2023 Draft: Bedard gets A on Central Scouting's players to watch list
Center could be second player from Regina selected No. 1
The list is a compilation of draft-eligible prospects from all the major development leagues throughout North America and Europe. It will be updated throughout the season as scouts evaluate players.
Bedard (5-foot-10, 183 pounds), a 17-year-old right-shot center, has 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists), seven power-play points (two goals), four game-winning goals and a 56.7 face-off winning percentage (131-for-231) in 12 games for Regina of the Western Hockey League this season.
"It seems like as soon as he's on the rush, even if it's starting in his own end, but certainly once he gains the blue line on the attack, he's a threat to score," NHL Central Scouting senior manager David Gregory said. "He has absolute elite puck handling and shooting skills, but you combine that with his hockey IQ and how he thinks it, he's just so hard to stop and contain."
PDF: [NHL Central Scouting 2022-23 preliminary players to watch list]
Bedard could become the second player from Regina selected No. 1 in the NHL Draft (Doug Wickenheiser, Montreal Canadiens, 1980). The last player from the WHL chosen No. 1 was forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of Red Deer by the Edmonton Oilers in 2011.
The players on the preliminary list with A ratings are considered potential first-round picks. Players with B ratings are considered possible second- or third-round choices, and those with C ratings are potential fourth-, fifth- or sixth-round selections.
Bedard had 51 goals and 100 points in 62 games as a 16-year-old with Regina in 2021-22. He also had eight points (four goals, four assists) in seven games to help Canada win a gold medal at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship.
"He reminds me so much of Steve Yzerman because he's got what I call the four corners of excellence," TSN director of scouting and NHL analyst Craig Button said. "He's got great hockey sense. He sees what's facing him and is able to adjust and adapt. He's an outstanding skater. He's got magnificent hands and the ability to operate in tight spaces, and he's got NHL scoring ability. He reminds me of Steve Yzerman in this regard too: he's got a killer instinct. Steve had a steely determination to find a way to be successful and to do whatever it took to win. Connor, to me, has that same type of personality."
Among the A-rated skaters considered likely to be selected in the top half of the first round are forwards Adam Fantilli of the University of Michigan; Matvei Michkov of SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League, Russia's top professional men's league; Brayden Yager of Moose Jaw (WHL); and Dalibor Dvorsky of AIK in Sweden's second division.
Fantilli (6-2, 195) is playing center on the top line with left wing
Dylan Duke
(Tampa Bay Lightning) and
Mackie Samoskevich
(Florida Panthers) and leads the Wolverines with 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in six games. In
his first draft diary
for NHL.com, Fantilli said he considers himself a two-way forward with an eye on emphasizing his ability in the offensive zone but not forgetting about the importance of the defensive zone.
"His coach (Brandon Naurato) is already putting him into every situation as if he's their best player, and he pretty much is," Gregory said. "He's adapted well, because he's a good skater, to the pace of play in college and is having an impact already. He's deadly on the power play because he's got great vision."
Michkov (5-10, 172) a 17-year-old left-shot center, sustained a lower-body injury in an exhibition game in August but has since returned to training. Signed with SKA St. Peterburg through 2025-26, he has no points in one game. He had 13 points (eight goals, five assists) in five games to help Russia win a gold medal at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Yager (5-10, 166) leads Moose Jaw with 12 points (four goals, eight assists) and seven power-play points (one goal, six assists) in 10 games. In his
first draft diary
for NHL.com, Yager said his strengths include being a "fast, smart, 200-foot player who can score goals and be put in any situation, whether it's defending a lead or needing a big face-off or goal."
Dvorsky (6-1, 201), a native of Zvolen, Slovakia, plays for AIK in Allsvenskan. He has five points (three goals, two assists), two power-play goals and 13 shots on goal while averaging 13:34 of ice time in six games. The 17-year-old had two points (one goal, one assist) in four games for Slovakia at the 2022 World Juniors.
William Smith (6-0, 178) is one of four players from USA Hockey's National Team Development Program Under-18 team to receive an A rating on the PTW list. The right-shot center leads the NTDP with 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 11 games. He's committed to Boston College in 2023-24.
There are two A-rated goalies on the list: Carson Bjarnason of Brandon (WHL) and Michael Hrabal of Omaha of the United States Hockey League.
Bjarnason (6-3, 186) is 6-2-1 with a 1.99 goals-against average, .945 save percentage and one shutout in nine games. He leads WHL goalies with 310 saves.
"He's very focused and determined with very good quickness, especially in reactions, recovery and lateral play," said Al Jensen of Central Scouting. "He's got good overall net coverage and has good pro potential."
Hrabal, born in Prague, Czech Republic, is 2-0-3 with a 2.16 GAA, .940 save percentage and one shutout in five games as a USHL rookie. He's committed to the University of Massachusetts for 2025-26.
Photo: Keith Hershmiller/Regina
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