C Connor Bedard - Regina Pats, WHL (2023 Draft) Part 3

[wetcoast]

He really needs to play meaningful games next year. As good as his point totals have been since January, he has a lot of work to do on the defensive side of the puck and with puck management. My guess would be that since Regina was so reliant on him for offense that the coaches were fine (maybe even promoted) with the tradeoff that his cheating for offense sometimes created.

There is buzz that if the Blazers are selected to host the 2023 Mem Cup that he could be moved there is Regina starts slow next season. He would greatly benefit from being on a team that has other weapons so that he is held accountable on both sides of the puck. He seemed to respond well to Cameron's insistence that he play a more responsible game at the WJC if he wanted to work his way up the lineup, so I am confident that he has the capacity to do so but obviously it bodes a lot better for his transition to the NHL if he is tasked with doing so all season, rather than just for a 2 week tournament.

When is the U-18 roster supposed to be announced? I would be shocked if he doesn't go to the U-18's or the men's worlds. With his good friend Wood already confirmed for U-18 and Howe a no-brainer, it would be pretty ridiculous trying to tell him he can't go - unless they think he is ready for the World's.

I wonder what the package from Kamloops would be for one year of Bedard?

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Regina should feel some kind of shame for being blessed with arguably the best talent that league has seen in what two decades? Then following it up with completely and utterly failing Bedard and the fans of that team in assembling an actual team around him. They will never get another talent like him in the organization and they blew it. The only way for them to save it is to trade him for an absolute haul and hope it reshapes the team in the future.

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

Looks like the kid has a bright future.

Once he leaves Regina.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

70 goals, 145 points next year?

I would expect 60g 130p. I think it's going to be hard for him to improve too much on the goal totals.

 

[Fight Guy]

Both him and Howe have just been announced to the U18 team!

 

[ijuka]

Like I said, would make no sense to not have him go. Maybe it'd be different if he was of u18 age already and had a draft coming, but it'll be a very important experience for him, especially since with Pats he's not exactly been enjoying team success.

 

[Vasilevskiy]

To preface, I think Bedard is trending to be the GOAT. I know Gretzky is basically untouchable but with what Bedard has been able to accomplish I think there’s at least a chance. Like I expect it to at least be a big 5 of all time instead of a big 4 once he’s done.

I haven’t watched a bunch of highlights of other exceptional juniors so I don’t know how Bedard as a junior compares to the Crosbys, Lemieuxs, Gretzkys etc.

There are some concerns though. A lot of the goals he scores is just him blowing it past goalies. Of course his shot will develop even more but I think NHL goalies will be somewhat better. Also, I don’t know if it’s just that he has nobody to pass to, but he doesn’t rack up assists at a rate that would indicate he’s a supreme passer like the all-time greats were. Plus he’s not big.

But he’s just so impressive and dominant every game when I’ve watched him.

Idk, maybe I’m just optimistic.

Jesus Christ. Optimistic? More like delusional.

Teams have been able to slow him down at this level. NHL teams will also be able to do that. Top 5 all time expectations are unrealistic.

If he pans out to be anything like Matthews it would be an incredible outcome already

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Jesus Christ. Optimistic? More like delusional.

Teams have been able to slow him down at this level. NHL teams will also be able to do that. Top 5 all time expectations are unrealistic.

If he pans out to be anything like Matthews it would be an incredible outcome already

Slow him down? 100 pts playing with Howe and a cast of 4th liners. He will approach Matthews level if he is strong enough to make up for his height.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Looks like the kid has a bright future.

Once he leaves Regina.

Very true.

 

[Bubbles]

I wonder what the package from Kamloops would be for one year of Bedard?

Probably Levis and a couple of draft picks.

 

[landy92mack29]

Regina should feel some kind of shame for being blessed with arguably the best talent that league has seen in what two decades? Then following it up with completely and utterly failing Bedard and the fans of that team in assembling an actual team around him. They will never get another talent like him in the organization and they blew it. The only way for them to save it is to trade him for an absolute haul and hope it reshapes the team in the future.

Pats went all in 2 straight years with the 2nd them hosting the mem cup so they had a long rebuild in front of them. lucked into Bedard from the only real assets they still had to move in Henry+Leschyshyn. Also swung big on Wood in the 2nd but doesn't seem like he'll come(should as he's wasting time in junior A). They tried by moving a 1st for Stringer but he isn't really panning out. Long term it'd be best to trade Bedard but the optics probably won't allow it

 

[wetcoast]

Probably Levis and a couple of draft picks.

