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C Connor Bedard - Regina Pats, WHL (2023 Draft) Part 2

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Hockey93 said:
@Kshahdoo is having a meltdown right now.
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Yeah, was really upset yesterday with this shit about Americans. Not because I was a big fan, but because thinking about, who'd be next. And wouldn't they cancel the WJC altogether.

As to Bedard, well, he proved he could play vs Austria. Let's see him vs Germany and especially Finland. And in the playoffs... hope, we'll have playoffs.
 
Kshahdoo said:
Yeah, was really upset yesterday with this shit about Americans. Not because I was a big fan, but because thinking about, who'd be next. And wouldn't they cancel the WJC altogether.

As to Bedard, well, he proved he could play vs Austria. Let's see him vs Germany and especially Finland. And in the playoffs... hope, we'll have playoffs.
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He could stop now and he would have had a successful tournament. Goal posts starting to move is not surprising in the least though.
 
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Trying to find his TOI for his first two games. Did he get more against Austria? Wondering if he will get Top 6 minutes as the tournament goes on.
 
Hopefully his minutes keep increasing, and as games become more meaningful we see more of him. The skill and confidence is both there.
 
GeorgeLeafer12 said:
Is anyone else here thinking that, that 4 goal game changed nothing
and that's just 1 game and not getting ahead of things and were not that impressed.

Goal 1 was a lucky bounce, 4th was a lucky swing, tip in goal.
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What about you thinking for yourself instead of seeking confirmation from other people?
 
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He's the type of player who will take you apart if you give him time and space, which Austria did.

Reminded me a bit of Matthews vs the Danes/Swiss/Czechs in the 2016 WJC



Freeze the above video at 3:03 and you might spot me and my giant head in the top left corner (in the USA jersey).
 
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The SOG number is exaggerated. Once he got two, they were trying to get him the puck to break records instead of making the best hockey play. It was that type of game where it was over after the first period because Austria was never going to come from behind from more than one or two.

I think Bedard has shown very obvious elite offensive potential. He maybe can’t carry a WHL at age 16, and his 15 year old season numbers were a fluky start, but I think it’d be stupid to say he doesn’t have obvious star scorer potential for the NHL. He has an elite shot, attacks the middle, dangles well, is a good passer, and an above average skater.

Where I worry though is his physical and positional projection. I know people are going to go crazy with the usual comments, but any prospect that is shorter than 5’10 in their D-2 is someone that you have to mention their size as a potential limiting factor. There simply aren’t top six centers in the NHL that are shorter than 5’10. If Bedard doesn’t grow, which can’t be a given, he’d have to be an outlier to play center. Maybe he can be due to his scoring talent, but that point has to be acknowledged.

I don’t find his skating to be as good as I initially thought either. It’s good, but I wouldn’t say it’s elite. It’s probably good enough for an undersized forward, potentially for center where you generally need to be a better skater, but I wouldn’t call him a blazing skater. And I don’t know that I’d hold it against him that he’s pretty average physically and with his two way game at his age, but at some point it will need to improve to project as any more than a pure scoring guy at the NHL level.

This is all to say that I think he will be really good, but it’d be stupid to ignore that his game and current projection has clear flaws. If you have decided he’ll be generational, logic probably isn’t what you are looking for. The kid is an exciting prospect, but if anyone is expecting this guy to replace Crosby and McDavid eventually as the face of the league, I think you are mistaken or the next generation of players isn’t as good as the current one.
 
Pavel Buchnevich said:
The SOG number is exaggerated. Once he got two, they were trying to get him the puck to break records instead of making the best hockey play. It was that type of game where it was over after the first period because Austria was never going to come from behind from more than one or two.

I think Bedard has shown very obvious elite offensive potential. He maybe can’t carry a WHL at age 16, and his 15 year old season numbers were a fluky start, but I think it’d be stupid to say he doesn’t have obvious star scorer potential for the NHL. He has an elite shot, attacks the middle, dangles well, is a good passer, and an above average skater.

