July 18, 2023 by Spencer Pomoty

This year’s class of draft eligible prospects from the WHL was a loaded one. Out of the top 10 scorers in the WHL, five (Connor Bedard, Zach Benson, Riley Heidt, Andrew Cristall, and Koehn Ziemmer) of them are first-time draft eligible players. As a comparison last year, Mathew Savoie was the only first-time draft eligible in the top 10. It will go down as one of the higher-end classes we will ever see out of the WHL.

As for how I evaluate players, I have always used Gus Katsaros’ “Four S’s of Scouting” as a guideline. It provides four categories: skating, skills, smarts and speed. I have it printed out beside me for every game I view. The main skill I value is how a player can create space for themselves and their teammates, whether it’s through their hands, body, or skating. As for individual skillsets, I highly value how they process the game, and I tend to favour better skaters. Now, let’s get into this year’s list.

1. Connor Bedard, Centre, Regina Pats, 5-foot-10 and 185-pounds

There’s not much new to say here that hasn’t already been said. Whenever Bedard steps on the ice, he becomes an immediate scoring threat. He was the unquestionable first-overall pick to the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2023 NHL Draft. On a shift-to-shift basis, Bedard was dominant. No one could stop him. The North Vancouver native scored a whopping 100 points as a 16-year-old in 2021-22. And as a 17-year-old he crushed that, scoring 71 goals and 72 assists, capturing the WHL scoring title, despite missing 11 games while playing for Team Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship in Halifax (where he also set tournament scoring records).

SKATING:

Bedard has a great base for skating, knees over toes, proper bend at the hips, and quick to return to centre. His first two-steps are great, he’s quick to get going, but he’s not a burner. He’s fast, but his top gear isn’t elite. I don’t think this restricts him in the NHL at all, as he’s more of a methodical player who he loves to go East to West using linear crossovers, or slowing it down. He doesn’t need a high-end top gear to do what he wants. Along the boards, he’s quick to change direction and never afraid to use his outside edges.

SKILLS:

The 18-year-old phenom is one of the most skillful players I’ve ever watched. He’s able to deceive players easily and get’s what he wants on the ice. He’s has top tier hands, using the defender’s triangles against them constantly, he’s able to find space inside of the opposition. His shot would already be among the best in the NHL, and he hasn’t even played a single game yet. The amount of power he can create comes from a strong top hand leveraging the stick to generate a great amount of flex quick. He’s also an extremely strong kid. He can shoot off either foot, has an outstanding one-timer, able to change his shot angle at ease and always seems to get it off and through. Not only can Bedard shoot, but he’s an excellent playmaker as well. Drawing in two defenders and finding the open man constantly. He’s able to create angles and make any type of pass at will.

SMARTS:

This year’s prized pick is always one of the smartest players on the ice. He processes the game at an extremely high rate, scanning the ice constantly Bedard can always play a step ahead of the opposition. Even in tight quarter situations he can find little pockets of space and make a play, he gets into the defenders’ hands easily. He is excellent at getting lost in the zone and then exploding into a tiny pocket of space ready to receive a pass. The one picky complaint I have is that when Bedard gets into trouble he tends to shoot from wherever, but I prefer to see players trying to work to the inside, but he does that as well. Defensively he can be a bit passive, I found he liked to work from the right-wing in the defensive zone, but you aren’t drafting Bedard to be a stud defensive centre.

SPEED:

The 70-goal scorer plays with a ton of pace but also likes to slow it down. Bedard can play an up-tempo pace, but if there are no options, he will slow it down and buy time for himself and others. He’s the one who dictates the pace, at the WHL level a lot of defenders would back right up to the circles allowing him to do what he wants. This won’t happen in the NHL as much, but I’m not worried due to him being able to play more methodical.

Projection: First line elite offensive forward

2. Zach Benson, Left Wing, Winnipeg ICE, 5-foot-10 and 159-pounds

In his 16-year-old season, Benson was a point-per-game player and looked excellent on a line with Matthew Savoie. The bar was set high for him in my mind, and he exceeded expectations. Another late birthday in this draft, Benson only turned 18 in May.

SKATING:

Benson is a good skater, but there is room to be made. Good base with his knees over his toes, good bend at the hips, but his stride length is shorter than what it could be. His first two steps aren’t enough to pull away from good skaters, but he can change directions quick using his outside edges allowing him to gain some space. Excellent use of pivots as his body is always opened to the middle of the ice. I think he will be an above average skater at the next level, but never having a high-end top gear. I think once he gets stronger and continues to work on his first step two steps, he will be able to translate his game. His incredible work ethic also helps cover for some of his skating deficiencies.

