Connor Bedard 2022/2023 season comparing to other great juniors seasons

[jigglysquishy]

I don't feel like I can be objective about Bedard. I live a 10 minute walk from the Pats arena and he has absolutely taken the city by storm. I have friends who couldn't even tell you what team Crosby plays on, but they loudly say Bedard is the next Gretzky.

 

[Jets4Life]

I'm pulling for Bedard, but I got a bad feeling he is going to end up in a terrible situation and a badly run team and just have his career ruined or fall very short of what people are expecting. It would be nice to see another McDavid level player gunning it out.

Not sure why you think this, but then again the same things were said about Gretzky when he entered the NHL in 1979.

I recall 5 players that had a ton of hype during my lifetime: Lemieux, Lindros, Daigle, Crosby, and McDavid.

We have to keep in mind that of those 5 players, only Lindros started his career with a well run organization that was rebuilding. The mid 80s Penguins were horrible. The Senators were bad until 1996. The Penguins were abysmal from 2001-06. Finally, the Oilers were pathetic from 2006 until 2016.

 

[Jets4Life]

Even with Bedard dominating the world juniours like he did at 17. Let's not forget crosby led the iihf men's worlds in scoring at 18. Won the art ross at 19 and led the Stanley cup playoffs in scoring at 20. Will be hard to match that off the jump

Crosby wasn't really competing against any superstars. Thornton won the Art Ross the year prior, and as good as Jumbo Joe was, he was no Gretzky.

 

[JackSlater]

I wonder it is just a general down shift about the importance of hockey in Canada a more and more split cultural world.

I feel that if Ovechkin-Crosby would have scored like McDavid did and say Crosby would have won the Ross in 11-12-13-14 it would have felt more hyped than McDavid right now, his half 2011 season felt bigger in some ways than actual full season of Conor.

Could just be Montreal being so bad for so long now + east coast vs west coast bias, but a bit like Trout being possibly the best at baseball in the history of the sport did not feel has big of a story like Tiger-Messi-James-Mahomes being possibly the best at their sport ever, McDavid I am not sure he even transcended the hockey world to be known culturally at large by people that know nothing about hockey (like we know McGregor even if we are not able to name who has the actual belt).

Trout is maybe not Ken Griffey Jr. marketable, but also baseball declined by a giant amount since when the arguably best of all time Bond entered the MLB era and the little hiccup back of popularity during the homeruns records race.

And Bedard do not feel like 33% of the hype of the previous big Lemieux-Lindros-Crosby-McDavid

I do think that part of it is that hockey is less dominant in Canadian sports/culture, but he also seems to have been less of a phenom at a young age than Crosby and McDavid were. I guess that covid knocking out most of Bedard's 15 year old season would be a factor compared to McDavid at least.

I don't feel like I can be objective about Bedard. I live a 10 minute walk from the Pats arena and he has absolutely taken the city by storm. I have friends who couldn't even tell you what team Crosby plays on, but they loudly say Bedard is the next Gretzky.

I thought I read that Regina has barely sold out its arena this year. Bedard made a big impact in Nova Scotia during and after the WJC - I've seen various kids (and an old lady) walking around with Bedard jerseys since the 2023 tournament, and you don't generally see that for a prospect. Crosby was a different level in Nova Scotia obviously - he was famous well before he played in the QMJHL (I saw him play when he was 11 or 12 I think) and is probably the most well known and well liked person in the province. My sense is that Crosby was relatively well known in Canada before his CHL career even began, and I do not have that sense at all with Bedard. Crosby playing in the CHL during the NHL lockout was also huge for his hype. I find the McDavid experience a lot closer to Crosby's than Bedard's. Lindros was even more hyped.

 

[jigglysquishy]

I do think that part of it is that hockey is less dominant in Canadian sports/culture, but he also seems to have been less of a phenom at a young age than Crosby and McDavid were. I guess that covid knocking out most of Bedard's 15 year old season would be a factor compared to McDavid at least.



