Predators Potential 2023 First-Round Draft Targets

The Stanley Cup was awarded last night in Las Vegas, marking the official end to the 2022-23 NHL season and turning the league's focus toward the 2023 NHL Draft, which will be held on June 28-29 in Nashville.

The Predators have 13 picks in this year's draft, including two in the first round (No. 15 and No. 24 overall). We know that incoming General Manager/President of Hockey Operations Barry Trotz and Assistant GM/Director of Scouting Jeff Kealty interviewed 75 prospects at the NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo last week in order to get more insight into this year's exceptionally deep draft class. We also know that Trotz is looking to use the team's draft capital to add speed, skill and scoring to Nashville's organizational depth.

The pool of draft-eligible prospects is an embarrassment of riches, particularly at the forward position, with no shortage of potential first-round targets for Nashville. With the draft now just two weeks away, here are a few of the prospects who could hear their names called by the Preds on night one at Bridgestone Arena.

Axel Sandin Pellikka, D, Skellefteå AIK (SHL)

The Predators haven't drafted a defenseman in the first round since Dante Fabbro in 2016, but Sandin Pellikka is an intriguing choice for a number of reasons. The right-shot Swede is an offensive defenseman, putting up 36 points (16g-20a) in 31 games last season with Skellefteå AIK J20 of the National Swedish Junior League.

Elevated this year to Sweden's top professional league, the 18-year-old blueliner recorded five points (2g-3a) against more experienced competition. His play this season has elevated his draft stock, making him a consensus Top 20 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Sandin Pellikka has also attracted attention from scouts for his power play upside. At 5-foot-11, he is considered undersized, but his puck skills, playmaking ability and offensive instincts have drawn comparisons to those of Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes.

Most scouts consider Sandin Pellikka to be the No. 2 defenseman in this year's class, behind Swiss blueliner David Reinbacher. While the Predators currently have a strong, NHL-caliber defensive core, drafting Sandin Pellikka could significantly improve their organizational depth at the position.

Gabriel Perreault, LW, USA NTDP Juniors (USHL)

Perreault is a skilled, playmaking winger who turned lots of heads during the 2022-23 season. Drafted 92nd overall by the Sarnia Sting in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, Perreault opted instead to continue his amateur career with the U.S. National Team Development Program and is currently committed to Boston College for the 2023-24 season.

Perreault skated two seasons in the NTDP, most recently leading the Under-18 team in points (132), goals (53) and assists (79) in 2022-23. He also represented the U.S. at the 2023 Under-18 World Junior Championship, tallying 18 points (5g-13a) in seven games.

Born in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Perreault is a dual citizen of Canada and the United States. His father, Yanic Perreault, is a lifetime NHLer who played 69 games with the Predators during the 2005-06 season, notching a career-high 57 points (22g-35a).

Nate Danielson, C, Brandon (WHL)

A co-captain of the OHL's Brandon Wheat Kings, Danielson led his team in points (78), goals (33) and assists (45) in 68 games in 2022-23. Among first-year draft-eligible players in the WHL, those totals rank eighth in points and sixth in goals.

Danielson's natural speed makes him an offensive threat, especially off the rush. Much like Perreault, however, he is known more as a playmaker than as a sniper. He takes relatively few shots, averaging less than four per game, indicating that he prefers to wait for the best scoring opportunities rather than settle for low-danger chances.

What truly sets Danielson apart among other top draft-eligible prospects is his speed. He is often touted as one of the best skaters in an exceptionally deep draft class, thanks to his ability to carry the puck up the ice quickly. He can also change direction instantaneously, making him especially effective in transition.

Danielson's speed, along with his intelligence and deception, allow him to dictate the pace and flow of the game. While he may play a safer, less flashy style of offense than some of his counterparts atop the 2023 Draft rankings, he would be a solid, high-upside pick for the Predators in the first round.

Matthew Wood, RW, University of Connecticut (NCAA)

Wood, who turned 18 in February, was the youngest player in NCAA Division I hockey this season and has quickly become one of the best prospects the NCAA has to offer. Appearing in 35 games for the Huskies in 2022-23, he led his team in assists (23) and total points (34). He was a model of consistency, recording at least a point in 25 of his 35 games played and never going more than two consecutive games without finding the scoresheet.

Wood came to UConn following a stint with the Victoria Grizzlies of the BCHL, where he scored 45 goals and racked up 85 points in only 46 games during the 2021-22 season. Finishing with the most goals and points by a rookie, Wood won both the Brett Hull Trophy as the BCHL's top scorer and the Bruce Allison Memorial Trophy as the BCHL Rookie of the Year.

Wood has a lethal wrist shot that he isn't afraid to unleash, averaging roughly three per game this season. At 6-foot-4, 193 pounds, he could have an incredibly high ceiling at the NHL level if he continues to hone his skills and raw talent.

Dalibor Dvorsky, C, AIK (SHL)

Dvorsky is an excellent two-way center who can control play both with and without the puck. Playing in the second tier Swedish pro league against older, more experienced players, the 17-year-old has established himself as one of the top European skaters in this year's draft.

Dvorsky notched 21 points (10g-11a) in 10 games for AIK J20 this season before being elevated to the pro league, where he finished 2022-23 with 14 points (6g-8a) in 38 games. At 6-foot-1, 201 pounds, his solid frame allows him to win puck battles and to be an asset on both special teams units.

Dvorsky represented his native Slovakia at the World Junior Championship in both 2022 and 2023, most recently recording three points (1g-2a) in five games in this year's tournament. He has a dangerous slapshot and wrist shot, which could make him a scoring threat at the NHL level. Combine that with his skillful passing, defensive instincts and versatility on the power play, and Dvorsky could be a solid first-round pick for Nashville in 2023.