SKILLS:

As for his skills, the Langley native’s strongest attribute is his playmaking. There aren’t much better passers in the WHL than Benson. He can create new angles by changing pace or moving laterally, he can make passes under sticks and through players. Benson’s got good stick handling abilities, he’s able to keep pressure behind and when challenged by a defender he can execute a move under a stick or around them. He won’t be a massive dangler in the NHL as he relies on his passing ability much more than going through opponents, but he is more than capable of being able to hold onto it for an extra second and make a play. His shot is an area he can focus on developing, some power will come when he starts filling out his frame, but I believe his top hand could come out more from his body, sometimes I see his elbow a little tucked away. I believe 20-25 goals is the range for him in the NHL, he is a playmaker at heart.

SMARTS:

Benson is an elite thinker of the game, he processes what comes at him extremely fast, but always thinking ahead is how he prefers to play. His ability to be all over the ice in great position to support teammates is top of the class, whether its covering for a pinching defenceman or being the first forward back he is always in position to support the next play. He angles defenceman to perfection, has a great stick that can pick off any pass, and can read players leading to a turnover. Add all this together and you have the best two-way winger in the draft. Offensively, Zach is great at finding quiet spots in the offensive zone, extremely deceptive with the puck on his stick, always scanning the ice, and his board play is best in this WHL class. One knock is that he can be a little passive in the offensive zone, sometimes he does struggle physically finding the middle of the ice, but he is constantly sending passes to the slot and in between the dots. I do think he’ll need to fix this wrinkle if he wants to be a better goal scorer.

SPEED:

Benson is much like Bedard in this category where he can play an up-tempo style but can also slow it down and move more East to West. Defensively, Zach will always put the pressure on you forcing you to make plays. Stop ups are constantly used in his game in transition this allows him to buy some space and use his elite playmaking ability to make a play. He will have no problem translating to the pace of play and he will force you to play his game on the forecheck, nobody works harder than the winger from the ICE.

Projection: Top six two-way playmaking winger

3. Nate Danielson, Centre, Brandon Wheat Kings, 6-foot-1 and 185-pounds

Nate Danielson was one of the older players in the class, and was almost eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft. Last year, he was a point per game player, but Brandon didn’t have nearly as good as a team coming into this year, so I turned down my expectations. He was once again over a point-per-game this season and provided most of Brandon’s offence.

SKATING:

This is one of the strongest assets for the centre from Red Deer. Excellent base with knees over toes, great bend at the hip, long stride that comes back to the center quickly, great use of linear crossovers, high-end top speed, amazing all-around edgework, and he loves to have a low route on breakouts. I believe he’ll be a high-end skater in the NHL. Sometimes he does go a little too fast and needs to mix in a change of pace to be more deceptive carrying the puck.

SKILLS:

The main area of focus here is his playmaking ability. Constantly when I watched Danielson, he was making incredible pass after incredible pass, whether it was a hook pass, or a shot pass he can make an abundance of different passes. He’s always looking for the man in the slot in the offensive zone. His puck handling ability is also a strength of his, although much like Benson he enjoys making a pass or using his skating to gain space, but he is also willing to make a move when faced with pressure and can lose defenders. He’s got great protection abilities and can keep pressure on his back. Nate carries the puck with confidence and is wanting to make a play rather than chip it in, gaining the zone with entry is something he prioritizes. He has a good shot, the mechanics are sound, but I found he sometimes struggled to get shots off from the middle. Another bonus is that he does have a solid one timer.

SMARTS:

The right shot center processes the game well. When is one the ice he is constantly in the middle of action supporting wingers or being an option for the defenceman. Comes extremely low for the wingers and defenceman on breakouts/regroups, this also allows him to be more likely to get the puck. When moving in transition Danielson is constantly scanning looking for the best play and defensively, he scans the ice well too. There are moments where he can hold onto the puck for a bit long, but its uncommon and usually he is trying to make a play. Defensively he has an excellent stick and will get into passing lanes, he stays high when he needs to be, and then supports down low in the defensive zone. I believe he’ll be a great 200-foot player.

SPEED:

Danielson loves to push the pace and attack defenseman head on using his linear crossovers I mentioned earlier. He is also able to handle the puck well at this pace, making a ton of skilled moves this season. But sometimes I found him going a little too fast. Unlike Bedard, Danielson will look to go wide instead of changing pace and trying to get to the middle. NHL defenceman will be able to keep up with him so its crucial he starts mixing up his pace to max out his offensive potential. He will be fine when it comes to the NHL pace, but I think it could “wow” him at first.

Projection: Second line 200-foot playmaking centre

4. Andrew Cristall, Left Wing, Kelowna Rockets, 5-foot-10, 165-pounds

Like the players ranked ahead of him, Cristall averaged more than a point per game in his 16-year-old season. Another product from British Columbia in this draft, Cristall might be this year’s biggest boom or bust player.

