DRAFT: 2023 NHL Draft Class Continues to Soak Up Draft Experience

With one more day until the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft, the draft class now prepares for the moment for when a team selects them.

For some of the top prospects, they are anxious to wait and see where they might end up on the board on that first night. For Adam Fantilli, the best that the draft class can do now is to soak up the experience while they still can.

"It's something you've tried to look forward to your entire life and try to get to this point and obviously, it's tomorrow now," Fantilli said. "We're all trying to sit back and enjoy it because you can't really play another game and you can't score another goal now, so just kind of sit back, try and soak it in and enjoy it."

The draft will take place on June 28 and 29 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and will welcome some of the top hockey talent that includes Fantilli, Leo Carlsson, Connor Bedard, Will Smith and Matthew Wood.

For Bedard, he looks forward to taking in the first day of draft but also enjoys the other experiences such as the NHL Combine, watching the Stanley Cup Finals in Vegas and attending the NHL Awards. Now, he just wants to prepare for the Wednesday night event.

"It's been a lot of fun, getting in here and be with my family and friends and everything," Bedard said. "So, I don't really know what to expect or what I think I'll feel there, but just kind of taking it taking it day by day and enjoying the time here."

For the two Canadian prospects, they both look towards their family for their help and support for this moment in their hockey career.

Fantilli describes the special moment he is able to share with his family on Wednesday night where they can soak up the experience with him as well.

"My family does a great job," Fantiili said. "Whenever I'm around them, everything just kind of decompresses and just get to be around and be myself and just relax. Focus on them and hope and try and make sure they're enjoying the process as much as I."

With one more day to go until the first name appears on the draft board, Bedard notes that he can't predict how he can feel going into it. However, it allows the projected first overall pick and others to be one step closer to their dream.

"I think you always dream of some things, but I think for me, it was just I always loved playing the game and I woke up every day and wanted to be on the ice and so that was kind of my mindset," Bedard said. "But everyone's dream is playing the NHL and it's still my dream so I hope to achieve that one day."

With the 2023 NHL Draft class, they bring a unique skillset to the ice that provides a deeper depth on the draft board, which Fantilli states that alone speaks for themselves.

"What they do on the ice obviously speaks for itself with how deep this draft is, and it's been amazing to watch their seasons and then get to meet them afterwards, so it's been cool," Fantilli said.

The first round of the 2023 NHL Draft will be broadcasted at 6 p.m. CT on Wednesday, June 28 on ESPN in the United States and Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada. The second day of the event will start at 10 a.m. CT on the NHL Network.