Bedard already has scouts excited for 2023 NHL Draft

TORONTO -- Peter Sullivan of NHL Central Scouting started to nod and grin when the discussion shifted to Regina center Connor Bedard, the projected No. 1 pick of the 2023 NHL Draft.

It still may be a year away, but scouts get giddy when offered an opportunity to speak about the 16-year-old forward.
That includes Sullivan, who joined eight other full-time scouts during Central Scouting's meetings this week to determine the final rankings of the top 224 North American skaters and 32 North American goalies eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft.
"He's elite hockey sense, elite skill, elite everything," Sullivan said of Bedard. "But when he does get frustrated out there, he's not afraid to give it back, which is a good sign. I compared him to [Hockey Hall of Famer] Marcel Dionne since he played the same way. Guys didn't want to fool around with [Dionne] because he would go right back at them, and yet he didn't have a lot of penalty minutes."

Sullivan, who specializes in scouting players from the Western Hockey League, has evaluated NHL draft prospects the past 25 years with Central Scouting. He's Central Scouting's longest-tenured member.
And he was as excited to talk about Bedard as he was any prospect eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft.
Bedard is fifth in the WHL with 87 points (45 goals, 42 assists) in 57 games while serving as alternate captain in his second WHL season. Since Nov. 28, he's scored 72 points (34 goals, 38 assists) in 37 games.
"Skill wise, he's not only quick but has two or three gears and it's legit," Sullivan said. "I mean, the most famous player that had five or six gears was Bobby Orr, and this is what [Bedard] has. He's got a gear that can go from 1-to-60 in two seconds; he's that special a player."
Bedard needs one goal to set Regina's record for most in a season by a 16-year-old (Jeff Friesen, 45, 1992-93). He's also two points from establishing the Regina record for a 16-year-old (Doug Wickenheiser, 88 points, 1977-78). Regina plays at Swift Current on Friday.
"Every game you watch him play, he does something that makes you say, 'Have I ever seen that before?'" Central Scouting senior manager David Gregory said. "Last year, as the youngest guy at the Under-18 World Championship in Dallas, he took a backhand from just inside the blue line and scored top shelf ... I've never seen anybody do that. He's able to adapt to whatever pace of play he's in."

Bedard tied for second at the U-18s with 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in seven games to help Canada win the tournament. He had a goal and an assist in a 5-3 win against Russia in the championship game.
"Canada was kind of a sleepy team that first game at the U-18], but within the next period of the next game, all of a sudden, Connor's figured out how to have an impact, how to take over," Gregory said. "And he does; he takes over games."
Bedard was the seventh 16-year-old to be selected to play for Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championship when he was named to the team for the 2022 tournament, joining
[Wayne Gretzky
(1978),
Eric Lindros
(1989), Jason Spezza (2000),
Jay Bouwmeester
(2000), Sidney Crosby (2004) and Connor McDavid (2014). In two games Bedard scored five points (one goal, four assists), including a hat trick in an 11-2 win against Austria.
The tournament was postponed after four days of play when the United States, Czech Republic and Russia each had to forfeit a preliminary-round game after players tested positive for COVID-19. It has been rescheduled for Aug. 9-20 in Edmonton.
"What really stands out to me that's impressive is the way he gets his shot off, no matter what," said Joey Tenute of Central Scouting. "Even if you think that there's a stick in the lane, or a guy's on him, he somehow gets a shot off and it's in the net. A lot of other players get stick on puck and the puck goes out of play. I just think he has a unique way to get his shot off the way he positions his stick where his shot is coming from."
Bedard scored 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.
"Every time anybody tries to question what this kid can't do, he goes out and proves them wrong," Central Scouting's John Williams said. "He is such a special, dynamic, offensive player. It's so fun to watch. Peter Sullivan lives in Regina, so he'll get to see him a ton. That's one of the great parts of our job ... seeing those kinds of players at a young age and seeing them do those special things."

Bedard was the seventh player to be granted exceptional status into the Canadian Hockey League, joining Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares (2005), Florida Panthers defensemen Aaron Ekblad (2011), McDavid (2012), Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman prospect
Sean Day
(2013), Detroit Red Wings forward Joe Veleno (2015) and Shane Wright of Kington of the Ontario Hockey League (2019). Wright is a candidate to be the No. 1 pick of the 2022 draft.
Does Sullivan believe Bedard is the NHL's next generational player?
"He's probably got the best shot I've seen in a long time, and the way he's playing, he probably could be generational, but let's not rush it right now," Sullivan said. "Let's wait until next year and when he winds up with 70 or 80 goals, then we can say he's generational.
"But I know this: He can dominate a game like I haven't seen guys do in a long time. I saw Connor McDavid in junior and I don't see any difference. They can speed it up and slow it down, dictate everything. Connor Bedard has all those essentials."
Photos: Keith Hershmiller / Regina
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