C Connor Bedard - Regina Pats, WHL (2023 Draft) Part 5

[Mathieukferland]

I was recently in Regina for work meetings and saw Bedard put up 5 pts against Moose Jaw. What a rowdy crowd on a Saturday night... you just cant beat small barns and saturday night hockey. Downtown Regina gets beat up often but it was honestly fine staying at the DoubleTree on Victoria Ave- just a quick cab ride to the Brandt Center. We checked out Bushwakker Brewpub before hand in the warehouse district- if anyones going to Regina- you gotta try the Blackberry mead there. Wow. Phenomenal.

Anyways, I was blown away by how small Bedard looked in person. We had decent seats near the top of section 117 behind the penalty box. He's distinctly small. He used his body well, especially for a kid playing against guys 2-3 years older than him.... but I was far more impressed when I saw his american counterpart, Adam Fantilly, in January while conducting some business in Ann Arbor for my brother in law who was refused entry at the border- we took in a Wolverines game and wow... Fantilly seemed to be more NHL-ready "physique" wise... the wolverines were blown out 7-2 by The Ohio State Universite.

Bedard's 3G 2A evening has me a believer. I don't think I will forget that one night in Regina.. I think with a summer spent ""pumping iron"" he can become one of the league's best players - even if his body leaves something to be desired when compared to the stockier american Fantilly.

Fantilli is from Ontario

 

[Mathieukferland]

Patrick Kane
John Tavares

At least to my memory no one called John Tavares Generational, mainly because he had cinderblock feet

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

At least to my memory no one called John Tavares Generational, mainly because he had cinderblock feet

No, but their production was suggestive of generational talent. But you're right, Tavares was never given that label because he lacked generational attributes. Kane too.

 

[prongertheman9]

No, but their production was suggestive of generational talent. But you're right, Tavares was never given that label because he lacked generational attributes. Kane too.

Tavares never scored over 2ppg in junior and Kane did but he was 18 and played on a stacked line. Completely different resumes

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

So much conflict over one guy's definition of "generational".

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Hmmmm how does one get the last couple pages of this thread erased?

 

[Lavar Ball]

That's not a failing of Ovechkin's, it's a failure of your evaluation "system" for generational talents.

or maybe he just defines it differently than yourself? I know many people who consider only the single best player of his generation "generational". Ovechkin might not be that. It's all opinion and definition.

So much conflict over one guy's definition of "generational".

Exactly, who the hell cares if someone classifies someone has generational or not. I respect the opinion of @WhiskeyYerTheDevils even though I don't necessarily agree. Every time he comments about Bedard good or bad people derail the thread into these pointless generational arguments

 

[Satan]

Fantilli is from Ontario

are you sure? i sat down at the Yost (which is a hockey cathedral btw, stunning rink) in section 21 and saw him playing for the Wolverines

 

[daver]

or maybe he just defines it differently than yourself? I know many people who consider only the single best player of his generation "generational". Ovechkin might not be that. It's all opinion and definition.

Exactly, who the hell cares if someone classifies someone has generational or not. I respect the opinion of @WhiskeyYerTheDevils even though I don't necessarily agree. Every time he comments about Bedard good or bad people derail the thread into these pointless generational arguments

If Whiskey was consistent in their comments, then there wouldn't be pages of responses.

Case in point, Tavares and Kane have been dismissed from the McDavid/Crosby comparison by Whiskey's own criteria but then reinserts them again to create responses.

 

[Gold Standard]

are you sure? i sat down at the Yost (which is a hockey cathedral btw, stunning rink) in section 21 and saw him playing for the Wolverines

Are you for real?

 

[Mathieukferland]

are you sure? i sat down at the Yost (which is a hockey cathedral btw, stunning rink) in section 21 and saw him playing for the Wolverines

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

If Whiskey was consistent in their comments, then there wouldn't be pages of responses.

Case in point, Tavares and Kane have been dismissed from the McDavid/Crosby comparison by Whiskey's own criteria but then reinserts them again to create responses.

They are used as examples of prospects with generational production who were not generational prospects. Just like Bedard.

You have to be trolling at this point. There's no other explanation for such an intentional lack of comprehension.

Tavares never scored over 2ppg in junior and Kane did but he was 18 and played on a stacked line. Completely different resumes

Might want to check your math.

That's not a failing of Ovechkin's, it's a failure of your evaluation "system" for generational talents.

Generational = best player of your generation. Ovechkin is amazing but I have Crosby comfortably ahead.

 

[Breakfast of Champs]

Patrick Kane
John Tavares

Pat Kane did not have the season Bedard is having. Yes he was draft eligible but he was 18, his linemates were much better in Gagner and Kostitsyn, and his wjc (yea it counts for something) was not even in the same universe. Bedard has a better ppg, gpg, doesn't play in as favorable a situation, and had the best wjc for a 17 year old in history.

JT is probably the only one but it was his 16 yo season actually, his 17 year old season he was again 2ppg flat, scored fewer goals, and looked somewhat average at the WJC. His 18 yo draft season actually saw him regress in ppg again, and while he had an amazing wjc, it wasn't bedard good.

The only CHL players you can argue had better draft years from the last 30 years are Crosby and McDavid. The same goes for NHL potential

 

[ijuka]

Patrick Kane
John Tavares

So late birthdays almost a year older?

Keep in mind Bedard's a July birth date, the only one who compares in that regard is Sidney Crosby, who was 2 months younger than Bedard. Even to McDavid the difference's half a year.

And of course, none of these came even close to Bedard's u-20 WJC performance.

