Prospect Info: Bedard Topic 2

[TheFridge]

I see it differently. He can´t get to his top speed quick enough in straight line. He is pretty good in using his edges and moving laterally. For me it´s the lack of acceleration that holds him back to make a separations. Sure he isn´t the fastest guy there either but hockey is more of stop and go than skating straight forward. Either way he can still get better and faster. If Donato was able to get faster and better skater at age of 28 so can 19 old teenager too.

Well I don't know what you're seeing then. He's literally in the 50th percentile of top-speed in the NHL right now. His issue isn't about creating separation, it's about pulling away. That's a speed issue, not a first 2-3 strides issue.

 

[black hawks matter]

At this point Bedard can still finish around a ppg, which is still very very promising long term for a 19yo

The lack of progression is a little concerning but hopefully he steps it up as the season goes along and he gets out of his head

He said that skating was what he worked on last summer because the team asked that of him. He does seem a little better this year but I still see a many times when if he receives the puck while he is flat footed the backchecker gets him before he can get going. Obv it always feel great when you get a perfect pass in full stride and I expect he shall also improve at this due to development and his high IQ giving him the ability to better time his regroups back through neutral. But yeah I don’t think it’s top end speed so much as it’s getting going a little quicker. As far as top end speed no it’s not a huge strength, tho not necessarily a detriment. It would help him a lot to be faster with the way he wants to carry the puck particularly all the way out of his own end. He still pretty good tho due to how crafty he is with subtle feints and those mittens.

 

[Mjul Qvist]

Well I don't know what you're seeing then. He's literally in the 50th percentile of top-speed in the NHL right now. His issue isn't about creating separation, it's about pulling away. That's a speed issue, not a first 2-3 strides issue.

I see that he can´t get to top speed quick enough. It´s not about winning the all star game skating race.

 

[belfour30]

Even with a bit of a sophomore slump, Bedard is still miles ahead of Carlsson/Fantilli which makes me feel a lot better.

The playmaking is there, I'd like to see the goals start to come in bunches.

 

[Mjul Qvist]

The playmaking is there, I'd like to see the goals start to come in bunches.

I think it is just a matter of time. I mean he has had like 7-8 posts already.

 

[BobbyJet]

If I was coaching Bedard I'd be telling him to shoot, shoot, shoot the puck, especially on the PP. He is so used to scoring on a single shot in the minors that he hasn't learned that sometimes he needs to shoot for rebounds in the NHL. Perfect plays are few and far between.

 

[Northernhawk]

To all those people out there that think Bedard has ‘regressed’, here are stats to compare…

2023-24(11-26-2)

39gp 15g 18a 33pts -22 12pim 118s

While injured the Hawks went 3-10-1

after injury(9-17-3)

29gp 7a 21a 28pts -22 16pim 88s


So far this season

2024-25(12-23-2)

37gp 10g 22a 32pts -17 16pim 93s

Not too much different really…

 

[Northernhawk]

And including the Blackhawks Bedard leads 8 teams in scoring(BUF STL NAS CHI NYI CGY SEA ANA) Bedard will be the player currently with the most points playing in the Winter Classic

 

[Hattrick Kane]

Talk of Bedard struggling?

Let’s look at the guys picked after him

Leo Carlsson - 29GP 7G 5A 12P

Adam Fantilli - 37GP 7G 8A 15P

Will Smith - 31GP 6G 7A 13P

We could be so much worse off if we don’t win the lottery in 2023. Very lucky to have Bedard.

 

[ClydeLee]

Talk of Bedard struggling?

Let’s look at the guys picked after him

Leo Carlsson - 29GP 7G 5A 12P

Adam Fantilli - 37GP 7G 8A 15P

Will Smith - 31GP 6G 7A 13P

We could be so much worse off if we don’t win the lottery in 2023. Very lucky to have Bedard.

With you here most of the way, with 1 notable exception you did not list.

If they didn't win #1 I would of been actually pissed at KD if he didn't take Michkov.

 

[CanadianHawks]

Should be an all time draft class at the top of the board still

Wouldn’t read much into those numbers. Cronin is another LuRich all the numbers on that team are brutal. Fantilli will figure it out too.

 

[CallMeShaft]

Talk of Bedard struggling?