I thought I read that Regina has barely sold out its arena this year. Bedard made a big impact in Nova Scotia during and after the WJC - I've seen various kids (and an old lady) walking around with Bedard jerseys since the 2023 tournament, and you don't generally see that for a prospect. Crosby was a different level in Nova Scotia obviously - he was famous well before he played in the QMJHL (I saw him play when he was 11 or 12 I think) and is probably the most well known and well liked person in the province. My sense is that Crosby was relatively well known in Canada before his CHL career even began, and I do not have that sense at all with Bedard. Crosby playing in the CHL during the NHL lockout was also huge for his hype. I find the McDavid experience a lot closer to Crosby's than Bedard's. Lindros was even more hyped.

Things weren't crazy at the start of the year, but have been on fire since the WJC. I've had a few friends go to Pats games as their first hockey game ever this year. I tried to go last weekend and it was sold out. Never seen that here.

 

[Crosby2010]

I find Bedard much less hyped than McDavid and Crosby (also Lindros) were. His statistics measure up decently and his WJC performance certainly boosted his profile but there didn't seem the be the years long build for Bedard at the same level.

I can remember Bedard being mentioned when he was 13 or 14. At that age you know full well so much can change. We could get into a long list of players that weren't the same by even 16 or 17 as their peers. There is still work to be done at 14. You still have to get better. So I will admit I didn't put a lot of stock into it. I would say it was in the 2021 WHL season that I paid attention to how good he might be when he led the league in a very shortened season in points.

 

[Calderon]

How does Bedard's supporting cast stack up to that of Mario, Lindros, Crosby and McDavid? I see The Pats aren't exactly title favorites so Bedard is more like a lone superstar, right?

 

[seventieslord]

How does Bedard's supporting cast stack up to that of Mario, Lindros, Crosby and McDavid? I see The Pats aren't exactly title favorites so Bedard is more like a lone superstar, right?

Svozil is an absolutely outstanding junior defenseman in his D+2 year, honestly shouldn't be in junior anymore. He's overqualified. Other than him, a couple talented grinder types at forward and a monster of a defenseman named Bateman stand out. But I don't think you'll be seeing any of them in the NHL. Without Bedard this team is well below average and if they didn't have Svozil they're probably be bottom three in the dub.

Wow, check out the plus minuses on this team! Pretty much tells the same story.

Regina Pats 2022-23 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com

The roster, scoring and goaltender statistics for the 2022-23 Regina Pats playing in the WHL.

www.hockeydb.com

And on second thought, Tanner Howe looks like draft pick material. That's strong production in his D-1 year
.

 

[Pominville Knows]

Regina Pats 2022-23 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com

The roster, scoring and goaltender statistics for the 2022-23 Regina Pats playing in the WHL.

www.hockeydb.com

And on second thought, Tanner Howe looks like draft pick material. That's strong production in his D-1 year
.

I have no idea really, but what if that Howe guy is the next Angelo Esposito, only playing with Bedard instead of 152 point Alexander Radulov?

 

[seventieslord]

I have no idea really, but what if that Howe guy is the next Angelo Esposito, only playing with Bedard instead of 152 point Alexander Radulov?

He's a 2024 draft pick so we still get one season to see what he can actually do without a generational talent beside him.

The name Tanner indicates he's a highly mediocre player, but the name Howe indicates he's outstanding, perhaps generational. So maybe he'll just come out in between.

 

[Johnny Engine]

He's a 2024 draft pick so we still get one season to see what he can actually do without a generational talent beside him.

The name Tanner indicates he's a highly mediocre player, but the name Howe indicates he's outstanding, perhaps generational. So maybe he'll just come out in between.

I'm still holding out hope for Gordie Glass.

 

[kaiser matias]

I do think that part of it is that hockey is less dominant in Canadian sports/culture, but he also seems to have been less of a phenom at a young age than Crosby and McDavid were. I guess that covid knocking out most of Bedard's 15 year old season would be a factor compared to McDavid at least.



