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Prospect Info: Bedard Topic 2

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Just try Nazar at C and Bedard at RW for a bit and see how it goes. Nothing to lose really.

The only negative to it right now is that Bedard has shown a little improvement at the dot in his last 10 games, but he's still only at 41% over that span.
 
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Cannot believe what I'm hearing, or seeing typed out, here.

Yes, Bedard sucks defensively. No, he shouldn't be moved to wing.

There is a very clear reason you want your best playmakers playing at center. There are a lot more passing options (as well as shooting options) in the middle of the ice, as opposed to along the boards. Yeah, Kane could handle it, and Kucherov could handle it. But generally, you want those guys playing down the middle.

What we need is a matchup center to take the hard assignments and maybe a defensively reliable winger to complement Bedard. What we don't need is him to be moved to wing and potentially stymie some of his offense.
 
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CallMeShaft said:
Cannot believe what I'm hearing, or seeing typed out, here.

Yes, Bedard sucks defensively. No, he shouldn't be moved to wing.

There is a very clear reason you want your best playmakers playing at center. There are a lot more passing options (as well as shooting options) in the middle of the ice, as opposed to along the boards. Yeah, Kane could handle it, and Kucherov could handle it. But generally, you want those guys playing down the middle.

What we need is a matchup center to take the hard assignments and maybe a defensively reliable winger to complement Bedard. What we don't need is him to be moved to wing and potentially stymie some of his offense.
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Moving to wing doesn't stymie his offense and if anything it only accentuates his offense because it removes some of the defensive responsibilities.
 
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It isnt like Bedard cant learn to be better in d zone. He has one of the best hockey IQ so he will get there. Also even Toews had Hossa to help him out with going against top lines. who does Bedard have... An another kid getting his feet wet and not so great vet in Bertuzzi.

Bedard is just a kid he doesnt have his man strength yet and his skating is good just not explosive enough but give him time he will get there.

Also not every top center is great at faceoffs, just look at Jack Hughes. But you learn to be better by taking them. There is no short cut to being great at something.

Just my two cents.
 
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TLEH said:
Moving to wing doesn't stymie his offense and if anything it only accentuates his offense because it removes some of the defensive responsibilities.
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Agreed. Watching him against Barkov is a huge wake up call for how much further along he has to go, and the team as a whole of course, if we’re going to be competing for Cups.

We watched 5’10” Kane terrorize the league for 15 years, I see no reason Bedard can’t slot into that exact role. He’s not going to be super strong on the puck and he’s not fast enough to zip by everyone.

Shouldn’t he be slotted at LW though since he’s a RHS?
 
x Tame Impala said:
Agreed. Watching him against Barkov is a huge wake up call for how much further along he has to go, and the team as a whole of course, if we’re going to be competing for Cups.

We watched 5’10” Kane terrorize the league for 15 years, I see no reason Bedard can’t slot into that exact role. He’s not going to be super strong on the puck and he’s not fast enough to zip by everyone.

Shouldn’t he be slotted at LW though since he’s a RHS?
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Talk about tough crowd if youre not beating Barkov as a 19 year old kid your not making it at center... Smh
 
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x Tame Impala said:
Agreed. Watching him against Barkov is a huge wake up call for how much further along he has to go, and the team as a whole of course, if we’re going to be competing for Cups.

We watched 5’10” Kane terrorize the league for 15 years, I see no reason Bedard can’t slot into that exact role. He’s not going to be super strong on the puck and he’s not fast enough to zip by everyone.

Shouldn’t he be slotted at LW though since he’s a RHS?
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his best attribute is his snapshot on his forehand, think he makes most sense at rw vs lw but either way just get him on the wing and see what happens to his offensive production, he's not even on pace for more than 30 goals this year right? rid him of the defensive responsibilities and fix his offense first, they can always go back to him at C
 
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x Tame Impala said:
I’m not expecting him to beat him but it’s clear he’d be easy to shutdown in a playoff series
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This isnt NBA where one player can dominate on his own. Barkov has Reinhart on his wing who is also not bad in d zone. Throw in Tkachuk or Verhague on top of that and McDavid himself would be shut down.

That is why I mentioned that even Toews had Hossa on his wing.
 
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BHawks77 said:
This isnt NBA where one player can dominate on his own. Barkov has Reinhart on his wing who is also not bad in d zone. Throw in Tkachuk or Verhague on top of that and McDavid himself would be shut down.

That is why I mentioned that even Toews had Hossa on his wing.
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I 100% agree with you here. My comments earlier are more about Bedards strengths as a player and what I see him as going forward. I just think at his size and skating it just makes more sense to play wing long term.
 
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TLEH said:
I 100% agree with you here. My comments earlier are more about Bedards strengths as a player and what I see him as going forward. I just think at his size and skating it just makes more sense to play wing long term.
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Jack Hughes isnt big playes center, sure fast as lightning but still not big. Point isnt big doing just fine as center. Datsiuk wasnt big or super fast but smart and elusive.

Just few examples that show you dont have be huge in size to play center. Sure as hell Bedard will get more explosive and learn how to change speeds to keep defenders guessing. Last year his top speed was measured as 22.47 mph as top of the league was around 24. Speed is fine only need to get to that top speed faster and that will come with strength. Also he is smart so he can learn how to deal with bigger players.
 
