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2023 NHL Draft: Complete First Round Draft Order

By Graham Tiedtke

Jun 21, 2019; Vancouver, BC, Canada; Bowen Byram poses for a photo after being selected as the number four overall pick to the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 21, 2019; Vancouver, BC, Canada; Bowen Byram poses for a photo after being selected as the number four overall pick to the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports /
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The 2023 NHL Draft is quickly approaching. The Colorado Avalanche have just four selections in this year’s draft. After an unfortunate ending to the 2022-23 season, they will be searching for answers.

Unfortunately, the Avalanche were decimated by injuries throughout last year and had to call up their Eagles players very frequently to make up for the missed time by their stars.

Here is the complete first round of the 2023 NHL Draft…

1. Chicago

2. Anaheim

3. Columbus

4. San Jose

5. Montreal

6. Arizona

7. Philadelphia

8. Washington

9. Detroit

10. St. Louis

11. Vancouver

12. Arizona (from OTT)

13. Buffalo

14. Pittsburgh

15. Nashville

16. Calgary

17. Detroit (from NYI via VAN)

18. Winnipeg

19. Chicago (from TBL)

20. Seattle

21. Minnesota

22. Philadelphia (from LAK via CBJ)

23. NY Rangers

24. Nashville (from EDM)

25. St. Louis (from TOR)

26. San Jose (from NJD)

27. Colorado

28. Toronto (from BOS via WSH)

29. St. Louis (from DAL via NYR)

30. Carolina

31. Montreal (from FLA)

32. Vegas

As of right now, the Colorado Avalanche have the 27th overall pick in the first round. After losing to the Seattle Kraken in the first round of the 2022-23 NHL Playoffs, it’s an unfortunate spot to be in, but in the NHL, drafted players often spend their early years post-draft on another lower-league team until they are ready to perform at the NHL level. Addressing their prospect pool has been said to be one of the more important things to take care of this offseason and it makes sense.

Who might the Colorado Avalanche draft in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft?

Oscar Fisker Molgaard, C, HV71 (SHL): Fisker Molgaard is a center from Denmark but has been in Sweden as of late. He stands at six-feet, 183 pounds.

Per EliteProspects.com:

"“Mølgaard is all about the details. In the defensive zone, the Danish forward scans regularly, registers primary and secondary threats, positions himself well to take away passes, skates through opponents’ releases to disrupt shots, and is intelligent enough to keep up with defensive rotations. Offensively, he drives the inside off-puck to create space, supports his linemates, finds outlets under pressure, and puts in yeoman’s work on retrievals.”"

The Avalanche are looking for an answer at second line center. According to these analytics, Fisker Molgaard is highly-rated in terms of his skills.

Currently, the Avalanche have several key centers who are about to hit free agency, including J.T. Compher, Lars Eller, and Evan Rodrigues. Alex Newhook is a restricted free agent.

Tanner Molendyk, D, Saskatoon (WHL): Some of the Avalanche’s free agent-to-be defensive players are Jack Johnson, Erik Johnson, and Bowen Byram (restricted). It’s suspected that Erik Johnson could call it a career this offseason but nothing is set in stone as of this writing.

Molendyk is projected to be drafted around where the Avalanche pick in the first round.

Who do you think the Avalanche should draft in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft, Avs Nation?

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