Prospect Info: Connor Bedard - 2023 1st - C, Regina

[Pez68]

1 guy made a comment about size/1C, I said there maybe some validity (which a few pro scouts had mentioned too btw). Then the last 4 pages have been a circlejerk of people saying its dumb. If anyone is harping it's the people who are still responding to 2-3 posts from 4 pages ago.

Was it not OK to point out that rookie McDavid needed to get stronger, was terrible at faceoffs, and his defense was at times very bad? He (much like Kane) was also a bit too passive early in his career, he needed to learn to look for his shot more & not get too cute. It took him many years to fix most of those holes.

I dont understand why you're not allowed to voice concerns. Even the best players have issues, we should be able discuss them without everyone immediately dismissing it, dogpiling, & calling it stupid. Again people need to stop taking it so personally.

I'm not calling you out specifically btw, just in general.

Voicing valid concerns is one thing. Bedard's two-way game, for instance, needs some work. His size, however, is not a concern. If you think it is, you don't know shit about the game.

 

[thedarkstark]

Voicing valid concerns is one thing. Bedard's two-way game, for instance, needs some work. His size, however, is not a concern. If you think it is, you don't know shit about the game.

That's an incredible oversimplification of what I and the other guy said. All I said is: size makes defense easier (longer reach, longer stride, less power necessary to hit etc). You obviously want Bedard out there for his scoring prowess but being 1C you have a lot of defensive responsibility. If he ends up being gassed from expending too much energy on defense it might be better to try him at wing at some point.

Never did I suggest he cant play C because he's too small. I think Bedard has the tools & size to be a much much better defender than 88, but theres a reason Kaner played 2nd line winger.

I do think his natural fit is 1C but yes it's going to be a bit of a work in progress I dont see why this requires 4 pages of people crying.

 

[Pez68]

That's an incredible oversimplification of what I and the other guy said. All I said is: size makes defense easier (longer reach, longer stride, less power necessary to hit etc). You obviously want Bedard out there for his scoring prowess but being 1C you have a lot of defensive responsibility. If he ends up being gassed from expending too much energy on defense it might be better to try him at wing at some point.

Never did I suggest he cant play C because he's too small. I think Bedard has the tools & size to be a much be a much better defender than 88, but theres a reason Kaner played 2nd line winger.

I do think his natural fit is 1C but yes it's going to be a bit of a work in progress I dont see why this requires 4 pages of people crying.

I don't see anyone crying.

 

[BHawks77]

That's an incredible oversimplification of what I and the other guy said. All I said is: size makes defense easier (longer reach, longer stride, less power necessary to hit etc). You obviously want Bedard out there for his scoring prowess but being 1C you have a lot of defensive responsibility. If he ends up being gassed from expending too much energy on defense it might be better to try him at wing at some point.

Never did I suggest he cant play C because he's too small. I think Bedard has the tools & size to be a much much better defender than 88, but theres a reason Kaner played 2nd line winger.

I do think his natural fit is 1C but yes it's going to be a bit of a work in progress I dont see why this requires 4 pages of people crying.

Brayden Point is doing just fine as number 1 center so dont know why Bedard cant. Also Bedard has high hockey IQ so he certainly can learn to be better with defense responsibilities. Sure more size can help but its not the only thing being good defensively.

Also McDavid and Draisaitle arent known for their selke defense but still play center.

I dont see anyone crying here!? Just pointing out what we think of Bedard playing as a center.

 

[Hawkaholic]

That's an incredible oversimplification of what I and the other guy said. All I said is: size makes defense easier (longer reach, longer stride, less power necessary to hit etc). You obviously want Bedard out there for his scoring prowess but being 1C you have a lot of defensive responsibility. If he ends up being gassed from expending too much energy on defense it might be better to try him at wing at some point.

Never did I suggest he cant play C because he's too small. I think Bedard has the tools & size to be a much much better defender than 88, but theres a reason Kaner played 2nd line winger.

I do think his natural fit is 1C but yes it's going to be a bit of a work in progress I dont see why this requires 4 pages of people crying.

No ones crying, some are just simply saying it's dumb to think he won't be good at defense because he's 5'10.

 

[Wally1112pac]

Top prospect Connor Bedard named IIHF Male Player of the Year | TSN

Connor Bedard has another award to add to his trophy case. The top prospect in the upcoming NHL draft was named the inaugural winner of IIHF Male Player of the Year on Monday.

www.tsn.ca

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

That's an incredible oversimplification of what I and the other guy said. All I said is: size makes defense easier (longer reach, longer stride, less power necessary to hit etc). You obviously want Bedard out there for his scoring prowess but being 1C you have a lot of defensive responsibility. If he ends up being gassed from expending too much energy on defense it might be better to try him at wing at some point.

Never did I suggest he cant play C because he's too small. I think Bedard has the tools & size to be a much much better defender than 88, but theres a reason Kaner played 2nd line winger.

I do think his natural fit is 1C but yes it's going to be a bit of a work in progress I dont see why this requires 4 pages of people crying.

