Matthew Wood, the gifted six-foot-three power forward from Nanaimo with the steep career trajectory, is projected as a high first-round selection for the 2023 NHL draft. The Islander is the No. 8-rated North American skater in the NHL Central Scouting mid-term rankings released Friday. He is taking the notice in stride, knowing it’s the destination that counts.
“It’s obviously humbling. But you still have to get out and do it. Your draft ranking will mean nothing five years from now. Nobody will remember that,” the Islander said.
The former B.C. Hockey League star with the Victoria Grizzlies doesn’t turn 18 until next month. He is the youngest player in NCAA Division 1 and needed special dispensation to play this season for the University of Connecticut Huskies in what would normally would have been his Grade 12 year at Belmont Secondary.
He is certainly enjoying his freshman season, having played in Fenway Park this month as the lead-in game ahead of the Boston Bruins-Pittsburgh Penguins NHL outdoor game. It was a memorable experience despite the 4-1 loss by NCAA No. 9-ranked UConn to Northeastern.
“It was really cool to play in Fenway Park, like a real wow factor, and almost didn’t feel real,” said Wood.
Wood is eligible for the next two world junior hockey championships and is a lock to be invited to the selection camps.
“I am definitely excited about that prospect. The 2023 world juniors got massive attention across the country this month in Halifax,” he said.
“It’s an honour to put on the national-team jersey and playing for Canada in the world under-18 championship last year in Germany was a great experience.”
Wood is rare combination of fine skill sets combined with a physical edge. He displayed both aspects of his game in winning the BCHL scoring title last season with 45 goals and 85 points in 46 games as a 17-year-old with the Grizzlies and being named BCHL rookie of the year and runner-up as league MVP. He showed earlier than that with five goals and 13 points in 18 games as a 16-year-old with the Grizzlies in the 2021 BCHL pandemic bubble season.
Wood is proving wrong detractors who say he jumped too early from the Grizzlies to the NCAA. The Harbour City product has eight goals, nine assists and 17 points in 22 games as a freshman at UConn heading into Saturday night’s game in Storrs, which opened the Huskies’ new rink.
“I am happy with the decision to move up to college early and am improving a lot in looking to increase those first couple of steps and gaining separation speed,” said Wood.
Wood is among eight former or current BCHL players rated by Central Scouting for the 2023 NHL draft with Grizzlies defenceman Hoyt Stanley ranked No. 77 and Owen Beckner of Victoria, a forward with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, No. 128 among North American skaters.
The consensus No. 1-ranked pick for the 2023 NHL draft is Connor Bedard of the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League, who scored a memorable hat-trick in victory over the Victoria Royals in November at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre, before leading Canada to the gold medal this month in the 2023 world junior championship.
Bedard is among 51 WHL players ranked, including 11 for the first round. Ty Halaburda from Victoria is rated No. 60 among North American skaters, which would likely place him in the third round. The quicksilver five-foot-11 forward has 13 goals and 21 points in 39 games this season for the Vancouver Giants of the WHL heading into Saturday night. Two-way defenceman Kalem Parker is the lone Royals player listed at No. 113 among North American skaters. Parker represented Canada, with Bedard and Wood, in the 2022 world U-18 championship in Germany and has four goals and 23 points in 40 games from the blueline this season for Victoria heading into Saturday night’s game against Kelowna at the Memorial Centre.
The top North American goaltender listed is Carson Bjarnason of the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings. The top-ranked European skater is forward Leo Carlsson of Sweden.
The 2023 NHL draft will be held on June 28–29 in Nashville, Tennessee.
