2023 NHL MOCK DRAFT: MONTREAL CANADIENS

The Montreal Canadiens had the 5th worst record in the NHL this season and have the 5th pick in the upcoming NHL draft. Montreal has plenty of issues to address in this draft.
This is a mock draft for the Montreal Canadiens in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Related: San Jose Sharks

5. MATVEI MICHKOV, RW, HC SOCHI (KHL)

It is not hyperbole to suggest that Matvei Michkov is the best Russian prospect to come through the NHL draft since Andrei Vasilevskiy in 2012 or even Alex Ovechkin in 2004. In terms of sheer offensive ability, Michkov may be the only player in the 2023 draft that rivals presumptive top pick, Connor Bedard. What makes Michkov stand out are his puck skills and overall intelligence on the ice. He is a highly creative player, and that allows him to create space for himself and his teammates in various situations. He can stickhandle his way out of trouble, and the puck can sometimes seem to be glued to his stick as he works his way around the offensive zone. He anticipates the play well and can attack an open seam with a wicked shot or a pass with pinpoint precision. Michkov is aggressive and confident with the puck. He’s willing to try things that other players wouldn’t dream of, and he’s able to try those things because he is successful more often than not. He’s the type of player that “puts on a show” and will sell tickets as he gets older. While playing for a bad HK Sochi club this season in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), Michkov has 20 points in 27 games. Michkov isn’t afraid to be “THE guy” and make things happen on his own, but one of the few drawbacks in his game is that he sometimes relies on his own abilities too much. Despite his ability to dominate on the ice with his sky-high skill level, there are some concerns that NHL teams will have to consider when they are deciding whether or not to draft him. The major concern lies in the fact that he is committed to playing in Russia through the 2025-26 season, so the team drafting him will have to wait a few years for him to come over. This would be similar to the Kirill Kaprizov situation in 2015, who didn’t make his NHL debut until 2020, which was 5 years after being selected. With that said, Michkov is a generational talent who is worth waiting that long for, and you can’t pass on a player like that. By selecting Matvei Michkov, the Habs would be selecting a superstar they can build around for years to come.

29 CHARLIE STRAMEL, C, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN (NCAA)

Teams in search of size and speed will love what Charlie Stramel brings to the draft table. Physically he is NHL-ready; at 6-foot-3 and 216 pounds, he is a physically imposing player who can play a grinding or skill game. Stramel lacks first-step explosiveness and could use improvement on his mobility, but his top speed is excellent. Offensively, Stramel is very difficult to defend due to his size, but he is also versatile as he can play a complementary skill game. His size makes him highly effective in his power-forward style, especially as he is very comfortable playing in front of the net on the power play or at even strength. His playmaking is still a work in progress. He is adept at playing the cycle and retaining offensive pressure, making life difficult for defenders attempting to break out of their zone with his speed and positioning. Charlie Stramel, as a prototypical power forward, is a rare type of player to be found, which likely makes him more valuable than his offensive numbers. With a draft class bursting at the seams with smaller, speedy, and skilled forwards, Stramel will bring some of that in a much larger package. At 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds, the American who is a freshman winger at the University of Wisconsin has that rare blend of size, skill, and ability to physically punish. He has all the tools to project as an NHL power forward, which should make him a late first-round selection. Stramel should be a good top 6, two-way Center in the NHL in a couple of years, and would fit well next to Matvei Michkov in the future.

37. MAXIM STRBAK, D, SIOUX FALLS STAMPEDE (USHL)

Maxim Strbak has all the attributes organizations covet when it comes to which prospects they draft. He is a big, two-way defenceman who is durable and has some physicality to his game. Starting in the defensive zone, Strbak is great at clearing out the crease and staying in the proper position to defend. His physical play can separate the opposition from the puck, while his stick positioning helps cut off passing lanes, especially on the penalty kill. In the offensive zone, Strbak has a good shot but has to learn to use it more. Strbak’s recent play at the U18s should help his draft stock, as he was one of the best defenders in the tournament. It may not be enough to make him a first-round selection but should ensure he drops no further than the middle of the second round. Strbak most likely will be a shutdown-type defenseman that makes his living by logging heavy minutes and being a stalwart on the PK. Strbak is comparable to Alec Martinez, who has had a long and productive NHL career, not flashy but he gets the job done. This is exactly the type of defenseman the Canadiens need to help stabilize the back end.

