Connor Bedard stats good... but...

[SwedishFire]

What Bedard has done has No One ever done, racking up 23 points as a 17 year old. Breaking the Canadian point record, wich imideatly put him as the same tier as Crosby and McDavid. I mean, they didnt score that much? Clearly a tier above Forsberg and Kane, like where are their numbers as 17 years?
Who is Stamkos? He didnt score as much in the jwc, or shot that hard. Stamkos is easily behind Bedard already. Like, what is 50 goals in NHL? Bedard will school him, clearly a better player.

Ive never seen something like this. He is McDavids hands, Matthews shot, Patrik Kanes hands, puck protection as Crosby.
If you consider all this, I cant see anything less than a perennial 130 - 150 pt scorer, 50-70 goals.

Those junior tourneys tells me that, seals it.

Every team should throw everything out of the window to get this kid.

 

[Leafs87]

He will excel. Size doesn’t matter much especially with that kinda skill

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Stankoven is listed as 5'7", but a deep dive on him led me to believe he is really 5'6".

Bedard is listed as 5'10". Now anyone with a pair of eyes can tell you he is an inch taller than Stankoven. He isn't anywhere near 5'10". He looks tiny on the ice.

He doesn't move like Stankoven either. Guys their size make it in the NHL if they can move like Stankoven can. Speedy, agile. Enough speed to burn defenders wide.

Bedard can not beat anyone wide. Czech's easily pushed him into the boards every time he skates up the ice with the puck. He feasted on relegation teams with players who will never sniff the NHL. Won't even sniff any of the top international leagues either.

He is crafty. He has an amazing shot. Reminds me of Yakupov. They play similarly, with Bedard being a significantly better passer and Yakupov having the faster feet.

Two small, stocky guys. Bedard being significantly smaller.

Unless he can start skating like Stankoven, he is going to be like a litany of other players who were able to dominate junior hockey due to a specific skillset that doesn't translate to the NHL whatsoever.

Nobody as small and as slow as him is making an impact at the NHL level. The Czech junior team that may have 2-3 NHL bound players on it was able to skate with him and turn him into a nothing player when the going got tough.

I like his game, don't think I'm slandering him for no good reason. I've watched all his hilites 10x over to see that incredible shot of his. I don't see how you can watch this tournament, at least the games against real opposition, and think he is anywhere near becoming a superstar level player. He isn't even in the Eichel/Matthews tier of player for my money. Not big, fast, or strong enough to ever get there.

I truly believe Stankoven has more potential to end up as a good player in the show.

I'm not sure if this was parody or not. If it was, then kudos. If it wasn't, then I'm not sure you really understand what you're watching.

 

[MessierII]

Add in the fact that Bedard is putting up maybe the best WJHC of any player ever and I don't think the hype is unwarranted.

Bedard at 17 years old: 9 goals, 24 points in 6 games so far leading the tournament by far as the next player has 12 points and on pace to claim the 2nd most ever.

Crosby at 17 playing with even better junior players (maybe the greatest team of all time): 6 goals, 9 points in 6 games.
McDavid at 17: 3 goals, 11 points in 7 games

It's next to impossible to avoid hyping this kid. He's already locked down the tournament MVP and probably did so before the semis.

His crazy blend of elite hockey IQ, shot and playmaking is going to translate in any league.

He’s too smart not to succeed IMO but I think something that may hinder him early is I’m not sure he’s quick enough or strong enough on the puck to deal with men defending him.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

He’s incredible but this is the world juniors, not the NHL. Eberle looked like a lock to be an elite point producer during his run too. His size will hurt him. He also tries to do too much and has looked bad in his own end or on turnovers.

Bedard was incredible against lesser teams but much less so against the U.S. and the Czechs. This should give everyone pause as to his ultimate upside in the NHL where the opposition he will be facing each night will be more U.S. / Czech than Austria/Germany. Once again one should be cautious, if not wary, of the prevailing consensus.

