Stewie Griffin
What the deuce
Hockey Canada (and most international clubs actually) usually go very traditional and have all of their players wears numbers under 30. Except for maybe goalies and a skater or two in the 30s.
C Connor Bedard - Regina Pats, WHL (2023 Draft) Part 3
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Mathieukferland
Registered User
Thinks it’s tradition at the youth levels to have numbers between 1-40 at Hockey Canada; even the prodigious Crosby and McDavid didn’t wear their habitual number playing u18/20
Didn't love Bedard's showing at the U18, he never seemed to find his legs. After watching him all season, you almost tell on his first shift what kind of game he is going to have by the way he's moving his feet. When he's on he is buzzing and constantly pushing the D back with his speed - didn't see much of that in this tourney.
A few things nitpicky things that I noticed in Regina and showed in this tourney:
1) He seemed to add a chippy aspect to his game half way through the season, probably in response to being constantly targeted by the opposing teams. It has lead to him taking undisciplined penalties - 2 of which resulted in PP goals against in the U18. Needs to reign it in and learn the time and place.
2) Questionable decision making when he is covering for a D-man in the O zone. He is pinching for 50/50 loose pucks that come in his direction every time and it is an easy 2 on 1 against when he doesn't get there. Has to stop thinking offence at all times and have a defensive awareness in those situations, especially as a centre.
Even with a subpar tournament by his standards, he still showed that he can score at an elite level which is encouraging - but we already knew that. Now it is time to round out the game. Luckily for him it is a lot easier to learn defensive awareness and discipline than it is to learn to be dynamic and produce at an elite level. Shane Wright and Bedard will literally have the critics questioning the complete opposite aspects of their games.
Like I mentioned previously, he needs to be challenged and held accountable defensively in Regina next year, not given a free pass because he can score a goal a game. I want to see him impacting the game more than just on the scoresheet and playing winning hockey or he will end up as a good player on a bad team at the NHL level, that might be better suited to play the wing.
A few things nitpicky things that I noticed in Regina and showed in this tourney:
1) He seemed to add a chippy aspect to his game half way through the season, probably in response to being constantly targeted by the opposing teams. It has lead to him taking undisciplined penalties - 2 of which resulted in PP goals against in the U18. Needs to reign it in and learn the time and place.
2) Questionable decision making when he is covering for a D-man in the O zone. He is pinching for 50/50 loose pucks that come in his direction every time and it is an easy 2 on 1 against when he doesn't get there. Has to stop thinking offence at all times and have a defensive awareness in those situations, especially as a centre.
Even with a subpar tournament by his standards, he still showed that he can score at an elite level which is encouraging - but we already knew that. Now it is time to round out the game. Luckily for him it is a lot easier to learn defensive awareness and discipline than it is to learn to be dynamic and produce at an elite level. Shane Wright and Bedard will literally have the critics questioning the complete opposite aspects of their games.
Like I mentioned previously, he needs to be challenged and held accountable defensively in Regina next year, not given a free pass because he can score a goal a game. I want to see him impacting the game more than just on the scoresheet and playing winning hockey or he will end up as a good player on a bad team at the NHL level, that might be better suited to play the wing.
bsu
"I have no idea what I am doing" -Pat VerBleak
- Sep 27, 2017
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Bubbles
Die Hard for Bedard 2023
@prongertheman9 I usually agree with your assessments, but I'm going to disagree with you here. High end offensive talents like Bedard will never be defensive wizards.
Hate to use the McDavid comparison but just look at his defensive shortcomings and it's very similar. McDavid could become an excellent two way guy but he chooses not to.
The best outcome is that Bedard uses his superior IQ to cut off passes, anticipate plays. He's never going to physically handle anyone.
Rengorlex
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- Aug 25, 2021
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Agreed. I am not trying to imply that he should be a defensive wizard - I just think he is good enough where he doesn't have to cheat for offence at the expense of sometimes being a liability defensively. Things like blowing the D zone early, pinching when covering for the D, and risky puck management when he is last man back can all be tightened up without sacrificing production. His first goal today was a perfect example of what he is capable of - used his high IQ and good stick to break up the centering pass in his D zone and quickly turned it into a rush chance and a goal for.
Boonk
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Last year's U18 team was loaded and was coached damn near perfect from top to bottom. This year's team was straight shit and had nowhere near the same talent, yet Bedard still scored almost a third of the teams goals and was the only one with more than 2 goals.
Mr Buckles
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William H Bonney
Registered User
Lol, right? McDavid is the best offensive player in the league, but one of the worst defensively. He has the potential to be an excellent two-way player but he doesn't care to try.
canuck2010
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William H Bonney
Registered User
One thing I really love about Bedard's game is he has that innate ability to recognize and regularly take advantage of the opposition being slightly off. For example, you see him catch opposing goalies slightly off their line and regularly makes them pay for it. It's evidence of high hockey IQ and skill, something you only see the elite NHLers regularly pull off.
