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

[Alienblood]

My guess is Chicago brings in a couple of UFA scoring wingers to play with Bedard. Not sure who is available, but I'd bet they add a Tatar or a Dadonov type (or maybe a more physical type like a Barbishev). I doubt they go into next year without adding anyone for him to play with.

Bedard will be a winger

 

[EbonyRaptor]

Bedard will be a winger

Did you make the same proclamation about Jack Hughes?

 

[Alienblood]

Did you make the same proclamation about Jack Hughes?

No why ? As for Bedard they may need to break him in on the wing.

Hughes is a much better skater too

 

[EbonyRaptor]

No why ? As for Bedard they may need to break him in on the wing.

Hughes is a much better skater too

Why?

Bedard skates plenty well enough where it wouldn't hinder him from playing center.

 

[Alienblood]

Why?

Bedard skates plenty well enough where it wouldn't hinder him from playing center.

To ease him in but maybe not.

 

[CallMeShaft]

Easing him in at wing is one thing, projecting he'll stick there is another.

Bedard might not be a defensive dynamo, but he thrives in the middle of the ice. For that reason alone, you try to keep him at center long term.

 

[Team_Spirit]

 

[EbonyRaptor]

To ease him in but maybe not.

I don't know what will happen either. My guess is they start him off playing center because that's his natural position and would be best for the team in the long run - but it's only a guess. Either way it will be an incredible ride.

 

[teravaineSAROS]

I think everyone needs to temper expectations. "The next Gretzky"? Come on. Give the kid a chance to even get into the league before going this bananas. Will he be good? Probably (hopefully), but let's ease up on the GOAT discussion.

Yea, I'm not saying Bedard won't be great but Lafreniere was supposed to be elite in his first year, Wright had a lot of hype until his draft year. Hughes went from hyped to a "bust" to being great again.

People will call him a bust if he doesn't score atleast 40 goals next season.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Bedard will be a winger

You don't put hyped Canadian kids on the Wing. That's like a grave insult/consolation prize for them. He'll get a full year at Center for sure. Only reason he'd play Wing longterm is if he ends up being terrible at Faceoffs.

 

[Mathieukferland]

You don't put hyped Canadian kids on the Wing. That's like a grave insult/consolation prize for them. He'll get a full year at Center for sure. Only reason he'd play Wing longterm is if he ends up being terrible at Faceoffs.

What does his nationality have anything to do with position

 

[WarriorofTime]

What does his nationality have anything to do with position

It's a mental thing.

 

[Alienblood]

You don't put hyped Canadian kids on the Wing. That's like a grave insult/consolation prize for them. He'll get a full year at Center for sure. Only reason he'd play Wing longterm is if he ends up being terrible at Faceoffs.

Very true , he will have to work hard on his defensive game but all young guys do.

He reminds me of a worse skating better shot Marner

 

[Torspo21]

 

[Hanji]

No why ? As for Bedard they may need to break him in on the wing.

Hughes is a much better skater too

I hope not. Bedard was quite pedestrian (by his own standards) when he played wing at the U18 a few years ago. His board work wasnt very good.

 

[prongertheman9]

I hope not. Bedard was quite pedestrian (by his own standards) when he played wing at the U18 a few years ago. His board work wasnt very good.

He’s played the wing at all international events…

 

[Artorius Horus T]

No why ? As for Bedard they may need to break him in on the wing.

Hughes is a much better skater too

Also, Hughes is taller what Bedard.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

I would guess he is 5'7.5 and 160. I'm a bit over 5'11. I have met Theoren Fleury a number of times. He is taller than Fleury, but not by a lot, and Fleury was 5'6" if I remember correctly. Bedard is very close in size to someone like Alex DeBrincat or Johnny Gaudreau.

If people think I am saying he isn't a generational player, that is not my argument, so stop getting angry about my statements about his size. He is a franchise player, as I have stated numerous times on this board already. He's just not very big, and unless he has a major growth spurt, which is possible but unlikely, he is going to have to deal with that as an issue in his career, much like a Yamamoto or Johnny Gaudreau need to. The league is a bit easier for small players now than it was 20 years ago, so he will still be able to excel.

Some are saying he will end up at 5'11" or "Gretzky-sized". Doubtful. In all my years in hockey, I have seen very few players get significantly taller or bigger (in terms of frame) after the age of 17. One in particular I remember from the early 90s grew from 5'10", 180 lbs to 6'5" 235 after his 18th birthday between the ages of 18-21. That is one in a million, though.

5'9.75" 185 by the way

 

[Dominance]

5'9.75" 185 by the way

He’ll most likely be 5’10” 205 when he’s 21 and entering his prime. Basically Crosby.

 

[FriarChill]

Yeah, that's more than ok. He is actually thicker than i thought after seeing some of his training videos.

 

[ViD]

Height wise he’s same as Michkov, but clearly bigger and more athletic

 

[TLEH]

Comparing him to Laf and wright is funny.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Sadly it will be a mirror of McDavid if he doesn't get out of Chicago. Connors go Cupless.

 

[IWillMakeTheNHL]

Is there any reason to be concerned that he was only top 10 in one category at the combine? Was he projected to place much better?

 

[EddieTheEagle]

Is there any reason to be concerned that he was only top 10 in one category at the combine? Was he projected to place much better?

Definitely not. Typically the best who show at the combine don’t ever amount to much more than any other prospect in the NHL.

I’m surprised he was even in the top ten in a category.