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

[57special]

This is what I said two months ago and was laughed at. He is the best pre-NHL player since Lemieux. I don't think that means necessarily he will reach the peak McDavid has in the NHL but just straight up comparing them at the same age Bedard is better.

Lindros was a better prospect, although very different.

 

[Dust]

I guess that's why Regina is the #6 seed, inability to hold 3rd period leads in both losses.

 

[alko]

Want to see him on WCH. That could be a real test of his skills against many NHL players.

 

[Breakfast of Champs]

Lindros was a better prospect, although very different.

I would have to agree, although I wasn't around when Lindros was coming up.

As far as just how good they are against their peers at this age, I would say it is almost a coinflip between Bedard and Crosby - although McDavid was the least polished and had more room to grow and improve as a player. McDavid had a notably weak shot and wasn't as assertive as you would want him to be. That's not to say he wasn't dominant, because he was - you could just see that there was more to come if he developed properly

 

[Eternal Leaf]

I went back and read some of McDavid's prospect threads.

It's hilarious how similar the discussions for McDavid and Bedard are. Just the names change. Things like he will top out as a franchise player, he won't handle NHL strength well, MacKinnon is the better skater, and Eichel is as good as him.

Even Whiskey was picking on McDavid back then like he is with Bedard now. Don't mean to call you out, just found it hilarious due to the similarity.

Sure. 1 game against Denmark has sealed it. I mean he scored points! Just ignore the fact that he got tossed around by the Danish defense half a dozen times.

If he gets out muscled by Danish junior players, what's gonna happen against NHL defenseman?

Also, he was getting knocked around by guys much smaller than 6'5 220 lol.

Incredible.

 

[centipede2233]

I think bedard will be a perennial 110-120 point player in his prime. Mcdavid’s height with speed really opens the ice for him on the power play and is why he can reach 150 points. Bedard has similar stature as Crosby as a center, he’s going to have to keep his head up, he’s at the right height for the 6’1 and 6’2 guys elbows and shoulders. If bedard played wing it would be less of a concern, but atm he doesn’t play wing. Keep your head up kid…

 

[Deleted member 339941]

 

[Jets4Life]

Personal opinion having watched him live on a number of occasions...he does not have McDavid's upside, but he is a much different player than McDavid anyway. He's an opportunist with a lethal release. He is going to struggle a bit in the NHL because of his size and he won't have the space he has in the dub. He doesn't create space, he finds holes. That's different from McDavid. I still think he will be a franchise player, but I don't see him getting 150 points in the NHL unless he is with elite wingers, which is unlikely for several years.

We have to keep in mind that Gretzky and Crosby are the same size as Bedard. He was listed as 5'10/185 shortly after his 17th birthday (which was nearly identical to Crosby at 17), but I would not be shocked if he grows to be 5'11-6'0/195 by the end of his first NHL season.

 

[RedHawkDown]

I’m going to have to disagree with people here. I think he actually is incredible at backing off defenders and creating space for himself out of nothing. Maybe I’m just watching different games.

 

[Diamonddog01]

We have to keep in mind that Gretzky and Crosby are the same size as Bedard. He was listed as 5'10/185 shortly after his 17th birthday (which was nearly identical to Crosby at 17), but I would not be shocked if he grows to be 5'11-6'0/195 by the end of his first NHL season.

I think that listing is generous. He’s quite small - I don’t think he’ll be 5’11 personally.

 

[FDBluth]

I think that listing is generous. He’s quite small - I don’t think he’ll be 5’11 personally.

He looks shorter than Crosby to me. More like 5'9

 

[Jets4Life]

I think that listing is generous. He’s quite small - I don’t think he’ll be 5’11 personally.

This is because he does not need skates.

 

[57special]

I think bedard will be a perennial 110-120 point player in his prime. Mcdavid’s height with speed really opens the ice for him on the power play and is why he can reach 150 points. Bedard has similar stature as Crosby as a center, he’s going to have to keep his head up, he’s at the right height for the 6’1 and 6’2 guys elbows and shoulders. If bedard played wing it would be less of a concern, but atm he doesn’t play wing. Keep your head up kid…

The league has changed since that blindside hit on Crosby. Much less headhunting, open ice hits in general, and hits from behind.

 

[LemonSauceD]

I’m just dreaming of a Pettersson/Bedard/Kuzmenko line only 5% chance though.

I hope he goes to any team that’s not Chicago in all honesty.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Interesting that Bedard doesn’t have linemates that can keep up with him in Juniors like Crosby and McDavid did. Why didn’t Regina try and make any trades to get some second round-ish caliber wingers to play with him?

