Sowing Seeds: Bryce Pickford Has Gone From Undrafted To Intriguing NHL Prospect

Last spring, Bryce Pickford caught the hockey world off guard when he put together an eight-game playoff scoring streak that helped the Medicine Hat Tigers win their first WHL championship since 2007.

After jumping from two goals to 20 in the regular season, the right-shot defender finished with 13 goals in 18 playoff games, then added two more during the Memorial Cup. That heater wasn't just about puck luck.

"I was honestly starting to have more fun at the rink and be more relaxed," he said. "It just came to me. A lot of it came from off-ice workouts, shooting pucks late at night and all that. But the biggest thing was just being myself."

Canadiens' Prospect Playing Pivotal Role For WHL Team In The Playoffs

Montreal Canadiens prospect Bryce Pickford is continuing his fantastic season with the Medicine Hat Tigers, and he has the Memorial Cup in his crosshairs.

As for Pickford, the 20-year-old set his sights on 50 goals, and if he hadn't missed a month in mid-winter due to injury, he probably would have made it. His final mark of 45 was still the most by a CHL defenseman since Bryan Fogarty put up 47 for Niagara Falls in 1988-89.

Pickford's scoring prowess and the Tigers' strong performance have nudged him into the hockey limelight, and he's savoring every moment.

"I dreamed of this as a kid," he said. "For it to start to show a little bit now, it's pretty cool. It's a privilege to be in my footsteps."

Pickford was ranked Montreal's No. 7 prospect in Future Watch 2026. And there's more talent lurking in the wings. Pickford's younger brothers Reily, 18, and Kane, 16, also play defense and have been following the same training regimen.

"They give me a run for my money every time I skate with them and do 1-on-1s against them," he said. "They're hard to beat now because they're so much more grown up. They're going to be good hockey players."

This article appeared in The Hockey News' Top 100 NHLers 2026 issue.

Top 100 NHLers 2026 provides a look at the top 100 players in the NHL, PHWL playoff previews, as well as features on Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid, San Jose Sharks' Macklin Celebrini, and more.

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The Hockey News

This story was originally published May 24, 2026 at 9:16 AM.