International NHL Players in 2023 Draft
Some Young Stars Taken in First Round
International NHL Players in the 2023 Draft
With the game of hockey expanding into many nations outside North America, International countries have produced countless stars for decades in the National Hockey League, mainly from Russia, Czechia, Sweden and Finland, to name a few. In this International NHL Players report, we will cover some of the top young stars from across the pond that will be selected this weekend in Nashville at the 2023 NHL Draft.
Leo Carlsson, Anaheim Ducks
Position/Country: Center/Orebro HK, Sweden
Draft Position: First Round, Second Overall
Info: Age: 18 (12/26/04) Height: 6’3″ Weight: 198 lbs
22-23 Stats: 44 GP, 10 Goals, 15 Assists, 25 Points.
One of the two European skaters in this elite group, Leo Carlsson is a solid, left-shooting, two-way forward that already has decent size at 6’3″ and nearly 200 pounds. Carlsson has proved his game will translate well from Europe to North America, and the Anaheim Ducks made sure to select him second overall in the First Round of the Draft, when many expected him to fall third after Michigan forward Adam Fantilli.
He will need another year of pro development in Europe before coming to North America. Many project his Ducks debut would be more around the 2025-26 NHL regular season.
Matvei Michkov, Philadelphia Flyers
Position/Country: Right Wing/HK Sochi, SKA St. Pete’s, Russia
Draft Position: First Round, Seventh Overall
Info: Age: 18 (12/9/04) Height: 5’10” Weight: 148 lbs
22-23 Stats: 37 GP, 19 Goals, 15 Assists, 34 Points.
There’s been a lot of talk about this small Russian player with hands lighter than feathers when he handles the puck. Matvei Michkov is projected to be one of those elusive type forwards like Theo Fleury or Martin St. Louis but with even more offensive creativity.
Of course, there are some concerns about when he can come to North America, between the on-going war issues with Russia and Ukraine and his club SKA St. Petersburg still holding his rights for another two seasons, loaning him for a handful of games to KHL squad HK Sochi to give his some playoff experience.
With the young Russian selected seventh overall by the Philadelphia Flyers, he will have time to continue his development with St. Pete’s for at least one, if not two years while he fills out his frame before transitioning to the North American game.
David Reinbacher, Montreal Canadiens
Position/Country: Defenseman/Kloten HC, Switzerland
Draft Position: First Round, Fifth Overall
Info: Age: 18 (10/25/2004) Height: 6’2″ Weight: 185 lbs
22-23 Stats: 47 GP, 3 Goals, 16 Assists, 19 Points.
As the top-ranked European Defenseman on the final National Hockey League Central Rankings list, David Reinbacher is a name that Montreal fans will remember soon enough, even if former Habs goaltender Carey Price forgot while announcing the pick.
The offensive numbers are light for the young Swiss native, but his 22 points ranked second All-Time in Swiss National League history for a player under 19 years old. The top record holder, Nashville star blue-liner Roman Josi. While his game might not reach the level of his fellow countrymate, he will definitely be a fixture with the Canadiens in their ongoing youth movement.
Dmitriy Simashev, Arizona Coyotes
Position/Country: Defenseman/Yaroslavl Jr, Russia
Draft Position: First Round, Sixth Overall
Info: Age: 18 (2/4/2004) Height: 6’4″ Weight: 198 lbs
22-23 Stats: 37 GP, One Goal, 9 Assists, 10 Points (KHL & VHL).
Second in the European Skater rankings amongst blue-liners, Dmitriy Simashev has been touted by many to be ready for the NHL in just a couple of years, with decent height and size at 18, he is a strong skater, but will need another year or two of full play in the KHL, where the 200-foot international ice size will allow the Russian some time before he will project to come overseas. Only question is, will the Coyotes franchise still be in the state of Arizona once he’s ready for prime time?
Dalibor Dvorsky, St. Louis Blues
Position/Country: Center/AIK, Sweden
Draft Position: First Round, Tenth Overall
Info: Age: 18 (6/15/2005) Height: 6’1″ Weight: 201 lbs
22-23 Stats: 48 GP, 16 Goals, 19 Assists, 35 Points (SEL 1&2)
The speedy Slovakian tore it up in two different levels of the Swedish Junior League last season, putting up a total of 35 points, culminating with some great numbers in international play at the World Juniors and the U-18 Worlds representing Slovakia, a nation that produced the first two picks of the 2022 NHL Draft.
With the St. Louis Blues in a midst of a “Re-Tooling” and not a full rebuild, We wouldn’t be shocked to see the club keep him in Sweden for one more season before heading to the AHL for more seasoning.
This Concludes the National Hockey League International Draft Players Report. Check out all the updated NHL Lineups, NHL Player Stats, standings, future odds, team stats, recent news, picks and parlays, NHL Bets Today and betting tips, right here at Point Spreads.
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