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

[ijuka]

Bedard was listed at 5'8" 2 years ago at WSI. Hence, if he's not grown since then, it's likely his growth has stopped already.

 

[bigdog16]

Bedard was listed at 5'8" 2 years ago at WSI. Hence, if he's not grown since then, it's likely his growth has stopped already.

Thats actually completely false. Growth isnt linear

 

[wetcoast]

Bedard was listed at 5'8" 2 years ago at WSI. Hence, if he's not grown since then, it's likely his growth has stopped already.

Even if he has stopped, which is unlikely, he is already a stocky 165lbs at age 14 so he isn't going to be some skinny 5'8" NHLer either.

Heck he probably has a body better suited for the NHL right now than say Aleksi Heponiemi right?

 

[ijuka]

Even if he has stopped, which is unlikely, he is already a stocky 165lbs at age 14 so he isn't going to be some skinny 5'8" NHLer either.

Heck he probably has a body better suited for the NHL right now than say Aleksi Heponiemi right?

Haven't seen Connor Bedard as much recently so it's tough to say. I think 5'8" should be enough so I doubt that'd be a problem in either case.

 

[bert]

I recently watched a video of Nathan MacKinnon’s 14 year old-season highlights, and the stylistic similarities pop out. There is little doubt that Bedard is better at the same age, though. Progress is not linear, of course, but I see current MacK as an attainable ceiling for this kid.

Excited to watch him play in the dub next season. Moose Jaw, Regina, wherever, I’ll make the trip.

Wow tracking to be better than the second best player in the world. Quite the statement.

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

Wow tracking to be better than the second best player in the world. Quite the statement.

He said Bedard is better than MacKinnon at the same age — which is pretty irrefutable — not that Bedard will be better than him.

 

[bert]

He said Bedard is better than MacKinnon at the same age — which is pretty irrefutable — not that Bedard will be better than him.

Pretty hard to compare at 14 years old across the country to call that irrefutable is laughable.

I am excited about the player too but some of these statements are quite ambitious and at 14 there are alot of ways it can go from here.

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

Pretty hard to compare at 14 years old across the country to call that irrefutable is laughable.

Not really. Bedard is first in his league in points as a 14 year old in an under-18 league. MacKinnon, in an under-15 league, had a teammate that put up 69 more points than him in the same amount of games.

at 14 there are alot of ways it can go from here.

I'm not denying that. No one knows how Bedard will turn out, but I'm not sure what's wrong with saying that a 14 year-old who was just granted exceptional status has a ceiling like MacKinnon.

 

[Breakfast of Champs]

Not really. Bedard is first in his league in points as a 14 year old in an under-18 league. MacKinnon, in an under-15 league, had a teammate that put up 69 more points than him in the same amount of games.


I'm not denying that. No one knows how Bedard will turn out, but I'm not sure what's wrong with saying that a 14 year-old who was just granted exceptional status has a ceiling like MacKinnon.

I really don't want to derail this thread but FWIW MacKinnon was also a legitimate phenom at 14, and the best in the world for that age. yes, Cammarata was outscoring him but by all accounts form those who watched them at Shattuck MacKinnon was a future NHL star and Cammarata was going to struggle as the ranks continued. It was MacKinnon being featured in ESPN magazine at 14, not Cammarata, and everyone was making comparisons to Sid (far or not) with Nate.

What he did in minor hockey here in NS was absolutely insane as well, and anyone who had seen him play knew that despite maybe not putting up the numbers most phenoms might put up, he impacted the game on such a high level and seemed to have a ceiling that was endless with his skating. We have to remember even in Jr he was outscored quite easily by Drouin in their draft years but we all knew who was going to be the better pro.

Bedard looks amazing, I haven't seen the kid play live or anything but he looks amazing on film and some highly regarded people have said all the right things about him thus far - but having seen MacKinnon at that age if he is indeed irrefutably better than Nathan was, he is in the Crosby/McDavid level as MacKinnon was so good it was obvious he would be one of the absolute best players in the world even at 14/15.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Does his size bother anyone else?

 

[Mercedes Benn]

Does his size bother anyone else?

He’s 14...

 

[grentthealien]

Does his size bother anyone else?

Apparently yes. There’s been lots of talk about it lol. I mean I hope he grows more, but I don’t feel like spending any more time on estimating the growth of a 14 year old boy...

