C Connor Bedard - Regina Pats, WHL (2023 Draft) Part 3
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Andy Dufresne
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- Jun 17, 2009
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You're totally right. I'm sure Bedard will be laughing... when he's driving his new convertible, with the top down, wearing shorts and sandals to practice in January.
Since people keep talking about Bedard/Matthews..
Bubbles
Die Hard for Bedard 2023
Still my favourite of his goals. That shot was a laser.
teravaineSAROS
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- Jul 29, 2015
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Wright and Lafreniere at the same age were supposed to be better than Matthews. Third times the charm I guess.
I don't know who believed that the only recent draft pick with that hype was hughes IIRC
Kevin Musto
Hard for Bedard
- Feb 16, 2018
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Nobody thought that in their respective draft years.
The hype for those players came from their D-2 and D-1 years. Draft year for both Wright and Laf confirmed they were not Matthews tier players.
teravaineSAROS
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Yea and we're in the off-season now so at this stage before their draft years started they were very hyped. Overhyping a 1st overall pick is common though. Dahlin's a great player but not the prime Erik Karlsson we expected. Svechnikov who was picked after that was also supposed to be a bit closer to Ovechkins level. Who knows if this draft could become a Dahlin/Svechnikov-like situation.
I don't have any strong opinions on Bedard. I can see him scoring 50+ goals but I'm also not ready to assume he'll be as good as Matthews.
TheBeastCoast
Registered User
I mean Laf completely dominated everything he possibly could in his draft year. Comparing Wright and Laf's draft years to each other doesn't really work. The hype was very high for him, it just hasn't exactly panned out yet. Acting like it wasn't though at the time is revisionist history.
Peasy
Registered User
Cam Robinson said bedard has a similar shot to Matthews, make sure to go attack him on Twitter guys!
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jj cale
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Laine too I was told.
But alas...............no joy. he was just a big guy with an incredible shot. It's not easy meeting Matthews level and none of those players were/are going to be as good as him.
TheDoldrums
Registered User
Since people keep talking about Bedard/Matthews..
For anyone curious I'm pretty sure he's referencing this goal
teravaineSAROS
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Matthews turned out even better than expected. Laine performed better than expected his first two years but his Fortnite addiction and back problems caught up to him.
Based on last year he's still a good 2nd overall pick but he's not about to dethrone Ovechkin like people expected.
jj cale
Registered User
Matthews turned out as good as I expected him to, he was very clearly a special player whenever I watched him pre NHL.
I knew the Leafs would regret picking Laine if they decided to go with him, to their credit Matthews superiority to Laine was as clear to them as it was to me.
I never had those 2 in the same tier, nor Wright or Lafreniere.
Laine was more of a stocking horse, much like Eichel was the prior year and most knew that Mathews was a special franchise altering player. I really do not believe that the Leafs ever seriously considered passing up a center with so much potential over a probable 1st line winger. Yes Laine had a great draft season but if I remember right the general consensus on these boards was that you never pass up a franchise center for a winger. A very tiny minority ever thought that Lafreniere had the pedigree of a Mathews and even peak hype Wright was considered a cut below by most in the scouting community.
Bedard certainly seems like a special player and his shot is indeed other worldly but I'd be real cautious about putting him a peg above Mathews just yet.
Matthews vs. Bedard is pretty arguable - Bedard has more media hype now than Matthews had then, but I personally think Matthews was the better prospect at the same age, just underhyped by the media.
I think Matthews is an interesting case in that he was an absolutely unreal prospect, and I think NHL scouts viewed him that way, but his draft hype in the media wasn’t as nuts as you’d expect. I think this was a combo of:
- His incredible D-1 USDP season didn't receive as much attention as it would today. Media interest in the USHL/USDP has grown substantially since 2014/15
- He spent his draft year away from the limelight, in Switzerland - the NLA gets literally zero coverage in North America, none
- He was outstanding at his draft year WJC, but overshadowed by that incredible Finnish line (Laine/Aho/Pulju)
The media narrative never fully clicked, but just look at him as a prospect - his tools, performances and projectability were insane:
Tools
- 6’3”, strong, athletic
- True centre
- Ridiculously elite shot, excellent hands, elite puck protection/possession game, excellent defensively for his age and insanely good at stealing pucks and winning puck battles, very good skater, excellent hockey IQ
- Overall package of tools were some of the best you see in a prospect, ever, IMO
D-1 performance
- Put up 116 points (55 goals, 61 assists) with the U18 USDP, setting the all time points and all time goals records (points record previously held by Patrick Kane, with 102 points)
- Destroyed the U18 WJC, 8 goals/15 points in 7 games, MVP and scoring leader
- 3 points in 5 games at the U20 WJC, as the youngest player on the team. Keep in mind this was a US team that never really clicked offensively, nobody put up huge numbers. Matthews was tied for 4th in scoring on the American team, behind Larkin with 7, and Eichel and Milano with 4 each. While not nearly as good as what Bedard is doing at this tourney, it was still impressive. And watching the games, he was really driving the play, and was a bit unlucky to not put up more points:
