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

[Dust]

No doubt, but more context is definitely needed here. McDavid wasn't used in a top line offensive role due to the "the World Juniors is a tournament for 19 year olds" and "he'll have another shot next year" mindsets. Bedard was lucky to break through them, but I have no doubt McDavid (and Crosby, who had 5 points in his first go-around) would have done just as well if given the same opportunity.

I don't want to take anything away from McDavid or Sid, but Bedard was slotted in as the 13th forward. He played himself into a bigger role by being one of the best players on the team.

 

[Gold Standard]

No doubt, but more context is definitely needed here. McDavid wasn't used in a top line offensive role due to the "the World Juniors is a tournament for 19 year olds" and "he'll have another shot next year" mindsets. Bedard was lucky to break through them, but I have no doubt McDavid (and Crosby, who had 5 points in his first go-around) would have done just as well if given the same opportunity.

Hockey Canada and every Team Canada WJHC coach has that mindset. Bedard wasn't lucky to break through them, he forced his way through them. You are correct, McDavid/Crosby are the better players, but Bedard has a brashness about him that neither McDavid/Crosby had their 1st, kick at the World Junior can. and that is why he had the better 1st. WJHC. Luck had nothing to do with it, he made it happen. That's the context that is needed.

 

[JackSlater]

Hockey Canada and every Team Canada WJHC coach has that mindset. Bedard wasn't lucky to break through them, he forced his way through them. You are correct, McDavid/Crosby are the better players, but Bedard has a brashness about him that neither McDavid/Crosby had their 1st, kick at the World Junior can. and that is why he had the better 1st. WJHC. Luck had nothing to do with it, he made it happen. That's the context that is needed.

This is correct. Bedard asserted himself much more than Crosby or McDavid did. He isn't as good at 16 as they were but he looked a lot more confident at the WJC, even back in December, than they ever did as 16 year olds.

 

[Bubbles]

Also just a good chance the Pats trade Bedard for a haul a la JT in his draft year. If they're not comfortably in one of the top spots in the WHL by Christmas I'd imagine they think about moving him

Pats will be guaranteed awful this season.

I think the Blazers are going to push for him. Memorial cup is there next year and Stankoven should be there unless he really impresses in NHL camp.

 

[Atoyot]

Hockey Canada and every Team Canada WJHC coach has that mindset. Bedard wasn't lucky to break through them, he forced his way through them. You are correct, McDavid/Crosby are the better players, but Bedard has a brashness about him that neither McDavid/Crosby had their 1st, kick at the World Junior can. and that is why he had the better 1st. WJHC. Luck had nothing to do with it, he made it happen. That's the context that is needed.

Opportunity matters a lot. They were all good enough to be given top line roles, but only Bedard got one. I'm not saying he didn't deserve it, I'm just saying pointing at raw point totals and saying it was a better tournament is misleading. Honestly I think Crosby's 5 points in 6 games in his role was more impressive than Bedard scoring less than half of what his centerman did.

 

[CanadienShark]

The Caufield comparison doesn't make much sense to me. Don't know where it came from.

I think they score their goals differently. Caufield scores a lot by being excellent at finding open space and using a very quick release. He doesn't shoot it nearly as hard as some of the best goal scoring forwards in the NHL. Caufield is absolutely not the type you line up in the right circle and let him rip the puck. It's going to be stopped if thats your plan.

Bedard has one of the hardest shots around. His shooting power is similar to Stamkos. He doesn't float around and find open space. He's a player who carries the puck, goes 1v1, and shoots. He's a lot more flashy with how he scores his goals than Caufield. Outside of the Montreal hype and his personality, Caufield is a very unflashy type of player. Doesn't skate particularly well, doesn't have high-end playmaking, doesn't hold onto the puck for long amounts of time, and doesn't have a huge shot.

Bedard is a very flashy type of player. Better skater, better puck skills, shoots it harder, better playmaker, holds the puck more, and more of a 1v1 goal scorer. If we were to compare anyone's goal scoring to Caufield, it'd be Michkov. There are some similarities between how they score their goals. I don't think Bedard is that comparable either to Matthews with his goal-scoring. I know he says that he watches Matthews goals, but so do all of us. Watching his goals doesn't mean it's replicable for what Bedard's skillset is. I've said many times before that the 2023 prospect whose goalscoring reminds me of Matthews type of goal-scoring is Michkov. I think they have similar elite level releases and sense around the net. Michkov reminds me of a cross between Kucherov's hockey sense/physical profile with Matthews goal-scoring. Bedard is more of a shot power and 1v1 goal scorer. I would say his best comparable is a cross between Stamkos goal-scoring and Hughes physical profile for a highly skilled offensive center.

