach and long arms or are they too short for his frame? In other words: Is he a tarantula, or a Tyrannosaurus?

The flashy, big-play, big-money guys always seem to get the best of everything in sports. And it’s no different when it comes to NFL Draft cliches, some stars invoke comparisons to speed, precision, accuracy, and… a whole lot of other really neat stuff.

Receivers who run a great 40-yard dash at the Scouting Combine enter the draft being touted as having ‘blinding speed’. Referred to as Playmakers, they live for the thrill of the highlight reel, usually somewhere in the vicinity of the end zone. Then, they cut loose with the hottest dance the currently in the club.

Potential NFL stars are also often compared to elements and natural occurrences like wind, heat, and lightning

And when a wideout eventually does something crazy (as they are statistically proven to do), they’re then known as brash, outspoken, enigmatic, and mercurial. But one thing’s for sure, Even as a rookie, they’re the kind of guys who aren’t afraid to tell you to just give them the damn ball.

Big, bulky running backs – ones who could easily play fullback – are what you might call a Hammer. They’re the ball carriers who actually run TO contact. Christian Okoye and Jerome Bettis are both great examples of this type of punishing pinball.

Because of their strength and stamina, they are often known to control the ground game, owning the time of possession, and controlling the pace. In fact, a bruising back can bring the late stages of the game to a grinding conclusion.

So whatever you do, make sure that you choose wisely, Draftniks.

You’ve got to have the willing warriors to terrorize the trenches. Because as we all know, the game is won on the line of scrimmage, so your Godzillas of the Gridiron have to be ready to breathe fire. Otherwise, your sorry signal-caller could end up scrambling from sackers and scoping the secondary… with no success.

And like they always say? No one wants to get their QB crushed at crunch time.
(Have a Happy Draft.)

Click here for more NFL Draft Perspective: 4 Reason Why the NFL Draft is Must Watch

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We are amidst draft season and on Thursday, 4/27 at 8 P.M., we get the next big part of the NFL offseason: the NFL Draft live from Kansas City. There’s something in the air at this event. Some call it excitement but most call it “hope”. Hope for what your team does. Who get’s the next Joe Burrow or Patrick Mahomes? Is there a bust in this draft? You won’t know until you watch! Here are some reasons why the NFL is must watch TV!

4 Reasons Why the NFL Draft is Must Watch

Who goes #2?

At the risk of being a feature on Cold Takes Exposed, we all figure that Alabama quarterback Bryce Young goes first overall to the Carolina Panthers. The betting odds have ballooned to -2000, which is a 95% probability as posed by Sharp Football Analysis.

The certainty that the Panthers will do this rivals the sheer uncertainty of the seond pick held by the Houston Texans. They have hired a former starting middle linebacker for their franchise, defensive-minded DeMeco Ryans, but the team has a need at quarterback.

Ryans will have essentially the pick of the litter of defensive players, but also has the remaining quarterback choices: Ohio State Buckeye C.J. Stroud, combine hero Anthony Richardson, or the controversial Will Levis. Will he lean on his defensive mind, or choose the “2nd” best quarterback out there?

4 Teams have two first round picks

The most opportunity for team-altering movement usually happens within the first three rounds of the draft, but the most capital is within round one.

This year, there are four teams with multiple first round picks. The winners of the NFC, Philadelphia, is one of those teams. With pick 10 and pick 28, there’s a real opportunity for the team to get better. Will they parlay these picks into a trade, like they orchestrated last year for stud wide receiver A.J. Brown? Or will they try to add depth to their aging offensive line?

The remaining teams with similar picks are Houston, Detroit, and Miami. As mentioned above, Houston has an interesting situation on their hands, the Lions were much improved this past season, and the Dolphins feel like they’re extremely close to breaking through in the AFC East. Which one of these teams capitalize the most this draft?

3 teams have five or fewer picks total

While there is a fair bit of optimism for most teams in the draft, there is also some pessimism for teams. With the least amount of chances to splash. While the Dolphins do have multiple firsts, they’re basically done drafting impactful players after their first two picks. So, while it is nice and flashy to get these firsts, there’s now more pressure to hit on these picks.

Some other teams that have either had no news or bad news this offseason that each have five total picks are the Broncos, the Vikings, and the Ravens.

The Broncos had very little to be happy with this last season, but are in the midst of a monster transition at head coach with the addition of Sean Payton.

The Vikings transitioned to a more offensive style of play this past season and had a mid-season acquisition of tight end stud, T.J. Hockenson, but let veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen walk. Will they go to offense, or will they try to add to their fourth PFF Ranked defense?

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