I thought I read that Regina has barely sold out its arena this year. Bedard made a big impact in Nova Scotia during and after the WJC - I've seen various kids (and an old lady) walking around with Bedard jerseys since the 2023 tournament, and you don't generally see that for a prospect. Crosby was a different level in Nova Scotia obviously - he was famous well before he played in the QMJHL (I saw him play when he was 11 or 12 I think) and is probably the most well known and well liked person in the province. My sense is that Crosby was relatively well known in Canada before his CHL career even began, and I do not have that sense at all with Bedard. Crosby playing in the CHL during the NHL lockout was also huge for his hype. I find the McDavid experience a lot closer to Crosby's than Bedard's. Lindros was even more hyped.

He's gotten quite a crowd for away games. When the Pats went out to BC, they were selling out every game, or very close to it. The World Juniors really helped with that (I saw him play in Edmonton at the start of the year; less than 4000 people were in attendance).

 

[JackSlater]

He's gotten quite a crowd for away games. When the Pats went out to BC, they were selling out every game, or very close to it. The World Juniors really helped with that (I saw him play in Edmonton at the start of the year; less than 4000 people were in attendance).

Yeah I've read as much and from my own observation he's really taken off in terms of awareness among the general public since the WJC. Bedard's mother said as much in an interview with NHL.com, to the point where after the WJC she can't really move anonymously through Regina anymore. But that's also why I think that his hype has been clearly less than that of McDavid, Crosby, or Lindros. In the case of McDavid and Crosby in particular the WJC didn't really boost their fame all that much as each was a big piece, but the really the centrepiece, of their WJC team as a 17 year old.

 

[Crosby2010]

One thing to add about Crosby's draft year, and I don't think this applied to Bedard or McDavid, but the QMJHL specifically re-scheduled some of the Rimouski games at the time he was in the World Juniors in 2005. That's why he only missed 8 games in the season and had 62 games played out of 70. I believe Bedard will have 57 out of 68 games played. McDavid only played 47 his draft year but of course most of that was getting his hand hurt in a fight, so I don't know if the OHL moved any games at all. But if memory serves me correct it was all of the road games that Rimouski was going to play that they re-scheduled based on the fact I am sure those franchises wanted to sell the building out for Crosby visiting. I don't know if they did that even for Lindros in 1991 and Lemieux didn't play in the 1984 World juniors so that is perhaps unprecedented for Crosby.

 

[Crosby2010]

Just for kicks, now that we know the playoff stats in their draft year here they are:

Bedard: 20 points in 7 games
Crosby: 31 points in 13 games
McDavid: 49 points in 20 games
Lindros: 38 points in 16 games (won Memorial Cup the year before his draft year)

Crosby had 11 points in 6 games at the Memorial Cup, only the legendary London Knights could stop him.

I don't know who had the more eye popping stats. They all did. Not a bad choice among them.


So here is something interesting to simmer on. Lindros had not played an NHL game yet in 1991 and he makes the Canada Cup team and actually contributes quite well. He blended in. Threw some big hits too. Players like Yzerman and Sakic and co. were cut from the team. There is no way Yzerman should have been cut one way or another, but the point is Lindros made that team and did well. How does everyone think Crosby fares if there is a 2005 World Cup? Or 2015 for McDavid? Or 2023 for Bedard? How do they perform? The one mistake Team Canada made in 2006 was not including Crosby for the Olympics, but I am talking about how does he perform if he had never played in the NHL yet? We saw it with Lindros, we have to guess for the other three.

 

[MadLuke]

Lindros was a february prospect and needless to say so much bigger already than nhler men versus Crosby (august).

That said the nhl season was a couple of months after when the world cup happen and Crosby started with 9 goals, 24 points in 20 games, McDavid exactly the exact same, 9 goals-24 points his first 20 games.....

So on the physical side seem like they would have been ready, mentally ? Big moment does not seem to be an issue.

 

[Crosby2010]

Lindros was a february prospect and needless to say so much bigger already than nhler men versus Crosby (august).

