The top 15 defensemen to watch for the 2023 NHL Draft

Axel Sandin Pellikka (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)

Credit: (Photo by Steven Ellis/Daily Fac

I’ll be blunt: this isn’t the year where you stretch to pick up a defenseman in the first round.

As we’ve documented all year long, the offensive talent is incredible. With an impressive group of forwards, like Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson or Will Smith, the talent is extraordinary.

The 2024 draft should have some significant blueline prospects, such as Sam Dickinson, Adam Jiricek, Aron Kiviharju, Artyom Levshunov, Henry Mews and Veeti Vasianen. At least now, we could see 3-4 defensemen taken in the top 10 alone. If you really need a quality defenseman down the line, that might be the time to splurge.

That’s not to say the 2023 defensive crop doesn’t have some excellent options. David Reinbacher feels like a lock for the top 10 thanks to his well-rounded play. Dmitri Simashev is as good of a shutdown defender as it gets. Lukas Dragicevic is an outstanding offensive defender. And that’s just scratching the surface. It’s a good crop that’s only getting overshadowed because of the elite talent up front.

If your team needs a blueliner, you’re in the right place. Here’s a look at 15 of the top defensemen for the 2023 NHL Draft:

David Reinbacher, D (Kloten, NL)

Not many people had Reinbacher as a first-round pick heading into the season. Now, most have Reinbacher as the best defenseman in the class. He put up excellent numbers in the top Swiss league, a division that hasn’t always been kind to younger blueliners. Reinbacher looked mature beyond his years and could immediately jump over and make an impact in the AHL next season if that ends up being the plan.

Axel Sandin Pellikka, D (Skelleftea, SHL)

Pellikka fell in my rankings, but not really due to poor performance or anything. It’s just that I like the forward options more. He was a feral beast at the U-20 level, but much more reserved against men in the SHL. If he can unlock a bit more of that intensity with Skelleftea next season, that’ll be awesome.

Dmitri Simashev, D (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, KHL)

I didn’t love his game in the first half, but his late-season play really grew on me, especially during the MHL playoffs. Against his own age group, he can carry the load on the blueline and can be physically intimidating. Scouts are all over the place with him, but I like his potential.

Tom Willander, D (Rogle, Sweden U-20)

Willander’s consistency at the U-20 level was good, and I liked how confident he looked rushing the puck during the World Junior A Challenge, in particular. Willander has been one of the biggest risers in the top 60 for me, and I think he still has quite a bit of room to improve. He could be a nice pickup for a team that’s already in a contention window.

Mikhail Gulyayev, D (Omskie, MHL)

Gulyayev had confidence to burn in the MHL this year, looking like a man among kids. He uses the open space to his advantage and is fairly quick in bursts. He’ll bring value as a puck-moving transitional defender.

Oliver Bonk, D (London, OHL)

The son of former NHLer Radek Bonk, Oliver played a ton of minutes this year thanks to his strong own-zone play. He’s capable of creating damage in the O-zone, too. He fits the mold of a modern-day defender who can do some of everything.

Lukas Dragicevic, D (Tri-City, WHL)

Dragicevic loves joining in on the attack and getting involved in the play any way he can. There aren’t many draft-eligible defenders that can set plays up like him, using as much available time as possible to make the correct play. He needs to work on his foot speed if he’s going to excel in the NHL, but we’ve learned that all-offensive defensemen can have great NHL careers.

Beau Akey, D (Barrie, OHL)

While most eyes have been on Brandt Clarke in Barrie this year, it’s hard to ignore Akey jumping up 30 points this year. He does an excellent job of rushing the puck down the ice from his own zone and he panic-passes the puck far less these days.

Caden Price, D (Kelowna, WHL)

His game-to-game play varies, but when Price is on, he can take over and be the best player on any given shift. He’s a strong skater who throws hits with purpose and loves to rush the puck.

Luca Cagnoni, D (Portland, WHL)

Another quick-moving, modern-day two-way blueliner. He’s not the quickest skater, and he’s definitely not a physical defenseman, but he has a wicked release and can dominate the power play. Scouts really like the potential for Cagnoni to blossom into something really positive.

Tanner Molendyk, D (Saskatoon, WHL)

Molendyk sometimes feels like a fourth forward out there with how he moves the puck and generates chances. But the offense didn’t seem to follow like most expected, bumping him down a few pegs. It feels like he’ll have a breakout next year, but I just wanted to see more this time around.

Etienne Morin, D (Moncton, QMJHL)

More than a few heads were turned when NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr called Morin his top defenseman for the draft. The skilled, two-way defender is still a work in progress, but his offensive flashes and improved defensive play make him an intriguing prospect.

Maxim Strbak, D (Sioux Falls, USHL)

Strbak doesn’t produce much offense, but he uses his size and skating to cut corners off and limit high-danger chances. His patience with the puck under pressure really stands out. Strbak could be a decent shutdown defender one day.

Aram Minnetian, D (USNTDP)

It was hard to get much attention on the USNTDP’s blueline, but Minnetian proved to be a formidable, two-way presence. He can hit like a truck and always looks to make a good outlet pass. Nothing really stands out at a high level, but when he’s good, he’s really good. A lot of NHL scouts think he’ll have a solid NHL career.

Hunter Brzustewicz, D (Kitchener, WHL)

After two years with the USNTDP, Brzustewicz moved to the OHL this year and was one heck of a pickup for Kitchener. He put up nearly 60 points thanks to his strong puck-moving play, and he’s as good of a transitional defender as it gets. His skating drags him down a bit – he’s fine enough for the OHL, but gets beaten a bit too often – but there’s enough of a strong two-way game here to build upon.

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