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

[JaegerDice]

Laz is fine, and I say that as literally the only person he has ever blocked on twitter.

I’m also the only guy Barstoolchief has blocked on twitter, or so he claimed.

If I get Zawaski to block me, I get a set of Steak Knives. But it’s pretty hard, cause he’s super chill and we mostly agree.

 

[Joemoe]

Couldn't care less if these guys are the most boring vanilla interviews in the league, I just want them to be entertaining and give their all every game because at the end of the day I watch this sport for the on ice product and not who gives the best responses to the media.

 

[CallMeShaft]

Is it an automatic that he starts as the teams #1C from day one or are they going to ease him in by playing onthe 2nd line for a bit?

No, he could start at 2C or even at wing.

But as the forward with the most natural talent on the team, it's a good bet he gets a lot of time with Taylor Hall and is given plenty of opportunities down the middle.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

No, he could start at 2C or even at wing.

But as the forward with the most natural talent on the team, it's a good bet he gets a lot of time with Taylor Hall and is given plenty of opportunities down the middle.

Do we even have enough talent to consider a first and second line? I’m pretty sure it’s just going to be 6 guys playing in the top 6 for the being.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

I'm sorry, but who on this roster is beating out Bedard for playing time? The only guys close to him talent wise on the roster are wingers.

 

[Pez68]

I'm sorry, but who on this roster is beating out Bedard for playing time? The only guys close to him talent wise on the roster are wingers.

He's going to be the 1C. Any other speculation is just silly.

 

[hawksrule]

Is @EmeticDonut okay with this Laz derailment?

 

[ChiHawks10]

No, he could start at 2C or even at wing.

But as the forward with the most natural talent on the team, it's a good bet he gets a lot of time with Taylor Hall and is given plenty of opportunities down the middle.

Doubtful. He'll be the 1C on day 1, and I'd call that a pretty damn safe bet.

 

[CallMeShaft]

Doubtful. He'll be the 1C on day 1, and I'd call that a pretty damn safe bet.

I could see him being eased in by the coaching staff at first. He'll be playing his first pro games in a month and will be the youngest player in the league.

It's not about where he starts this season, it's about where he finishes.

 

[ChiHawks10]

I could see him being eased in by the coaching staff at first. He'll be playing his first pro games in a month and will be the youngest player in the league.

It's not about where he starts this season, it's about where he finishes.

I don't think so. Players of this caliber aren't really "eased in". Their transition is generally pretty seamless. You've seen the pictures. The kid is probably in better shape than most the pros already in the NHL. Not to mention, from what I've been keeping up with, he's been on the ice the ENTIRE offseason. Most pros are on the golf course for most of it. I fully expect he'll step right in as the 1c. I really don't see any reason why he shouldn't.

 

[Pez68]

I could see him being eased in by the coaching staff at first. He'll be playing his first pro games in a month and will be the youngest player in the league.

It's not about where he starts this season, it's about where he finishes.

You don't "ease in" players like Bedard. He might not be on the McDavid or Crosby level of guaranteed generational talent, but he's damn close. He's a better prospect than Toews was, and Toews was not "eased in". He's a better prospect than Eichel was, in my opinion. And Eichel was not eased in. We could go on and on with these comparisons, and the result would be the same. Easing in players like Bedard just doesn't happen. This will be his team from day 1. He will be the 1C, he will be getting 75% of the PP minutes, and he will be captain in the next two seasons. I have absolutely no doubts about this.

I'm as confident about this as I was Toews.

 

[ChiHawks10]

You don't "ease in" players like Bedard. He might not be on the McDavid or Crosby level of guaranteed generational talent, but he's damn close. He's a better prospect that Toews was, and Toews was not "eased in". He's a better prospect than Eichel was, in my opinion. And Eichel was not eased in. We could go on and on with these comparisons, and the result would be the same. Easing in players like Bedard just doesn't happen. This will be his team from day 1. He will be the 1C, he will be getting 75% of the PP minutes, and he will be captain in the next two seasons. I have absolutely no doubts about this.

I'm as confident about this as I was Toews.

He's on that level, IMO.

 

[Callidusblackhawk]

You don't "ease in" players like Bedard. He might not be on the McDavid or Crosby level of guaranteed generational talent, but he's damn close. He's a better prospect that Toews was, and Toews was not "eased in". He's a better prospect than Eichel was, in my opinion. And Eichel was not eased in. We could go on and on with these comparisons, and the result would be the same. Easing in players like Bedard just doesn't happen. This will be his team from day 1. He will be the 1C, he will be getting 75% of the PP minutes, and he will be captain in the next two seasons. I have absolutely no doubts about this.

