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Bedard leads Central Scouting's midterm 2023 NHL Draft rankings

Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Regina Pats phenom Connor Bedard unsurprisingly tops Central Scouting's midterm North American skater rankings leading up to the 2023 NHL Draft.

The latest lists for North American and international players were released Friday.

Here are the top 10 for each pool.

North American skaters

Rank Player Position Team (League)
1 Connor Bedard C Regina (WHL)
2 Adam Fantilli C Michigan (Big Ten)
3 William Smith C USA U-18 (NTDP)
4 Ryan Leonard RW USA U-18 (NTDP)
5 Brayden Yager C Moose Jaw (WHL)
6 Oliver Moore C USA U-18 (NTDP)
7 Zach Benson LW Winnipeg (WHL)
8 Matthew Wood RW UConn (H-East)
9 Samuel Honzek LW Vancouver (WHL)
10 Colby Barlow LW Owen Sound (OHL)

Bedard dazzled at the 2023 World Junior Championship and was named MVP of the tournament after potting nine goals and 14 assists in seven games to help lead Canada to the gold medal.

He set various team records along the way, including most all-time goals and points by a Canadian at the world juniors.

Widely predicted to go first overall in a few months' time, Bedard leads the WHL this season with 70 points (31 goals, 39 assists) in just 29 games. The 17-year-old is currently riding a 28-game point streak.

International skaters

Rank Player Position Team (League)
1 Leo Carlsson C Orebro (Sweden)
2 Matvei Michkov RW Sochi (Russia)
3 Axel Sandin Pellikka D Skelleftea (Sweden)
4 Dalibor Dvorsky C AIK (Sweden-2)
5 Eduard Sale LW Brno (Czechia)
6 Otto Stenberg C Frolunda (Sweden-Jr)
7 Lenni Hameenaho RW Assat (Finland)
8 Mikhail Gulyayev D Omsk (Russia)
9 Kasper Halttunen RW HIFK (Finland)
10 David Reinbacher D Kloten (Switzerland)

The 2023 NHL Draft will take place from June 28-29 in Nashville.

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