 

[SwedishFire]

Considering his size, hw is small. I think Bedatd will be ok NHL wise, his size could be bigger, and it aint gonna be as easy in NHL as vs Austria or Slovakia. Against the bigger teams it got a bit harder.
Its gonna be hardrr for him to beat defenders wide, hes gonna be outmuscled. He has some speed, but he aint as shifty in his feet as P Kane, M St Louis, LaFontaine who where tje best at skating.
He has a great shot, and we will see how much he improves it. Stamkos was more speed than shot when he came to NHL. Today he is most remembered for his hammer shot and one timer.
Bedard as a smaller stature will havw a lot to work at, and rearrange in his gamw when adapting to the mens league. It IS stupid therr isnt any league between NHL and junior, like in europe the national leagues makes a better progression curve for a prospect. Bedard will be to good for WHL at 18, but taking on NHL, much faster, stronger, meaner league will be a transition.
He trained in europe for awhile under covid, wich is smart, getting more influences in his game.

Sure he has his shot, bit NHL goalies are better than junior goalies, they will read a shot better.

Bedard hasnt the playibg style of Marner or St Louis, its more Crosby wise with cover the puck with his body.
That will also be thougher in NHL.

What Bedard really improved at was passing and playmaking.
That qas a good sign.

Bedard will be a good player, but he has a style that will be hard for a small guy to transist to NHL.

 

[tabness]

you seem obsessed @SwedishFire it isnt healthy lol

 

[SwedishFire]

you seem obsessed @SwedishFire it isnt healthy lol

View attachment 631630

Its so much fun reading all posts from obsessed, out of their minds canadians, so Ill decided to just make a post that was a mean of what they all posted. It was great fun though.

Its fun because they are often those who shut down other countries fsn boys, now they walked into that themself.

 

[ValeriKamensky]

Agree, I’d never spend a 1st OA for a player shorter than 6’5

 

[daver]

We will see, mentioning him in the same breath as McDavid is just wrong. Try Caulfield

You are right. He was more productive than McDavid at age 15 and 16.

 

[Gold Standard]

Best single player performance in the history of the World Juniors. full stop.

Here endeth the lesson.

 

[SwedishFire]

I'm not sure if this was parody or not. If it was, then kudos. If it wasn't, then I'm not sure you really understand what you're watching.

He has a point, but drovw it too far. I think he means that stankoven playes that game and having that puckcarrying a small player must have to be succesful in NHL, and Bedard hssnt that styel, and Bedard being shorter than listed (I belive that as well, if he isnt having shorter skates than everbody else).

But saying Stankoven will be a better player is just wrong. Bedard will be the better player.

Best single player performance in the history of the World Juniors. full stop.

Here endeth the lesson.

Eh, Mmm-key?

How many Jwc have you watched?
I still rank Forsbergs performance as more dominant. He stopped everyone when needed, and drove through the defence when needed. Tavares had an almost as good performance, being superior as well.

People forget quick.

 

[PensandCaps]

He’s incredible but this is the world juniors, not the NHL. Eberle looked like a lock to be an elite point producer during his run too. His size will hurt him. He also tries to do too much and has looked bad in his own end or on turnovers.

No one is using this tournament to say Bedard is generational. He's been labeled as such well before this tournament.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

I kinda like the Kucherov comparison.

Oh and then add in the best shooting ability of any Canadian junior player probably ever.

so Gretzky, Kucherov, Crosby and McDavid got together.... f***ed and Bedard is the product? lol

Not even close. He doesn't skate anywhere near McDavids level, and he has a far better shot than McDavid or Crosby ever had.

its just a joke dude. stolen from Pineapple Express

 

[nbwingsfan]

Bedard put up gaudy numbers over the tournament, but the difference between his stats against Austria and the US or Czechs were day and night.

As they are with everyone who’s put up big numbers in tournaments…

Apparently Slovakia (who beat the US) and Sweden don’t count either

 

[GermanSpitfire]

You’re never going to please everyone.

It‘ll be a fun thread to revisit in a few years though.

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

Bedard was incredible against lesser teams but much less so against the U.S. and the Czechs. This should give everyone pause as to his ultimate upside in the NHL where the opposition he will be facing each night will be more U.S. / Czech than Austria/Germany. Once again one should be cautious, if not wary, of the prevailing consensus.

If you take away the points against the two weak teams, you only have a mere 10 points in 5 games.....wait actually that's still pretty excellent for a 17 year old nevermind. All the historical top point getters in these tournaments have those games against weaker opponents, they just usually tend to be 19 year olds.

