2023 NHL Draft: Top 10 defensemen

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 the top eligible defensemen. NHL.com's full draft coverage can be found here.

David Reinbacher is poised to make history at the 2023 NHL Draft.

The 18-year-old (6-foot-2, 194 pounds) right-handed shot is expected to be the first Austria-born defenseman to be selected in the first round and could be the first of any nationality at the position to be chosen in the draft.

"He definitely could be the first defensemen that gets selected, and I think there will be a high probability of that," NHL Central Scouting vice president Dan Marr said.

Reinbacher had one assist and averaged 15:57 of ice time in four games for Austria at the 2023 IIHF World Championship but missed time because of a knee injury. That came after he had two assists in five games for his country at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship.

"It's just the basics," Austria WJC coach Kirk Furey said. "When he goes back to get a puck, his feet are moving right away. He reads the land, he's able to read the play, he's got his head on the swivel, passes the puck. It's just the simple things. He plays physical. ... He's kind of mature at a young age, and [excels] with the basics, which is something that I think a lot of people don't take as much pride in as they should. He's a kid that's doing it right now."

RELATED: [More 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft Coverage]

Here are NHL.com's top 10 defensemen available for the 2023 draft:

1. David Reinbacher, Kloten (SUI)

NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 5 (International skaters)

Reinbacher left Austria for Switzerland as a 14-year-old in 2018 to develop in the Kloten program. The right-handed shot made his debut with the top team last season, and this season in National League, the top league in Switzerland, he had 22 points (three goals, 19 assists) in 46 games. It was the second-most points by an under-19 defenseman in National League behind Roman Josi, who had 24 points (seven goals, 17 assists) in 42 games in 2008-09.

"For me, he's not far away from NHL, maybe a year in Europe and some [American Hockey League] experience, but he's not far away from being ready for NHL," NHL Central Scouting chief European scout Janne Vuorinen said. "He's a pretty complete player and overall maybe the most NHL-ready defensive prospect in Europe this season and maybe the whole draft year."

2. Axel Sandin Pellikka, Skelleftea Jr. (SWE-JR)

NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 7 (International skaters)

Sandin Pellikka (5-11, 180) had 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists) in 31 games in Sweden's junior league. The 18-year-old right-handed shot also made his Swedish Hockey League debut this season with five points (two goals, three assists) and an average ice time of 8:34 in 22 games.

"Axel has come in and done fantastically well both here with us and with the junior team," Skelleftea general manager Erik Forssell said. "He's made huge strides this past year and his puck handling really stands out, which we like. We think we will have great years here together."

3. Tom Willander, Rogle Jr. (SWE-JR)

NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 12 (International skaters)

The 18-year-old right-handed shot had 25 points (four goals, 21 assists) in 39 games in Sweden's junior league, and eight points (three goals, five assists) for Sweden at the World Under-18s. Scouts were impressed with the poise and calmness Willander (6-1, 180) displayed, as well as his skating ability. He'll play at Boston University next season.

"It's Willander's hockey sense and maturity that stands out," Janne Vuorinen of NHL European Scouting said. "He has really good hockey sense and he plays always on the move. Likes to join the rush with his good footwork and puck skills. Plays with poise when on the puck and makes good decisions. ... Reminds me a bit of Adam Fox."

4. Lukas Dragicevic, Tri-City (WHL)

NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 18 (North American skaters)

Dragicevic (6-1, 194) was fourth among Western Hockey League defensemen with 75 points (15 goals, 60 assists) in 68 games. The 18-year-old right-handed shot also had four points (two goals, two assists) in seven games at the 2023 IIHF World Under-18 Championship to help Canada win the bronze medal.

"The thing with Lukas is his offensive game," Marr said. "His game at the offensive blue line makes him stand out far and above anyone else in the draft class. … He's an excellent skater, he's got the offensive instincts, he's going to be able to play and contribute at the NHL level."

5. Mikhail Gulyayev, Omsk Jr. (RUS-JR)

NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 10 (International skaters)

Gulyayev (5-10, 172) made his debut in the Kontinental Hockey League this season with one assist and 6:37 of ice time in 13 games. The 18-year-old left-handed shot played most of the season in Russia's junior league, where he had 25 points (two goals, 23 assists) in 22 games.

6. Oliver Bonk, London (OHL)

NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 20 (North American skaters)

Bonk (6-1, 180) had 40 points (10 goals, 30 assists) in 67 regular-season games and 11 assists in 21 playoff games to help London reach the Ontario Hockey League final. He also played at the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Games on Jan. 25, and had a plus-1 rating for Team White while playing most of the game against Team Red's top forwards. The 18-year-old right-handed shot is the son of retired NHL forward Radek Bonk.

"With Bonk, he was the complete package for us," Central Scouting director David Gregory said. "And the progression of his development over the course of the season was very good. He played both ends of the rink very well and really processes the game at a high level, and that gives us confidence that this is a player that is going to be able to do that as the game gets quicker and the competition gets better as you move up into the pro game."

7. Dmitriy Simashev, Yaroslavl Jr. (RUS-JR)

NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 19 (International skaters)

Simashev (6-4, 198) made his KHL debut this season with seven shots on goal and an average ice time of 6:55 in 18 games. The 18-year-old left-handed shot also had 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in 29 games with Yaroslavl in Russia's junior league.

8. Etienne Morin, Moncton (QMJHL)

NHL Central Scouting ranking: 19 (North American skaters)

Morin (6-foot, 180) led Quebec Major Junior Hockey League defensemen with 21 goals and was third with 72 points in 67 games. The 18-year-old left-handed shot also tied for the QMJHL playoff lead at the position with 17 points (two goals, 15 assists) in 12 games.

"With Etienne it's the hockey sense, puck skill, the poise with the puck, the ability to sort out the options in front of him," Jean-Francois Damphousse of Central Scouting said. "To me that's the difference-maker with his game. He's a great passer, he sees the game really well. He's as good as anybody I've seen this year on the offensive blue line, whether it's 5-on-5 or the power play. He can create, he can find lanes, he can find shot paths around the net."

9. Andrew Gibson, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 31 (North American skaters)

Gibson (6-3, 202) had 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) in 45 games and three assists in seven games to help Canada finish third at the World U-18s. The 18-year-old right-handed shot had two assists against Sweden in the bronze-medal game, including one on the overtime goal by top 2024 NHL Draft forward prospect Macklin Celebrini.

10. Maxim Strbak, Sioux Falls

NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 48 (North American skaters)

In his first season in North America, Strbak (6-1, 198) had 18 points (five goals, 13 assists) in 46 games. The 18-year-old right-handed shot also had six assists in seven games for Slovakia at World U-18s and three assists in five games at the WJC. Strbak is committed to Michigan State University next season.

"What I really liked about him the most is every time I would go watch him play, he would just do things that I think NHL defensemen do," Pat Cullen of Central Scouting said. "A lot of the little, subtle things. He's big, he's strong. He's not putting up a lot of offensive points and I don't know if he ever will, but he does have good offensive instincts. He just makes the little plays that you see a lot of the defensemen that are playing in the NHL playoffs are making right now. He's a pro prospect that somebody is going to get him and really like him."

Photo: Kyle Smutzki (Dragicevic)

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