Terrell Goldsmith's physical style has put him on the radar for NHL Central Scouting. (Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff)

By Rob Mahon

Goldsmith Central Scouting

Goldsmith cracks Central Scouting’s final ranking

Apr 18, 2023 | 12:30 PM

While the NHL playoffs are only just beginning, half the league has already had to start looking forward to next season. For those 16 teams, the focus now shifts to the NHL entry draft, and another milestone on the road to the draft has been ticked off the list.

NHL Central Scouting has released their final rankings of North American skaters leading up to the draft. 54 WHL players were included in the final list, including Prince Albert Raiders defenceman Terrell Goldsmith.

Goldsmith, a hard-hitting defenceman who’s not afraid to drop the gloves or block a shot, was ranked 180^th among North American Skaters. He is the only member of the Raiders to crack the final rankings.

A first-round pick of the Raiders in the 2020 WHL prospects draft, Goldsmith played 14 games in the hub environment and scored his first two WHL goals that season. After playing a full season at age 16, he played 58 games for the Raiders this season and posted three goals and six assists.

Although a mid-season injury robbed him of some games, the 6-4 223-pound blueliner still managed to put up some highlights. These included a powerplay goal on home ice on opening night against Saskatoon, a thunderous hit-of-the-year candidate against the Medicine Hat Tigers, and an overtime winner on the road against the Edmonton Oil Kings on which he started the rush with a pass interception and finished it off with a net drive.

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The WHL is well represented in the final rankings, especially at the top of the list. Connor Bedard, who has been the pole-to-pole favourite to be selected first overall, still occupies that position. There are also, however, three other players in the top ten: Winnipeg ICE forward Zach Benson at number six, Brandon Wheat Kings forward Nate Danielson at number seven, and Vancouver Giants forward Samuel Honzek at number nine.

In total, 12 WHL players are ranked in the top 30 skaters, while Wheat Kings goaltender Carson Bjarnason is the number-one ranked goaltender. Central Scouting ranked a total of 224 skates for the draft.

The first round of the NHL entry draft will take place at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on June 28, while rounds two through seven will be the next day.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP