Bedard leads 2023 Draft-eligible players to watch at World Juniors

The 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship is scheduled in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Moncton, New Brunswick, from Dec. 26-Jan. 5. Today, we look at some top prospects for the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft to keep an eye on during the tournament.

Connor Bedard, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft, is one of several draft-eligible players looking to play a vital role for his country at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship.
The 17-year-old right-shot center (5-foot-10, 183 pounds) with Regina leads the Western Hockey League in goals (27) and assists (37) and the Canadian Hockey League with 64 points in 28 games. He has points in 27 consecutive games, the longest in the WHL since Brett Leason of Prince Albert had a point in 30 straight in 2018-19.
Bedard had eight points (four goals, four assists) in seven games to help Canada win gold in the 2022 WJC in August. He is expected to begin the 2023 tournament on right wing with center
Shane Wright
, the No. 4 selection by the Seattle Kraken in the 2022 NHL Draft, and left wing
Brennan Othmann
(New York Rangers).
"He's got great hockey sense, sees what's facing him and is able to adjust and adapt," TSN director of scouting and NHL analyst Craig Button said. "He's an outstanding skater, has 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."
Canada will play in Group A with Sweden, Czechia, Germany and Austria, with their preliminary-round games at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax. The United States, which finished fifth in the 2022 WJC, will participate in Group B with Finland, Switzerland, Slovakia and Latvia, with games at Avenir Centre in Moncton.
The top four teams in each group will play in the quarterfinals Jan. 2. The semifinals are Jan. 4, and the gold medal game and bronze medal game are scheduled for Jan. 5.
Games will be broadcast on NHL Network in the United States and TSN in Canada.
Here are nine other draft-eligible players to keep an eye on in the 2023 WJC (players listed alphabetically):
Leo Carlsson, F, Sweden
Carlsson (6-3, 198), an A rated skater on
NHL Central Scouting's preliminary players to watch list
presented by BioSteel, has 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in 25 games for Orebro of the Swedish Hockey League, the top professional men's league in Sweden. The 17-year-old also has 11 hits, six blocked shots, and 34 shots on goal while averaging 15:26 of ice time. Carlsson plays center for Orebro and and likely will be on the wing at the tournament.
"A big, powerful, two-way forward who is surprisingly good and fast for a player of his size," NHL director of European Scouting Goran Stubb said. "He sees the ice really well, is smart and good at reading and identifying his options. He competes hard in all areas of the ice."
Dalibor Dvorsky, F, Slovakia
Dvorsky (6-1, 201), an A rated skater, broke a 24-year-old record set in 1998 by countryman and retired NHL forward Marian Gaborik when he became the youngest goal scorer in the Slovak Extraliga on Feb. 2, 2021. The 17-year-old left-shot center has eight points (four goals, four assists) and 47 shots on goal while averaging 15:18 of ice time in 21 games this season with AIK in Allsvenskan, Sweden's second division.
"Dalibor is a quick forward with excellent offensive instincts and vision," Stubb said. "There is room for more physical strength but he's surprisingly effective in battles, and usually comes out on top. He's a creative and reliable prospect."
Adam Fantilli, F, Canada
Fantilli (6-2, 195), a freshman at the University of Michigan, is tied for third in NCAA Division I men's hockey with 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) in 16 games. The 18-year-old, who likely will open the tournament on left wing with center
Logan Stankoven
and right wing
Dylan Guenther
(Arizona Coyotes), 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.
"He plays the power play, kills penalties, and is out there for key face-offs," said David Gregory of NHL Central Scouting. "His coach (Brandon Naurato) is already putting him into every situation as if he's their best player, and he pretty much is. 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."
Lenni Hameenaho, F, Finland
The 18-year-old right-hand shot (5-11, 173), one of the youngest players in Liiga, Finland's top professional men's league, has 13 points (four goals, nine assists) with 81 shots on goal while averaging 15:57 of ice time in 28 games for Assat.
"He plays a mature game, is competitive and active with an excellent work ethic," Stubb said. "He has smooth hands and is effective in traffic, using good puck-handling skills. He plays with a lot of confidence, isn't afraid of getting involved and often comes out as a winner from battles along the boards."
Samuel Honzek, F, Slovakia
Honzek (6-3, 186) has 43 points (17 goals, 26 assists) in 31 games for Vancouver in the WHL this season. The 18-year-old is one of two Slovakia-born players projected as a first-round pick in the 2023 draft.
"One of the first things that stood out about Sam was how quickly he adapted to the WHL," said Central Scouting's John Williams. "As a player he has game breaker ability, scores important goals, is big, strong, fast and skilled. He can beat you with his skill, or just power by you."
Axel Sandin Pellikka, D, Sweden
Pellikka (5-11, 176) is considered one of the most improved prospects in Sweden. The 17-year-old, A rated skater began the season with Skelleftea in Sweden's junior league and had 26 points (13 goals, 13 assists) in 20 games, and was promoted to Skelleftea's team in the SHL, where he has five points (two goals, three assists) and 11 shots on goal while averaging 9:28 in 14 games.
"He's an offensive-minded defenseman with a very good set of skills and great offensive instincts," Stubb said. "He has a good selection of hard shots with a quick release, is competitive, plays bigger than he is and has a good work ethic. He'll be a top 10 player on the midterm list of International skaters."
David Reinbacher, D, Austria
Reinbacher, an 18-year-old right-hand shot, is a B rated skater. The Austria-born defenseman (6-2, 187) has 14 points (two goals, 12 assists) and is plus-9 in 28 games for Kloten in National League, the top professional league in Switzerland.
"He's a well-rounded defenseman with a good physical presence," Stubb said. "He's seldom out of position, plays a mature game, is involved and active and can play aggressive and tough when needed."
Eduard Sale, F, Czechia
Sale (6-2, 174) has all the tools required to become the next standout player from the Czech Republic. The 17-year-old has three goals and six points in 26 games for Brno in Extraliga, the top professional league in the Czech Republic after he had 89 points (42 goals, 47 assists) in 39 games in the country's junior league in 2021-22.
"He's extremely mobile and active in the offensive zone, plays with a lot of confidence and is a good competitor," Stubb said. "He's fast with good balance and great puck skills. I consider him an artist on the ice, but he could be more aggressive and tougher in battles."
Charlie Stramel, F, United States
The 18-year-old right-hand shot (6-3, 212) and A rated skater has seven points (four goals, three assists) in 18 games as a freshman at the University of Wisconsin. Stramel could begin the tournament at center with left wing
Kenny Connors
(Los Angeles Kings) and Gavin Brindley (2023 draft eligible).
"He's kind of regained his confidence a little bit and he's such a big, physical player, and has a presence," U.S. coach Rand Pecknold said. "He's got a great stick and is really good on the penalty kill was his stick details. He's a really good face-off guy, too."
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