Where I worry though is his physical and positional projection. I know people are going to go crazy with the usual comments, but any prospect that is shorter than 5’10 in their D-2 is someone that you have to mention their size as a potential limiting factor. There simply aren’t top six centers in the NHL that are shorter than 5’10. If Bedard doesn’t grow, which can’t be a given, he’d have to be an outlier to play center. Maybe he can be due to his scoring talent, but that point has to be acknowledged.

I don’t find his skating to be as good as I initially thought either. It’s good, but I wouldn’t say it’s elite. It’s probably good enough for an undersized forward, potentially for center where you generally need to be a better skater, but I wouldn’t call him a blazing skater. And I don’t know that I’d hold it against him that he’s pretty average physically and with his two way game at his age, but at some point it will need to improve to project as any more than a pure scoring guy at the NHL level.

This is all to say that I think he will be really good, but it’d be stupid to ignore that his game and current projection has clear flaws. If you have decided he’ll be generational, logic probably isn’t what you are looking for. The kid is an exciting prospect, but if anyone is expecting this guy to replace Crosby and McDavid eventually as the face of the league, I think you are mistaken or the next generation of players isn’t as good as the current one.
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Most of the answers to your critique can be simply attributed to the fact that he's 16. He's going to grow, he's going to fill out his frame more (though he's pretty stocky as is). Just a natural progression of a 16 year old.
 
Pavel Buchnevich said:
The SOG number is exaggerated. Once he got two, they were trying to get him the puck to break records instead of making the best hockey play. It was that type of game where it was over after the first period because Austria was never going to come from behind from more than one or two.

I think Bedard has shown very obvious elite offensive potential. He maybe can’t carry a WHL at age 16, and his 15 year old season numbers were a fluky start, but I think it’d be stupid to say he doesn’t have obvious star scorer potential for the NHL. He has an elite shot, attacks the middle, dangles well, is a good passer, and an above average skater.

Where I worry though is his physical and positional projection. I know people are going to go crazy with the usual comments, but any prospect that is shorter than 5’10 in their D-2 is someone that you have to mention their size as a potential limiting factor. There simply aren’t top six centers in the NHL that are shorter than 5’10. If Bedard doesn’t grow, which can’t be a given, he’d have to be an outlier to play center. Maybe he can be due to his scoring talent, but that point has to be acknowledged.

I don’t find his skating to be as good as I initially thought either. It’s good, but I wouldn’t say it’s elite. It’s probably good enough for an undersized forward, potentially for center where you generally need to be a better skater, but I wouldn’t call him a blazing skater. And I don’t know that I’d hold it against him that he’s pretty average physically and with his two way game at his age, but at some point it will need to improve to project as any more than a pure scoring guy at the NHL level.

This is all to say that I think he will be really good, but it’d be stupid to ignore that his game and current projection has clear flaws. If you have decided he’ll be generational, logic probably isn’t what you are looking for. The kid is an exciting prospect, but if anyone is expecting this guy to replace Crosby and McDavid eventually as the face of the league, I think you are mistaken or the next generation of players isn’t as good as the current one.
Click to expand...
It must be painful trying to disguise your bias
 
Pavel Buchnevich said:
The SOG number is exaggerated. Once he got two, they were trying to get him the puck to break records instead of making the best hockey play. It was that type of game where it was over after the first period because Austria was never going to come from behind from more than one or two.

I think Bedard has shown very obvious elite offensive potential. He maybe can’t carry a WHL at age 16, and his 15 year old season numbers were a fluky start, but I think it’d be stupid to say he doesn’t have obvious star scorer potential for the NHL. He has an elite shot, attacks the middle, dangles well, is a good passer, and an above average skater.

Where I worry though is his physical and positional projection. I know people are going to go crazy with the usual comments, but any prospect that is shorter than 5’10 in their D-2 is someone that you have to mention their size as a potential limiting factor. There simply aren’t top six centers in the NHL that are shorter than 5’10. If Bedard doesn’t grow, which can’t be a given, he’d have to be an outlier to play center. Maybe he can be due to his scoring talent, but that point has to be acknowledged.

I don’t find his skating to be as good as I initially thought either. It’s good, but I wouldn’t say it’s elite. It’s probably good enough for an undersized forward, potentially for center where you generally need to be a better skater, but I wouldn’t call him a blazing skater. And I don’t know that I’d hold it against him that he’s pretty average physically and with his two way game at his age, but at some point it will need to improve to project as any more than a pure scoring guy at the NHL level.