Draft year performance
- Played in Switzerland’s top pro men's league, the NLA, with lots of ex-NHLers. Dominated. 24 goals/46 points in 36 games. Just 2 goals off from being top goal scorer, despite playing in just 36 of 50 games (lead the league in goals per game by far). 2nd in league MVP voting, despite low games (2nd to Pierre-Marc Bouchard), and 2nd in PPG (also to PMB). Crazy elite for a draft year kid in a quality pro men's league
- Terrific WJC performance, 7 goals/11 points in 7 games. Tied for tourney lead in goals (with Laine), and tied for 4th in points (with Matthew Tkachuk), behind the ridiculous Finnish line (Pulju/Laine/Aho were 1/2/3 in points). Although the Finnish team stole the limelight, Matthews looked incredible that year:
His tools were about as perfect as you get, you basically never see 6’3” centres with his draft year abilities. His performance was insanely good too. Then obviously, he stepped right into the NHL and put up 40 goals, 2nd in the league in goals as a D+1 rookie, only the 4th teenager in NHL history to put up 40 goals. Trying to look at his tools and performance objectively ... on draft day, maybe the 3rd best 6'3"+ centre prospect of all time, behind Lemieux and Lindros? He was a completely unreal prospect, the media hype just wasn’t as high as you’d expect, probably because North American media doesn’t care about the NLA.
Comparing Matthews at the end of his D-1 season to Bedard now:
- Tools were very similar in most ways - shot, hands, skating, hockey IQ, etc. Maybe edge Bedard on hands and hockey IQ? However, Matthews was 6'2"/200 lbs at the time, Bedard 5'9"/181 lbs now, gotta give tools to Matthews, by a wide margin, for that reason
- WHL vs USDP performance, arguable. Matthews with the highest scoring USDP season of all time, but obviously it's easier to set a record like that in the USDP than WHL (much less history). Bedard also with an incredible WHL season for his age. I'd give Matthews the edge
- U18 WJC, arguable
- U20 WJC, Bedard by far. He's having an absolutely nuts performance for his age
Overall, D-1 Matthews vs. current Bedard, it's definitely arguable, but I personally see D-1 Matthews as the better prospect. Don't get me wrong, Bedard is INCREDIBLE too, IMO the best prospect since Matthews. However, for me Matthews had the edge in terms of NHL projection at the same age. League performance similar (edge Matthews for me), U18 WJC performance similar. Bedard with a much better U20 WJC performance, but for me that doesn't make up for Matthews having IMO much better tools (similar tools except Matthews 6'2" then vs. Bedard 5'9" now makes a huge difference). Bedard has quite a bit more media hype than same age Matthews, but media hype doesn't make the prospect - even as a Canadian I'll admit that elite CHL prospects always get the most media hype, because NHL hockey media is dominated by Canadians who mostly follow/care about the CHL.
I think Matthews is an interesting case in that he was an absolutely unreal prospect, and I think NHL scouts viewed him that way, but his draft hype in the media wasn’t as nuts as you’d expect. I think this was a combo of:
- His incredible D-1 USDP season didn't receive as much attention as it would today. Media interest in the USHL/USDP has grown substantially since 2014/15
- He spent his draft year away from the limelight, in Switzerland - the NLA gets literally zero coverage in North America, none
- He was outstanding at his draft year WJC, but overshadowed by that incredible Finnish line (Laine/Aho/Pulju)
The media narrative never fully clicked, but just look at him as a prospect - his tools, performances and projectability were insane:
Tools
- 6’3”, strong, athletic
- True centre
- Ridiculously elite shot, excellent hands, elite puck protection/possession game, excellent defensively for his age and insanely good at stealing pucks and winning puck battles, very good skater, excellent hockey IQ
- Overall package of tools were some of the best you see in a prospect, ever, IMO
D-1 performance
- Put up 116 points (55 goals, 61 assists) with the U18 USDP, setting the all time points and all time goals records (points record previously held by Patrick Kane, with 102 points)
- Destroyed the U18 WJC, 8 goals/15 points in 7 games, MVP and scoring leader
- 3 points in 5 games at the U20 WJC, as the youngest player on the team. Keep in mind this was a US team that never really clicked offensively, nobody put up huge numbers. Matthews was tied for 4th in scoring on the American team, behind Larkin with 7, and Eichel and Milano with 4 each. While not nearly as good as what Bedard is doing at this tourney, it was still impressive. And watching the games, he was really driving the play, and was a bit unlucky to not put up more points:
Draft year performance
- Played in Switzerland’s top pro men's league, the NLA, with lots of ex-NHLers. Dominated. 24 goals/46 points in 36 games. Just 2 goals off from being top goal scorer, despite playing in just 36 of 50 games (lead the league in goals per game by far). 2nd in league MVP voting, despite low games (2nd to Pierre-Marc Bouchard), and 2nd in PPG (also to PMB). Crazy elite for a draft year kid in a quality pro men's league
- Terrific WJC performance, 7 goals/11 points in 7 games. Tied for tourney lead in goals (with Laine), and tied for 4th in points (with Matthew Tkachuk), behind the ridiculous Finnish line (Pulju/Laine/Aho were 1/2/3 in points). Although the Finnish team stole the limelight, Matthews looked incredible that year:
His tools were about as perfect as you get, you basically never see 6’3” centres with his draft year abilities. His performance was insanely good too. Then obviously, he stepped right into the NHL and put up 40 goals, 2nd in the league in goals as a D+1 rookie, only the 4th teenager in NHL history to put up 40 goals. Trying to look at his tools and performance objectively ... on draft day, maybe the 3rd best 6'3"+ centre prospect of all time, behind Lemieux and Lindros? He was a completely unreal prospect, the media hype just wasn’t as high as you’d expect, probably because North American media doesn’t care about the NLA.
