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

[Fatass]

Best RHS prospect since Ovechkin? Mario?

Reminds me of Marcel Dionne.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Did you not follow his draft year? It was unbelievable. He was being touted as the next Ovechkin or even the next Lemieux because some thought he could be an elite playmaker.

 

[Bubbles]

I've seen a lot of his goals. My only minor criticism is that he doesn't have much of a one-timer. But I think that will come with more muscle and weight.

His wrister right now is better than a few of those players listed as comparables.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Did you not follow his draft year? It was unbelievable. He was being touted as the next Ovechkin or even the next Lemieux because some thought he could be an elite playmaker.

I misread hehe

 

[flashsabre]

I think he is tracking to pass Laine, Eichel & Stamkos by the time of his draft, I’d forgotten Lindros too, he was an amazing prospect.

Lindros was THE prospect. Watching him play junior was something else. No one had his overall package. A shame injuries derailed his career.

 

[Sweetpotato]

I've seen a lot of his goals. My only minor criticism is that he doesn't have much of a one-timer. But I think that will come with more muscle and weight.

His wrister right now is better than a few of those players listed as comparables.

If I was someone in his corner I'd be telling him to focus on his core/legs and his 1 timer. If he develops physically like Crosby or st.Louis and gets an elite one timer he'll be an absolute handful.

 

[EichelFan15]

If I was someone in his corner I'd be telling him to focus on his core/legs and his 1 timer. If he develops physically like Crosby or st.Louis and gets an elite one timer he'll be an absolute handful.

Looks like he is well on his way.

A one timer would be nice. As would starting to mix up his breakaway move - right now he is mostly going backhand, forehand and shooting low glove. Goalies are starting to anticipate it and he clearly has the hands to deke rather than just shoot every time.

 

[Bubbles]

If I was someone in his corner I'd be telling him to focus on his core/legs and his 1 timer. If he develops physically like Crosby or st.Louis and gets an elite one timer he'll be an absolute handful.

He already has a lot of lower body strength. I think he's one of those special kids that if he decides to work on one thing, he'll master it. I remember when Crosby decided one year to be a goal scorer and he accomplished it.

I've also seen that he's noticeably faster than last year. He gained a step this year for sure.

 

[Dominance]

View attachment 495103

Looks like he is well on his way.

A one timer would be nice. As would starting to mix up his breakaway move - right now he is mostly going backhand, forehand and shooting low glove. Goalies are starting to anticipate it and he clearly has the hands to deke rather than just shoot every time.

HFBoards, where we blow up and closely analyze pictures of 16 year olds’ legs.

 

[wetcoast]

Is he better than Stamkos, Eichel, and Laine? We’ll see. Too early to tell. He has a year and a half to go.

He probably won't reach the prospect hype of Eichel or Laine who were man childs who both played very well at WC in their draft years and Stamkos was an offensive dynamo in his draft year but my bet is that he could be the best prospect of the 4 of them by the time his draft day comes up.

The 4 goal game in the WJHC seems to have lite a fire in him.

 

[Corso]

I dunno, everything about this kid screams SPECIAL! I had forgotten about his lethal shot until he put up a nice display against the USPORT allstar team, best shot since what Mathews? Except I think his shot is better that what Mathews had at 16/17. Then his brief performance at the WJC and the highlight package from his first game back in Regina reminded me that his puck possession skills are uncanny. Has their been such a dynamic player since McDavid? I think not.

 

[wetcoast]

HFBoards, where we blow up and closely analyze pictures of 16 year olds’ legs.

For once I'm glad that I don't have the like function right now.

 

[mratch19]

I dunno, everything about this kid screams SPECIAL! I had forgotten about his lethal shot until he put up a nice display against the USPORT allstar team, best shot since what Mathews? Except I think his shot is better that what Mathews had at 16/17. Then his brief performance at the WJC and the highlight package from his first game back in Regina reminded me that his puck possession skills are uncanny. Has their been such a dynamic player since McDavid? I think not.

It's crazy to me, even from the u18s until now it looks like he's gained another gear in his skating. His edgework and speed looked superb in the two games and then he scores a ridiculous goal with his speed in his first game back... He gets hacked and held and obstructed and still protects the puck and skates through it. Really just a treat to watch and an unbelievable prospect. Personally, I'd say he's the best I've watched pre-draft since Matthews.

 

[prongertheman9]

It's crazy to me, even from the u18s until now it looks like he's gained another gear in his skating. His edgework and speed looked superb in the two games and then he scores a ridiculous goal with his speed in his first game back... He gets hacked and held and obstructed and still protects the puck and skates through it. Really just a treat to watch and an unbelievable prospect. Personally, I'd say he's the best I've watched pre-draft since Matthews.