Rengorlex
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Nonsense. You haven't watched him transform his game. He has been clearly a positive defensive player by every metric over the last two seasons.
'The biggest transformation I’ve ever seen in an elite player': How Connor McDavid took the next step
The Oilers star's historic offensive season comes as a byproduct of offseason commitment to become better defensively. Here's how he did it.
theathletic.com
William H Bonney
Registered User
Nonsense. You haven't watched him transform his game. He has been clearly a positive defensive player by every metric over the last two seasons.
'The biggest transformation I’ve ever seen in an elite player': How Connor McDavid took the next step
The Oilers star's historic offensive season comes as a byproduct of offseason commitment to become better defensively. Here's how he did it.
Ah, yes. The infallible xga/60 and corsi. How could we forget!
Anyway, don't want to derail this thread. Bedard is a very exciting prospect and I can't wait to see him in the NHL.
Rengorlex
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Nice of you to ignore the long article that details through video evidence McDavid's transformation. But let's leave that topic.
This kid can shoot the puck.
Fatass
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- Apr 17, 2017
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I think McDavid is bigger, stronger, faster, and (can be) meaner and more physical than ?Bedard is and ever will be. So McDavid for certain could be better defensively than Bedard ever could be. But, it’s a matter of wanting to.
William H Bonney
Registered User
Because it's not necessary to debunk. You can find other fancy stat practicioners who show McDavid with the worst xga/60 on the Oilers and one of the worst in the league. The point is fancy stats aren't infallible. He's improved his defensive play since the coaching change but he has a long way to go, especially since he could be dominant in the defensive zone, too.
and yes, Bedard can wing it for sure.
montreal
Go Habs Go
ORRFForever
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- Oct 29, 2018
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Nonsense. You haven't watched him transform his game. He has been clearly a positive defensive player by every metric over the last two seasons.
'The biggest transformation I’ve ever seen in an elite player': How Connor McDavid took the next step
The Oilers star's historic offensive season comes as a byproduct of offseason commitment to become better defensively. Here's how he did it.
Last season's:
Wouldn't say that that's an elite defensive player.
On Bedard, didn't seem to do much defensively, true. Impressive offensively, though, and offense's much more important for forwards anyway. I don't think that Bedard has anywhere near as good skating as McDavid had at his age, though.
Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
We always hear about how Connor and Leon are actually good defensively, but it seems like every game you look at the boxscore that the Oilers have given up five. I admittedly don’t watch as many Oilers games as fans of the team, so I will defer to them, but it seems like at some point these guys need some blame for why the team gives up so many goals. They are out there 22-23 minutes per game. There’s a reason teams like Boston, LA, St. Louis routinely don’t give up that many goals. Having 22-23 minutes a game of elite defensive play from Bergeron, Kopitar, ROR makes a difference. Doesn’t seem to happen with the two Edmonton stars.
Re: McDavid.
The Oilers don't have the luxury of him playing a 2-way role. There should be no issue with him being valued for his offensive contributions exclusively. If you want to argue that another player who is able to contribute more defensively while producing as much is the better player, go right ahead. But to diminish his offensive production with talk of 2-way play to a level of a lesser offensively gifted player is unreasonable.
Re: McDavid vs. Bedard. The above being said, both should be looked at for their offensive contributions and both seem to be very similar production-wise at the same age of development. Both have impressive international performances befitting their status as the "Next Next One".
Prospect-wise, Bedard's size seems to be keeping him from reaching the hype of McDavid when his offensive production as a 16 year old clearly places him on the same level.
The Oilers don't have the luxury of him playing a 2-way role. There should be no issue with him being valued for his offensive contributions exclusively. If you want to argue that another player who is able to contribute more defensively while producing as much is the better player, go right ahead. But to diminish his offensive production with talk of 2-way play to a level of a lesser offensively gifted player is unreasonable.
Re: McDavid vs. Bedard. The above being said, both should be looked at for their offensive contributions and both seem to be very similar production-wise at the same age of development. Both have impressive international performances befitting their status as the "Next Next One".
Prospect-wise, Bedard's size seems to be keeping him from reaching the hype of McDavid when his offensive production as a 16 year old clearly places him on the same level.
ConnorMcMullet
#12 Colby Cave
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The Oilers have allowed 3.08 GA/GP this year, compared to 3.14 on average in the league.
I would classify McDavid as well-above average defensively, bordering on excellent. Draisaitl can be great defensively when he wants to be, but his effort is a bit more spotty.