That said the nhl season was a couple of months after when the world cup happen and Crosby started with 9 goals, 24 points in 20 games, McDavid exactly the exact same, 9 goals-24 points his first 20 games.....

So on the physical side seem like they would have been ready, mentally ? Big moment does not seem to be an issue.

Crosby should have been on the 2006 team, yes. It would surprise people who don't remember that it was actually a big topic of discussion at the time. Spezza was having a good year, Staal was having a good year. The idea that these guys were more "ready" at that level was actually being debated.

Heck, if the World Cup in 2016 didn't have that joke of a format I'd have had McDavid on Team Canada in a heartbeat. But in 2015 who knows? We had a ton of centres that created a logjam as it was.

I will say this, if there was a World Cup in 2023 I'd be very interested in seeing Bedard in it. Its risky but I think if you start him on the 4th line and see what happens it could be memorable. That being said Lindros was easily more ready for that sort of tournament with his size and such.

 

[buffalowing88]

Crosby should have been on the 2006 team, yes. It would surprise people who don't remember that it was actually a big topic of discussion at the time. Spezza was having a good year, Staal was having a good year. The idea that these guys were more "ready" at that level was actually being debated.

Heck, if the World Cup in 2016 didn't have that joke of a format I'd have had McDavid on Team Canada in a heartbeat. But in 2015 who knows? We had a ton of centres that created a logjam as it was.

I will say this, if there was a World Cup in 2023 I'd be very interested in seeing Bedard in it. Its risky but I think if you start him on the 4th line and see what happens it could be memorable. That being said Lindros was easily more ready for that sort of tournament with his size and such.

There just wasn't a lot of room on that 06 Canada team when you look back on it. Understanding that Doan, Draper, and Smyth were largely there as grinders that the team philosophy at time thought was necessary, the only really borderline choices were Lecavalier (still pretty fresh off a Cup win), Richards (same), and Gagne. Bertuzzi was still considered a premier power forward at the time, as sour as that would turn shortly after.

I would have liked to see Spezza and Crosby there. If it means shoehorning one at wing to replace Gagne and one to replace Richards than that's fine. Staal was having a great season but just having watched probably all of his games that year being that I was in their market, it was a sort of underwhelming presentation even if he was getting points. On the other hand, Spezza would have been a sight to see on open ice with his playmaking and hands.

 

[daver]

There just wasn't a lot of room on that 06 Canada team when you look back on it. Understanding that Doan, Draper, and Smyth were largely there as grinders that the team philosophy at time thought was necessary, the only really borderline choices were Lecavalier (still pretty fresh off a Cup win), Richards (same), and Gagne. Bertuzzi was still considered a premier power forward at the time, as sour as that would turn shortly after.

I would have liked to see Spezza and Crosby there. If it means shoehorning one at wing to replace Gagne and one to replace Richards than that's fine. Staal was having a great season but just having watched probably all of his games that year being that I was in their market, it was a sort of underwhelming presentation even if he was getting points. On the other hand, Spezza would have been a sight to see on open ice with his playmaking and hands.

I thought there was room for a 13th forward. The way Crosby dominated the WHCs just three months later and the NHL next season certainly makes this one of the bigger question marks. The team could have used his talent and more importantly his energy.

 

[Crosby2010]

There just wasn't a lot of room on that 06 Canada team when you look back on it. Understanding that Doan, Draper, and Smyth were largely there as grinders that the team philosophy at time thought was necessary, the only really borderline choices were Lecavalier (still pretty fresh off a Cup win), Richards (same), and Gagne. Bertuzzi was still considered a premier power forward at the time, as sour as that would turn shortly after.

I would have liked to see Spezza and Crosby there. If it means shoehorning one at wing to replace Gagne and one to replace Richards than that's fine. Staal was having a great season but just having watched probably all of his games that year being that I was in their market, it was a sort of underwhelming presentation even if he was getting points. On the other hand, Spezza would have been a sight to see on open ice with his playmaking and hands.

