Bedard, projected No. 1 pick in 2023 NHL Draft, wins 3 CHL awards

Connor Bedard, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft, became the first to win all three major trophies when the Canadian Hockey League awards were announced in Kamloops, British Columbia, on Saturday.

The 17-year-old center with Regina of the Western Hockey League won the CHL Top Prospect, Top Scorer, and David Branch Player of the Year awards. No player had won all three in the same season since the Top Scorer award was introduced in 1994.

Bedard is the first to win three trophies at the CHL Awards since center Connor McDavid won Top Prospect, Player of the Year, and Scholastic Player of the Year awards in 2015 with Erie of the Ontario Hockey League. McDavid was picked No. 1 by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2015 NHL Draft.

"It's pretty exciting, for sure," Bedard said. "There's been a lot of cool names in the past that have won this award (Player of the Year) and for me, I think it's a team celebration as well. There's always a lot of people that you're playing with that are helping you, and I think that's an exciting part about it."

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Bedard (5-foot-10, 185 pounds), No. 1 on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters presented by BioSteel, led the WHL in goals (71), points (143), shots on goal (360), points per game (2.51) and goals per game (1.24) in 57 regular-season games. He finished tied for the league lead in assists (72) and game-winning goals (11). He was plus-39, won 53.6 percent of his face-offs and had 45 power-play points. His 35-game point streak (44 goals, 46 assists) from Sept. 24 to Feb. 1 was tied for league's longest this season.

The right-shot center, the first WHL skater to have 140 or more points in a season in 27 years, is expected to be chosen with the No. 1 pick, currently held by the Chicago Blackhawks after they won the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery on May 8. The Anaheim Ducks hold the No. 2 selection, and the Columbus Blue Jackets have the No. 3 pick.

Bedard had 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in seven WHL playoff games and became the first league player since 2012 to score 10 or more goals in a single postseason series.

Dan Marr was director of Central Scouting for 12 years before serving as vice president this season. Before that, he was with the Atlanta Thrashers as a head scout from 1998-2011 after working with the Toronto Maple Leafs for more than 12 years.

He said he's never seen another player quite like Bedard.

"Connor Bedard holds the title as the best draft eligible prospect that I have scouted, as were other unique, elite talents before him, such as Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby," Marr said. "It seems that each one of these 'generational' talents help set the platform for the next talent to surpass them and achieve success. Connor has been in the spotlight for over three years and during that time has risen to impact and impress at every occasion while often being the youngest member on his teams, and he has done so with a humbleness and approach that all around him respect and those younger than him should use as a measuring stick.

"He's an exceptional young man on and off the ice and has truly shown all season long that he's worth the price of admission, which is that rarest of compliments associated with players who achieve greatness."

Bedard also has excelled on an international level for Canada. As a 15-year-old he tied for second at the 2021 IIHF World Under-18 Championship with 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in seven games to help Canada win the event and was named to the tournament's all-star team.

He led all players at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship with 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists) and was named the tournament's top forward and most valuable player to help Canada win a second straight gold medal.

Bedard had 28 points (12 goals, 16 assists) in 15 games as a 15-year-old in 2020-21 after becoming the first player to be granted exceptional player status into the WHL in March 2020.

"He can walk into the NHL and be one of the top shooters right now; he's by far the best player I've ever scouted," said Tim Campbell of NHL Central Scouting. "Bedard's size at the next level won't be an issue either, because he's like a tank. He's solid, rolls off hits, and can counter-hit people. He's like a running back in the NFL. He can take hits and he's good at protecting himself."

Photo courtesy: Candice Ward, CHL

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