BUFFALO – The clock is ticking.
In 19 days, the Chicago Blackhawks will select Connor Bedard with the first overall pick. And then, if everything goes as expected, Adam Fantilli will be an Anaheim Duck, and Leo Carlsson will be heading to Columbus.
This week, they’ve been hanging out at the LECOM Harborcenter in downtown Buffalo, attached to the KeyBank Center where the Buffalo Sabres play. Over 100 of the top 2023 draft prospects spent time talking with teams and doing physical tests to help gather data for scouts and teams, alike. But it’s also the best chance to get everyone in one place with just weeks before all 32 teams head to Nashville with the chance to change their franchise forever.
It’s been a grueling draft season, with the first true season that wasn’t impacted due to COVID-19 restrictions. But the players are taking everything in stride: there’s a sense of pride in being part of the draft process, no matter the hurdles.
“I think I’m just taking things day by day,” Bedard said on getting to the finish line after being in the spotlight for years. “I’m focused on what’s important and what I can control with my own play. There’s extra interviews and and attention, but for me, I’m staying focused on being a better player and a better person.”
Everyone knows about Bedard’s talent. There are just not enough words to describe what he’s capable of. And for Fantilli and Carlsson – who were never really in the conversation, unlike many other No. 2/3s in recent draft history – the pressure was off from the start. That allowed them to focus on their own games, while also gaining an appreciation for what Bedard brings to the table.
“He’s a phenomenal hockey player and a great kid,” said Fantilli, who was with Bedard on Canada’s world junior team that won gold in January. “Anytime I get to play with him is amazing. He has an awesome work ethic.”
Given the vastly different playing style, Fantilli doesn’t like comparing himself to Bedard. Bedard is all about suffocating players with breakneck skill and an elite shot. Fantilli has most of the same attributes, but it’s how he gets to those levels – through strength, work ethic and hockey IQ – that’s different. There are very few prospects like him, with two of the better comparisons being Patrice Bergeron and Jonathan Toews.
Dan Marr, the head of NHL Central Scouting, likes to put Bedard and Fantilli in the same conversation.
“It’s Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. That’s Connor and Adam,” Marr said. “You’re going to win with both, you’re not going to go wrong with both. It’s very hard to say there’s a distinct line every game, every shift.”
Fantilli is coming off winning gold at the World Hockey Championship, becoming just the second Canadian player behind Toews to win both the world juniors and the World Championship in the same year. Add in the Hobey Baker as the best NCAA player, and it was a truly special season for a special prospect.
“It took a while to acclimate a little bit, but I started to get more comfortable and started to play my best hockey at the back half of the tournament,” Fantilli said, less than two weeks after scoring a highlight-reel goal against Latvia to help advance to the final.
Carlsson was in Tampere, Finland for the World Championship, too. His experience resulted in a shocking quarterfinal loss to the Latvians, but he led all draft eligibles with three goals and six points in seven games. He had a pair against the United States to help force overtime in the final round-robin game, only for the Americans to pull off the win. Carlsson looked more comfortable as the tournament went on, and he was never pulled from the top line alongside Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond.
Like Fantilli, the pressure was never really on for Carlsson to try and challenge for the top spot. Early on, it was clear he was a top-five pick, before solidifying himself in the top three around Christmas time. He was the only one of the three to play a full year of pro hockey, leading all U-19 players in the Swedish league with 10 goals and 25 points in 44 games with Orebro.
The experience of playing alongside guys like Raymond went a long way in helping Raymond adjust to playing with and against NHL talent.
“(Sweden’s NHL players) gave me some tips on living (in North America), the first year and the first month and stuff,” Carlsson said. “The speed, it’s fast and skilled.”
All three players talked with a handful of teams, with Fantilli and Carlsson both saying they chatted with 11 clubs each. Bedard kept his number close to his chest, not sharing that information. The hockey world knows he’s going to Chicago, although when asked about it in recent interviews, he has always said, “If the Blackhawks choose to select me…”. He’s humble. And media trained.
Once the combine closes on Saturday afternoon, the players will return home and given a chance to rest for the first time this season. But after that, it’s back to work. Bedard will be preparing for the NHL, while Fantilli will make the decision between the NCAA or NHL in the coming weeks. For Carlsson, it’s expected he’ll come over to North America and challenge for a roster spot, too. All three can potentially become franchise-changing talents, more so than we’re used to seeing at the top end of the draft.
But there’s still time in the process, and none of the three are taking it for granted. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and the experience is only elevated when you’re one of the top prospects on the world’s biggest stage.
If you think fans have been waiting a long time for this draft to happen, think about how these three must feel.