Let’s look at the guys picked after him

Leo Carlsson - 29GP 7G 5A 12P

Adam Fantilli - 37GP 7G 8A 15P

Will Smith - 31GP 6G 7A 13P

We could be so much worse off if we don’t win the lottery in 2023. Very lucky to have Bedard.

I remember on draft lottery day, hours before the official list was announced, watching highlight videos of Will Smith, trying to get excited for who I thought we'd most likely end up with. And then to go and witness us not only not drop in the draft any, but to actually move up two spots was surreal.

Expectations for Connor are sky high and he's not quite reaching them at this point, and Celebrini having a good start to his career has only made Bedard look worse in comparison, but what Bedard has been doing is special.

Very fortunate the lotto balls went in our favor there. Now if only I could ever get that lotto luck with actual lotteries.

 

[BobbyJet]

If points could only be the only barometer to judge a player. It's not.

We've all seen Bedard play and we've seen his strengths and weaknesses. Can he be judged as a teen playing for a crappy NHL team? Not yet, but I thought he would show better at this stage.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

I remember on draft lottery day, hours before the official list was announced, watching highlight videos of Will Smith, trying to get excited for who I thought we'd most likely end up with. And then to go and witness us not only not drop in the draft any, but to actually move up two spots was surreal.

Expectations for Connor are sky high and he's not quite reaching them at this point, and Celebrini having a good start to his career has only made Bedard look worse in comparison, but what Bedard has been doing is special.

Very fortunate the lotto balls went in our favor there. Now if only I could ever get that lotto luck with actual lotteries.

How much is Celebrini really better than Bedard in his rookie season? He’s one cold streak from being in the same spot.

 

[ello]

How much is Celebrini really better than Bedard in his rookie season? He’s one cold streak from being in the same spot.

I mean Bedard is a cold streak away from being a 55-60 point player this year, kind of a weird thing to say "yea well if he starts sucking hes not gonna have a good season"

 

[Wally1112pac]

At the moment, Bedard is the only player on the roster that I don't have concerns about.

 

[TLEH]

Celebrini is a much more complete player, although he has a bit more to work with in SJ offensively, defensively he is really good.

 

[ndgt10]

Talk of Bedard struggling?

Let’s look at the guys picked after him

Leo Carlsson - 29GP 7G 5A 12P

Adam Fantilli - 37GP 7G 8A 15P

Will Smith - 31GP 6G 7A 13P

We could be so much worse off if we don’t win the lottery in 2023. Very lucky to have Bedard.

Bedard was supposed to be generational.

 

[Darkstar]

There are a number of things that I'm worrying about with this rebuild, Bedard ain't one.

 

[Mjul Qvist]

Bedard was supposed to be generational.

That is not his fault isn´t it? It was media and fans who labeled him that way. Now both are dissapointed that he isn´t producing like one.

 

[Kevin Musto]

That is not his fault isn´t it? It was media and fans who labeled him that way. Now both are dissapointed that he isn´t producing like one.

The thing is, he would be if he wasn't playing with bottom 6ers.

McDavid at this point in his career had Draisaitl. Crosby had Malkin.

 

[Mjul Qvist]

The thing is, he would be if he wasn't playing with bottom 6ers.

McDavid at this point in his career had Draisaitl. Crosby had Malkin.

Crosby had 102 points in his rookie season without Malkin. Sergei Gonchar was their second best scorer with 58 points. I have no worries about Bedard but he is not Crosby or McDavid level talent.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

19 people. He’s 19. If you said MacKinnon would eventually turn generational during his 19 years old season, people would have laughed at you.

I’d be far more concerned if the talent wasn’t readily apparent. You can teach many things, but you can’t teach talent.

 

[Mjul Qvist]

19 people. He’s 19. If you said MacKinnon would eventually turn generational during his 19 years old season, people would have laughed at you.

I’d be far more concerned if the talent wasn’t readily apparent. You can teach many things, but you can’t teach talent.

Yes! But define generational? For me Howe, Orr, Gretzky, Lemieux, Crosby and McDavid are generational players. And then there are really good franchise players and I think Bedard will be one of those.

 

[Mrfenn92]

Time to trade Connor I guess