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

[rt]

Matthews aged out of the USNTDP squad and is only real option was USHL or Europe and he chose Europe. Bedard isn't likely going to move to another continent at 17 just because he's dominating the WHL. I'd say there will never be a CHLer from Canada that would do that. If anything they basically solidify going 1st overall if they dominate.Moving to Europe to play with pro's is a massive risk that could backfire and knock them down in the draft.

Matthews was considering the Everett Silver Tips and Denver University, if I recall correctly. It was down to those two options and and Switzerland, if I’m not mistaken.

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

This kid is everywhere on the ice in the offensive zone (in a good way). Him and Shane Wright are going to make whichever teams draft them very very happy.

 

[Gold Standard]

This kid is everywhere on the ice in the offensive zone (in a good way). Him and Shane Wright are going to make whichever teams draft them very very happy.

We're going to see what both on 1 team will look like here in a few weeks. tune in for the fireworks.

 

[Daximus]

Matthews was considering the Everett Silver Tips and Denver University, if I recall correctly. It was down to those two options and and Switzerland, if I’m not mistaken.

Yeah he was in a unique situation. If choose Everett he would have been locked into the CHL until he aged out if he didnt play NHL. Europe was unique in that if he didnt make the NHL it left the door open to play in the AHL right away.

 

[KidLine93]

Bruins playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers. Got Hall for a decent price at the deadline, sign him for 3 years and secure the top pick in Bedards draft

 

[alko]

It could be fun to have both of Bedard - Michkov in one team. There must be some unorthodox GM, who will make wild trades, like Vancouver did with Sedins.

 

[Daximus]

It could be fun to have both of Bedard - Michkov in one team. There must be some unorthodox GM, who will make wild trades, like Vancouver did with Sedins.

If this draft lives up to expectations then there won't likely be anyone moving top 3 picks, at least not on purpose. You might end up with a Sharks situation.

 

[alko]

You might end up with a Sharks situation

What is this?

 

[Doc5]

What is this?

Sharks traded their 2020 first round pick for Karlsson. The pick ended up being a lottery pick..

 

[NatusVincere]

It's funny that nobody questions the strength of the league (covid circumstances) when several 15 year olds are already impressing. Of course not like bedard, but when he was in sweden hardly anyone talked about him... we will see how the whl representatives will do at the u18.

 

[kyle44]

It's funny that nobody questions the strength of the league (covid circumstances) when several 15 year olds are already impressing. Of course not like bedard, but when he was in sweden hardly anyone talked about him... we will see how the whl representatives will do at the u18.

Lots of people in this thread have pointed out that his totals may be slightly inflated due to the teams in Regina's bubble being somewhat weaker; but he's also completely carrying his team as a 15 year old. Also, he only played 5 games in Sweden and there were multiple daily posts about him during that time. This thread was also started when he was 13 years old, so many people have been talking about him. Last, I'm not sure what you're trying to say about the WHL here? I'm quite certain Guenther, Sillinger, Stankoven, and possibly even Bedard, will likely be near the top of the scoring leaders at this tournament.

To your other point, the 2020 draft crop (Bantam) was thought to be unusually strong, so it isn't surprising other 15 year olds like Yager, Benson, Leslie, etc., are impressing; its likely several of these players will be high picks come 2023. It also isn't uncommon for elite 15 year olds (see Dach, Krebs, Guenther) to perform well during their WHL stints, they've just rarely had the opportunity to showcase themselves for this long.

 

[Dominance]

It's funny that nobody questions the strength of the league (covid circumstances) when several 15 year olds are already impressing. Of course not like bedard, but when he was in sweden hardly anyone talked about him... we will see how the whl representatives will do at the u18.

There was twice as much Bedard discussion as for other 2023 prospects put together.

 

[Dominance]

Update.

Pats without Bedard: 0-3-0, 4 GF (1.33/gm)

 

[Eternal Leaf]

Update.

Pats without Bedard: 0-3-0, 4 GF (1.33/gm)

Just shows how good Berard is for his age. He carried them for 15 games while making it look easy.

 

[Mathieukferland]

Goal and shootout goal today against Finland, the Bédard Show has gone international

 

[Bubbles]

 

[prongertheman9]

Did he go bar down on that goal? Heard a ping but couldn’t follow the puck. If so that is absolutely ridiculous considering he had to go across body off the wrong foot.

 

[Sweetpotato]

Im praying him and Wright somehow end up on the same team. Can you imagine that combo. That'd be good for hockey.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

Im praying him and Wright somehow end up on the same team. Can you imagine that combo. That'd be good for hockey.

How? Spread out the wealth among the teams.

 

[Sweetpotato]

How? Spread out the wealth among the teams.

Excitement and high end talent is good for the game. You think Miami Heat or Golden State and thus the NBA get the same hype they did with just LeBron or Curry on those teams? You think Pittsburgh or Edmonton gets the same attention without Draisaitl or Malkin?

Duo's putting up historic numbers is better for the league than HHoF players alone on an island.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

Excitement and high end talent is good for the game. You think Miami Heat or Golden State and thus the NBA get the same hype they did with just LeBron or Curry on those teams? You think Pittsburgh or Edmonton gets the same attention without Draisaitl or Malkin?

Duo's putting up historic numbers is better for the league than HHoF players alone on an island.

What's better for the NHL is parity. Most fans without a superstar will agree.

 

[Mathieukferland]

What's better for the NHL is parity. Most fans without a superstar will agree.

I hate parity, as a québécois I wish we got to have first refusal rights on every player from QC like in the old days. In the case of Connor Bédard, I’m sure people from British Columbia would agree

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

The NBA is playing a bit of a different game I think than the NHL, trying to mass market to the entire planet and have a massive base of casual fans globally. Stars matter for that. The NHL for better or worse is retreating into a cult sport everywhere but Canada and its goal is to maximize the revenue it extracts from that cult. The international fans are mostly fans of their country's hockey stars. In Canada it's the top of cultural heap and it has plenty of (Canadian + local team) stars for that.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

What's better for the NHL is parity. Most fans without a superstar will agree.

Natural parity is good. Forced parity for the sake of it is really bad. The NHL has forced parity.

 

[Bubbles]

Excitement and high end talent is good for the game. You think Miami Heat or Golden State and thus the NBA get the same hype they did with just LeBron or Curry on those teams? You think Pittsburgh or Edmonton gets the same attention without Draisaitl or Malkin?

Duo's putting up historic numbers is better for the league than HHoF players alone on an island.

If I was Ron Francis I would make deals that get lottery picks in the 2022 and 2023 draft. Take cap dumps for high picks. Tank next year and sell off the 2021 pick too.