His skating is definitely noticeably better this year. He constantly has the opposing D on their heels and either blows past them or the second they commit their feet in the wrong direction he dangles them.

His skating form can look awkward, especially when he doesn’t have the puck but once he gets the puck on his stick it’s a different story; I’d say it is one of his greatest strengths.

It’s interesting to see a shot first player that is such a puck dominant, possession monster.

 

[ponder]

It’s interesting to see a shot first player that is such a puck dominant, possession monster.

Speaking of Matthews … Matthews Obviously super different players in a tonne of ways, but similar shots, and both puck dominant possession monsters. I’d put Malkin in that category too, though he’s a bit less shot-first than Matthews or Bedard. It is a weird combo for a small guy, though.

Re: his skating, agreed, he’s an elite skater. Top speed is very good, while his edges, agility and stability are unreal. He’s not McDavid level, who’s in the conversation for best skating NHLer ever, but I do think he’ll be one of the better skaters in the league, in his prime - like top 20 or so.

 

[Jayevs]

His skating style reminds me of Kaprizov in the sense that he uses all his edges really well and he has that Makar/Kap ability to open his hips and shed defenders while kind of making it look effortless

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Yeah his skating looks to have taken off just in the last 6 weeks, really crazy transformation.

 

[grentthealien]

Yeah his skating looks to have taken off just in the last 6 weeks, really crazy transformation.

Really? When did you first start to notice a difference and what is it that you think has really changed in his approach?

I honestly have always thought he was a pretty good skater but I never wanted to say it because I can’t skate myself and can’t analyze technique or anything like that in depth.I suppose he did look like he was flying out there a bit more in those WJ games than the last time I saw him at the U18s.

Hopefully this doesn’t lead to some toxic discussion on here lol but how would you compare Bedard and Michkov’s skating?

I’ve seen similar discussion about just how good Matvei’s is with some describing him as only an average skater, He looks pretty quick to me from what I’ve seen of him though and his edgework and skating in tight corners and behind the net looks exceptional so I’m not sure how much weight those average comments have. In any event I’m not worried about the skating of either of them at this point as there’s plenty of time to improve.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Really? When did you first start to notice a difference and what is it that you think has really changed in his approach?

I honestly have always thought he was a pretty good skater but I never wanted to say it because I can’t skate myself and can’t analyze technique or anything like that in depth.I suppose he did look like he was flying out there a bit more in those WJ games than the last time I saw him at the U18s.

Hopefully this doesn’t lead to some toxic discussion on here lol but how would you compare Bedard and Michkov’s skating?

I’ve seen similar discussion about just how good Matvei’s is with some describing him as only an average skater, He looks pretty quick to me from what I’ve seen of him though and his edgework and skating in tight corners and behind the net looks exceptional so I’m not sure how much weight those average comments have. In any event I’m not worried about the skating of either of them at this point as there’s plenty of time to improve.

I've always seen him as a very good skater, but the explosiveness and top speed that was evident at the WJC and in those game highlights from the other night make him look like he's definitely taken a step forward. Admittedly, I haven't been able to catch many games of his this year in Regina, but from highlights I have seen he definitely looked less explosive earlier in the year.

I like Bedard's skating over Michkov's overall. More power and quickness. Michkov has a lot of elusiveness though with great edgework.

 

[Osakahaus]

Bedard is gonna be a godsend and he's gonna suffer on the Coyotes

what a shame

 

[Sweetpotato]

Bedard is gonna be a godsend and he's gonna suffer on the Coyotes

what a shame

My guess, just a feeling and extrapolation of current and future position, no actual evidence is he ends up in Chicago or Philly.

 

[waitin425]

The Habs need and deserve a Superstar. It has been far too long since we had a forward that could be considered in the top 10 players in the league. We have had some good, even great forwards, but no on elite in far too long. I am praying for a two year tank.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Deserve got nothing to do with it. All random ass luck .

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

The Habs need and deserve a Superstar. It has been far too long since we had a forward that could be considered in the top 10 players in the league. We have had some good, even great forwards, but no on elite in far too long. I am praying for a two year tank.

Habs don't deserve a top player more than any other team. You've had one of the best goalies in the world for ages, and completely blew two top 3 draft picks in the past decade.

Habs have had plenty of chances to draft impact forwards but keep on whiffing.

 

[Hansen]

His favourite NHL player is Tyler Motte

I love this kid