Pats’ Bedard remains top North American prospect for NHL draft

Go figure.

Regina Pats captain Connor Bedard is ranked first among North American skaters for the 2023 NHL draft. On Tuesday, NHL Central Scouting released its final rankings ahead of the draft, which is set for June 28-29 in Nashville, Tenn.

Bedard, 17, led the WHL in goals (71) and points (143) and tied for the league lead in assists (72) during the 2022-23 WHL regular season. The product of North Vancouver, B.C., also tied for the longest point-scoring streak in the WHL this season at 35 games, a run during which he scored 44 goals and added 46 assists.

He added 10 goals and 10 assists in seven playoff games.

Bedard also 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.

If he goes No. 1 in the draft, Bedard will be the first WHL player selected first overall since Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in 2011.

Borya Valis. (File photo courtesy of Keith Hershmiller Photography)

Bedard’s Pats teammate, Denver’s Borya Valis, was ranked 152nd in the final rankings of North American skaters — a potential fifth-round pick. He moved up 31 spots from the mid-season rankings after posting 20 goals and 48 points in 55 games in the regular season.

Saskatoon-born Brayden Yager of the Moose Jaw Warriors (No. 11), Saskatoon’s Riley Heidt of the Prince George Cougars (No. 21) and Saskatoon Blades defenceman Tanner Molendyk (No. 28) also were ranked in the first round.

Swift Current product Kalan Lind of the Red Deer Rebels (No. 39) and Saskatoon’s Caden Price of the Kelowna Rockets (No. 47) were ranked in the second round.

Saskatoon-born Hudson Malinoski of the AJHL’s Brooks Bandits (No. 65), Blades winger Egor Sidorov (No. 81) and Clavet’s Kalem Parker of the Victoria Royals (No. 93) were ranked as potential third-rounders.

Weyburn’s Quinn Mantei of the Brandon Wheat Kings (No. 138, fifth round), Saskatoon’s Noah Chadwick of the Lethbridge Hurricanes (No. 154, fifth round), Balgonie’s Matthew Perkins of the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms (No. 165, sixth round), Terrell Goldsmith of the Prince Albert Raiders (No. 180, sixth round), Martensville’s Hunter Mayo of the Rebels (No. 203, seventh round) and Blades forward Vaughn Watterodt (No. 210, seventh round) also appeared in the rankings.

The Warriors’ Jackson Unger was ranked 19th among North American-based goalies, while Weyburn-born Dylan Ernst of the Kamloops Blazers was ranked 26th.

Swedish centre Leo Carlsson is the top-ranked European skater.