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

[Gold Standard]

Bedard is playing for Canada at the upcoming IIHF U18s. Same age, McDavid scored 14 points in 7 games leading the team in points. The last time Canada won gold at IIHF U18s. That same core won the 2015 World Juniors. He played with the top Canadians of 2013 and 2014 draft, but he was a 2015 leading the tournament in scoring.

Nobody will accomplish that. He could still end up being the best player since McDavid which is flattering as a Canadian.

not exactly the same age - McDavid was 16 years 3 months approx. and Bedard will be 15 years 9 months. at that age, that's a little bit of a difference. I'm a stickler for age comparisons.

He looks good! exceptional. I'm exceptionally impressed. Are we sure he's still in for the U18s or will be opt to stay with family?

 

[nbwingsfan]

McDavid had Conor Brown (led the OHL in Scoring), Dane Fox (over 100 pts), Dylan Strome, Alex DeBrincat, Andre Burakovsky, Adam Pelech, and Brendan Gaunce on the otters roster in 13-14, with Oskar Dansk in net. That's a pretty absurd group of NHLers for a junior roster.

Why did you quote the 13/14 when the poster asked for his exceptional season?

In 12/13 Erie was second last in the league and were a garbage team filled with no names and young struggling players.

 

[kyle44]

Yeah, they didn't have all of those stars, but you are wrong with this post.

They had way more what just Connor Brown, like Adam Pelech and Dane Fox, and one of the Raddysh brothers,
also 2 other solid OHL career players, with Dansk as their goalie, when McDavid had his rookie season.

Pats have team full of nobodies, outside Bedard.

I'm not wrong about anything. Dane Fox is not a noteworthy name. Sure, he put up huge numbers as a 20/21 year old on a stacked team as many CHL players do in their overage year and never amount to much. Darren Raddysh played 24 games as a 16 year old defenseman that year. I suppose I can concede that Pelech is noteworthy, but he sure didn't inflate any numbers for McDavid.

You don't have a clue about the OHL or its history. You can't discern anything from your boxscore watching.

 

[kyle44]

True, but Bedard is currently outscoring both McDavid's 15 and 16 year old seasons.

I didn't comment on that? I simply pointed out that the poster was wrong about the composition of Erie's roster during McDavid's exceptional status year.

 

[ijuka]

I dont see him being a generational level talent without the insane level skating that McDavid and Crosby had versus their peers at the same age.

Dont get me wrong I think he can get very close without it - but in todays NHL, McDavids speed and skating is what separates him from the rest of his peers - and thats the only one thing hes clearly better than everyone else at.

Point being for me is that speed is the biggest weapon you can give a top tier player, and probably why McDavid is this generations GOAT until someone just as fast comes along.

There are players who are as fast or even faster than McDavid. This narrative that he's only so good because of his skating is, frankly, ridiculous. And skating also doesn't make a player good, many of the top skaters are stone hand 4th liners.

Far more important are things like hands, vision, hockey IQ, even shot.

 

[Dan Patrick]

There are players who are as fast or even faster than McDavid. This narrative that he's only so good because of his skating is, frankly, ridiculous. And skating also doesn't make a player good, many of the top skaters are stone hand 4th liners.

Far more important are things like hands, vision, hockey IQ, even shot.

I dont think they are trying to argue that McDavid or Crosby are only good because of their skating but simply that their insane forward skating or insane edge work are what move them from being elite franchise hockey players into that generational conversation. McDavid would likely still be a near point per game player in the NHL without his skating but it is his skating that allows him to absolutely bully every team in the league.

Bedard has shown he certainly has the shot and hockey IQ to be an elite or franchise level talent going forward but its being truly elite at skating as well as shot and playmaking that seperate the Tavares's and Spezza's from the McDavid and Crosby. I still think it's too early to call though so take the Bedard commentary with a grain of salt.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

I'm not wrong about anything. Dane Fox is not a noteworthy name. Sure, he put up huge numbers as a 20/21 year old on a stacked team as many CHL players do in their overage year and never amount to much. Darren Raddysh played 24 games as a 16 year old defenseman that year. I suppose I can concede that Pelech is noteworthy, but he sure didn't inflate any numbers for McDavid.

You don't have a clue about the OHL or its history. You can't discern anything from your boxscore watching.

Wow,...mighty words.

 

[Joe Hallenback]

Bedard isn't McDavid they are not the same type of player. He looks very much like Barzal with a better shot/release. My biggest concern and its minor is his size. If he was 16 I would be less enthused but he still has a couple of years to grow

 

[danyhabsfan]

Bedard isn't McDavid they are not the same type of player. He looks very much like Barzal with a better shot/release. My biggest concern and its minor is his size. If he was 16 I would be less enthused but he still has a couple of years to grow

I don't think it will be an issue.

He's already 5'9'' and 165 pounds which is the size of Gaudreau and he's not even 16.

I'd guess he ends up about 6' which is fine.

I haven't seen if the mother and the father are tall. That would really help with the projection.