 

[Roof Daddy]

Lindros was a better prospect, although very different.

Agreed. Lindros was an absolute beast at 18, he was basically full grown and stronger than 90% of the guys in the league. The fact that he made Team Canada over guys like Sakic, Linden and Turgeon who were all 3-4 years older than him (Sakic finished 6th in scoring that year) speaks volumes of the unique skillset he brought to the team as an 18 yr old (though Mike Keenan selected the team, he looks for specific players that fit his prototype).

The equivalent for Bedard would be playing for team Canada in a best on best tournament this summer and making the team over Marner, RNH and Point. IF there were such a tournament, it would be hard to imagine him doing that at 18.

 

[57special]

Agreed. Lindros was an absolute beast at 18, he was basically full grown and stronger than 90% of the guys in the league. The fact that he made Team Canada over guys like Sakic, Linden and Turgeon who were all 3-4 years older than him (Sakic finished 6th in scoring that year) speaks volumes of the unique skillset he brought to the team as an 18 yr old (though Mike Keenan selected the team, he looks for specific players that fit his prototype).

The equivalent for Bedard would be playing for team Canada in a best on best tournament this summer and making the team over Marner, RNH and Point. IF there were such a tournament, it would be hard to imagine him doing that at 18.

As freakishly talented as Berard is, you can’t forget how outlandish Lindros was. I can’t remember if it was in his rookie year, but he ran over Messier in a mid ice collision like it was no contest. At that time Messier was considered the best power/speed combination in the world.
Did’t hurt that Lindros was in the Toronto area pre draft, or that his parents were visible and vocal, but the hype surrounding him was huge, and justified, in retrospect. If it wasn’t for the concussions, he might’ve been a top 10 player all time. He literally had it all…except for health.

 

[WarriorofTime]

When does Regina need to get eliminated for Bedard to play in the IIHF World Championships? I'd rather see him play with and against men than carrying a crappy Junior team on his back.

 

[EdJovanovski]

When does Regina need to get eliminated for Bedard to play in the IIHF World Championships? I'd rather see him play with and against men than carrying a crappy Junior team on his back.

The IIHF World Championships don't begin until May 12th
I'm not really interested in any international tournaments without Russia though, total sham

 

[Aaaaaaaaaaaaa]

We have to keep in mind that Gretzky and Crosby are the same size as Bedard. He was listed as 5'10/185 shortly after his 17th birthday (which was nearly identical to Crosby at 17), but I would not be shocked if he grows to be 5'11-6'0/195 by the end of his first NHL season.

Gretzky is 6 feet tall. Crosby is 5'10.5 and a piece of muscle. I'm about 5'11". I have stood next to Bedard (a couple of months ago). Bedard is four inches shorter than me and at BEST 160 lbs, no matter what they list him as. He is more in the Theoren Fleury range, not Crosby range, and has not grown this year.

 

[tbcwpg]

I guess that's why Regina is the #6 seed, inability to hold 3rd period leads in both losses.

When Bedard is off the ice the Pats are really not good at all.

 

[Eegs]

Interesting that Bedard doesn’t have linemates that can keep up with him in Juniors like Crosby and McDavid did. Why didn’t Regina try and make any trades to get some second round-ish caliber wingers to play with him?

Defenseman, Svosil is the one guy on that team that can sorta hang with Bedard. You are right though, very little help from the forward group.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Gretzky is 6 feet tall. Crosby is 5'10.5 and a piece of muscle. I'm about 5'11". I have stood next to Bedard (a couple of months ago). Bedard is four inches shorter than me and at BEST 160 lbs, no matter what they list him as. He is more in the Theoren Fleury range, not Crosby range, and has not grown this year.

Lmao okay, are you a guess your weight carnival worker?

 

[goonsaredumb]

Gretzky is 6 feet tall. Crosby is 5'10.5 and a piece of muscle. I'm about 5'11". I have stood next to Bedard (a couple of months ago). Bedard is four inches shorter than me and at BEST 160 lbs, no matter what they list him as. He is more in the Theoren Fleury range, not Crosby range, and has not grown this year.

Weird that you brought a ruler and scale to meet Bedard but you do you

 

[Aaaaaaaaaaaaa]

Weird that you brought a ruler and scale to meet Bedard but you do you

Lmao okay, are you a guess your weight carnival worker?

I have worked as a scout in the past so it was my job to be able to know these things.

Keep mocking.