Western Conference teams currently have 20 of the 32 picks in the 1st round of the 2023 Entry Draft.

St. Louis has three picks, while Chicago, San Jose, Arizona and Nashville have two.

Dobber released the 2023 Fantasy Prospect Report last week and you can find out a lot more there.

We will focus on first-round picks and how they might influence the rosters of each team next season. Will some of these teams be open to trading their first-round pick or have little choice in the matter?

Chicago Blackhawks – 1st overall pick/19th overall pick

Connor Bedard going first overall is the only sure thing about this draft. Bedard will be in the NHL next season and while expectations will be high, he won't have much surrounding him next season in Chicago as it stands. We'd best temper our expectations of 80 points until he gets some support.

Bedard spoke very highly of winger Andrew Cristall at the NHL Combine. Cristall played with Kelowna in the WHL last year and is slated to go around 10-20 (Dobber’s Prospects has him at #14) in the draft. Could he be a target for Chicago with their 19th overall pick?

Whoever the Blackhawks pick at 19, they should slot in after Lukas Reichel and Frank Nazar if they are forwards and after Kevin Korchinski in the Chicago prospect depth chart.

With three picks in the second round in 2023, Chicago could trade down from the 19th overall and add a later pick in the first round and another pick.

Anaheim Ducks – 2nd overall pick

The Ducks should get one of Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson or Matvei Michkov, with Fantilli being the likely pick.

The Ducks currently have Trevor Zegras, Mason McTavish and Adam Henrique at center. Zegras does play on the wing sometimes, so there is a possibility of Fantilli getting into the top-six on a line with Zegras and getting significant power play time.

With Jamie Drysdale back and healthy next season, I'd expect the Ducks power play to be improved. 

The Ducks should keep this pick locked in.

San Jose Sharks – 4th overall pick/26th overall pick

The Sharks will be able to add a forward with the fourth overall pick who could leap frog and become the Sharks number one prospect ahead of William Eklund. It's unlikely that they reach for the top defenders in this draft.

Leo Carlsson, Matvei Michkov, Zach Benson and Will Smith are all in the mix for the fourth pick. It's unlikely that any of them would be in the NHL next year. Michkov is signed for two years in the KHL and won't come to the NHL until 2025-2026 at the earliest.

With the 26th overall pick, the Sharks might parlay the pick into two second round picks as an option in this deep draft.

The Sharks have no business in trading away any picks for roster players.

Arizona Coyotes – 6th overall/12th overall

Could Arizona package the 6th and 12th overall pick to move up in the draft? It's unlikely and wouldn't be worth it unless they can somehow get Fantilli.

In 2022, which was a much weaker draft the Coyotes were able to acquire the 11th overall pick (Conor Geekie) for the 27th, 34th and 45th pick in the same draft.

At pick number six they should be able to grab one of Zach Benson, Ryan Leonard or Will Smith and at pick number 12, I think they will go after a defensemen in one of David Reinbacher, Dmitri Simashev or Axel Sandin Pelikka.

Instantly the forward they pick becomes their second best forward prospect behind Logan Cooley and if they take a defender he becomes their best defensive prospect.

The Coyotes are still a year or two away from the playoffs so should keep both picks and continue to build.

St. Louis Blues – 10th overall/25th overall/29th overall

With three picks in the first round and none in the second, I think the Blues could deal one of the two later first round picks for two picks in the second round.

Looking at their ageing defense, I could see the Blues adding one of Reinbacher, Simashev or Sandin Pellikka if they are still there at pick 10.

At picks 25 and 29, they will be able to add some quality prospects who could come in just behind Jimmy Snuggerud and Zachary Bolduc in their prospect pool.

The Blues are in the bubble territory of thinking that they are still a playoff team, so they might be tempted to trade any of these picks for immediate upgrades to their roster.

Vancouver Canucks – 11th overall

The Canucks have one of the weakest prospect pools in the NHL and should be making sure that they actually use this pick.

The Canucks will surely pounce on Ryan Leonard or Oliver Moore if they drop to 11th, but more than likely they will choose between David Reinbacher, Dmitri Simashev, Dalibor Dvorsky or Axel Sandin Pelikka if available.

The Canucks do like their Swedes so don't be surprised with them picking Otto Stenberg or Tom Willander.

Like the Blues, the Canucks have made the mistake before of thinking that they could use their pick to upgrade their roster. The team hopes they won't have to use this pick to get salary cap relief from. It would be a steep price for previous mismanagement.

Nashville Predators – 15th overall/24th overall

In 2021, the Predators had the 19th and 27th overall picks. They chose Fedor Svechkov at 19 who played 27 games in the KHL last year and had two goals and two assists as a 20-year old. At pick 27 they chose Zachary L'Herueux out of the QMJHL who should make the jump to the AHL next year.

The Predators lack blue-chip defensemen in their prospect pool and could be tempted to add one of Reinbacher, Simashev or Sandin Pellikka with the 15th pick if any of those three make it to them.

With the 24th pick, if they don't choose a defender with the 15th, they would be looking at Tom Willander, Mikhael Gulyayev, Luca Cagnoni or Beau Akey.

They should be able to get a pretty talented forward at either position.

Nashville is still a good team who should be back in the playoff hunt next season. They could easily use one of these picks to upgrade.

Calgary Flames – 16th overall

New Calgary GM Craig Conroy will be in charge of his first Entry Draft in the NHL. The Flames currently have three pretty good forward prospects in Jakob Pelletier, Matthew Coronato and Connor Zary.