Wow there's a ton wrong with this.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Wow there's a ton wrong with this.

You should then explain what's wrong with it.

You don't help anyone understand what's wrong when you make a post like yours.

 

[Rengorlex]

You should then explain what's wrong with it.

You don't help anyone understand what's wrong when you make a post like yours.

I think Caufield is a very good skater.

 

[Paul4587]

EV Defense being 94%

But it's true this was the first season where his defense was elite.

Just because it’s published on a chart, doesn’t make it right. Jfreshes percentile ranks throw out some highly questionable numbers.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I think Caufield is a very good skater.

If you put him in a short-distance skating race with Dach, I think he'll win. Despite that, Dach is considered a better skater than Caufield.

You can't ignore how size impacts skating. Dach is like 8 inches taller than Caufield. For 5'7, Caufield is an average skater.

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Wow there's a ton wrong with this.

I wonder why.

 

[Lavar Ball]

If you put him in a short-distance skating race with Dach, I think he'll win. Despite that, Dach is considered a better skater than Caufield.

You can't ignore how size impacts skating. Dach is like 8 inches taller than Caufield. For 5'7, Caufield is an average skater.

I don't agree you can knock Caufield on his skating just because he is smaller. That is like giving a 6'0 180 player a better physical grade than a 6'4 220 guy even though they are equally physical just because it's more impressive. All that matters is what will produce

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

I don't agree you can knock Caufield on his skating just because he is smaller. That is like giving a 6'0 180 player a better physical grade than a 6'4 220 guy even though they are equally physical just because it's more impressive. All that matters is what will produce

I think production is a whole new level from skating. What I think is PB just analyzed skating of both players, instead of how those two play on ice.

 

[CanadienShark]

You should then explain what's wrong with it.

You don't help anyone understand what's wrong when you make a post like yours.

Caufield is a good skater. Caufield is a great playmaker. Caufield is absolutely the type of player who can rip the puck. He can score from a lot of different spots and can score from ridiculous angles. You're really underselling him. Of course Bedard is a whole other level of player though.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I don't agree you can knock Caufield on his skating just because he is smaller. That is like giving a 6'0 180 player a better physical grade than a 6'4 220 guy even though they are equally physical just because it's more impressive. All that matters is what will produce

I'm not saying it's only because he's small. It's that he's small and not an elite skater for his height. There are advantages to height that come with skating. Longer strides, longer reach, usually better top speed, and usually more powerful.

Caufield is a good skater. Caufield is a great playmaker. Caufield is absolutely the type of player who can rip the puck. He can score from a lot of different spots and can score from ridiculous angles. You're really underselling him. Of course Bedard is a whole other level of player though.

So does Caufield have any deficiencies then to how he plays? You seem to be suggesting he's good at everything.

As I see it, for a 5'7 forward, Caufield has average stick-skills, playmaking, and skating. His goal-scoring instincts are elite and his shot and sense is above-average, yet not elite. Obviously size is bad, and his defense is below-average. He tries defensively, and I didn't think he was bad defensively against juniors, but he's become overwhelmed physically, and needs to learn the tactical parts of the defensive game better to have success against NHL'ers. Not impossible for a forward his size to not be a defensive liability.

 

[Rengorlex]

Alright, take this shit to the Habs board. When is Bedard playing next?

 

[ponder]

I'm not saying it's only because he's small. It's that he's small and not an elite skater for his height. There are advantages to height that come with skating. Longer strides, longer reach, usually better top speed, and usually more powerful.


So does Caufield have any deficiencies then to how he plays? You seem to be suggesting he's good at everything.

As I see it, for a 5'7 forward, Caufield has average stick-skills, playmaking, and skating. His goal-scoring instincts are elite and his shot and sense is above-average, yet not elite. Obviously size is bad, and his defense is below-average. He tries defensively, and I didn't think he was bad defensively against juniors, but he's become overwhelmed physically, and needs to learn the tactical parts of the defensive game better to have success against NHL'ers. Not impossible for a forward his size to not be a defensive liability.

I am by no means a Habs fan (Leafs fan), and I think you’re significantly underrating Caufield’s shot calling it just “above average.” Very quick and deceptive release, excellent accuracy, excellent power, he has an elite shot.







FWIW, I think Bedard’s shot is even better, but Caufield’s shot is still elite.

