As soon as NHL Central Scouting's list of preliminary players to watch is published, a collective handwringing reverberates around the hockey world. 

Fans love to debate the validity of the list - who's too high, who's too low, why isn't their favorite player taken more seriously as a professional prospect, etc. 

As opposed to Central Scouting's lists that are released as the season progresses, these players are rated "A," "B," or "C," indicating a possible first-round selection, second or third-round selection, or a fourth, fifth, or sixth-round selection.

Regina Pats forward Connor Bedard heads this year's preliminary list and is widely considered the top prospect of the 2023 NHL Draft class. Bedard has been a known commodity for years, and proved himself all over again in his first full season in the WHL.

As a 16-year-old, Bedard racked up 51 goals and 100 points for the Pats last season in 62 games. His four goals and eight points powered Canada to the gold medal at the 2022 World Juniors in August. Currently, Bedard has 10 goals and 21 points through 12 WHL games.

The good old U.S. of "A" 

Two Minnesota natives received "A" ratings from Central Scouting, and both opted to move on from the Minnesota high school ranks to the National Team Development Program. 

Mounds View native Oliver Moore played two seasons at Totino-Grace High School before jumping to the NTDP, where he recorded 26 goals and 46 points in 54 games with the program's Under-17 team. This season, Moore is currently fourth on the NTDP U18 squad with six goals and 15 points. 

Former Rosemount standout Charlie Stramel is the second Minnesotan with a first-round possibility.

Stramel notched 18 points in his lone season of high school hockey for the Irish, then advanced to the NTDP. Stramel is a prototypical power forward with skill, and while injuries slowed him a bit with the NTDP, his size (6-foot-3, 212 pounds) and scoring ability makes him a prized prospect for scouts.

One is the loneliest number 

Of the six Minnesotan products labeled as "B" prospects, only one has a chance to return to the high school ranks this season. 

Warroad's Jayson Shaugabay is currently averaging nearly a point-per-game for the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers, with a goal and six assists through nine games. Shaugabay helped lead the Warriors to a runner-up finish at last year's Class A State Tournament and is strongly believed to be returning home to make one last run at a title for his hometown. 

The other five "B" prospects include Austin Burnevik, Carsen Musser, Danny Nelson, Gracyn Sawchyn, and William Whitelaw.

Burnevik, Musser, and Nelson will play this season with the NTDP's Under-18 team, Sawchyn jumped from the NTDP to the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL, and Whitelaw is currently in a top-six forward role with the USHL's Youngstown Phantoms.

Quartet of future Golden Gophers lead college commitments among rated players

Four players who have verbally committed to the University of Minnesota mark the list, the most of any single collegiate program among Minnesotan prospects, including the "A"-rated Oliver Moore. Other Golden Gopher commits include Jimmy Clark, Beckett Hendrickson, Jackson Nevers, and Teddy Townsend.

Northern Michigan has the next-highest number of recruits on this list with three, followed by Colorado College, St. Cloud State, Minnesota Duluth, Nebraska Omaha, St. Thomas, and Western Michigan, with two players each.   

* Players not born in Minnesota who either played a significant amount of time in Minnesota youth programs, or who currently play for a Minnesota high school team.