That’s a wrap on the 2023 NHL Draft.

During the two-day event at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, 51 players with ties to the United States Hockey League were drafted by NHL franchises, marking the sixth consecutive year at least 50 players have been selected.

“The 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft was another great example of the development and high talent level the USHL has to offer,’ said USHL President and Commissioner Bill Robertson in a recent release. “Congratulations to all our young men who were taken in this year’s Draft in Nashville. We look forward to seeing many of them continue their careers playing professionally in the National Hockey League.”

The selections were spread out amongst many NHL teams, with 23 clubs taking at least one player with USHL ties and 14 taking multiple players.

Here’s how it all went down:

Rd. 1, No. 3: Adam Fantilli, C, Univ. of Michigan (Columbus Blue Jackets)

After being passed over by Anaheim, the Columbus Blue Jackets were more than happy to add Adam Fantilli to their prospect pipeline. 

The Chicago Steel alum and 2023 Hobey Baker Award winner finished with 65 points (30 goals, 35 assists) during his freshman campaign in Ann Arbor. 

Fantilli gives Columbus another star down the middle, following the Blue Jackets' selection of Kent Johnson in 2022. 

Now, the question remains: will he return for his sophomore year or make the jump to the NHL?

Rd. 1, No. 4: Will Smith, C, U.S. National Under-18 Team (San Jose Sharks)

Like Columbus, the Sharks’ pipeline is incredibly deep down the middle, especially after adding USNTDP standout Will Smith with the No. 4 overall pick. 

Perhaps the draft’s best puck handler, the Boston College commit spearheaded the best line in junior hockey last season while tallying 127 points (51 goals, 76 assists) in 60 games.

Rd. 1, No. 8: Ryan Leonard, RW, U.S. National Under-18 Team (Washington Capitals)

Featuring one of the best shots in this draft class, Ryan Leonard will look to become the face of the Washington Capitals’ franchise when Alex Ovechkin’s contract is up after the 2025-2026 season. 

The 18-year-old enjoyed an excellent season playing alongside Will Smith and Gabe Perreault, scoring 94 points (51 goals, 43 assists) in 57 games. 

And, his draft stock only went up after scoring 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) while helping Team USA win a gold medal at the U18 World Championships.

Ryan Leonard ➡️ @Capitals 👈 pic.twitter.com/sVzjo3edLJ

— USHL (@USHL) June 29, 2023

Rd. 1, No. 19: Oliver Moore, C, U.S. National Under-18 Team (Chicago Blackhawks)

Not to be forgotten on the USNTDP U-18 squad, Oliver Moore is one of the fastest skaters in this class. He anticipates plays incredibly well and appears to be one step ahead of everyone else on the ice. 

Moore goes to the Blackhawks, joining No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard, giving Chicago an excellent 1-2 punch down the middle once both are at the NHL level. 

Moore finished with the 2022-2023 season with 75 points, and he’ll continue to round out his development under Bob Motzko at the University of Minnesota in the fall.

Rd. 1, No. 21: Charlie Stramel, C, Univ. of Wisconsin (Minnesota Wild)

Hailing from Rosemount, Minnesota, Charlie Stramel stays home, going to the Minnesota Wild at No. 21 in the first round. 

A USNTDP alum, the 18-year-old had a subpar freshman season on a bad Wisconsin team. 

At 6-foot-3, 223 pounds, Stramel establishes a strong net-front presence, and he’ll look to have a better showing in his sophomore year under new head coach Mike Hastings in what figures to be a strong Wisconsin program.

Rd. 1, No. 23: Gabe Perreault, LW, U.S. National Under-18 Team (New York Rangers)

Rounding out the best line in junior hockey, Gabe Perreault will remain in red, white and blue, going to the New York Rangers late in the first round. 

He features an excellent shot and decision-making, breaking Auston Matthews’ single-season USNTDP scoring record with 132 points (53 goals, 79 assists) in 63 games. 

Perreault’s skating needs improvement, but that area of his game should improve as he adds muscle to his 165-pound frame. He’s off to Boston College in the fall, joining Smith and Leonard.

Rd. 2, No. 34: Gavin Brindley, RW, Univ. of Michigan (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Brindley left the Tri-City Storm a year earlier than expected and enjoyed a strong freshman campaign in Ann Arbor. 

He joins fellow Michigan teammate Adam Fantilli in Columbus after finishing with the fifth-most points (38) on the Wolverine’s roster during the 2022-23 season. 

Brindley’s size, or lack thereof, was the primary reason he slid into the second round. Still, he features an unstoppable motor and relentless forechecking that will translate well to the NHL.