If the Pats do move him they should get Levis, Hammel +

 

[QJL]

To preface, I think Bedard is trending to be the GOAT. I know Gretzky is basically untouchable but with what Bedard has been able to accomplish I think there’s at least a chance. Like I expect it to at least be a big 5 of all time instead of a big 4 once he’s done.

I haven’t watched a bunch of highlights of other exceptional juniors so I don’t know how Bedard as a junior compares to the Crosbys, Lemieuxs, Gretzkys etc.

There are some concerns though. A lot of the goals he scores is just him blowing it past goalies. Of course his shot will develop even more but I think NHL goalies will be somewhat better. Also, I don’t know if it’s just that he has nobody to pass to, but he doesn’t rack up assists at a rate that would indicate he’s a supreme passer like the all-time greats were. Plus he’s not big.

But he’s just so impressive and dominant every game when I’ve watched him.

Idk, maybe I’m just optimistic.

Bedard is an exceptional talent and a very strong 1st overall, but he’s more likely to never be a top 5 active NHL player than he is to end up a top 5 all time player.

 

[grentthealien]

Bedard is an exceptional talent and a very strong 1st overall, but he’s more likely to never be a top 5 active NHL player than he is to end up a top 5 all time player.

Agreed, it’s Unlikely that even McDavid becomes top 5 all time but if someone is going to pump someone’s tires and hype them at least do it with him since he’s in the NHL and already has very impressive accolades piled up.

Bedard is a 16 year old who looks like he is going to be a very very very good one and I think that alone is good enough. If I was to hype him at most I’d say best player since either the 2015 or 2016 draft, anything beyond that is too much at this point as even that is asking a lot of him.

 

[Dust]

Regina should feel some kind of shame for being blessed with arguably the best talent that league has seen in what two decades? Then following it up with completely and utterly failing Bedard and the fans of that team in assembling an actual team around him. They will never get another talent like him in the organization and they blew it. The only way for them to save it is to trade him for an absolute haul and hope it reshapes the team in the future.

It's really more bad timing then the organization failing. They had the best team in the CHL back in 2016-2017, but due to hosting the 2017-2018 Memorial Cup, they couldn't go completely all in. Then the following year whatever assets they had remaining they went all in with as the host team. It left them barren of much in the pipeline coming up over the past few seasons, and they got lucky that they had Swift Current's draft pick that was used to get Bedard.

Barring a bunch of lesser heralded picks having break out seasons like Tanner Howe did, I feel like they will likely end up trading him at the deadline next season.

 

[wetcoast]

Agreed, it’s Unlikely that even McDavid becomes top 5 all time but if someone is going to pump someone’s tires and hype them at least do it with him since he’s in the NHL and already has very impressive accolades piled up.

Bedard is a 16 year old who looks like he is going to be a very very very good one and I think that alone is good enough. If I was to hyper him at most I’d say best player since either the 2015 or 2016 draft, anything beyond that is too much at this point as even that is asking a lot of him.

I know this is a thread about Bedard but McDavid has arguably the second best consecutive 6 season prime in history and 7 from the start of his career maybe Gretzky/Mario and Orr and that's it in terms of competition in the regular season.

First 7 seasons in the NHL

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

www.nhl.com

6 straight seasons

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

www.nhl.com

All that being said Bedard is the most exciting forward prospect since McDavid and then Crosby before him.

he has an NHL shot already, performs in big best on best games as a under ager and I think we are going to see an all time performance at the U18s after his all time performance this past season were stat watchers clearly were out to lunch with his "slow start".

 

[Gold Standard]

Tune in to watch the clash of the gold medal contenders. Should be a good one.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Will be fun to watch Bedard and Stankoven on the same PP next season in Kamloops

 

[Narcissus]

Pats went all in 2 straight years with the 2nd them hosting the mem cup so they had a long rebuild in front of them. lucked into Bedard from the only real assets they still had to move in Henry+Leschyshyn. Also swung big on Wood in the 2nd but doesn't seem like he'll come(should as he's wasting time in junior A). They tried by moving a 1st for Stringer but he isn't really panning out. Long term it'd be best to trade Bedard but the optics probably won't allow it

Tavares moved from Oshawa to London.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

If the Pats do move him they should get Levis, Hammel +

Plus 6-8 draft picks.

 

[BoundinGold]

When is the Hlinka-Gretzky Tournament? I know it's not officially sanctioned by the IIHF, but it is the best representation of U-18 because it's after the CHL Playoffs. So that mean Bedard could potentially play in three tournaments this Spring/Summer right?