Wasn't crying about anything. Just saying a guy being 5'10 isn't a problem.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

bedard is built like cat when he came into the league, short but not small, its not going to be a problem for him and he's extremely dedicated to training, he's going to get bigger, faster, stronger still, he's 17...genetics are on his side for sure and he's got all the hockey talent in the world to go with it, thats as good of a combo as you can get when projecting his upside...on the flip side Korchinski is 6'2 and would probably get absolutely manhandled with his current build in the nhl, there is more to it than just height and weight in a vacuum

 

[thedarkstark]

Wasn't crying about anything. Just saying a guy being 5'10 isn't a problem.

Sorry, crying wasnt the right word for it. It was more like beating a dead horse & again I'm not calling anyone out specifically. It's fine let's just move past it we're all very excited.

Cheers

 

[Mrfenn92]

 

[The Hobgoblin]

I literally cannot wait to see this kid take the ice. I just pray he's healthy and is everything we think he will be.

 

[clydesdale line]

Capitals AGM Ross Mahoney discusses Connor Bedard, Matvei Michkov and drafting at No. 8

Tarik El-Bashir sat down with Mahoney to also discuss the Capitals’ growing staff of amateur scouts, Hershey’s Calder Cup and more.

theathletic.com

Being based in Saskatchewan, I’m you saw a lot of Connor Bedard. How do you assess his game and potential impact in the NHL?

Oh, boy. What a fun player to watch. He has excelled on the big stage for his age group, or above his age group, all the time. When he was a 15-year-old, and we had the under-18 championships in Texas, which meant almost all the players were 17 and he was 15; he was a pretty dominant player there. Then you look at what he did at the world junior tournament as a 17-year-old when most of the players are 19-year-olds. That’s one of the best performances I’ve ever seen at a world junior tournament — and I’ve been to about 30 of those. If he did what he did as a 19-year-old, you’d say, ‘Wow, that’s unbelievable.’ Well, he did it as a 17-year-old. It’s been pretty special to watch what he’s done.

He seems like a very committed young man as far as wanting to be the best. And, from all the homework we’ve done on him, he’s just as dedicated off the ice as he is on the ice.

He’s developed quite the following, too. There’s pressure, per se, that goes along with that, in the sense that I think every single (Regina Pats) game after the world junior tournament was sold out or close to it. … I mean, everybody came to see this young man play, and boy did he ever respond. I don’t think people ever left the rink disappointed. I’m sure they all left the rink and went, ‘Wow! Wow! This is really something.’

Some more Bedard love.

 

[clydesdale line]

Bedard interview from yesterday. He names some of the guys he's most excited to see get drafted on Wednesday/Thursday. One or two of those names could be Blackhawks as well potentially.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Bedard interview from yesterday. He names some of the guys he's most excited to see get drafted on Wednesday/Thursday. One or two of those names could be Blackhawks as well potentially.

The first name that came to his mind was Andrew Cristall

 

[x Tame Impala]

Man hockey players interviews are rough to watch

 

[HawksDub89]

The first name that came to his mind was Andrew Cristall

Would be tragic if they took him at 19.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Would be tragic if they took him at 19.

Yeah tragic for the rest of the league. Cristall and Bedard owning them for years to come like Panarin and Kane.

 

[Giovi]

Yeah tragic for the rest of the league. Cristall and Bedard owning them for years to come like Panarin and Kane.

Cristall doesn't at all fit what the Hawks have said they're prioritizing.

 

[CallMeShaft]

At 35th overall, I'm fine with Cristall.

But 19th? Hell no. If Connor is missing his BFF, he can FaceTime him.

 

[Darkstar]

Cristall doesn't at all fit what the Hawks have said they're prioritizing.

If Benson falls past 10, I'd rather try and trade up to get Bedard a new best friend. Now that would be a dynamic duo.

 

[clydesdale line]

At 35th overall, I'm fine with Cristall.

But 19th? Hell no. If Connor is missing his BFF, he can FaceTime him.

And the narrative that it's "Cristall is Bedard's one and only BFF" is b.s. The kid literally grew up with quite a few of these guys and is close with alot of them.

 

[HawksDub89]

At 35th overall, I'm fine with Cristall.

But 19th? Hell no. If Connor is missing his BFF, he can FaceTime him.

35 is the earliest I’d take him.

Absolutely terrible skater. Soft as hell.

His hands and play making are elite, but at the NHL level he’d get eaten alive. Imagine a smaller worse skating Dylan Strome.

Not great

 

[Wally1112pac]

35 is the earliest I’d take him.

Absolutely terrible skater. Soft as hell.

His hands and play making are elite, but at the NHL level he’d get eaten alive. Imagine a smaller worse skating Dylan Strome.

Not great

Cristall reminds me too much of a Robbie Schremp type. Not so much in style but he is either going to boom or bust.

 

[Sarava]

Taking good friends could have negative effects someday. If Cristall flames out in his NHL career - you would hope that wouldnt lead to any negative feelings towards the Blackhawks from Bedard.

 

[Kurtosis]

Let’s not go down the Hayes/Dach/Jones route again. Just take the best player available.

I’m sure Bedard would prefer to play with good players at the end of the day, whether or not they’re his “friends”.