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

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He was never leaving the Ann Arbor area until he signed his NHL contract
He was playing AAA in Toronto when he applied. His entire family lived in Toronto until he went to the program, which is why Quinn billeted during is time there. Once Jack went there, they moved there and then enrolled Luke into local AAA. I mean, I've heard this from people who know the family. Yet, your reasoning is based on him never leaving a place he never lived in, to begin with?
 
He was playing midget in Toronto when he applied...
Just to be specific, he was repeating minor-midget. Don't know why elite lists it as midget. Pretty much all GTHL kids, if they end up not getting exceptional but were playing a year above, will repeat minor-midget over advancing to midget because so much of the top talent has left (OHL or OJHL), so they move back in with their age group. Unlike other regions, GTHL (and most Ontario leagues to the best of my knowledge) doesn't combine ages/grades. 14's play with 14's, 15's with 15's unless your advanced, unlike other regions where bantam is 13-14, midget is 15-17 etc. Minor bantam is 13, bantam is 14, etc.
 
He was playing AAA in Toronto when he applied. His entire family lived in Toronto until he went to the program, which is why Quinn billeted during is time there. Once Jack went there, they moved there and then enrolled Luke into local AAA. I mean, I've heard this from people who know the family. Yet, your reasoning is based on him never leaving a place he never lived in, to begin with?
He never lived in Plymouth? Right outside of Ann Arbor...so he sure did. I could give 2 shits about about his ES...once he hit Plymouth it was NHL or Michigan once he was drafted
 
He never lived in Plymouth? Right outside of Ann Arbor...so he sure did. I could give 2 ****s about about his ES...once he hit Plymouth it was NHL or Michigan once he was drafted
He lived in Mississauga (a Toronto suburb) until he went to the program at 16. His dad moved there when he was 5 or so to be an assistant coach with the Marlies. Considering he applied for exceptional status prior to showing up. Maybe you don't give two shits about something, but don't try to imply others don't know what they are talking about when you are the one in the wrong. So, he would have reported to the OHL had he got exceptional status at 15, and would have shown up in London if he slipped to them at 16. Neither happened, so he chose the program. Also, Michigan was never that serious a consideration, they were dead-set on him being the first USNTDP to go straight to the NHL, hence why he never even gave an early commitment when he spurned Mississauga Steelheads.
 
According to Friedman Bedard along with Yager and Heidt have all applied for exceptional status for next year. Have only seen highlights of Bedard but have seen Yager+Heidt live many times and while they are special players not quite sure they are deserving of ES. As for the teams picking it looks like Swift Current will finish last(Regina owns this pick) with Moose Jaw, Prince George and Regina(Saskatoon owns this pick) all close for 2nd-4th last. Big reason Savoie didn't get exceptional last year is he didn't want to go to PG so that could be a situation again this year although haven't heard anything from any 3 kids if they won't report anywhere.
 
that article is a very interesting read. saying that bedard has a nhl-caliber shot at age 14/15 is mind boggling.
 
According to Friedman Bedard along with Yager and Heidt have all applied for exceptional status for next year. Have only seen highlights of Bedard but have seen Yager+Heidt live many times and while they are special players not quite sure they are deserving of ES. As for the teams picking it looks like Swift Current will finish last(Regina owns this pick) with Moose Jaw, Prince George and Regina(Saskatoon owns this pick) all close for 2nd-4th last. Big reason Savoie didn't get exceptional last year is he didn't want to go to PG so that could be a situation again this year although haven't heard anything from any 3 kids if they won't report anywhere.

Good luck to all of them, I hope one breaks the WHL Exceptional Status barrier. But from what I gather, getting ES status is more of a political thing than actual hockey reasons...
 
The stickhandling, skating, and shooting ability is just an outrageous combination with this kid. Add in his aggressive energy to go to the net and willingness to hold the puck and he will score; each game, it’s a matter of when not if. I simply cannot stress his shooting ability enough. If he keeps up the work, and I don’t see why he wouldn’t, he’ll be stepping into the NHL with one of the absolute best shots in the league ala Ovechkin in ‘05. He has the power, accuracy, and angle-changing down pat and has that key inherent ability to find soft areas and the willingness to go to the net.

Add in his great ability to find open guys when teams overcommit to taking away the shot, and it’s easy to see why people are already talking about him.

63 points and 32 goals in 29 games; to give some context, Savoie had 71 points in 31 games last season, playing with top 2021-eligible Dylan Guenther.
 
What is the case for Bedard to be awarded exceptional status compared to Savoie (Who had similar output yet was denied) ?
 
What is the case for Bedard to be awarded exceptional status compared to Savoie (Who had similar output yet was denied) ?

Playing for any team who drafts him. Savoie refused to report to Prince George and tried to use the NCAA as leverage to get to a better team. In the end Winnipeg won the WHL draft lottery and he reported there but had he been willing to report to PG and not used the NCAA as leverage I think the chances of him getting exceptional might have been higher. In order for Bedard to be granted exceptional status he likely has to tell them he is 100% committed to playing in the WHL for any team that drafts him. Swift Current, Moose Jaw and Tri-City have the best odds of getting #1 right now so he has to be willing to play for any of them.
 
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