SKATING:

Cristall has room to grow here, but he does have some good foundational pieces. Ankle flexion seems limited, he has a good bend at the hips, but the stride length is short, and he can get caught on his heels. The scoring winger does boast some good edgework, he’s able to deceive players using them, and quickly pivot. He does have some problems using his outside edges has he can get knocked around when trying to change direction, but he will use them and with strength this certain area should grow. Another issue is the fact his first few steps are below average, he doesn’t explode by players, but he can use crossovers to generate an average top speed. Mechanical issues will need to be addressed if he want’s to be a higher end skater, but I don’t think he needs to be an elite skater to play his style.

SKILLS:

This is the area where the Vancouver product excels. He can pick defenders apart using his extremely quick hands, he can find his way through the defender’s triangle, and his creativity with the puck is top tier in this class. He’s got an excellent release, an extremely accurate shot as he focuses on shooting lower than corner picking up high, he’s able to generate impressive power due to his top hand and elbows staying out. I can see him being a consistent 30 goal scorer if everything pans out. Cristall is also a strong playmaker, he can easily find lanes and create them himself if there is no option. He’s able to draw all attention on him and pass it off, even under pressure he can make strong plays with his passing ability.

SMARTS:

This is another area where he has mostly strong traits, but I do have some worries. Cristall is excellent at sneaking into quiet spots of the ice and using his skills to make a quick play, with space there isn’t many more players that are deadlier. He maintains excellent position on the wing during breakouts and is constantly pushing defenders back stretching the ice for his center. Andrew is quick to support his teammates and is a constant passing option, his reactions on the ice are incredible as he’s able to make quick moves when first facing pressure. He uses his linemates very well, constantly making passes so he can get open off puck. My one worry is that he doesn’t pre-scan the ice as well as you would hope before receiving the puck. I think this could hurt him in the long run if it isn’t addressed. The NHL game is fast, and he will have limited time, he’s not the strongest or fastest player (yet) so being a step ahead of everyone will be crucial.

SPEED:

Cristall prefers to slow the game down to his pace so he can draw in defenders and make a play to a teammate or make a play himself. He can play at a good pace in the WHL, but I don’t see him as a pace pusher in the NHL. But he can change his pace well, buying him time and space. Being smaller and not a pace pusher is a bit of a concern, but I think he has the tools to work around that.

Projection: Second line offensive winger

5. Samuel Honzek, Centre, Vancouver Giants, 6-foot-4 and 185-pounds

The big Slovakian center played his first WHL season this past season and he didn’t disappoint. He was tied for the lead with 2022 Washington third rounder Alexander Suzdalev with 1.30 points per game. He suffered an injury that kept him out for some time.

SKATING:

Honzek has an excellent skating foundation. Knees are over his toes, he has great bend at the hip, super long stride, decent foot speed recovering back to base, his first two steps at 6’4 is excellent, he can keep pressure on his back and use cutbacks to evade checkers. I believe as he grows older and gets his lower body stronger, he will be a good skater at the NHL level. He’s able to skate at defenders and either go around them or stop up, his outside edgework is great, and it will continue to give NHL defenders problems.

SKILLS:

The 6-foot-4 forward has a unique skillset at his size. His stick handling ability is excellent, he can hold it at range and bring it in tight with ease. He can go through defender’s triangles, he can slip around them with his incredible reach, under pressure he can make a move or turn his back to you. Honzek also has a great shot, his mechanics are excellent as he generates a ton of flex driving down and using his top hand as leverage. He’s got a great one timer, but it isn’t a staple in his game. Sometimes he struggles to shoot around or through defenders, but that will come with time. He’s also a strong playmaker and I was always impressed with his one touch passes on the powerplay. He keeps his head up constantly and can find the smallest of lanes, he can disguise his passes at an elite level catching defenders off guard. I think this part of his game will strongly translate to the next level.

SMARTS:

Honzek was excellent for them on both sides of the puck this year. He can provide support to his teammates off puck and when he is in control, he will look to involve his teammates. But he is extremely creative and confident, he is always looking to make a move on the defender, he will have to slightly improve his risk assessment when it comes to the NHL, but you need to see these young players play with confidence. Sometimes his pre scanning is a little weak, but he can buy time at the WHL level with his combination of speed, range, and puck skills. At the NHL level this will be harder, but he will still be able to perform this on some competition if he doesn’t even improve at all. Honzek has a great sense of timing and knows when to jump into spaces, but also when to stay away and find other options. I think he will have an above average hockey sense overall in the NHL.

SPEED:

Another strong area for Samuel is his ability to change pace at his size. When pushing defenders back he has shown the ability to quickly stop up to buy a ton of space. This change of pace will do him very well in the NHL. His compete is tremendous and is willing to hunt down pucks if he must. He plays at an NHL level pace, and I don’t have any worry about him adjusting to the game. He will play NHL games, I’m sure of it and I also believe he has a higher ceiling than some give him credit for. He can push the pace, but he can also slow it down and have his back to you.

Projection: Middle six offensive forward