Besides, he was still the most effective Canadian at generating offensive chances in the two Czech games. The numbers pop off but his strengths as a playmaker who can take advantage of his shot to benefit others was on full display once you look closer.

He outplayed the bigger, older Leo Carlsson (who was really good) and drastically outplayed your boy Adam Fantilli (also almost a year older), who only started to improve once he had fewer minutes and hid away from the opponent's top players. And I like Adam Fantilli.

The power of consensus may be something to caution, but you going back to this line after your pre-tournament prediction ended up backfiring is not a noble endeavor.

 

[Ciao]

Bedard sure gets a lot of attention.

 

[JEM28]

Connor Bedard is a good player but do the stats even matter ?
He's a pretty small guy, do you think he will excel in the NHL ?

I'm just comparing him to guys like Jordan Eberle or other players records he has beaten this tournament.
Good feat but the players records he broke aren't the best in the NHL, good but not the best.

Link here shows every record he has broken:

Connor Bedard's historic World Juniors: Every record the Canadian forward broke at the 2023 tournament | Sporting News

The name "Connor Bedard" has been written all over the World Juniors history books.

www.sportingnews.com

Great player but will he be able to compete with his size ? Seem like a small guy and might get run over a lot. Just my take.

Omg, wait n see ok? You’re overplaying the size thing for a guy who’s actually pretty solid and still very young.
Btw, Jack Hughes at 5’11, 175 isn’t doing too bad is he? or Kucherov at 5’11 187. Sheesh.

 

[Czechboy]

Omg, wait n see ok? You’re overplaying the size thing for a guy who’s actually pretty solid and still very young.
Btw, Jack Hughes at 5’11, 175 isn’t doing too bad is he? or Kucherov at 5’11 187. Sheesh.

I agree. But, how did Hughes and kucherov do as 18 year old NHL rookies?

 

[JEM28]

I agree. But, how did Hughes and kucherov do as 18 year old NHL rookies?

The OP was addressing whether he’d have an impactful CAREER. Not how he’d do as a rookie. Barring injury He’s going to be an excellent player.

 

[Czechboy]

The OP was addressing whether he’d have an impactful CAREER. Not how he’d do as a rookie. Barring injury He’s going to be an excellent player.

Totally agree but a lot of posters around here seem to think that he'll be a 100 point guys next season.

To answer the Hughes and Kucherov comparisons (which i thought were perfect) - 40 points combined as 18 year olds with Kuch seeing AHL time too.

 

[Smif]

Seeing team Canada all lined up at the blue line gave a very clear demonstration of everyone's true size. I was quite surprised to notice that Bedard was the second shortest player on the team after Stankoven (and then only a hair taller) but was definitely the slightest built player, he's a little waif of a thing out there.

He's maybe 5'8 / 160 lbs and as talented as he is he could get absolutely destroyed physically in the NHL so he better have an all time great hockey IQ and agility to survive let alone dominate.

The most similar thing about Marner, Gretzky, and Bedard is that they never get hit. I always wonder how Marner gets away with some of the things he does, why don't people line him up? They just never do or they try and can't for some reason.

 

[Gold Standard]

Totally agree but a lot of posters around here seem to think that he'll be a 100 point guys next season.

To answer the Hughes and Kucherov comparisons (which i thought were perfect) - 40 points combined as 18 year olds with Kuch seeing AHL time too.

I think he gets 60 pts. next year. regardless where he plays. Comparisons to Hughes and Kucherov are just silly. and too simplistic based on just his height and weight. He is head and shoulders a better prospect than both Hughes and Kucherov were in their draft years. Bookmark this and let's re-visit where he is at in the NHL scoring race when the World Juniors conclude Jan 5 2024.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

He has a point, but drovw it too far. I think he means that stankoven playes that game and having that puckcarrying a small player must have to be succesful in NHL, and Bedard hssnt that styel, and Bedard being shorter than listed (I belive that as well, if he isnt having shorter skates than everbody else).

But saying Stankoven will be a better player is just wrong. Bedard will be the better player.

He doesn't have a point when he says Stankoven will be better or compares Bedard to Yakupov. When someone's post uses those types of comparisons/examples to prove the point they're trying to make, then they don't have a point.