I'm as confident about this as I was Toews.

There also really isn't any way to ease him in aside from playing him on the wing I guess. The Hawks have no competent top 6 centers aside from Bedard. Teams are going to make sure he faces the toughest matchups regardless of whether he's 1C or 2C. Playing your best forward 2-4 minutes a night less on purpose just isn't likely to happen.

 

[ClydeLee]

I'm not sold that Richardson isn't going to play a vet over him to start. Even if it's Anthanasiou at center getting the most minutes. Guys like Bedard usually get top numbers right away but I see those coaches usually as loose coaches. If Richardson is still pushing veteran focus it could be the case early on.

 

[Pez68]

I'm not sold that Richardson isn't going to play a vet over him to start. Even if it's Anthanasiou at center getting the most minutes. Guys like Bedard usually get top numbers right away but I see those coaches usually as loose coaches. If Richardson is still pushing veteran focus it could be the case early on.

No.

 

[ChiHawks10]

I'm not sold that Richardson isn't going to play a vet over him to start. Even if it's Anthanasiou at center getting the most minutes. Guys like Bedard usually get top numbers right away but I see those coaches usually as loose coaches. If Richardson is still pushing veteran focus it could be the case early on.

AA won't have more minutes than Bedard...

 

[Paul Allen]

Bedard is already the best forward on the team. The only way he wouldn’t be 1C is if he plays wing- which won’t happen. He will get all the ice time he wants.

 

[CallMeShaft]

Bedard was the hands down best player at the last world juniors and the coaching staff kept him at wing the entire time.

He'll be a center long term, no doubt, but it'd hardly be a surprise if Richardson starts Bedard with less responsibilities.

 

[ChiHawks10]

Bedard was the hands down best player at the last world juniors and the coaching staff kept him at wing the entire time.

He'll be a center long term, no doubt, but it'd hardly be a surprise if Richardson starts Bedard with less responsibilities.

It would 100% be a surprise, honestly.

 

[x Tame Impala]

Under Q and Bowman i wouldn't have been surprised to see them f*** around with Bedard and put him at wing or give him sheltered minutes on the 2nd or 3rd line. KD and LuRich don't give me the impression of trying to be the smartest guy in the room like our previous regime always did.

Bedard won't play any significant minutes on the wing. He's found money, he's our 1C now and going forward.

 

[Hawkaholic]

Bedard was the hands down best player at the last world juniors and the coaching staff kept him at wing the entire time.

He'll be a center long term, no doubt, but it'd hardly be a surprise if Richardson starts Bedard with less responsibilities.

Only because he had guys that were 2 years older than him with far more experience, in a short tournament with a lot on the line. There is nothing on the line in Chicago, and it's a long season.

Under Q and Bowman i wouldn't have been surprised to see them f*** around with Bedard and put him at wing or give him sheltered minutes on the 2nd or 3rd line. KD and LuRich don't give me the impression of trying to be the smartest guy in the room like our previous regime always did.

Bedard won't play any significant minutes on the wing. He's found money, he's our 1C now and going forward.

Not really a fair argument considering when Q and Bowman were here, they were trying to win championships, completely different circumstances LuRich and KD are in.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

Bedard doesn't seem like he's going to be a longterm project type of prospect. Those are really the only guys that Q didn't like playing, as they didn't help winning at the moment and he was concentrated on winning championships rather than developing for years in the future.

Were there any issues with Q playing sophomore Toews and Kane that I'm forgetting?

 

[Pez68]

Bedard was the hands down best player at the last world juniors and the coaching staff kept him at wing the entire time.

He'll be a center long term, no doubt, but it'd hardly be a surprise if Richardson starts Bedard with less responsibilities.

Different circumstances entirely.

 

[Hawkaholic]

Bedard doesn't seem like he's going to be a longterm project type of prospect. Those are really the only guys that Q didn't like playing, as they didn't help winning at the moment and he was concentrated on winning championships rather than developing for years in the future.

Were there any issues with Q playing sophomore Toews and Kane that I'm forgetting?

No. They were pretty much 1st line players from the get go. 18+min per game, PP time, Toews had SH TOI. And they had legit NHL players like Sharp, and Havlat and on the team, Bedard has nobody.

 

[Pez68]

No. They were pretty much 1st line players from the get go. 18+min per game, PP time, Toews had SH TOI. And they had legit NHL players like Sharp, and Havlat and on the team, Bedard has nobody.

Not really true. Bedard will have a pretty solid five man unit to play with. After that? Nothing much.