 

[covfefe]

Their brand isn't fading at all they just went for it and won the WHL. Also they're a lot more competitive this year than they were the past couple years, Ward being a big reason. In Junior it always goes in a cycle of rebuild-competitive-championship run-rebuild-repeat outside of a few teams who can magically get certain kids to report. Swift finally has all their picks back and has started to assemble a young core, 1 more rough year and they'll be back being a competitive squad. Kelowna is the team who's in for a rough ride for the next 3-4 years. Couldn't recoup picks from moving Korczak, Hamaliuk, etc to kick start the rebuild but they can get better imports to report at least.

I respectfully disagree, two seasons of 0 gate revenues is a death knell for any small market team in the WHL. The Broncos lost $791,000 last year and they don't have the financial peace of mind that comes with franchises owned by the uber wealthy.

Fact is, some of these teams are getting very nervous about their books. How long can you run a business that is taking in 0 gate revs and no distribution revs while you are bleeding costs?

“We don’t need to make money,” Joe Arling, the former chairman of the Broncos board of directors, once said so famously. “We just don’t want to lose any.”

I'd be happy to be wrong on all accounts, but the evidence is pointing away from you here..

“If you start having (deficit) numbers like this for two, three years in a row, then it gets very dire,” McCleary said. “Playing without fans will bury teams, and not just ours, if we have to go for a significant (time). We can’t do it.”

And I've been watching the WHL for 25 years, with a smattering of season tickets purchases in there, so I do have some sense of how competitive cycles work

 

[landy92mack29]

Well each sask team got 600k from the government so that'll float them this year

 

[Oildrum]

His shot looks next level, also surprised how slow some of those games look (maybe his skill just makes them look slow)

 

[jc17]

What's more likely, his shot continues to develop and stays far ahead of his peers, or the older he gets the less it becomes an advantage over kids the same age?

 

[Oildrum]

At this point, I’d love for him to have an annoying ego. McDavid and Crosby combined have the personality and charm of a wet paper bag.

Like Tony DeAngelo? That worked out well.

 

[Hansen]

I don't think it will be an issue.

He's already 5'9'' and 165 pounds which is the size of Gaudreau and he's not even 16.

I'd guess he ends up about 6' which is fine.

I haven't seen if the mother and the father are tall. That would really help with the projection.

He's listed as 5'10 179lbs on Eliteprospects, must be from his time in Europe, is that inaccurate? Seems like a good bet to be 5'11-6' if he's 15

 

[Breakfast of Champs]

What's more likely, his shot continues to develop and stays far ahead of his peers, or the older he gets the less it becomes an advantage over kids the same age?

his shot is already better than kids 3-4 years older than him so its not just kids his own age, but I would also point out that even without his shot he would be a borderline phenom, his IQ and hands/creativity is elite, and his skating is very, very good. Offensively he has little no no weaknesses aside from his size which shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Reddwit]

Like Tony DeAngelo? That worked out well.

No, I was actually thinking more like Slava Voynov.

But seriously though - what the f***? What kind of person are you where racist locker room cancers amount to simply having “annoying” egos?

 

[Oildrum]

No, I was actually thinking more like Slava Voynov.

But seriously though - what the f***? What kind of person are you where racist locker room cancers amount to simply having “annoying” egos?

Was he really? To be honest I only heard very minimal stuff around him, didn’t follow the story to closely I was just razzing you.

 

[Samsquanch]

I dont think they are trying to argue that McDavid or Crosby are only good because of their skating but simply that their insane forward skating or insane edge work are what move them from being elite franchise hockey players into that generational conversation. McDavid would likely still be a near point per game player in the NHL without his skating but it is his skating that allows him to absolutely bully every team in the league.

Bedard has shown he certainly has the shot and hockey IQ to be an elite or franchise level talent going forward but its being truly elite at skating as well as shot and playmaking that seperate the Tavares's and Spezza's from the McDavid and Crosby. I still think it's too early to call though so take the Bedard commentary with a grain of salt.

Great post - and its my exact thoughts as well.

 

[Mathieukferland]

his shot is already better than kids 3-4 years older than him so its not just kids his own age, but I would also point out that even without his shot he would be a borderline phenom, his IQ and hands/creativity is elite, and his skating is very, very good. Offensively he has little no no weaknesses aside from his size which shouldn't be an issue.

He’s also very good at faceoffs, oddly enough. Is an underrated asset.

 

[Bubbles]

His 11th, and a point to the heavens for his grandpa.

 

[habsrule4eva3089]

His 11th, and a point to the heavens for his grandpa.

The analysis of the situation and to have the patience to fake that shot is sublime.

The boy found his calling in life. What a joy to have such a prospect coming up. Kids like this only come around once in a while.

Can't wait until Novosibirsk 2023. Bedard vs Michkov World Juniors!

 

[McFlash97]

Tbh Savoie looks to be more of a McDavid type player. High end speed and vision.

Bedard has incredible vision too , but is able to use his teammates to create space for himself as well as anyone at 15.

 

[Bubbles]

Was there any doubt? What a way to end his 15 year old WHL season!

 

[Le Golie]

Scored the OT winner to end his WHL season. What a player.