 

[macbowes]

Regina already traded their 2023 1st round pick, so I hope they go all-in and trade their 2024 1st+Cole Temple (5OA in 2022) for some help. They could be better than last year, the only major loss is Ryker Evans. Obviously they have Bedard, but Tanner Howe could be a top 5 pick in 2024, and Svozil is likely coming back. Would be fun for Pats fans to watch an all-in team in Bedards draft year.

 

[CanadienShark]

I'm not saying it's only because he's small. It's that he's small and not an elite skater for his height. There are advantages to height that come with skating. Longer strides, longer reach, usually better top speed, and usually more powerful.


So does Caufield have any deficiencies then to how he plays? You seem to be suggesting he's good at everything.

As I see it, for a 5'7 forward, Caufield has average stick-skills, playmaking, and skating. His goal-scoring instincts are elite and his shot and sense is above-average, yet not elite. Obviously size is bad, and his defense is below-average. He tries defensively, and I didn't think he was bad defensively against juniors, but he's become overwhelmed physically, and needs to learn the tactical parts of the defensive game better to have success against NHL'ers. Not impossible for a forward his size to not be a defensive liability.

You think the game is limited to being: a good skater, good playmaker, good shooter? There's nothing else?

He's got stuff to work on, but you clearly aren't paying attention.

 

[RedHawkDown]

You think the game is limited to being: a good skater, good playmaker, good shooter? There's nothing else?

He's got stuff to work on, but you clearly aren't paying attention.

It doesn’t even make any sense logically. A 5’7” player who was an average skater and average playmaker and average stickhandler wouldn’t even be drafted lmao. Caufield is great at most of those and elite at shooting and that’s why he was picked in the first half of the first round despise being almost half a foot smaller than Nhl average height.


Back on topic Bedard shoots a lot like Matthews Imo, similarly deceptive releases with a ton of downward force.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

You think the game is limited to being: a good skater, good playmaker, good shooter? There's nothing else?

He's got stuff to work on, but you clearly aren't paying attention.

Your post is a diversion. I didn't say what you claim. You didn't haven't answered my question.

It doesn’t even make any sense logically. A 5’7” player who was an average skater and average playmaker and average stickhandler wouldn’t even be drafted lmao. Caufield is great at most of those and elite at shooting and that’s why he was picked in the first half of the first round despise being almost half a foot smaller than Nhl average height.

FOR HIS SIZE.

Why is this so hard to understand? It's like some of you don't understand that size is part of the game. Being bigger is a huge advantage. When you are smaller, you have to be better than bigger players.

 

[landy92mack29]

Regina already traded their 2023 1st round pick, so I hope they go all-in and trade their 2024 1st+Cole Temple (5OA in 2022) for some help. They could be better than last year, the only major loss is Ryker Evans. Obviously they have Bedard, but Tanner Howe could be a top 5 pick in 2024, and Svozil is likely coming back. Would be fun for Pats fans to watch an all-in team in Bedards draft year.

They aren't going all-in, most likely Bedard will be traded at christmas to a contender(Kamloops very likely). Pats unfortunately for him got Bedard at the very start of a rebuild because of their 2 runs the previous years. they have some depth coming but it won't be there for at least 1, probably 2 years which Bedard won't be there for.

 

[RedHawkDown]

Your post is a diversion. I didn't say what you claim. You didn't haven't answered my question.


FOR HIS SIZE.

Why is this so hard to understand? It's like some of you don't understand that size is part of the game. Being bigger is a huge advantage. When you are smaller, you have to be better than bigger players.

What does that even mean then? Is every 5’7” scorer who isn’t an 90 pt player average for their size then? He scored 43 in 67 as essentially a rookie. He has 35G+ potential and likely to reach it. What exactly would “good for his size” look like to you if a ~70 pt 35-40G scorer is “average for his size”?

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

TIL Cole Caufield has only an above average shot lol.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

What does that even mean then? Is every 5’7” scorer who isn’t an 90 pt player average for their size then? He scored 43 in 67 as essentially a rookie. He has 35G+ potential and likely to reach it. What exactly would “good for his size” look like to you?

It means that at 5'7 if you are a "good" playmaker, your good playmaking isn't as effective as the "good" playmaking of a player who is 6'3.

Do I need to explain why that is? I'll do so. If you are 5'7, your space gets crowded out easier, you have a harder time creating space, it's easier to strip you of the puck, you are usually stripped of it quicker, and you have a crowded view of the ice through the trees.

Because it's not as good as a 6'3 player with good playmaking, it'd be stupid to treat the exact same ability in a vacuum for a 6'3 player like you would a 5'7 player. Thats why I think when you are 5'7 and in a vacuum you are good in an area, it probably isn't accurate to call it good. It's probably not going to end up being a real asset at the NHL level, if it's only good.