Major Declaration for the NHL Draft and there could be a surprise

The Habs are in a very good position to draft a good young player in the 2023 NHL draft next June. A draft like this with a top 7 pick is great news for a rebuilding team.

Forget the Shane Wright reactions from last year, there will be no surprises this year. Connor Bedard will be the first overall pick, it's written in the sky. However, there will be a fierce battle for positions two through five.

Adam Fantilli was perceived as the logical choice at number two, but watch out. Leo Carlsson and Matvei Michkov are two very talented players as well. Then there is Will Smith who is shuffling the deck and could be the surprise of this 2023 auction.

The American finished his season strong and could end up in the second tier. At that point, it will depend on the preferences of the teams that get picks two through five, but it will be a complete surprise and it is impossible to predict the order in which the prospects will be selected.

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