 

[Eegs]

Will be fun to watch Bedard and Stankoven on the same PP next season in Kamloops

Where is this coming from? Please don't toy with my emotions!!!

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Where is this coming from? Please don't toy with my emotions!!!

honestly Ive just heard some rumblings in the area i live in and also there is a guy that blogs about WHL and alot of the Blazers and he wrote it too. Gregg Drinnan his name is... take it all with a grain of salt but there have been slight rumors...

Scattershooting on a Sunday night while wondering if spring finally has arrived (sorry, Brandon and area) . . .

F Connor Bedard of the Regina Pats will be on the roster when Hockey Canada announces the roster of the team that will play in the IIHF U-18 world championship in Germany later this month. . . . Th…

greggdrinnan.com

F Connor Bedard of the Regina Pats will be on the roster when Hockey Canada announces the roster of the team that will play in the IIHF U-18 world championship in Germany later this month. . . . That means he will be reunited with David Struch, who was fired as the Pats’ head coach on Nov. 18 and will be an assistant coach with Team Canada. . . . Bedard and his Pats closed out their WHL regular season on Sunday with a 7-4 victory over the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors. Bedard put up five points — two goals and three assists — to finish the season with 100 points, including 51 goals, in 62 games. . . . Bedard, who will turn 17 on July 17, is the third 16-year-old in WHL history to score 50 times in one season. F Glen Goodall of the Seattle Thunderbirds scored 63 times in 1986-87, which was his third season in the WHL, while F Dan Lucas of the Victoria Cougars struck 57 times in 1974-75. . . . The U-18 tournament is to run from April 23 through May 1 in Landshut and Kaufbeuren, Germany. . . . I believe that Bedard also is eligible to play in the 2022 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup early in August in Red Deer and the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship, which is scheduled for Aug. 9-20 in Edmonton. . . . As for his future in the WHL, well, there already are rumblings in the hockey world that he could end up with the Blazers if Kamloops wins the right to play host to the 2023 Memorial Cup. Now that would be a trade for the ages!


again, just rumblings... so who really knows!!

 

[Eegs]

honestly Ive just heard some rumblings in the area i live in and also there is a guy that blogs about WHL and alot of the Blazers and he wrote it too. Gregg Drinnan his name is... take it all with a grain of salt but there have been slight rumors...

Scattershooting on a Sunday night while wondering if spring finally has arrived (sorry, Brandon and area) . . .

F Connor Bedard of the Regina Pats will be on the roster when Hockey Canada announces the roster of the team that will play in the IIHF U-18 world championship in Germany later this month. . . . Th…

greggdrinnan.com

F Connor Bedard of the Regina Pats will be on the roster when Hockey Canada announces the roster of the team that will play in the IIHF U-18 world championship in Germany later this month. . . . That means he will be reunited with David Struch, who was fired as the Pats’ head coach on Nov. 18 and will be an assistant coach with Team Canada. . . . Bedard and his Pats closed out their WHL regular season on Sunday with a 7-4 victory over the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors. Bedard put up five points — two goals and three assists — to finish the season with 100 points, including 51 goals, in 62 games. . . . Bedard, who will turn 17 on July 17, is the third 16-year-old in WHL history to score 50 times in one season. F Glen Goodall of the Seattle Thunderbirds scored 63 times in 1986-87, which was his third season in the WHL, while F Dan Lucas of the Victoria Cougars struck 57 times in 1974-75. . . . The U-18 tournament is to run from April 23 through May 1 in Landshut and Kaufbeuren, Germany. . . . I believe that Bedard also is eligible to play in the 2022 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup early in August in Red Deer and the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship, which is scheduled for Aug. 9-20 in Edmonton. . . . As for his future in the WHL, well, there already are rumblings in the hockey world that he could end up with the Blazers if Kamloops wins the right to play host to the 2023 Memorial Cup. Now that would be a trade for the ages!


again, just rumblings... so who really knows!!

Cool, I live in the area as well, so I'd most certainly welcome Connor with open arms! Timing is indeed perfect with the 2023 Mem Cup...

 

[canuck2010]

Jesus Christ. Optimistic? More like delusional.

Teams have been able to slow him down at this level. NHL teams will also be able to do that. Top 5 all time expectations are unrealistic.

If he pans out to be anything like Matthews it would be an incredible outcome already

It's not as if you're going to put a 15 year old kid in the NHL. He will grow and improve over the next few years, the NHL won't necessarily. He will be a better player than he is now.