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

[HeadLiceHatty]

he has a NHL build, and when he plays against the top players his age and a year or 2 older he makes everyone else look AVG. no idea if he ends up as the top player in the league in 5-6 years but he will be a top 5 forward. the only hole in his game is 5-9 3/4 but weighed 184 as a 17 year old at the combine. he also is a really smart kid, with high end drive.

He's going to drop 40+ goals and 80+ points all I'm saying and he has Hall, he'll have line mates that help him figure it out. I'm not a Bedard homer but he will do that at a minimum and I think realistic fans that scouted Bedard and followed him will think the same.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

I'll say 35g, 35a.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

Thinking there will be a bit of a Bedard vs Fantilli race for the Calder

I highly doubt that. Bedard looked other worldly against high competition either at the juniors or elsewhere. Fantilli largely looked lost.

I’ve questioned Fantilli’s IQ for awhile now, and I could see him having a slow start to his career. Not to mention Bedard has no one blocking him, he’ll get crazy offensive opportunities this year and that Fantilli won’t.

 

[summer tooth]

I highly doubt that. Bedard looked other worldly against high competition either at the juniors or elsewhere. Fantilli largely looked lost.

I’ve questioned Fantilli’s IQ for awhile now, and I could see him having a slow start to his career. Not to mention Bedard has no one blocking him, he’ll get crazy offensive opportunities this year and that Fantilli won’t.

Bedard doesn't have all that much help offensively though -- he could be on a line with two Taylors (Taylor Hall and Taylor Raddysh). What you think your top line will be?

 

[Hanji]

I highly doubt that. Bedard looked other worldly against high competition either at the juniors or elsewhere. Fantilli largely looked lost.

I’ve questioned Fantilli’s IQ for awhile now, and I could see him having a slow start to his career. Not to mention Bedard has no one blocking him, he’ll get crazy offensive opportunities this year and that Fantilli won’t.

Unlike Fantii, Bedard has yet to play a single game, ever, against men. There could be a bit of a learning curve for him.

 

[CallMeShaft]

Unlike Fantii, Bedard has yet to play a single game, ever, against men. There could be a bit of a learning curve for him.

Most of the guys playing in the World Juniors were men. It's a competition filled almost exclusively with 18 and 19 year olds.

Bedard lined up with, and played against, men. And he outplayed all of them.

 

[Hanji]

Most of the guys playing in the World Juniors were men. It's a competition filled almost exclusively with 18 and 19 year olds.

Bedard lined up with, and played against, men. And he outplayed all of them.

18/19 year olds are juniors as our sport defines it.
Bedard has yet to play a single game against physically mature men.

 

[3074326]

I highly doubt that. Bedard looked other worldly against high competition either at the juniors or elsewhere. Fantilli largely looked lost.

I’ve questioned Fantilli’s IQ for awhile now, and I could see him having a slow start to his career. Not to mention Bedard has no one blocking him, he’ll get crazy offensive opportunities this year and that Fantilli won’t.

Why wouldn't Fantilli get crazy offensive opportunities? He might play with Gaudreau and Laine.

 

[CallMeShaft]

18/19 year olds are juniors as our sport defines it.
Bedard has yet to play a single game against physically mature men.

18 and 19 isn't a far cry from 20 and 21, the ages I assume you were referring to when you implied Fantilli played against men and Bedard hasn't.

 

[Hanji]

18 and 19 isn't a far cry from 20 and 21, the ages I assume you were referring to when you implied Fantilli played against men and Bedard hasn't.

The difference between 18/19 and 20/21 is astronomical. Its how painfully average overagers are able to regularly dominate the CHL. And the average age in the NCAA is around 21/22.

Fantilli also played in the World Championships. Most of those teams (men) would systematically annihilate a bunch of WJC kids.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

The difference between 18/19 and 20/21 is astronomical. Its how painfully average overagers are able to regularly dominate the CHL. And the average age in the NCAA is around 21/22.

