Dvorsky could be latest from Slovakia taken in first round of NHL Draft

The 2023 NHL Draft is scheduled to be held on June 28-29 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. NHL.com will take a closer look at draft-eligible players every two weeks. Dalibor Dvorsky is hoping to keep the streak of having a Slovakia-born player chosen in the first round of the NHL draft.

Dalibor Dvorsky is an A-rated center prospect on Central Scouting's preliminary players to watch list. He is a projected first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. Juraj Slafkovsky, Simon Nemec and Filip Mesar were drafted by Montreal Canadiens in 2022. Dvsky broke a record for the youngest goal scorer in Slovak Extraliga on February 2, 2021. He has been playing in Sweden for two seasons. His favorite players are Sidney Crosby and Nicklas Backstrom. The NHL draft is scheduled for June 28-29 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

Connor Bedard, C, Regina (WHL), is the top scorer in the Western Hockey League with 36 points in 17 games. He is a projected No. 1 pick in 2023 NHL draft. Bedards has a point in 16 straight games, including 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in his last three.

Leo Carlsson is an A-rated skater on Central Scouting's players to watch list. Carl Sweden has 12 points in 17 games for Orebro of the Swedish Hockey League this season. He plays center with Ore Bro and wing on the Sweden Under-20 national team.

William Smith, 17, is a center for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team. He has 21 assists and 34 points in 17 games. Smith is one of four A-rated skaters on Central Scouting's players to watch list.