NHL Draft 2023: David Rein­bacher looking forward to it / Ian Scherzer can hope

"It is of course a great honour, but I think we will see what is on the board on the 28th, who is selected first. There are also many other good defencemen in the draft," said David Reinbacher regarding the fact that he is ranked 1st among all defencemen.

The 18-year-old makes no secret of the fact that the NHL is the big goal: "The NHL is a dream for every child!" David Reinbacher is now very close to realising that dream. At the Combine, the 1,89m-tall defenceman was in demand from almost every team. "The experiences at the Combine were very special. You get to know new people, everything is in English, which is also very challenging, but it is a unique experience and it was very, very nice," enthused the Vorarlberg native about the experience.

David Reinbacher played his way into the spotlight in the Swiss league as well as for the U20 and senior national teams. Ian Scherzer also made the most of the U20 World Championship and will celebrate his 18th birthday in a few days' time. As a so-called "Under Ager", Scherzer was involved in the birthplace of ice hockey and played up front for Swedish side Rögle BK's U20 team last season.

The still-17-year-old is relaxed about the draft: "I am going into it without expectations and do not expect to be drafted this year." NHL Central Scouting ranks him 85th among all players from Europe. Scherzer was not invited to the Combine this year, but completed several interviews by telephone instead.

Ian Scherzer already has a clear plan for how things will continue over the coming years if he is not drafted: "I will also play for Rögle BK next season and then go to college in the USA. I want to develop both as a player and as a person." Scherzer has already secured his place at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he will play for the so-called Redhawks in the NCAA college league. Whatever the upcoming draft brings, the __OEHV_NUM_K_A__-year-old is pursuing his NHL dream with determination and consistency. And then there is always next year and the year after that... already: "I will also play for Rögle BK next season and then go to college in the USA. I want to develop both as a player and as a person." Scherzer has already secured his place at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he will play for the so-called Redhawks in the NCAA college league. Whatever the upcoming draft brings, the 17-year-old is pursuing his NHL dream with determination and consistency. And then there is always next year and the year after that...

The provisional draft order

1st Chicago Blackhawks
2nd Anaheim Ducks
3rd Columbus Blue Jackets
4th San Jose Sharks
5th Montreal Canadiens
6th Arizona Coyotes
7th Philadelphia Flyers
8th Washington Capitals
9th Detroit Red Wings
10th St. Louis Blues
11th Vancouver Canucks
12th Arizona Coyotes (from Ottawa Senators)
13. Buffalo Sabres
14. Pittsburgh Penguins
15. Nashville Predators
16. Calgary Flames
17. Detroit Red Wings (from New York Islanders via Vancouver Canucks)
18. Winnipeg Jets
19. Chicago Blackhawks (from Tampa Bay Lightning)
20. Seattle Kraken
21. Minnesota Wild
22. Philadelphia Flyers
23. New York Rangers
24. Nashville Predators (from Edmonton Oilers)
25. St. Louis Blues (from Toronto Maple Leafs)
26. San Jose Sharks (from New Jersey Devils)
27. Colorado Avalanche
28. Toronto Maple Leafs (from Boston Bruins via Washington Capitals)
29. St. Louis Blues (from Dallas Stars via New York Rangers)
30. Carolina Hurricanes
31. Montral Canadians (from Florida Panthers)
32. Vegas Golden Knights