The Western Hockey League is proud to announce 43 WHL players have been named to NHL Central Scouting’s ‘Preliminary Players to Watch’ List ahead of the 2023 NHL Draft. The ‘Players to Watch’ list was issued Tuesday by the NHL Central Scouting Service.

NHL Central Scouting identifies players with a rating system that includes four categories. The ‘A’ rating indicates players projected to be first-round candidates. The ‘B’ rating indicates players projected to be second- or third-round candidates, and the ‘C’ rating indicates players projected to be fourth-, fifth-, or sixth-round candidates. The ‘LV’ rating represents a player who has not had sufficient viewings, due to injury.

Seven WHL players earned ‘A’ ratings: Regina Pats forward Connor Bedard, Winnipeg ICE forward Zach Benson, Brandon Wheat Kings teammates Carson Bjarnason and Noah Danielson, Prince George Cougars forward Riley Heidt, Vancouver Giants forward Samuel Honzek and Moose Jaw Warriors forward Brayden Yager.

A further 12 WHL players were given ‘B’ ratings, including Kelowna Rockets teammates Andrew Cristall and Caden Price, Red Deer Rebels forward Kalan Lind and Seattle Thunderbirds pair Scott Ratzlaff and Gracyn Sawchyn. 23 WHL players earned ‘C’ ratings, while one WHL player received an ‘LV’ rating.

Overall, 21 of the 22 WHL Clubs are represented in the ‘Players to Watch’ List. The Vancouver Giants boast five players on the list to lead all WHL Clubs. The Brandon Wheat Kings, Kamloops Blazers, Moose Jaw Warriors, Portland Winterhawks and Saskatoon Blades have three players listed. Seven WHL Clubs are represented with two players on the list, while eight further WHL Clubs have a single player on NHL Central Scouting’s list.

A total of 25 WHL forwards find themselves on the list, joined by 12 WHL defencemen and six WHL goaltenders.

2022-23 NHL Central Scouting ‘Preliminary Players to Watch’ – WHL Players

PTWLast NameFirst NameHometownTeamHeightWeightPosition
ABedardConnorNorth Vancouver, B.C.Regina Pats5’10”185C
ABensonZachChilliwack, B.C.Winnipeg ICE5’9”160LW
ABjarnasonCarsonCarberry, Man.Brandon Wheat Kings6’3”186G
ADanielsonNateRed Deer, Alta.Brandon Wheat Kings6’1”185C
AHeidtRileySaskatoon, Sask.Prince George Cougars5’10”182C
AHonzekSamuelTrencin, SlovakiaVancouver Giants6’3”186LW
AYagerBraydenSaskatoon, Sask.Moose Jaw Warriors5’10”166C
BCagnoniLucaBurnaby, B.C.Portland Winterhawks5’9”180D
BCristallAndrewBurnaby, B.C.Kelowna Rockets5’9”167LW
BDragicevicLukasRichmond, B.C.Tri-City Americans6’1”192D
BHalaburdaTyVictoria, B.C.Vancouver Giants5’11”178C
BHammellKadenLangley, B.C.Kamloops Blazers6’1”173D
BLevisConnorVancouver, B.C.Kamloops Blazers6’1”189RW
BLindKalanShaunavon, Sask.Red Deer Rebels6’0”158LW
BMolendykTannerMcBride, B.C.Saskatoon Blades5’11”184D
BPriceCadenSaskatoon, Sask.Kelowna Rockets6’0”186D
BRatzlaffScottIrma, Alta.Seattle Thunderbirds6’0”175G
BSawchynGracynGrande Prairie, Alta.Seattle Thunderbirds5’11”157C
BZiemmerKoehnMayerthorpe, Alta.Prince George Cougars6’0”204RW
CBirnieBradyRegina, Sask.Swift Current Broncos5’7”154C
CChadwickNoahSaskatoon, Sask.Lethbridge Hurricanes6’3”187D
CErnstDylanWeyburn, Sask.Kamloops Blazers6’1”196G
CGoldsmithTerrellFort St. James, B.C.Prince Albert Raiders6’3”218D
CLeslieMazdenLloydminster, Alta.Vancouver Giants6’0”193D
CLipinskiJadenScottsdale, Ariz.Vancouver Giants6’3”208C
CMetzgerTimZurich, SwitzerlandEverett Silvertips6’5”192G
CMillerColeEdmonton, Alta.Edmonton Oil Kings6’4”174C
CMyatovicNicoPrince George, B.C.Seattle Thunderbirds6’2”182C
COrembaSamRegina, Sask.Regina Pats6’1”195C
CParkerKalemClavet, Sask.Victoria Royals6’0”192D
CRicheBenBethune, Sask.Moose Jaw Warriors5’10”178C
CRoersmaRylenLethbridge, Alta.Brandon Wheat Kings5’10”161C
CRoestAustinColdstream, B.C.Everett Silvertips5’9”175C
CSeitzDawsonMedicine Hat, Alta.Edmonton Oil Kings6’2”185C
CSemeniukEthanFort St. John, B.C.Vancouver Giants5’11”175C
CSidorovYegorVitebsk, BelarusSaskatoon Blades5’11”182RW
CSiepmannGraydenAbbotsford, B.C.Calgary Hitmen5’10”185D
CSotheranCarterSanford, Man.Portland Winterhawks6’3”197D
CSpunarJanOlomouc, CzechiaPortland Winterhawks6’3”185G
CUngerJacksonCalgary, Alta.Moose Jaw Warriors6’1”190G
CWeinsteinSaigeEdmonton, Alta.Spokane Chiefs6’0”179D
CWormaldLoganLangley, B.C.Lethbridge Hurricanes5’9”144LW
LVSchuurmanBraydenAbbotsford, B.C.Victoria Royals5’9”198C