Rd. 2, No. 35: Adam Gajan, G, Green Bay (Chicago Blackhawks)

The first goalie off the board, Adam Gajan primarily played in the North American Hockey League during the 2022-23 season. 

Still, he had strong showings in limited sample sizes both in Green Bay and at the 2023 World Juniors. 

At 6-foot-3, Gajan has an NHL goaltender’s frame and moves very well side-to-side, while featuring tremendous flexibility that puts him in a position to make a play on the puck. 

The Slovakian netminder goes to Chicago, giving the Blackhawks an excellent 1-2 punch along with Drew Commesso in the pipeline. 

Gajan will continue his development with a full season in Green Bay next year, before heading off to the University of Minnesota-Duluth the following year.

Rd. 2, No. 38: Michael Hrabal, G, Omaha (Arizona Coyotes)

The Blackhawks’ selection of Gajan started a run of goaltenders in the second round, with the Arizona Coyotes taking 6-foot-6 Michael Hrabal with the No. 38 overall pick. 

The Czechia netminder shined on a bad Omaha Lancers team, finishing with a 2.86 goals-against average and .908 save percentage. He had three shutouts in 31 games. 

He uses his length very well, and his puck play greatly improved in the second half of the season. 

Hrabal is headed to the University of Massachusetts in the fall under the watchful eye of a Coyotes organization that has proven to develop goaltenders.

Rd. 2, No. 41: Trey Augustine, G, U.S. National Under-18 Team (Detroit Red Wings)

Augustine doesn’t have the size of Gajan or Hrabal, but at 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, the Michigan State commit plays much bigger than his size. 

He’s one of the most technically sound netminders in this class, piecing together a strong season for the USNTDP U-18 team, where he posted a 2.13 goals-against average and .926 save percentage with one shutout in 33 games. 

Augustine’s draft stock significantly increased after his performance at the U18s, where he recorded an absurd 1.61 goals-against average and .934 save percentage in six games en route to a gold medal.

USA Hockey Executive Director Pat Kelleher, on @NHLNetwork, talking about the state of hockey in the U.S. at the #NHLDraft! pic.twitter.com/4pjQ1As1S0

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) June 29, 2023

Draft Picks By USHL Team

USNTDP: 16
Will Smith (San Jose), Ryan Leonard (Washington), Oliver Moore (Chicago), Charlie Stramel (Minnesota), Gabe Perreault (New York Rangers), Trey Augustine (Detroit), Brady Cleveland (Detroit), Danny Nelson (Detroit), Gracyn Sawchyn (Florida), Drew Fortescue (New York Rangers), Hampton Slukynsky (Los Angeles), Beckett Hendrickson (Boston), Aram Minnetian (Dallas), Paul Fischer (Philadelphia), Carsen Musser (Arizona), Zachary Schulz (New York Islanders), 

Youngstown: 6
Martin Misiak (Chicago), William Whitelaw (Columbus), Jacob Fowler (Montreal), Brandon Svoboda (San Jose), Andrew Strathmann (Columbus), Matthew Perkins (Vancouver)

Chicago: 4
Adam Fantilli (Chicago), Jayden Perron (Carolina), Michael Emerson (Carolina), Jack Harvey (Tampa) 

Sioux Falls: 4
Maxim Strbak (Buffalo), Chris Pelosi (Boston), Sam Harris (Montreal), Jack Phelan (Detroit)

Muskegon: 4 
Gavin McCarthy (Buffalo), Sutter Muzzatti (Nashville), Ty Henricks (New York Rangers), Emil Jarventie (Pittsburgh)

Green Bay: 4
Adam Gajan (Chicago), Jayson Shaugabay (Tampa), Jimmy Clark (Minnesota), Nick VanTassell (Ottawa)

Cedar Rapids: 3
Eric Pohlkamp (San Jose), Ryan Walsh (Boston), Zacch Wisdom (Seattle)

Fargo: 2
Cole Knuble (Philadelphia), Matthew Mania (Los Angeles)

Omaha: 2
Michael Hrabal (Arizona), Chase Cheslock (New Jersey)

Waterloo: 2
Aaron Pionk (Minnesota), David Klee (San Jose)

Lincoln: 2
Tanner Ludtke (Arizona), Luke Mittelstadt (Montreal)

Sioux City: 1
Ryan Conmey (Los Angeles)

Tri-City: 1
Gavin Brindley (Columbus)

Dubuque: 0

Des Moines: 0 

Madison: 0