Prospect Info: Bedard Topic 2

[x Tame Impala]

It’s a lame semantical argument. Generational, whatever that means.

I hope he is a franchise forward that is a key contributor to us winning Cups.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

Define gerational? It's a once in thirty years talent. Bedard is really f***ing good. He's not Crosby or McDavid. That's alright. They'll be remembered as two of the top ten players to ever lace up skates. If that's your standard sure he's not great. But holy hell.

 

[BobbyJet]

Bedard's top end speed is fine but he tends to glide when he hits traffic, unlike McDavid who puts it into another gear and goes north. (Orr was the best at leaving players in the dust in all 3 zones).

To me, Bedard is the type of player who would thrive on give and go plays in ops end if he had someone to do it with.

 

[x Tame Impala]

Bedard's top end speed is fine but he tends to glide when he hits traffic, unlike McDavid who puts it into another gear and goes north. (Orr was the best at leaving players in the dust in all 3 zones).

To me, Bedard is the type of player who would thrive on give and go plays in ops end if he had someone to do it with.

He needs Kaprizov on this team badly. Its not quite as bad as last year’s roster but there’s no one on this roster who can…

1) take the focus off Bedard so opps cant completely key in on him when he gets the puck

2) create offense at an elite level with Bedard. Creating chances for him or finishing the chances Bedard sets up for them.

I don’t think he’s got the size to create offense at an elite level entirely on his own but get him a better team and he’ll be a top 5 point producer at the very least. He’s a better version of Panarin IMO and I think regular 120+ point seasons are entirely possible if he gets some help.

 

[Taze em]

Turns 20 in July so he has the rest of the season to get 35 points. 43 games for 35 points, can he do it?

 

[ClydeLee]

Turns 20 in July so he has the rest of the season to get 35 points. 43 games for 35 points, can he do it?

Seeing that about Kane, knowing he turned 20 in early November, it shocked me. He had 22 points his first 17 games. Shocking knowing his 2nd year he had a lower Pt total than the rookie year. He had only 70 pts in 80 games.

Kane from late December to late January had 1 assist in 11 games. That is stunning, he had 7 games without a point. Yeah it was a lower scoring era and all, but Bedard has had a max 3 game pointless streak, 2 times this year and it was dramatic. He only had 1 3 game pointless streak last year... which only likely happened because that 3rd game was when his jaw was broken.

 

[Taze em]

I just want him to pop to a 100 point guy already. I know it's coming, I mean at some point his entire peer group will be the NHL players in the league, and he absolutely abused them.

 

[pvr]

I think his ultimate position is on the wing…a dual threat passing and scoring winger like Kucherov and Kane. He’s playing center right now because that’s what’s expected, but I’m not seeing it even projecting out a few years. Just doesn’t seem to have the physical play and defensive mindset needed to play center. The big boys just handle him. And, would relieve him of the defensive burden and allow him to flourish offensively.

Have to admit that I was in the anti-Boisvert camp, but with his shot and physical play, could be the perfect fit with Bedard along with another skilled winger. Like how he’s trending. Hopefully he learns the two-way game well at UND this year and next.

If the draft shakes out and we get Misa or Hagens, won’t be disappointed, and the center options open up…Hagens matchup center on another line, or Misa centering Bedard and Boisvert matching up.

 

[hawksfan50]

Connor Bedard 19 years old:

So far in 24/25 season:

39GP 10g 24 a=34 points 98 shog -18
shog/game = 2.51....shooting 10.2%


Macklin Celebrini 18 years old

So far this sesson:

29 GP 12g 15a= 27 points 99 shog -9
shog/game = 3.41....stooting% 12.1%

IF Celebrini played 10 more games to equalize vs Bedard he would have 16g 20 a =36 points and be -12...so I an tired iof the "he is only 19 " excuse for Bedard..he is NOT performing as well as Celebrini is despite being a year older.


You clearly cannot use that only 19 excuse anymore...

For a "Generational " talent (allegedly) ,Bedard SHOULD be doing better than he has.

And 1 more thing ...Celebrini better than Bedard on draws...he is 48.6% faceoff win% vs 31.5% for Bedard(which is down from his faceof win % last season which was 38.7%)

So admit it...Bedard has been disappointing...not making progress in his development.

Worse ...the eye test:

.where are tgex2 on1s with Bedard on shift?
Hardly any..very rare.

Why do dmen so easily force Bedard to the perimeter in 5x5?...he is Not driving the net going around checkers like he did in Juniors.. His speed looks less than necessary to get past checkers to take pucks to the net or to hunt down loose pucks.. He is small so lacking the strength to escape checks engaging him ...he gets stopped too easily and loses the puck as a result which goes back into transitions for the opposition.

Bedard still proving hevis not very good defensively in own zone ..still.more chasing and not getting to loose pucks to then clear from pressure..not getting to puck carrier in time to stop their attack ...and if engaged ina check ,he has not got the strength to cause a loss of possession nor the ability to doggedly stay hard on his check ...unable to prevent ensuing pressure on our net.

He really isn't that good at checking.