Bit too weird of a thing to be preoccupied with for my liking especially given all that’s currently happening in the world. In short he’ll likely grow more, but who the hell knows for sure.

 

[Fulham]

His Academy Team has been kicked out by the High School that founded it. There is now an Issue where no HS on the North Shore(of Vancouver) wants the kids from the program.

Program was founded as Sentinel Hockey Academy and morphed into West Van Academy. Several NHL'ers spent some time at the Sentinel Hockey Academy, (Reinhart's, Rielly)

This crop of kids have been such a behavioural problem that they were forced to stop allowing girls(used too be a co-ed Program) and have been kicked out of their founding school. Several parent protests have stopped them from being adopted by another local Highschool. Hoping Bedard isn't involved.

 

[Dominance]

His Academy Team has been kicked out by the High School that founded it. There is now an Issue where no HS on the North Shore(of Vancouver) wants the kids from the program.

Program was founded as Sentinel Hockey Academy and morphed into West Van Academy. Several NHL'ers spent some time at the Sentinel Hockey Academy, (Reinhart's, Rielly)

This crop of kids have been such a behavioural problem that they were forced to stop allowing girls(used too be a co-ed Program) and have been kicked out of their founding school. Several parent protests have stopped them from being adopted by another local Highschool. Hoping Bedard isn't involved.

This is some bullshit, as well as old news. Either way, Bedard got exceptional status, so he won’t be back.

 

[Dominance]

Not exactly surprising, but Bedard signed with the Pats today, confirming he’ll go first overall tomorrow.

 

[grentthealien]

Not exactly surprising, but Bedard signed with the Pats today, confirming he’ll go first overall tomorrow.

Awesome. Is there any way I can watch the draft?

 

[Dominance]

Awesome. Is there any way I can watch the draft?

I honestly haven’t been paying any attention to it whatsoever but I figure it will occur virtually like the OHL draft. I imagine there will be a live site for the selections, but not anything broadcasted. Like I said, I haven’t looked into it at all, though. As I write this, I think it would be cool if they did some kind of broadcast where each selection got a bit of analysis.

 

[grentthealien]

I honestly haven’t been paying any attention to it whatsoever but I figure it will occur virtually like the OHL draft. I imagine there will be a live site for the selections, but not anything broadcasted. Like I said, I haven’t looked into it at all, though. As I write this, I think it would be cool if they did some kind of broadcast where each selection got a bit of analysis.

Yeah forgot about Covid19 for a sec hahaha. The Gronk to Tampa bay move impaired me...

What time are the draft selections then?

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Thank god he has committed to the league. I'd say it was pretty obvious that he would seeing that he went through all the obstacles to being granted exceptional status. Some highly touted kids/parents can become quite wishy washy come draft time not being truthful and picking and choosing destinations...

Good on Bedard!!... zero sour taste in my mouth with him!

 

[Dominance]

Yeah forgot about Covid19 for a sec hahaha. The Gronk to Tampa bay move impaired me...

What time are the draft selections then?

I see that the draft is being live-streamed on WHL.ca and their YouTube channel beginning at 9:30 a.m. MT tomorrow.

 

[grentthealien]

I see that the draft is being live-streamed on WHL.ca and their YouTube channel beginning at 9:30 a.m. MT tomorrow.

Awesome. I’ll be on the look for it! Thanks.

 

[JamieG19]

Anyone cheering on the Exceptional Status/Bedard being drafted by the Pats into the WHL should be ashamed of themselves.

Connor's parents should be charged with child abuse/child endangerment when he gets knocked unconscious next year.

No matter how talented a kid is (And Bedard is the best I've seen since Crosby) a 15 year old should not be playing in the WHL against young men on their way out of hockey anyway.

Everyone know what happened to Matt Savoie this year in the WHL?? Kid was leveled and knocked out cold for several minutes by a player 3 years older. And by the way, not one of Savoie's teammates in Winnipeg came to his defense. Why? Because even teammates are jealous of these "phenoms".

It's going to be even worse for Connor Bedard because there's more hype with the full time WHL exceptional status and the coverage is starting. Guys in the league or already taking bets on who is the first one to knock Bedard out cold. Anyone who thinks that players in the W aren't dreaming of being the one to knock precious promoted Connor out cold is not very perceptive.

His parents are so irresponsible for pushing the Exceptional status stuff to get him into the W even after what happened to Savoie.

