NHL Draft begins tonight

NHL.com

The first round of the NHL Draft is always exciting — but it will likely be a low key evening for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Forward Ethan Gauthier, formerly of the Sherbrooke Phoenix and currently of the Drummondville Voltigeurs, is the highest rated QMJHL player. Gauthier could be a late first round pick — but it's not a guarantee. Same goes for Moncton Wildcats offensive defenseman Etienne Morin, who most have projected as a second round selection.

The first round of the 2023 NHL Draft takes place Wednesday night at 8 p.m. Atlantic in Nashville. Rounds two through seven begin at noon on Thursday.

🚨 New @TheHockeyNews on the Q 🚨@KevinBarrettNB joins @willmacwriter and I to discuss the NHL Draft and QMJHL coaching moveshttps://t.co/iBRKx4TRXA

— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) June 28, 2023

Thursday should be a much more eventful day for the QMJHL. Along with Gauthier and Morin (if they don't get chosen in the first round), Halifax's Mathieu Cataford and Dylan MacKinnon; Cape Breton's Cam Squires; Rouyn-Noranda's Andrei Loshko; Drummondville's Tyler Peddle; and a few others should have their names called.

Saint John Sea Dogs forward Cole Burbidge has a shot at getting chosen on Thursday. Burbidge, who wasn't even ranked in the first half of the season, finished 110th in NHL Central Scouting's final rankings.

Burbidge was listed in a few final rankings.

NHL Central Scouting: 110 (North American skaters)

FCHockey: 135

Hockey Prospect: 206

McKeen's:136

Another player to watch over the next couple days is Bradly Nadeau of the BCHL's Penticton Vees. Nadeau, from Saint-François de Madawaska, is projected to be a late first rounder or early second rounder much like Gauthier. Nadeau and his brother, Joshua Nadeau, are committed to the University of Maine for next season.