This is all to say that I think he will be really good, but it’d be stupid to ignore that his game and current projection has clear flaws. If you have decided he’ll be generational, logic probably isn’t what you are looking for. The kid is an exciting prospect, but if anyone is expecting this guy to replace Crosby and McDavid eventually as the face of the league, I think you are mistaken or the next generation of players isn’t as good as the current one.
Click to expand...

Tyler Johnson was a top 6C in his prime at 5'8
Yanni Gourde is a top 6C
Marchessault has played as a top 6C in the past
Brayden Point is a legit 1C at "5'10"

I don't think height prevents guys with Bedard's talent from being centers in this league. And he's likely to be at least 5'10 by the time he's done growing (he already looks close to that height).
 
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One thing I will add is that without the suspension and injury, I doubt he gets much ice time to display his skills. Every time he gets ice time he makes good thing happen, it's just coaches seem reluctant to really put him in a spot to shine.
 
WhiskeyYourTheDevils said:
Tyler Johnson was a top 6C in his prime at 5'8
Yanni Gourde is a top 6C
Marchessault has played as a top 6C in the past
Brayden Point is a legit 1C at "5'10"

I don't think height prevents guys with Bedard's talent from being centers in this league. And he's likely to be at least 5'10 by the time he's done growing (he already looks close to that height).
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Bedard to Tampa confirmed.
 
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Pavel Buchnevich said:
The SOG number is exaggerated. Once he got two, they were trying to get him the puck to break records instead of making the best hockey play. It was that type of game where it was over after the first period because Austria was never going to come from behind from more than one or two.

I think Bedard has shown very obvious elite offensive potential. He maybe can’t carry a WHL at age 16, and his 15 year old season numbers were a fluky start, but I think it’d be stupid to say he doesn’t have obvious star scorer potential for the NHL. He has an elite shot, attacks the middle, dangles well, is a good passer, and an above average skater.

Where I worry though is his physical and positional projection. I know people are going to go crazy with the usual comments, but any prospect that is shorter than 5’10 in their D-2 is someone that you have to mention their size as a potential limiting factor. There simply aren’t top six centers in the NHL that are shorter than 5’10. If Bedard doesn’t grow, which can’t be a given, he’d have to be an outlier to play center. Maybe he can be due to his scoring talent, but that point has to be acknowledged.

I don’t find his skating to be as good as I initially thought either. It’s good, but I wouldn’t say it’s elite. It’s probably good enough for an undersized forward, potentially for center where you generally need to be a better skater, but I wouldn’t call him a blazing skater. And I don’t know that I’d hold it against him that he’s pretty average physically and with his two way game at his age, but at some point it will need to improve to project as any more than a pure scoring guy at the NHL level.

This is all to say that I think he will be really good, but it’d be stupid to ignore that his game and current projection has clear flaws. If you have decided he’ll be generational, logic probably isn’t what you are looking for. The kid is an exciting prospect, but if anyone is expecting this guy to replace Crosby and McDavid eventually as the face of the league, I think you are mistaken or the next generation of players isn’t as good as the current one.
Click to expand...

Not sure how you can say he's not an elite skater with straight face. If he's not an elite skater then extremely few are.

He has everything you want in a skater. Highly explosive acceleration, terrific edge work and elite top speed that allows him to blow by people.
 
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Pavel Buchnevich said:
What is my bias? I’ve been told I hate every nationality and team at one point or another on this website.
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:laugh::laugh::laugh:

I agree his game has some flaws but I think he will translate very well to NHL, wether that's a C or W, in fact with the crazy offensive talent he could very well end up a W.
 
canuck2010 said:
There was a day that a junior age player would never make an NHL team. It would take at least a few years in the minors first. As players are more skillful at younger ages than ever this has lowered the age of entry into the NHL. The World Juniors was once a tournament of 20 year olds it certainly isn't any longer.
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Sure except when one looks at all of the rosters it's still overwhelmingly 19 year old players on them.
 
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