Leading into the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft, #NHLStats has broken down the historical draft picks by each team in their current drafting position (as of June 22, 2023).
The Blackhawks hold the first-overall selection for just the second time in the 60 years of the NHL Draft and will become the 18th franchise to choose from the top spot multiple times. The other instance in which they held the No. 1 pick, Chicago drafted Patrick Kane from the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League who went on to capture three Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe Trophy, Hart Memorial Trophy, Art Ross Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award and Calder Memorial Trophy with the franchise.
The Ducks have selected in the No. 2 slot twice previously, drafting defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky (1994) and Bobby Ryan (2005). Tverdovsky, one of only two defensemen in Ducks history with multiple 50-point seasons, ranks fifth on the franchise’s all-time points list by a blueliner. Ryan had three 30-goal seasons with the franchise before turning 25, tied with Paul Kariya for the most in Ducks history.

The Blue Jackets hold a top-three pick for the fourth time and will select from the No. 3 spot for the second time after choosing Pierre-Luc Dubois in 2016. Dubois held the single-season goals record by a Blue Jackets rookie until 2022-23 and still stands as the only player in franchise history to score a hat trick in the playoffs (Game 3 of 2020 SCQ).

The 2023 NHL Draft will mark the first time the Sharks will select from the No. 4 slot. It would be their sixth top-four pick in franchise history and first since 1998 when the club selected Brad Stuart (No. 3). Stuart was the first rookie defenseman in franchise history to score 10 goals in a single season.
The Canadiens, after selecting Juraj Slafkovsky with the No. 1 selection in front of their fans at Bell Centre in 2022, are set to have a top-five pick in the NHL Draft in consecutive seasons for the first time since selecting Hall of Fame members Guy Lafleur (No. 1 in 1971) and Steve Shutt (No. 4 in 1972) – winners of five Stanley Cups together. Montreal has picked in the No. 5 slot six times, most recently selecting the franchise’s all-time wins leader, Carey Price in that spot.

The Coyotes franchise has held the No. 6 pick once before, selecting Oliver Ekman-Larsson in 2009. Ekman-Larsson spent 11 seasons with the club en route to establishing a franchise record for goals by a defenseman as well as sitting second in assists and points. This year’s selection will mark the 11th time in franchise history the club will be making a top-six pick.