2023 NHL Draft: Connor Bedard watch

Connor Bedard, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft, is in his third season with Regina of the Western Hockey League. The 17-year-old center, No. 1 on NHL Central Scouting's midterm ranking of North American skaters presented by BioSteel, was granted exceptional status to play in the WHL as a 15-year-old. Each Wednesday, NHL.com will have an update on Bedard leading up to the NHL Draft, which will be held in Nashville on June 28-29.

Connor Bedard had another opportunity last week to show how thankful he is for the fan support he's been given during his 2023 NHL Draft-eligible season.
Regina held its second team signing event of the season at Brandt Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan, on Feb. 7. The scheduled two-hour session lasted much longer for their star player and captain.
"It was fun," Bedard said "Obviously a lot of signatures, but it was good to make people's day. They waited a long time. I mean, the support we have is pretty special. It's pretty incredible for [the fans] to be there for a whole day, waiting in line to get a signature, so when you hear that, it's obviously pretty cool."
The free event provided fans an opportunity to collect signatures from all rostered players and take a picture. A complimentary team photo was also made available upon entry to the event, which they could have signed by every player. Additionally, fans were able to bring one personal item to have signed.
"I thought the signing event went as good as it could go with the amount of people that showed up," said Dante De Caria, Regina's manager of broadcast and hockey communications. "Roughly 900 fans entered the arena for autographs. Connor signed about 1,500 items from 6-to-11:30 p.m.
"I stood near him most of the night and I thought he handled it very well. He interacted with the fans very politely and gracefully, and I know he enjoyed it. He's a pro."
De Caria said fans started lining up for autographs outside Brandt Centre at 10 a.m. local time for the event that began eight hours later, and many of them brought lawn chairs.
Bedard had five points (three goals, two assists) and was named the first star in his next game, four days later, an 8-4 win against Moose Jaw on Feb. 11. It was his sixth hat trick of the season.

"I don't think about the hat trick, but if anyone gets a 'hatty,' and you see the hats come, it's a pretty cool tradition in hockey," Bedard said. "Whenever it's filled with hats, and I also saw hats with buckets out there, it's pretty cool and it makes the game fun when fans are getting into it.
"But these points are huge with 18 games left. Every game is so big and obviously it was a big win not only for standings but for confidence."
Regina is sixth in the Eastern Conference, 16 points behind fourth-place Moose Jaw. The top eight teams in the conference qualify for the Western Hockey League playoffs.
Bedard (5-foot-10, 185 pounds), No. 1 on NHL Central Scouting's midterm ranking of North American skaters presented by BioSteel, had 96 points (48 goals, 48 assists) in 39 games this season. He has 20 more points than Kamloops forward Logan Stankoven, who is second in the WHL with 76 points (27 goals, 49 assists). Stankoven was selected by the Dallas Stars in the second round (No. 47) of the 2021 NHL Draft.
In 11 games with Regina since his return from the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, Bedard has 32 points (21 goals, 11 assists). He led all players at the WJC with 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists) and was named the tournament's top forward and most valuable player, helping Canada win a second straight gold medal.
Here's a look at his season (thru Feb. 13)(WHL rank in parentheses)
Games played: 39
Goals-Assists-Points:48 (1st) - 48 (tied for 3rd) - 96 (1st)
Points per game:2.46 (1st; minimum 10 games played)
Game-winning goals: 8 (2nd)
Power-play points: 34 (1st)
Short-handed goals: 4 (tied for 4th)
Shots: 255 (1st)
Plus/minus rating: plus-32 (tied for 11th)
Penalty minutes: 44
Face-off winning percentage: 52.1, 449-for-862
Upcoming games: Feb. 17: at Prince Albert; Feb. 18: Winnipeg; Feb. 20: Lethbridge; Feb. 22: Medicine Hat
Photo:Keith Hershmiller, Regina
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