So all in all Bedard has not done enough either offensively or defensively given the hype how hevisxsupoosed to impact a game

 

[Northernhawk]

It was the 39th game last year that Bedard broke his jaw, ending up missing 14 games, here was his stats last year through the first 39 games

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

The Hawks had a record of 11-26-2
This season his stats after 39 games…

39gp 10g 24a 34pts -18 16pim 98s

The Hawks are now 13-24-2
Marginal improvement by both Bedard and the Hawks

During the 14 games Bedard missed last year the Hawks went 3-10-1, it’ll be interesting to see if they do better during the same span with a healthy Bedard?

 

[Toews2Bickell]

move him to RW

 

[Toews2Bickell]

Connor Bedard 19 years old:

So far in 24/25 season:

39GP 10g 24 a=34 points 98 shog -18
shog/game = 2.51....shooting 10.2%


Macklin Celebrini 18 years old

So far this sesson:

29 GP 12g 15a= 27 points 99 shog -9
shog/game = 3.41....stooting% 12.1%

IF Celebrini played 10 more games to equalize vs Bedard he would have 16g 20 a =36 points and be -12...so I an tired iof the "he is only 19 " excuse for Bedard..he is NOT performing as well as Celebrini is despite being a year older.


You clearly cannot use that only 19 excuse anymore...

For a "Generational " talent (allegedly) ,Bedard SHOULD be doing better than he has.

And 1 more thing ...Celebrini better than Bedard on draws...he is 48.6% faceoff win% vs 31.5% for Bedard(which is down from his faceof win % last season which was 38.7%)

So admit it...Bedard has been disappointing...not making progress in his development.

Worse ...the eye test:

.where are tgex2 on1s with Bedard on shift?
Hardly any..very rare.

Why do dmen so easily force Bedard to the perimeter in 5x5?...he is Not driving the net going around checkers like he did in Juniors.. His speed looks less than necessary to get past checkers to take pucks to the net or to hunt down loose pucks.. He is small so lacking the strength to escape checks engaging him ...he gets stopped too easily and loses the puck as a result which goes back into transitions for the opposition.

Bedard still proving hevis not very good defensively in own zone ..still.more chasing and not getting to loose pucks to then clear from pressure..not getting to puck carrier in time to stop their attack ...and if engaged ina check ,he has not got the strength to cause a loss of possession nor the ability to doggedly stay hard on his check ...unable to prevent ensuing pressure on our net.

He really isn't that good at checking.


So all in all Bedard has not done enough either offensively or defensively given the hype how hevisxsupoosed to impact a game

Hawks havent exactly done the best with his development either...They inherited a kid that scored like 85 goals his draft year with an obsession and drive to get better rivaled by few and their first reaction once he got into the org was to complain about it, hide his stick, lock doors, keep him off ice etc..The org is run by incompetence right now, imagine if LA had treated Kobe like that or Jordan in CHI, you were given a gift with his work ethic and drive, foster his obsession by giving him access to resources he didnt even have in junior to get even better, they went the opposite direction like fools, doesn't even get into KD failing him by having Foligno and Perry be his mentor instead of 19 and 88...we surrounded him with overpaid middling vets, whether CB says it or not he doesn't care to model his game after these guys, should've kept Kane around just for him alone

 

[RememberTheRoar]

move him to RW

You don’t think he can still carve out his place as a Jack Hughes type center in this league?

How about a Joe Sakic type? He wasn’t big, listed an inch taller and 10 pounds heavier than Bedard, but was obviously a hall of fame center.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

You don’t think he can still carve out his place as a Jack Hughes type center in this league?

How about a Joe Sakic type? He wasn’t big, listed an inch taller and 10 pounds heavier than Bedard, but was obviously a hall of fame center.

he absolutely can for sure...he played RW in the 23 WJC iirc and I just think right now it might be best for him to focus solely on getting his offensive production back to elite status, free him of the defensive responsibilities and have him up ice always looking to push the play and use that shot off the rush, they can always go back to him at center but right now he's not where he needs to be offensively that its worth a try at wing for an extended period, staple him and Nazar together and see where it goes

 

[GIADF]

he absolutely can for sure...he played RW in the 23 WJC iirc and I just think right now it might be best for him to focus solely on getting his offensive production back to elite status, free him of the defensive responsibilities and have him up ice always looking to push the play and use that shot off the rush, they can always go back to him at center but right now he's not where he needs to be offensively that its worth a try at wing for an extended period, staple him and Nazar together and see where it goes

I’m all for it. Him playing RW is only going to result in him playing less defense and more offense. I wish him playing RW to Dickinson lasted longer.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

I’m all for it. Him playing RW is only going to result in him playing less defense and more offense. I wish him playing RW to Dickinson lasted longer.

exactly, just get him up ice as much as possible and think shoot and create, thats it...come back to the center discussion when he's back to a 100 point pace type player

 

[Pez68]

The problem with moving him to wing is his center options are non-existent.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

The problem with moving him to wing is his center options are non-existent.

Still worth it though if it's better for Bedard in the short and long term. I'm not sure whether it is, just saying if it is.

 

[Pez68]

Still worth it though if it's better for Bedard in the short and long term. I'm not sure whether it is, just saying if it is.

Nah. Without a competent center he's in the same boat he's in right now. Bedard's problem isn't playing center. It's playing with guys far below his talent level. Honestly, he's Patrick Kane right now. Putting up a PPG playing with third liners and borderline top six guys. Except he's doing this without the benefit of a top line to give him easier matchups.