Comparing Matthews at the end of his D-1 season to Bedard now:
- Tools were very similar in most ways - shot, hands, skating, hockey IQ, etc. Maybe edge Bedard on hands and hockey IQ? However, Matthews was 6'2"/200 lbs at the time, Bedard 5'9"/181 lbs now, gotta give tools to Matthews, by a wide margin, for that reason
- WHL vs USDP performance, arguable. Matthews with the highest scoring USDP season of all time, but obviously it's easier to set a record like that in the USDP than WHL (much less history). Bedard also with an incredible WHL season for his age. I'd give Matthews the edge
- U18 WJC, arguable
- U20 WJC, Bedard by far. He's having an absolutely nuts performance for his age
Overall, D-1 Matthews vs. current Bedard, it's definitely arguable, but I personally see D-1 Matthews as the better prospect. Don't get me wrong, Bedard is INCREDIBLE too, IMO the best prospect since Matthews. However, for me Matthews had the edge in terms of NHL projection at the same age. League performance similar (edge Matthews for me), U18 WJC performance similar. Bedard with a much better U20 WJC performance, but for me that doesn't make up for Matthews having IMO much better tools (similar tools except Matthews 6'2" then vs. Bedard 5'9" now makes a huge difference). Bedard has quite a bit more media hype than same age Matthews, but media hype doesn't make the prospect - even as a Canadian I'll admit that elite CHL prospects always get the most media hype, because NHL hockey media is dominated by Canadians who mostly follow/care about the CHL.
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jj cale
Registered User
Matthews just had more tools and could drive and impact play all over the ice far more.
To me it was never close.
Kevin Musto
Hard for Bedard
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Tbf, Dahlin can still reach that level.
Laf had a great draft year, but he still obviously wasn't a Matthews level prospect.
Dack
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- Jun 16, 2014
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I don't think you can make a straight comparison from Matthews D-1 USHL season to Bedard's D-1 WHL season. With the reason being age.
Matthews was the one of, if not the oldest player in his draft class. He was like a week too young to be a 2015 draft pick. Bedard on the other hand is a summer birthday.
Essentially Matthews turned 17 at the beginning of his D-1 year. Bedard just turned 17 last month. In this upcoming season he's only going to be 2 months older than Matthews was in his D-1.
I don't know if Matthews was a better prospect but you have to account for him being 10 months older than Bedard when comparing their stats across their respective pre draft years and draft years.
Matthews was the one of, if not the oldest player in his draft class. He was like a week too young to be a 2015 draft pick. Bedard on the other hand is a summer birthday.
Essentially Matthews turned 17 at the beginning of his D-1 year. Bedard just turned 17 last month. In this upcoming season he's only going to be 2 months older than Matthews was in his D-1.
I don't know if Matthews was a better prospect but you have to account for him being 10 months older than Bedard when comparing their stats across their respective pre draft years and draft years.
Crosby McDavid and now Bedard have been in a league of their own as prospects since I’ve started watching hockey
Yeah, true, significant age gap in their D-1 seasons. Taking into account both age, and a better U20 WJC, Bedard is more of a phenom in his D-1 than Matthews was. However, even taking into account age, I would rank "impressiveness of performances" as reasonably close, Bedard a bit ahead because he's significantly younger and his big U20 WJC edge, but I'd still personally rank Matthews ahead as a prospect, due to his big size advantage and otherwise comparable tools. Totally arguable either way though, and I certainly have the 2 of them as the best prospects since McDavid.
Zero doubt, though, that Bedard has quite a bit more hype now than Matthews had after his D-1 season.
Bubbles
Die Hard for Bedard 2023
Extremely revisionist. Laf was CHL player of the year twice...just as same as Crosby. He wasn't hyped as much as the Kid but just a tier below.
People continue to confuse hype and actual performance. Laf was hyped way more than Matthews. Matthews got to his potential faster than Laf, but there's still time for Laf.
