from Joshua Clipperton of the CP at CBC,

Connor Bedard's highlight reel has been hard to miss.

Already the presumptive first overall selection at the 2023 NHL draft, the 17-year-old phenom with a bullet shot and an ability to make the puck look like it's on a string — often leaving defenders chasing shadows and goaltenders looking foolish — has taken his game to new heights this season.

Video of his jaw-dropping skill splashes across social media on what feels like a near-daily basis. And there's almost certainly going to be more viral clips when Bedard takes centre stage with Canada at the 2023 world junior hockey championship later this month.

His exploits have also already entered the NHL conversation.

"We have guys in the Kings dressing room talking about him like, 'You get to play with Bedard kid,"' said Canadian defenceman Brandt Clarke, who was loaned to the men's under-20 national team by Los Angeles for the tournament.

"I'm not going to name anybody."

So, was the teammate in question Kings defenceman and noted hockey geek Drew Doughty?

"[He] did say that, actually," Clarke, 19, added with a laugh. "[Bedard's] already getting that kind of recognition."

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