C Connor Bedard (2023, 1st, CHI) Part 6

[daver]

I’ve seen close to 20 of his games. With the puck on his stick, he absolutely tilts the ice, as do the other players I listed. He’s basically impossible for defenders to contain at the WHL level, and I’ll bet it’ll be the same in his prime in the NHL.

However, when the other team has the puck, he’s not elite at winning it back like Sid or McDavid, who are absolute puck hounds (Sid especially). This is totally fine, as I noted I think he’s very comparable to many of the NHL’s best forwards in this regard (Kane, Kucherov, Ovechkin, Jack Hughes, Pastrnak, Marner, Stamkos, etc.), it’s just a difference between him and Sid/McDavid, who he often gets compared to.

This is a bit of wildcard for him IMO. He may not be the quintessential #1C who drives his line's offense but is more of a pure offensive force whose production, unlike Crosby's, can be influenced by his linemates. Maybe he can reach a higher level of production than Crosby if he is on a loaded line.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

If you don’t think that Bedard is a play dominating, game controlling force then you are unfamiliar with his game. When is on his game he completely tilts the ice and controls the game. What makes him scary is that in tight checking games against high quality opponents or when he is having an off night he can still produce via quick strike offence.

In some of the tighter checking games I've seen him play, he really wasn't too much of a factor at 5v5. When he has the puck he's absolutely a force, but he's not a possession monster who is constantly forcing turnovers and recovering pucks. And he's not likely to become a dominant neutral zone player either. In order to maximize his potential production, his future NHL team should pair him with a player that carries the puck well and is really quick on the forecheck - this is why Brayden Point works so well for Kucherov. Jack Hughes, Mitch Marner, and Johnny Gaudreau are also good examples of this sort of player.

 

[canuckking1]

McDavid was on pace for 87 points as a rookie, and I highly doubt he would have hit that because the NHL plays way more games than junior and fatigue would set in for a first year rookie.

87 points would've been good for 3rd in Mcdavid's rookie season. League scoring is way up.

 

[Mathieukferland]

Lol

 

[Blue and Green]

In some of the tighter checking games I've seen him play, he really wasn't too much of a factor at 5v5. When he has the puck he's absolutely a force, but he's not a possession monster who is constantly forcing turnovers and recovering pucks. And he's not likely to become a dominant neutral zone player either. In order to maximize his potential production, his future NHL team should pair him with a player that carries the puck well and is really quick on the forecheck - this is why Brayden Point works so well for Kucherov. Jack Hughes, Mitch Marner, and Johnny Gaudreau are also good examples of this sort of player.

I think Bedard will be an excellent neutral-zone puck carrier. He handles the puck well, has very good vision and is as good as I've ever seen in a 17YO when it comes to fooling the opposition as to which way he will go next. He's got that constant crossover thing working for him which makes it easy for him to change direction and difficult for the opposition to read his next move.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I think Bedard will be an excellent neutral-zone puck carrier. He handles the puck well, has very good vision and is as good as I've ever seen in a 17YO when it comes to fooling the opposition as to which way he will go next. He's got that constant crossover thing working for him which makes it easy for him to change direction and difficult for the opposition to read his next move.

I think he will be very good in the same way Cole Caufield or Nikita Kucherov is very good through the neutral zone. But they both lack the top end speed to push back defenders and create space for themselves and others.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

 

[Just Linda]

Zero points tonight, not a great game outside of the first either. Some costly giveaways.

 

[Half Clapper]

Bedard got shut down by a top team tonight!

Also it looked Howe produced without bedard as well. Who would have thought?

 

[Stewie Griffin]

It's just fate that once San Jose gets in last place, Bedard has an unimpressive game...

 

[Gold Standard]

That's alright! He'll light up the World Hockey Championship in a few months.

Counting on it, Connor! Accept the invite and go see Europe for a month, hang out and play with NHLers. great way to prep for the draft.

 

[HoweFan]

Another sold out crowd in Saskatoon. Just under 15 thousand.

 

[Just Linda]

I'm gonna have to say this preemptively before people get freaked out. Saskatoon and Regina are going to play each other in the first round. Bedard will be driven off the puck on every play by one of the best defensive teams in the country and will likely not pile up a ton of points in the playoffs. No that won't hurt his draft stock, no it won't be a question mark on his game, no it won't be a bad sign for the next level. Any prospect except McDavid would struggle against the playoff series that Bedard is about to play.

 

[QJL]

I'm gonna have to say this preemptively before people get freaked out. Saskatoon and Regina are going to play each other in the first round. Bedard will be driven off the puck on every play by one of the best defensive teams in the country and will likely not pile up a ton of points in the playoffs. No that won't hurt his draft stock, no it won't be a question mark on his game, no it won't be a bad sign for the next level. Any prospect except McDavid would struggle against the playoff series that Bedard is about to play.

Can’t wait for your post when Bedard scores twice per game all series.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

A lot of guys just mailing it in this weekend. Most of the entire Kamloops team mailed it in last night (I heard didn't go myself). To be expected from teenagers who know the playoffs are coming, and matchups/standings are already set.

 

[ponder]

I'm gonna have to say this preemptively before people get freaked out. Saskatoon and Regina are going to play each other in the first round. Bedard will be driven off the puck on every play by one of the best defensive teams in the country and will likely not pile up a ton of points in the playoffs. No that won't hurt his draft stock, no it won't be a question mark on his game, no it won't be a bad sign for the next level. Any prospect except McDavid would struggle against the playoff series that Bedard is about to play.

He did have 2 of his worst games of the season vs Saskatoon (2 of his 5 pointless games all year), but in his other 3 games vs. the Blades he put up 9 points (5 goals, 4 assists).

Saskatoon are one of the best defensive teams in the dub (I’d say Seattle #1, Saskatoon or Winnipeg #2?), but I’m not convinced they’ll be able to shut down Bedard in the playoffs. We’ve seen him consistently take his game to another level at the WJCs, and I suspect he’ll do the same in the WHL playoffs. Tough matchup for him, he’s gonna have to work VERY hard to score, but I suspect he still gets it done.

 

[Lavar Ball]

 

[Deleted member 339941]

 

[Sasha Orlov]

I'm gonna have to say this preemptively before people get freaked out. Saskatoon and Regina are going to play each other in the first round. Bedard will be driven off the puck on every play by one of the best defensive teams in the country and will likely not pile up a ton of points in the playoffs. No that won't hurt his draft stock, no it won't be a question mark on his game, no it won't be a bad sign for the next level. Any prospect except McDavid would struggle against the playoff series that Bedard is about to play.

Gonna lmao when Bedard comes out of the series with 40 points

 

[Deleted member 339941]

 

[ORRFForever]

I'm gonna have to say this preemptively before people get freaked out. Saskatoon and Regina are going to play each other in the first round. Bedard will be driven off the puck on every play by one of the best defensive teams in the country and will likely not pile up a ton of points in the playoffs. No that won't hurt his draft stock, no it won't be a question mark on his game, no it won't be a bad sign for the next level. Any prospect except McDavid would struggle against the playoff series that Bedard is about to play.

Fair enough.

 

[ZDH]

If McDavid wouldn't struggle then Bedard should be fine...

 

[Kevin Musto]

I don't think we're prepared for playoff Bedard

 

[McRpro]

Pretty neat how his final (regular) season stat line in the CHL almost mirrors Eric Lindros, minus the PIM's of course.

 

[ijuka]

Incredible, Bedard broke Brian Shantz's CHL scoring record from 1995-1996.