Bertuzzi went on a tear prior to the team being selected. This is where Gretzky and Lowe got a little too smart for their own good. Doan, Draper, Smyth, Bertuzzi. Something had to give here. You can't have all of these guys on the team and leave so much talent at home. Pick two of them, maximum. I get it, you need the sandpaper guys but I'd have been fine with just Doan and Smyth.

That being said our talented stars didn't do much either. I was okay with Lecavalier there and Richards. Both deserved it. Lecavalier was World Cup MVP in 2004. Gagne had great speed, so he was fine on there too. Sakic, Heatley, Thornton, Iggy, Nash, St. Louis all disappointed just like Richards and Lecavalier. This team for sure was good enough to win gold with who they had. But when we lost so badly we looked at how there was some skill left off the team that we sorely missed. Crosby would have fit in for sure and I think this was Spezza's best chance to get in there too.

The defense was missing Scott Niedermayer. But even so, there was still the names there. Size doesn't always win, we did not have a defenseman under 6'2". Pronger, Blake, Redden, McCabe, Foote, Regehr, Bouwmeester..........................that was still a good defense, or should have been. If you want to nitpick then maybe take out Foote or Regehr for someone like Boyle who was a better fit for the big ice. From the drop of the puck this whole team looked lost and confused. Nothing against Sakic, but maybe they needed some stronger leadership.

 

[buffalowing88]

Bertuzzi went on a tear prior to the team being selected. This is where Gretzky and Lowe got a little too smart for their own good. Doan, Draper, Smyth, Bertuzzi. Something had to give here. You can't have all of these guys on the team and leave so much talent at home. Pick two of them, maximum. I get it, you need the sandpaper guys but I'd have been fine with just Doan and Smyth.

That being said our talented stars didn't do much either. I was okay with Lecavalier there and Richards. Both deserved it. Lecavalier was World Cup MVP in 2004. Gagne had great speed, so he was fine on there too. Sakic, Heatley, Thornton, Iggy, Nash, St. Louis all disappointed just like Richards and Lecavalier. This team for sure was good enough to win gold with who they had. But when we lost so badly we looked at how there was some skill left off the team that we sorely missed. Crosby would have fit in for sure and I think this was Spezza's best chance to get in there too.

The defense was missing Scott Niedermayer. But even so, there was still the names there. Size doesn't always win, we did not have a defenseman under 6'2". Pronger, Blake, Redden, McCabe, Foote, Regehr, Bouwmeester..........................that was still a good defense, or should have been. If you want to nitpick then maybe take out Foote or Regehr for someone like Boyle who was a better fit for the big ice. From the drop of the puck this whole team looked lost and confused. Nothing against Sakic, but maybe they needed some stronger leadership.

Thanks for the full response! Gave me a lot to mull over.

Draper is a bit bizarre the more I think about it.

Niedermayer would have been huge, as you mentioned. He was on a weird second peak between 05-07 that I don't think a lot of people saw coming.

Where would that stronger leadership have come from? I don't disagree and actually think that's a good point. Canada was without that type of player at the time. Yzerman was washed, Sakic was a stoic leader but hardly a ra-ra guy.

My instinct says it should have been Pronger. He was probably the best player in the world for that period of time. I don't know why he didn't step up more but that was his team to own. It just didn't happen.

 

[MadLuke]

I feel for 2006, the Doan type played well enough, solid bottom 6 tourney from them (do you need Draper when you have them, is a strong skater and you have 2 extra players so not really an issue)

The issues was the more top player, Nash-Thornton-Bertuzzi-Lecavalier-Pronger not delivering, Niedermayer not being there.

Maybe you can make room for Spezza-Staal-Crosby-Savard-Briere-Marleau instead of some, a Boyle instead of a Foote, but end of the day it is hard to imagine for them to not go with Thornton-Lecavalier-Heatley-Iginla-Sakic-Richards-St-Louis has the main guys and for them to deliver or not.

