Scout's Notebook: Five standout WHL rookies

The WHL’s 2023 NHL Draft crop has been hyped for years. 

It’s not just Connor Bedard. The Saskatoon duo of Riley Heidt and Brayden Yager have posted video-game numbers; the slight but unbelievably slick Andrew Cristall and Zach Benson; and dynamic blue-liners in Lukas Dragicevic and Tanner Molendyk. And that’s really just the tip of the iceberg.  

This group didn’t really need a boost, but they received one anyway with a pair of standouts in Samuel Honzek and Gracyn Sawchyn. They sit Nos. 1 and 2 in the WHL rookie scoring race. 

After highlighting those two, we talk a trio of standouts from the 2021 WHL Bantam Draft.  

Samuel Honzek, LW, Vancouver Giants (2023 Draft)

There’s little doubt that Samuel Honzek was a big get for the Giants. He already had an established name to go along with a full