Calgary does lack high-end defensive prospects so could look to add one of Tom Willander, Mikhael Gulyayev or Beau Akey. I don't think any of Reinbacher, Simashev or Sandin Pellikka will fall as far as the 16th pick, but if they do, it might be a gift for Conroy.

Teams always say they pick the best player available, but when things are equal, they should pick by need. The Flames need D.

The Flames window is closing rapidly and the temptation might be too great to trade this pick for immediate help.

Winnipeg Jets – 18th overall

For excitement purposes, we hope that Pierre-Luc Dubois is dealt at the draft and that the Jets are able to move up from 18th pick.

Last year the Jets took Rutger McGroarty with the 14th overall pick and Brad Lambert with the 30th pick. In 2021 they took Chaz Lucius with the 18th pick.

With the 18th overall pick, perhaps McGroarty's teammate at the University of Michigan, Gavin Brindley is of interest.

The Jets are in a precarious window as they are set to possibly lose Dubois, Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler and Connor Hellebuyck after this season.

They either load up on draft picks and prospects sooner than later, or they push it all in with this roster for one more year. If they do the latter, this pick could be in play.

Seattle Kraken – 20th overall

It's amazing that in only their third season in the NHL, the Kraken are picking as low as 20th overall with their own pick.

It's not outside the realm of possibilities that the Kraken bolster their existing roster by trading their 20th pick as they do have three, second round picks this year. They have the salary cap space and the resources to add a player like Pierre-Luc Dubois or Alex Debrincat, but would those players help this balanced roster?

I think the Kraken will make their pick and get a good prospect out of it. Seattle is built on speed and possession from the forwards and size and skating on the blueline. Look for their pick to be built from that.

Look for players like Gavin Brindley, Jayden Perron or Riley Heidt if they are available at pick 20.

Minnesota Wild – 21st overall

In 2022 the Wild had picks number 19 (Liam Ohgren) and 24 (Danila Yurov) and in 2021 picks number 20 (Jesper Wallstedt) along with pick 26 (Carson Lambos).

This year they have the 21st pick so are pretty comfortable picking in this area of the first round.

Two of their four first round picks in the prior two years were from Sweden, with one being from Russia and the other from the WHL. The Wild have shown that they are willing to wait 3-4 years for prospects to make it to North America.

Look for the Wild to also possibly trade down to get a lower pick in the first round and a 3rd round pick in return as they currently don't have one.

Minnesota have been one of the wiser franchises over the past few years in that they have stayed competitive while retaining their top picks. I don't expect that to change.

Colorado Avalanche – 27th overall

In 2022 the Avalanche had two picks in the draft, one in the 6th round at 193rd overall and one in the 7th round at 225th overall.

In 2023 they have their 27th overall 1st round pick and just a 5th, 6th and 7th round pick.

Colorado's cupboard is fairly bare of prospects, so the first round pick this year will be a welcome addition.

Colorado could easily trade this pick for a cost-controlled roster player who could help them now or for salary cap relief. This is a depleted roster after the big guns and the Avalanche are in tough as it stands.

Vegas Golden Knights – 31st or 32nd overall – TBD

Vegas has had six first round picks in their existence over six draft years. They have traded away everyone of those picks except for Brenda Brisson who they chose 29th overall in 2020.

They traded Nick Suzuki to Montreal for Max Pacioretty, Cody Glass to Nashville for Nolan Patrick, Erik Brannstrom to Ottawa for Mark Stone, Peyton Krebs to Buffalo in the deal for Jack Eichel and Zach Dean to St. Louis for Ivan Barbashev.

Drafting is a foolish game according to the Golden Knights as they appear to be on the verge of winning their first Stanley Cup with very little contribution from their prospects.

They still have their first round pick this year, but there is a good chance it will be dealt at some point.

Edmonton Oilers – No first round pick

The Oilers have only three picks this year. One in the second round, and others in the sixth and seventh round.

The Oilers traded away their 24th overall pick in 2023 as part of the return for Mattias Ekholm from Nashville. They also included Tyson Barrie, and Reid Schaefer who was their 32nd overall pick in 2022.

Los Angeles Kings – No first round pick

The Kings traded away their 22nd overall pick this year to get some salary cap relief from the Cal Petersen and Sean Walker contracts from Philadelphia. It also cost them a 2nd round pick in 2024 and prospect Helge Grans to save just over $5.5 million in cap space next season and just over $3.5 in 2024-2025.

This allowed the Kings to sign Vladislav Gavrikov for two years at $5.875 million AAV.

Cap space is expensive these days. 

Dallas Stars – No first round pick

Dallas traded away the 29th overall pick in 2023 to the NY Rangers for Nils Lundkvist.

This pick was then traded to St. Louis as part of the Vladimir Tarasenko deal to the NY Rangers.

After reviewing the past five or six entry drafts, there are about two to three trades each year that involve a team moving down five or six spots and getting a 3rd round pick in exchange.

This is a deep draft this year, so perhaps the price of moving down will increase to a mid or late 2nd round pick to move 4-6 spots?

Moving anything more than $5 million in salary cap space seems to have a cost of a mid to late first round pick and a second round pick. The cost has gone up a little.

Thanks very much for reading and if you have any comments or suggestions, please leave them below or follow me on Twitter @gampbler15