BHawks77 said:
Jack Hughes isnt big playes center, sure fast as lightning but still not big. Point isnt big doing just fine as center. Datsiuk wasnt big or super fast but smart and elusive.

Just few examples that show you dont have be huge in size to play center. Sure as hell Bedard will get more explosive and learn how to change speeds to keep defenders guessing. Last year his top speed was measured as 22.47 mph as top of the league was around 24. Speed is fine only need to get to that top speed faster and that will come with strength. Also he is smart so he can learn how to deal with bigger players.
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There are a ton of NHL players who can reach that speed. It is the changing of gears, good edges and explosiveness while handling the puck that counts and separates the elite. McDavid stands out, Makar, MacKinnon, Crosby and a few others are close but let's not mention Bedard with any of the best NHLers when it comes to playing the game at speed. He's not there yet but Bedard should not be underestimated. He has the skill and the will.
 
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BHawks77 said:
Jack Hughes isnt big playes center, sure fast as lightning but still not big. Point isnt big doing just fine as center. Datsiuk wasnt big or super fast but smart and elusive.

Just few examples that show you dont have be huge in size to play center. Sure as hell Bedard will get more explosive and learn how to change speeds to keep defenders guessing. Last year his top speed was measured as 22.47 mph as top of the league was around 24. Speed is fine only need to get to that top speed faster and that will come with strength. Also he is smart so he can learn how to deal with bigger players.
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Hughes is one of the best skaters in the league. Point is one of the best skaters in the league. Datsyuk was one of the most powerful skaters for his era. He was also 2 inches taller than everyone else mentioned. He wasn’t that small.
 
TLEH said:
Hughes is one of the best skaters in the league. Point is one of the best skaters in the league. Datsyuk was one of the most powerful skaters for his era. He was also 2 inches taller than everyone else mentioned. He wasn’t that small.
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Like I said Hughes fast but Bedard is great skater also. Top speed difference not that large only thing Bedard needs is more explosive first steps. And that comes with strength. Also learn how to vhange speeds to keep d men guessing.

Also Datsiuk 5 11 190 pounds so marginally bigger than Bedard.at 5 10 185 pounds and I bet Bedard has grown up on that.
 
BHawks77 said:
Like I said Hughes fast but Bedard is great skater also. Top speed difference not that large only thing Bedard needs is more explosive first steps. And that comes with strength. Also learn how to vhange speeds to keep d men guessing.

Also Datsiuk 5 11 190 pounds so marginally bigger than Bedard.at 5 10 185 pounds and I bet Bedard has grown up on that.
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I disagree that Bedard is a great skater. I don't think he's bad but he isn't in the same conversation as Hughes when it comes to skating.
 
TLEH said:
I disagree that Bedard is a great skater. I don't think he's bad but he isn't in the same conversation as Hughes when it comes to skating.
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If only Hughes is good enough skater to be center... Tough crowd. How many centers are there that are that good... Maybe three Hughes and McDavid MacKinnon.

Also I think you are not giving enough credit to Bedards skating. Faster first steps and using different speeds. I think he can do it.
 
Lack of physical attributes and high end skating make it hard enough. Add in that he’s already way behind the curve in playing without the puck and he’s fighting a very steep uphill battle.

I won’t say he can’t do it, but I’m on onboard with moving him to wing. He can still swing low during transitions and carry the puck through the middle like how Kane did/does. He doesn’t have to be glued to the wall.
 
BLKHKhockey said:
Lack of physical attributes and high end skating make it hard enough. Add in that he’s already way behind the curve in playing without the puck and he’s fighting a very steep uphill battle.

I won’t say he can’t do it, but I’m on onboard with moving him to wing. He can still swing low during transitions and carry the puck through the middle like how Kane did/does. He doesn’t have to be glued to the wall.
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Or maybe we should let him learn by playing position he has played his whole life! You never learn if you avoid hard stuff!!

Also he is 19 ofcourse he is not at man strength.
 
No point in moving him to wing right now. He's producing consistently at C and can use the challenge defensively. He's far and away the best on the team at moving the puck through the neutral zone and he's most dangerous with the puck in the middle of the ice. Let sleeping dogs lie. He's not the first to have his lunch money stolen by Barkov
 
BHawks77 said:
If only Hughes is good enough skater to be center... Tough crowd. How many centers are there that are that good... Maybe three Hughes and McDavid MacKinnon.

Also I think you are not giving enough credit to Bedards skating. Faster first steps and using different speeds. I think he can do it.
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Quite the extrapolation to say if you don't skate like Hughes you can't play center. Never said that or anything close to it. You guys act like him play W is a massive failure. I don't put it that way and it has more with me thinking it will get the best out of him long term. If he isn't the best at every single thing that is like blasphemy can't believe anyone would type that.

The guys that are 5'9 and play C all tend to be very fast. Point and Trocheck would be two examples. Nazar is an example of a player at similar size that I think has a better chance to play C just due to his skating.

This also doesn't have anything to do with his game vs Barkov in which the whole team got dominated. Bedard can play C in this league long term if they so choose. He is more than talented and smart enough. Doesn't mean its the right thing for him.
 
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