Pronger-Foote on intl ice, Redden, old Blake, Regehr, McCabe, really young Bouwmeester, it is really not Weber-Boyle-Keith-Doughty-Niedermayer/Pronger for the vet, Seabrook.


Sweden of Alfredsson-Sundin-Zetterberg-Fosberg-Sedinx2, probably match perfectly well Canada top 6
Lidstrom-Jonson-Kronwall-Ohlund
Lundqvist

Homlstron-Pahlsson-Modin for dept...

Play that tourney in 1000 parallel universe, would not be surprised Sweden win it more often than Canada

 

[Crosby2010]

Thanks for the full response! Gave me a lot to mull over.

Draper is a bit bizarre the more I think about it.

Niedermayer would have been huge, as you mentioned. He was on a weird second peak between 05-07 that I don't think a lot of people saw coming.

Where would that stronger leadership have come from? I don't disagree and actually think that's a good point. Canada was without that type of player at the time. Yzerman was washed, Sakic was a stoic leader but hardly a ra-ra guy.

My instinct says it should have been Pronger. He was probably the best player in the world for that period of time. I don't know why he didn't step up more but that was his team to own. It just didn't happen.

Mario wasn't there either. Gretzky did invite him to be on the team, same with Yzerman but they both bowed out. Mario actually retired in January of that season, Yzerman was done by the end of the year. In reality they would not have been a useful addition to fill up a roster spot. Unless you figure they would have been the respected leaders out there. It is funny because when you look at the line up you figure there should have been lots of Cup champs to borrow from, but there weren't. Brodeur won a Cup, Blake and Foote on defense had at the time. Up front it was only Sakic, the Tampa trio and Draper. Draper is not going to be your leader, the Tampa trio had just won a year and a half earlier too. If you look back at past Canadian teams there is loads of veteran Cup experience, but this team that wasn't the case.

Even Pronger, I agree he could have been the guy to take the bull by the horns, but this is February of 2006. Despite being a great regular season defenseman we hadn't seen a legit Pronger in the postseason. Hard to believe.

Even a guy like Brodeur you figure is the veteran presence, but he's a goalie, he really can't be your captain out on the ice or on the bench.

Sweden of Alfredsson-Sundin-Zetterberg-Fosberg-Sedinx2, probably match perfectly well Canada top 6
Lidstrom-Jonson-Kronwall-Ohlund
Lundqvist

Homlstron-Pahlsson-Modin for dept...

Play that tourney in 1000 parallel universe, would not be surprised Sweden win it more often than Canada

The funny thing is, years later it was revealed - allegedly - that the Swedes tanked that game against Slovakia(?) in order to avoid a playoff match against Canada. It is funny hearing it from the other side, because that Canadian team gave me fits from the word "go" but that line up was still feared despite the shaky round robin it had.

 

[JackSlater]

Thanks for the full response! Gave me a lot to mull over.

Draper is a bit bizarre the more I think about it.

Niedermayer would have been huge, as you mentioned. He was on a weird second peak between 05-07 that I don't think a lot of people saw coming.

Where would that stronger leadership have come from? I don't disagree and actually think that's a good point. Canada was without that type of player at the time. Yzerman was washed, Sakic was a stoic leader but hardly a ra-ra guy.

My instinct says it should have been Pronger. He was probably the best player in the world for that period of time. I don't know why he didn't step up more but that was his team to own. It just didn't happen.

Niedermayer had to pull out due to injury. Pronger had a fracture in his foot during the 2006 Olympics but he still played. It isn't surprising that he wasn't especially good, and honestly he never looked great internationally.

Draper is the main guy who is always brought up but his selection is not nearly as bad as people make it out to be. Bertuzzi for instance was a much worse selection, coming off his massive suspension plus with his style of play being such a poor fit for international hockey and larger ice. Draper was an elite skater, had a very clearly defined role, and had a lot of experience (and success) with Canada internationally. Not even two years earlier Draper had played a regular shift for Canada at the 2004 World Cup and was a good contributor. Canada could have done better but Draper was not the horrible selection he is always made out to be.