69. SCOTT RATZLAFF, G, SEATTLE THUNDERBIRDS (WHL)

Scott Ratzlaff is a shorter goalie compared to the average height of NHL goaltenders, however, he has a strong goalie IQ, which allows him to control his movements in the crease as well as both stay patient and calm while under pressure. Ratzlaff plays a hybrid style and remains standing while looking for shooting lanes around traffic. He puts effort into fighting through screens and is decent at tracking the puck. His skating is one of his biggest assets. He has good control of his movements in the crease and won’t often be caught sliding out of position. He was lights out at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he was arguably the best goalie in the tournament, posting a 0.50 GAA, and .976 SV% in 4 games for Canada in their gold medal win. With the Seattle Thunderbirds, Ratzlaff put up a 2.15 GAA, and .918 SV% in 34 games. Goalies tend to take longer to develop, so their future will depend on the team that drafts them and how they choose to develop them. Ratzlaff most likely will never be an elite-level goalie, but he has shown the consistency and poise to be a starting goalie. Montreal is in dire need of a goalie of the future, and the third round is the perfect place to take one.

101. William Whitelaw, C, YOUNGSTOWN PHANTOMS (USHL)

Whitelaw is a natural center but might be destined to play wing in the NHL due to his size. Whitelaw’s already counted upon to be an all-around pivot for his team in Youngstown as he plays on both the power play and penalty kill and is a threat to score on both units. He is second on the team with 11 power-play goals and tied for first with three shorthanded goals. If he can develop into a strong two-way center like Yanni Gourde, any NHL coach will be happy to have him in their lineup. Committed to the University of Wisconsin for the 2023-24 season, the same university that helped develop Cole Caufield, Whitelaw is primed to become yet another undersized forward to succeed in the big leagues. Reuniting with his childhood friend and fellow draft prospect Charlie Stramel. Whitelaw’s work ethic and never-say-die attitude that has followed him since his days at Red Pine Elementary, combined with his relentless motor, vision, and high-end skating will make him not only a prospect to watch in the 2023 Draft but for fans of the team that ultimately selects him. Whitelaw could go anywhere from the 2nd round to the 4th round, and whether he is playing in a top 6 role or a bottom 6 role, he should be a solid NHL player with sky-high potential. With Charlie Stramel being drafted earlier in the Draft, it makes sense for Montreal to select Whitelaw here to unite the two Wisconsin Badgers.

110. EMIL JARVENTIE, LW, SAIPA (LIIGA)

Emil Järventie is a Finnish forward who’s played for multiple teams during the 2022-23 season. He started in Ilves’ system, where he played for their U18 and U20 teams in the Finnish junior league. Eventually, they loaned him to SaiPa, one of the weaker teams in the Liiga the top tier of Finnish hockey, where he currently plays. Järventie is an undersized but quick and electric winger. His feet are fast and he has a great motor, but his stride lacks power, and while his first steps are very quick, he doesn’t possess the greatest top speed. Järventie has good hands – notably in tight spaces – but he often relies too much on his skill and still needs to learn when to simplify his game. He flashes great playmaking ability at times, but it is very inconsistent, and he also makes a lot of questionable decisions with the puck. The most common problem is probably his poor shot selection he has a hard wrist shot but not a very quick release and takes too many shots from the outside. He seems to project more of a playmaker than a scorer at the next level because he has excellent pucks skills, vision, and passing ability, but his shot is inconsistent, which would make him more inclined to be a pass-first player. If properly developed by the team that drafts him, he could turn into a 20-goal, 40-plus point scorer in a middle-six role. This is a good 4th round pick for the Canadiens, who are looking for players to fill out their depth in the prospect pool.

