Pats’ Bedard earns A rating from NHL Central Scouting

Regina Pats captain Connor Bedard got an A from NHL Central Scouting on Tuesday.

The bureau released its preliminary “Players to Watch List,” and the 17-year-old Bedard was among those who received an A rating.

Pats forward Sam Oremba was on the list as a C-level prospect.

NHL Central Scouting has released its Preliminary Players to Watch List presented by BioSteel for the 2023 #NHLDraft (players listed alphabetically by rating).

Story/Full List: https://t.co/BAOt5DaQHf pic.twitter.com/qyfKZTCsa4

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 25, 2022

Bedard has 10 goals and 11 assists through 12 games this season, putting him first in the WHL in points, tied for first in goals, and second in assists entering Tuesday’s games.

The product of North Vancouver, B.C. — the first player to be granted exceptional status in the WHL — has scored four game-winning goals this season and has a 56.7 faceoff winning percentage.

Oremba, 17, has recorded one goal and three assists in nine games this season, split between the Pats and Seattle Thunderbirds. The Regina product, the seventh pick overall in the 2020 WHL draft, was acquired by the Pats from the T-Birds on Oct. 4.

Pats prospect Michael Hrabal was also listed as an A-level prospect. The 17-year-old goaltender from Praha, Czechia has a 2.16 goals-against average and a .940 save percentage in five starts with the USHL’s Omaha Lancers this season.