Prospect Info: Bedard Topic 2

[GIADF]

Bedard is so gifted and dynamic offensively that I really don’t see him as being a wing to be all that bad of a thing.

 

[BobbyJet]

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.

Agree 100%. If for nothing else 98 playing wing takes the pressure off from playing first string center at 19.

 

[BHawks77]

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.

All right what did you mean by saying Bedard isnt as good of a skater as Hughes. That had to mean something or were you just stating the obvious!? As Hughes is at the extreme end of spectrum. There are just few like him.

Those smaller guys werent as fast as they are now when they were prospects. Bedard is 19 and has plenty of time to get better. Like I said Bedard aint that far off.

Too early to put him on the wing.

 

[GIADF]

All right what did you mean by saying Bedard isnt as good of a skater as Hughes. That had to mean something or were you just stating the obvious!? As Hughes is at the extreme end of spectrum. There are just few like him.

Those smaller guys werent as fast as they are now when they were prospects. Bedard is 19 and has plenty of time to get better. Like I said Bedard aint that far off.

Too early to put him on the wing.

Who are some examples of young guys who drastically improved their skating after entering the NHL?

 

[Drumman44]

Who are some examples of young guys who drastically improved their skating after entering the NHL?

Brayden Point. End of list

 

[BHawks77]

Who are some examples of young guys who drastically improved their skating after entering the NHL?

Do you think Bedards skating is bad if you think he needs to improve it drastically?? I think he is really good skater he only needs to get faster first steps (strength) and learn to change speeds to throw off defenders.

 

[Crow]

I do think some people view wingers in a different way. I still think Bobby Hull and Gordon Howe are top 10 players all time to me. Ovi and jagr are close too.

Bedard is so gifted and dynamic offensively that I really don’t see him as being a wing to be all that bad of a thing.

That said he seems to think he is a center and he should play wherever he is comfortable. I think his role will make itself apparent

 

[TLEH]

Point was already a very good skater in the WHL.

 

[statswatcher]

last season bedard had the 5th highest scoring season by an 18 year old since the salary cap (7th in goals, sandwiched between steven stamkos and andrei svenchnikov). this season he's on pace to set the 4th highest scoring 19 year old season in the same span. kane is 3rd. if he falls off pace by 3 points, he will finish 6th behind auston matthews. if he only scores 11 more points for the rest of the season to fall out of the top 10 and still finish tied with jack eichel's rookie season.

you could contextualize all of this by adjusting for league average scoring and all of that, and analytically that's worth doing, but i think it's also worth keeping in mind that bedard has been exceptional in a position very few players his age are given. whatever problems people see with his skating don't bother me that much, neither does him getting shut down in a game against probably the best defensive center in the game today. as others have pointed out, he's doing what he's doing without the benefit of good wingers to play with, good team center depth to take matchups, an nhl level d core to clear the puck, or an experienced and talented coaching staff to put all of these things together.

i think the question of whether he plays center or wing is scholastic without another true top six center on the team. it's more important than getting bedard better wingers really. if you have another legitimate option down the middle you can either move bedard to the wing and pair them up or you split them up and have a potent first and second line center combo. you tailor the answer to whatever works when you get to that point.