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Bedard tops Central Scouting North American ranking for 2023 NHL Draft | NHL.com
Regina center had 143 points in 57 games; Orebro forward Carlsson No. 1 among International skaters
www.nhl.com
The top three North American skaters remained unchanged from the midterm release in January, with University of Michigan center Adam Fantilli at No. 2 and center William Smith of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program Under-18 team at No. 3. Rounding out the top five are University of Connecticut right wing Matthew Wood, who moved up from No. 8 in the midterm rankings, and NTDP right wing Ryan Leonard, who dropped one position to No. 5.
Wood (6-3, 193) led Connecticut with 34 points (11 goals, 23 assists) and 102 shots on goal in 35 games. Wood had been selected in the second round (No. 41) by Regina in the 2020 WHL bantam draft and could have played with Bedard. Instead, he chose to attend Connecticut and carved his own path as the youngest player in NCAA Division I men's hockey this season.
"For a guy of his size to have his trajectory go this way, there's going to be a little bit of a fever come draft day on who gets him," Gregory said. "I think the smart play with Wood would be to keep him in college at least another year and have him continue to develop. If he goes from point A to point B in Year One and does the same growth in Year Two, you're looking at a very special player."