These parents of the 14/15 year old "next ones" treat their kid like they're the winning lottery ticket for the parent instead of exhibiting any common sense.

Anyone cheering this on must like seeing 15 year old kids laying on the ice unconscious. Come back to this thread when it happens and repeat how you supported this. It shouldn't be allowed and I have zero respect for the parents.

 

[Daximus]

Anyone cheering on the Exceptional Status/Bedard being drafted by the Pats into the WHL should be ashamed of themselves.

Connor's parents should be charged with child abuse/child endangerment when he gets knocked unconscious next year.

No matter how talented a kid is (And Bedard is the best I've seen since Crosby) a 15 year old should not be playing in the WHL against young men on their way out of hockey anyway.

Everyone know what happened to Matt Savoie this year in the WHL?? Kid was leveled and knocked out cold for several minutes by a player 3 years older. And by the way, not one of Savoie's teammates in Winnipeg came to his defense. Why? Because even teammates are jealous of these "phenoms".

It's going to be even worse for Connor Bedard because there's more hype with the full time WHL exceptional status and the coverage is starting. Guys in the league or already taking bets on who is the first one to knock Bedard out cold. Anyone who thinks that players in the W aren't dreaming of being the one to knock precious promoted Connor out cold is not very perceptive.

His parents are so irresponsible for pushing the Exceptional status stuff to get him into the W even after what happened to Savoie.

These parents of the 14/15 year old "next ones" treat their kid like they're the winning lottery ticket for the parent instead of exhibiting any common sense.

Anyone cheering this on must like seeing 15 year old kids laying on the ice unconscious. Come back to this thread when it happens and repeat how you supported this. It shouldn't be allowed and I have zero respect for the parents.

This might be hands down the dumbest post I have ever seen on this site. Congratulations you deserve dumbest post of the year award. And it's only April. I have seen countless stupid posts since this covid stuff started happening but this one is somehow even worse than all of them. You do know that every single year 15 year olds suit up for multiple games in the Dub right? And every single year most of them don't get knocked unconscious.

 

[bigdog16]

Anyone cheering on the Exceptional Status/Bedard being drafted by the Pats into the WHL should be ashamed of themselves.

Connor's parents should be charged with child abuse/child endangerment when he gets knocked unconscious next year.

No matter how talented a kid is (And Bedard is the best I've seen since Crosby) a 15 year old should not be playing in the WHL against young men on their way out of hockey anyway.

Everyone know what happened to Matt Savoie this year in the WHL?? Kid was leveled and knocked out cold for several minutes by a player 3 years older. And by the way, not one of Savoie's teammates in Winnipeg came to his defense. Why? Because even teammates are jealous of these "phenoms".

It's going to be even worse for Connor Bedard because there's more hype with the full time WHL exceptional status and the coverage is starting. Guys in the league or already taking bets on who is the first one to knock Bedard out cold. Anyone who thinks that players in the W aren't dreaming of being the one to knock precious promoted Connor out cold is not very perceptive.

His parents are so irresponsible for pushing the Exceptional status stuff to get him into the W even after what happened to Savoie.

These parents of the 14/15 year old "next ones" treat their kid like they're the winning lottery ticket for the parent instead of exhibiting any common sense.

Anyone cheering this on must like seeing 15 year old kids laying on the ice unconscious. Come back to this thread when it happens and repeat how you supported this. It shouldn't be allowed and I have zero respect for the parents.

None of the players that have been granted exceptional status in the past have been knocked out cold

 

[JamieG19]

This might be hands down the dumbest post I have ever seen on this site. Congratulations you deserve dumbest post of the year award. And it's only April. I have seen countless stupid posts since this covid stuff started happening but this one is somehow even worse than all of them. You do know that every single year 15 year olds suit up for multiple games in the Dub right? And every single year most of them don't get knocked unconscious.

Not the whole friggin year like Bedard is set to play (until he gets hurt).

And Bedard has a target on his back being the only Exceptional Status player in the WHL.

Watch again at what happened to Matt Savoie in his few games in the WHL last year.

15-year-old knocked out by huge open-ice hit in the WHL | TradeRumours.com

That's going to be Bedard next year. You're being criminally naive if you don't think the guys in the WHL are lining up to put Bedard to sleep. The target on him is massive. His parents are throwing their lamb to the wolves because they see the $$$ a few years down the road.