Pats’ Bedard tops NHL Central Scouting’s mid-season rankings

To the surprise of no one, Regina Pats star Connor Bedard is the No. 1-ranked prospect among North American skaters for the 2023 NHL draft.

NHL Central Scouting released its mid-season rankings Friday, with Bedard ranked first and Pats right-winger Borya Valis at No. 183 (a potential sixth-rounder) among North American skaters.

Saskatoon-born Brayden Yager of the Moose Jaw Warriors (No. 5), Swift Current product Kalan Lind of the Red Deer Rebels (No. 23), Saskatoon’s Riley Heidt of the Prince George Cougars (No. 26) and Saskatoon’s Caden Price of the Kelowna Rockets (No. 30) also were ranked in the first round.

Saskatoon Blades defenceman Tanner Molendyk (No. 36) was ranked in the second round, while Saskatoon-born Hudson Malinoski of the AJHL’s Brooks Bandits (No. 78) and Blades winger Yegor Sidorov (No. 86) appeared in the third round.

Clavet’s Kalem Parker of the Victoria Royals (No. 113, fourth round), Saskatoon’s Noah Chadwick of the Lethbridge Hurricanes (No. 147, fifth round), Weyburn’s Quinn Mantei of the Brandon Wheat Kings (No. 153, fifth round) and Prince Albert Raiders teammates Terrell Goldsmith (No. 202, seventh round) and Harrison Lodewyk (No. 217, seventh round) also appeared in the rankings.

Bedard, 17, leads all WHL players in points (70) and assists (39) and is second in goals (31) in 29 games this season. The product of North Vancouver, B.C., was named the most valuable player and top forward at the 2023 world junior hockey championship after leading the tournament in goals (nine), assists (14) and points (23) while also setting numerous Canadian records at the event.

Weyburn-born Dylan Ernst of the Kamloops Blazers was ranked 15th among North American-based goalies, while the Warriors’ Jackson Unger was ranked 17th.