127. KRISTIAN KOSTANDINSKI, D, ROLUNDA HC J20 (J20 NATIONELL)

Kristian Kostadinski is a big, left-shot defender, standing at 6 foot 5, and weighing 214 pounds, who knows his strengths and plays to them well. Playing to his strengths is one thing, but his ability to mitigate deficiencies in his game by proactively avoiding things he doesn’t do as well is also worth noting as it keeps him effective throughout a game. While he may not play a flashy brand of hockey, his ability to impact a game on the defensive end is something his opponents definitely take note of, even if it doesn’t show up on the scoresheet. Teams interested in Kostadinski will likely be looking at him to clear out his own crease, be a big threat against the boards and in the dirty areas, and ultimately bank on his upside given his size and instinct combination. There’s a lot to like about Kostadinski’s game and the prospects of him one day making it to the NHL are very real, given he can fully tap into his potential and hone in on improving in certain areas. Kostadinski has the frame that scouts salivate over and the instincts and natural ability to be a player in the NHL one day. While his ceiling is still high, his floor may be what causes him to fall on the draft board, as with taller players, it usually takes several years for them to be NHL-ready. Don’t expect any major offensive impact from Kostandinski, but you can expect a solid defenseman with top 6 potential who can contribute to the PK. A team can never have too many prospect defensemen, especially if you are adding a big defenseman like Kostandinski.

133. ALEX PHARAND, RW/C, SUDBURY WOLVES (OHL)

Pharand is one of the bigger players in the 2023 NHL draft class, listed at 6’3″ and 201 pounds, Pharand has the keys to be physically imposing at the NHL level. A true leader on-and-off the ice, Alex Pharand has proved valuable for the Sudbury Wolves in the Ontario Hockey League. For being 6’3″ and 201 pounds, Alex Pharand certainly is a highly mobile forward who gets it done offensively. Pharand can whip past you in the blink of an eye and do it out of nowhere too, just when defenders think they have Alex Pharand figured out, he turns on the jets. He uses his size and skating talents well, which allows him to dominate offensively and advance the rush. Loved by his coaches and teammates, Pharand is certainly an asset to any team he plays on. If Alex Pharand can improve his shot power, accuracy, and ability, he could turn into a Tage Thompson-like forward in the NHL. While being a Tage Thompson-type player is far-fetched, he should still be a really solid bottom 6 forward, with the potential to put up 30-40 points, if he plays with top-end players. Montreal needs to add more size to the roster, and Pharand provides that, and more.

144. TOMAS SUCHANEK, G, TRI-CITY AMERICANS (WHL)

Tomas Suchanek is a Czech ice hockey goaltender for the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League (WHL) and has been a crucial part of Czechia’s success on the International stage in recent years. In the 2021-22 season, Suchanek had a 3.87 GAA and .901 SV% in 42 games with the Tri-City Americans and a 3.55 GAA, and .899 SV% in 5 games at the 2022 U20 WJC for Czechia. In the 2022-23 season, Suchanek had a 3.05 GAA, 912 SV% with the Tri-City American and 1.52 GAA, .934 SV% in Silver Medal finish for Czech in the 2023 U20 WJC. Heading into the draft, Suchanek is a bit of a wild card. Some see him as one of the top goaltenders available, while others see him as an, at best, sixth-round pick. That being said, he is in a good position to develop his game and could be taking on starting time in the AHL in the coming years, which is a great path for a late-round selection. Suchanek has the potential to be a low-end starter in the NHL, but might ultimately be a really good backup in the NHL. Along with Scott Ratlaff, they should make up a pretty good goaltending tandem.

165. RAINERS RUILERS, LW/C, ZEMGALE (LATVIA)

Rainers Rullers is a Latvian-born prospect who enters the 2023 NHL Draft, vastly under the radar despite his performance at the 2023 U20 WJC. Ruilers played for Zemgale in both the Mestis and Pro leagues in Latvia; he put up 10 points in 46 games for Zemgale in the Mestis and 12 points in 13 points in the Latvia Pro League, as well as 8 points in 8 playoff games to win the Latvian Championship. The first thing that stands out about Ruilers is his size and hands in tight; at 6’4/194, he is already at NHL-ready size but needs time to work on his skating and defensive zone coverage. Rainers is a versatile forward, capable of playing both Left-wing and Center, and makes his living right in front of the net as a goal-scoring Power forward. Although his shot isn’t hard, he has a quick release on his shot and is able to use his long reach to jam-pucks past goalies. His tall and lanky frame is very useful for screening goalies and is useful for net-front presence on the Powerplay. Rainers Ruilers has the potential to a good power forward in the NHL in the future, similar to the likes of Danius Zubrus. Montreal definitely could use a big power forward that can be a good 3rd line player.

Draft Recap/Grade

A+

Matvei Michkov
Charlie Stramel
Maxim Strbak
Scott Ratzlaff
William Whitelaw
Emil Jarventie
Kristian Kostandinski
Alex Pharand
Tomas Suchanek
Rainers Ruilers

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