Fantilli also played in the World Championships. Most of those teams (men) would systematically annihilate a bunch of WJC kids.

And Fantilli didn’t look good there either. So how come he didn’t dominate the U20s like Bedard did? There are levels and Bedard is on a different one than Fantilli, especially when it comes to hockey IQ.

 

[CallMeShaft]

The difference between 18/19 and 20/21 is astronomical. Its how painfully average overagers are able to regularly dominate the CHL. And the average age in the NCAA is around 21/22.

Fantilli also played in the World Championships. Most of those teams (men) would systematically annihilate a bunch of WJC kids.

There is a difference, but I'm not sure I'd call it astronomical.

Fantilli didn't play against pros. He played against kids in college. That's not a knock on him, but it shouldn't be considered this huge benefit to him over what Bedard has played against.

Not to mention those that are playing college hockey still at 22 generally aren't considered top prospects.

 

[ello]

Yeah the world championships would’ve challenged Bedard more than anything hes played against but who cares, he’s lapped fantilli when they had similar competition. Holding the fact the Bedard has never played against men as on of the main negatives must mean he’s doing pretty darn good since he’s literally never had the chance to

 

[Panthaz89]

Yeah the world championships would’ve challenged Bedard more than anything hes played against but who cares, he’s lapped fantilli when they had similar competition. Holding the fact the Bedard has never played against men as on of the main negatives must mean he’s doing pretty darn good since he’s literally never had the chance to

Everyone can say this about Crosby and McDavid in their draft years it's such a pretty lazy argument for a guy who dominated fellow juniors who did play incredibly well in pro leagues in the world juniors. There isn't a skill that he has where you say that wouldn't work in the NHL as he's not one of the guys who relied on incredible physical skills to dominate.

 

[Mrfenn92]

“generational quads”

 

[Fatass]

View attachment 741190
“generational quads”

With those tree stumps the kid should be fast enough. Damn of hockey players don’t have huge thighs and butts.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

With those tree stumps the kid should be fast enough. Damn of hockey players don’t have huge thighs and butts.

Extremely relevant username.

 

[wetcoast]

Bedard doesn't have all that much help offensively though -- he could be on a line with two Taylors (Taylor Hall and Taylor Raddysh). What you think your top line will be?

Bedard could very well be with those 2 guys and have a 40-50-90 season he is just that dynamic offensively.

 

[Gold Standard]

countdown clock, 1 month (approx) to puck drop on the season. I haven't been this hyped for the start of the season since '05.

 

[centipede2233]

countdown clock, 1 month (approx) to puck drop on the season. I haven't been this hyped for the start of the season since '05.

Yes I’m getting Crosby anticipation vibes

 

[Suntouchable13]

Yes I’m getting Crosby anticipation vibes

Why didn’t you get the same vibes from McJesus in 2015?

 

[centipede2233]

Why didn’t you get the same vibes from McJesus in 2015?

I was in a much different place in 2005 then I was in 2015. I had a future, a job and friends in 2005. In 2015 I was on disability, bullied at work and had my dad pass away in 2009.

 

[Suntouchable13]

I was in a much different place in 2005 then I was in 2015. I had a future, a job and friends in 2005. In 2015 I was on disability, bullied at work and had my dad pass away in 2009.

Oh I am sorry to hear that. I hope you're doing much better this year. All the best.

 

[centipede2233]

Oh I am sorry to hear that. I hope you're doing much better this year. All the best.

Thanks.

 

[centipede2233]

Oh I am sorry to hear that. I hope you're doing much better this year. All the best.

Another reason why some might find Crosby rookie anticipation on a higher level,than mcdavid’s is the time between generation talents. The last generational talent before Crosby was Lindros, drafted in 1991. A 14 yr gap to 2005 Crosby draft year. Mcdavid drafted in 2015 was 10 years after Crosby and likely lacked that extra buildup of anticipation Crosby had cause it was a longer wait.