 

[Breakfast of Champs]

No, but their production was suggestive of generational talent. But you're right, Tavares was never given that label because he lacked generational attributes. Kane too.

Luckily bedard has those attributes, he has the best shot and release of any 17 year old, ever. Combine that with elite level skating, elusiveness, creativity, hands , edgework , and IQ and you have a prospect who many people can see dominating the NHL. I feel like you are really underselling his shot, it's a very noticable attribute, if Kane had this shot with everything else he would have had the label too , Bedard is almost like a Kane with a Matthews level release

 

[RedHawkDown]

Bedard will challenge mcdavid for scoring titles imo. Whether or not that’s generational from whatever definition you like to use is secondary

 

[Aaaaaaaaaaaaa]

I went to the game in Regina on Monday vs Lethbridge, and he didn't really dominate. He's not like McDavid who can pick up the puck in his own end and drive through all the opposing players. He's more a quick-strike guy, who hides in the weeds and then BOOM, something happens. A sweet pass or a great shot on net. Ended up with two assists. One a nice primary, and a good secondary that set up the whole play.

We are all aware of this, but it can't be overstated that he is small even by WHL standards. He is going to be tiny next to NHL players. The upside is that he already has an NHL brain and puck handling skills, which will get him big points with decent NHL linemates. But his size will be an issue, no question. He doesn't shy away from physical play, but he will need to have players he can distribute to quickly in the NHL, or he is going to get neutralized. He is listed at 5'10", but there is no way he is 5'10". He might be 5'8", if that. I have not seen a small player as good as him in the WHL since the Pats had Dale Derkatch. If you know that name, kuddos. He was like Theo Fluery before Theo came along. Unfortunately he got drafted by the Oilers in the early 80s and could never crack the lineup. I think he was 5'5", though, so even smaller than Bedard.

 

[Deleted member 339941]

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

I went to the game in Regina on Monday vs Lethbridge, and he didn't really dominate. He's not like McDavid who can pick up the puck in his own end and drive through all the opposing players. He's more a quick-strike guy, who hides in the weeds and then BOOM, something happens. A sweet pass or a great shot on net. Ended up with two assists. One a nice primary, and a good secondary that set up the whole play.

We are all aware of this, but it can't be overstated that he is small even by WHL standards. He is going to be tiny next to NHL players. The upside is that he already has an NHL brain and puck handling skills, which will get him big points with decent NHL linemates. But his size will be an issue, no question. He doesn't shy away from physical play, but he will need to have players he can distribute to quickly in the NHL, or he is going to get neutralized. He is listed at 5'10", but there is no way he is 5'10". He might be 5'8", if that. I have not seen a small player as good as him in the WHL since the Pats had Dale Derkatch. If you know that name, kuddos. He was like Theo Fluery before Theo came along. Unfortunately he got drafted by the Oilers in the early 80s and could never crack the lineup. I think he was 5'5", though, so even smaller than Bedard.

Everyone's height is overstated so I wouldn't really worry about that

 

[UrbanImpact]

hillarious how much Bedard loves the Canucks. He literally follows them on everything and brings up the Canucks any change he gets on interviews.

He must be so jacked that theres a chance The Canucks can draft him. If not, i trully believe he comes home and plays for them the first chance he gets.

 

[Aaaaaaaaaaaaa]

Everyone's height is overstated so I wouldn't really worry about that

Inflating a height from 6'0" to 6'2" is one thing. From 5'8" to 5'10' is another. 5'10" is a small NHLer. 5'8" is rare. There couldn't be more than ten players in the NHL under 5'9". I'm not saying it is a dealbreaker for him, I'm just saying it's going to be tough to be a generational player at that height.

 

[WarriorofTime]

At least to my memory no one called John Tavares Generational, mainly because he had cinderblock feet

He was called that when he was the first ever Exceptional Player, imo.

 

[ozzie]

He was called that when he was the first ever Exceptional Player, imo.

I think it went even further when he scored 72 goals in his second year. I seem to recall he was labelled the next one and generational by the Media and even Gretzky. I was a bit stunned to see people here say he wasn't considered generational. The OHL obviously thought so as you mentioned.

Gretzky was right when he said, 'that's a long time to play junior hockey.' Because Tavares in the following years, was exposed, his skating skating and his work ethic were questioned. A perfect example of anointing someone a generational talent way to early.

 

[PULSATING]

He does stuff I’ve really never seen in terms of his skill and shot.

It’s crazy to me how the skill level of the younger hockey players has gotten so much better in such a rapid time frame. These guys have such good hands on average compared to 20 years ago.

It’s funny because the same thing is happening in lacrosse. Wonder what the reason is.

TikTok

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Inflating a height from 6'0" to 6'2" is one thing. From 5'8" to 5'10' is another. 5'10" is a small NHLer. 5'8" is rare. There couldn't be more than ten players in the NHL under 5'9". I'm not saying it is a dealbreaker for him, I'm just saying it's going to be tough to be a generational player at that height.

They are used as examples of prospects with generational production who were not generational prospects. Just like Bedard.

You have to be trolling at this point. There's no other explanation for such an intentional lack of comprehension.



Might want to check your math.


Generational = best player of your generation. Ovechkin is amazing but I have Crosby comfortably ahead.

Perfect. Now you're in a corner you can't get out of. Which one of these 2 players are generational and which one not. You can only pick 1:
Gretzky or Mario?

EDIT: Not sure why fly4puckguy's post ended up there. I fail at internet again. That's old school i guess lol