I feel for 2006, the Doan type played well enough, solid bottom 6 tourney from them (do you need Draper when you have them, is a strong skater and you have 2 extra players so not really an issue)

The issues was the more top player, Nash-Thornton-Bertuzzi-Lecavalier-Pronger not delivering, Niedermayer not being there.

Maybe you can make room for Spezza-Staal-Crosby-Savard-Briere-Marleau instead of some, a Boyle instead of a Foote, but end of the day it is hard to imagine for them to not go with Thornton-Lecavalier-Heatley-Iginla-Sakic-Richards-St-Louis has the main guys and for them to deliver or not.

Pronger-Foote on intl ice, Redden, old Blake, Regehr, McCabe, really young Bouwmeester, it is really not Weber-Boyle-Keith-Doughty-Niedermayer/Pronger for the vet, Seabrook.


Sweden of Alfredsson-Sundin-Zetterberg-Fosberg-Sedinx2, probably match perfectly well Canada top 6
Lidstrom-Jonson-Kronwall-Ohlund
Lundqvist

Homlstron-Pahlsson-Modin for dept...

Play that tourney in 1000 parallel universe, would not be surprised Sweden win it more often than Canada

Yeah the problem with that team at forward is that the stars didn't show up and perform. Part of that is probably that the defence was not particularly good in transition but regardless, the Canadian forwards (Thornton, Heatley, Nash, Sakic, St. Louis, Iginla, Gagne, Lecavalier, etc.) as they were in 2006 should have been sufficient. That team needed tweaks - maybe you include Kariya and especially Marleau at forward for some speed, sub in Crosby and Staal, include Boyle as a skater and maybe even add Brian Campbell, but the core was fine. The depth guys stunk and were largely not a great fit for that tournament but a much bigger issue is the superstars, elite players who were proven internationally, did not play well. The team just stunk and deservedly lost.

I do think that the 2006 situation would help a Bedard if he was a successful rookie and Canada was looking to call on its best. For what it's worth, for the joke 2016 world cup even Mike Babcock said that he wanted McDavid on the team following his rookie year.

 

[seventieslord]

Niedermayer had to pull out due to injury. Pronger had a fracture in his foot during the 2006 Olympics but he still played. It isn't surprising that he wasn't especially good, and honestly he never looked great internationally.

Draper is the main guy who is always brought up but his selection is not nearly as bad as people make it out to be. Bertuzzi for instance was a much worse selection, coming off his massive suspension plus with his style of play being such a poor fit for international hockey and larger ice. Draper was an elite skater, had a very clearly defined role, and had a lot of experience (and success) with Canada internationally. Not even two years earlier Draper had played a regular shift for Canada at the 2004 World Cup and was a good contributor. Canada could have done better but Draper was not the horrible selection he is always made out to be.



Yeah the problem with that team at forward is that the stars didn't show up and perform. Part of that is probably that the defence was not particularly good in transition but regardless, the Canadian forwards (Thornton, Heatley, Nash, Sakic, St. Louis, Iginla, Gagne, Lecavalier, etc.) as they were in 2006 should have been sufficient. That team needed tweaks - maybe you include Kariya and especially Marleau at forward for some speed, sub in Crosby and Staal, include Boyle as a skater and maybe even add Brian Campbell, but the core was fine. The depth guys stunk and were largely not a great fit for that tournament but a much bigger issue is the superstars, elite players who were proven internationally, did not play well. The team just stunk and deservedly lost.

I do think that the 2006 situation would help a Bedard if he was a successful rookie and Canada was looking to call on its best. For what it's worth, for the joke 2016 world cup even Mike Babcock said that he wanted McDavid on the team following his rookie year.

I think you're right for the most part, but was Brian Campbell really on the radar for international play at this time? This particular season he was just a power play specialist (17 ESP) who was playing less than 18 minutes per game on buffalo.