Has Connor Bedard quietly became underrated ?

[Blue and Green]

He was very good tonight. Looked better defensively. Wait until his goal scoring really kicks into high gear, which didn't happen last season.

 

[Crow]

Awesome play tonight both with and without the puck.

Probably the best defensive effort of his career.

 

[jonlin]

Awesome play tonight both with and without the puck.

Probably the best defensive effort of his career.

It might help playing with Teräväinen? TT probably teaches him something about defending. Was a very good call by Hawks to bring TT back and he&Bedard look good together.

 

[nbwingsfan]

I watched many of the games and i saw some one playing 6-7 of pp time and 23 mins of toi as a rookie forward who cant take a hit.

I saw a guy who was being overly sheltered wkth only O-Zone.

He had Hall and Perry

Foligno dint have a better personal season because of Bedard but because he played more mins than before.

The same Corey Perry who had 25pts the season prior?

The same Corey Perry who only played 16 games?

The same Taylor Hall who only played 9.5 games?

LOLLL

 

[POVERTY]

He had Hall and Perry

 

[JaegerDice]

As a whole product, he’s neither overrated or underrated yet.

Elements of his game are underrated due to the focus on his absurd shot, tho.

 

[the valiant effort]

At the end of the day, who doesn’t tally 3 pts a game vs Edmonton in October? #NotConvinced

 

[ozzie]

Off to a great start and the team is overall better than last year. He also has some early chemistry with players who can actually skate well.

Chicago fans are in for an exciting season, maybe even remain in the playoff race until near the end of the season.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Last night was a statement. Mcdavids reign is coming to an end. Bedard will start to take over now

 

[Acallabeth]

Comparing the raw numbers is the opposite of disingenuous. Its the numbers.

OK, why don't you compare Bedard's junior stats to McDavid's pro stats to make Bedard look more impressive?

 

[PainForShane]

You think Bedard could be on Gordie Howe's level and you're calling me the Internet clown?

This will be a fun thread to bump in a few years, just like those Shane Wright threads.

I think it's too early to tell either way. Because the kid is 19 ie just started his career. That's the main point I've been making.

Due to the way the discussion unfolded, the secondary point I've been making is around some posters (one in particular) who for some reason continues to make dishonest and / or irrelevant arguments about this. Says more about the poster(s) than it ever will about Bedard.

 

[jigglysquishy]

Caught a bit of the game last night. His offensive IQ is off the charts.

He already looks much stronger on the puck that last year.

 

[BKarchitect]

I think what he did last year with the collection of players around him was underrated. And he looks even better, naturally, to start his second season.

I don’t think in the grand scheme of things he’s underrated - the hype has been around forever and the NHL wants nothing more than for a new superstar to come along.

I do think as with all players who clearly have *it* at the highest level, it becomes somewhat fashionable and “clever” to take an opposing stance to the perceived greatness - either by doing some statistical tap-dancing, saying “well people are acting like he’s a god and I saw him with a sloppy turnover and no points last night!” or doing the comp game of “just wait until player X arrives you all will be eating your words that Bedard is the best!” even though player X is even less “proven”. Basically, it’s fun to be the obtuse contrarian.

The truth is Bedard is hitting all the extremely high but within reason markers, if not surpassing them, thus far in his career. It’s great for him, it’s great as a fan and it’s great for the league and sport.

 

[Brookbank]

There's been a lot of comments questioning how good he is right now. And how there's a long list of players who are better right now.

Just an observation. He was the best player on the ice last night , against McDavid and Draisitle. Obviously it won't always be that way but it just shows , that's an element of him being underrated by some. Who seem to think he will need 2 years to get up to speed.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Teravainen was such a solid pickup by the Hawks this summer. He seems to be gelling with Bedard on the top line. 5pts so far for Teuvo playing on Bedard's wing and 5pts so far for Bedard.

 

[authentic]

Because it's like saying in 2015 that Mcdavid could be as good as Jarome Iginla. How's that a bad thing ? He won the Art Ross once. Just like Kane. Ignila was a solid franchise player but common.

If you said that on these boards in 2015 you'd get laughed out of the room. And yet ppl are saying it here with Bedard.

Stamkos admitted before McDavid played a single NHL game that he was already better than him, and he was correct. Posters here and other analysts as well as various people I know had doubts about Bedard translating that dominance into the NHL like McDavid and Crosby and so far they were right. It’s really not the same thing here, Bedard is not a McDavid level player unless he begins to prove otherwise.

 

[authentic]

There's been a lot of comments questioning how good he is right now. And how there's a long list of players who are better right now.

Just an observation. He was the best player on the ice last night , against McDavid and Draisitle. Obviously it won't always be that way but it just shows , that's an element of him being underrated by some. Who seem to think he will need 2 years to get up to speed.

Being tied with Teravainen in points after 3 games isn’t really an indication of anything.

 

[authentic]

Last night was a statement. Mcdavids reign is coming to an end. Bedard will start to take over now

Haha would be fun but don’t get your hopes up just yet

 

[nbwingsfan]

Off to a great start and the team is overall better than last year. He also has some early chemistry with players who can actually skate well.

Chicago fans are in for an exciting season, maybe even remain in the playoff race until near the end of the season.

I see absolutely no way they are even close to the playoffs

But it’ll be exciting with Bedard

 

[nbwingsfan]

Being tied with Teravainen in points after 3 games isn’t really an indication of anything.

What is this even supposed to mean?

 

[nergish]

I think the hype was fueled initially by the pandemic lockdown. I personally was watching videos of a 14-year old playing minor hockey here in Vancouver, almost as if he was providing hope for the future. Not just the future of hockey, but ensuring that we could still have good things in the future... lol.

Then he just kept rolling through juniors, WJC, etc. etc.

Now the media obviously stretched him as thin as possible in year one, to the point that so many fans simply have Bedard-fatigue. But it's simply not fair to the kid. He is that guy.

I know this board is where we try to make comparisons, and create our little lists, and so forth. But how about we just enjoy this guy for what he is - a gamebreaking talent, and one of the brightest spots in the league.

 

[x Tame Impala]

What is this even supposed to mean?

They’ve made up their minds and are merely being stubborn at this point. Speaking nonsense

 

[Brookbank]

Being tied with Teravainen in points after 3 games isn’t really an indication of anything.

Watch the games.

Bedard is giving Teravainen the Zack Hyman treatment.

 

[Video Nasty]

Being tied with Teravainen in points after 3 games isn’t really an indication of anything.

If I can be pleased about Bedard scoring a goal and handing out two assists in a game that was not very flattering for McDavid and the Oilers, and getting off to an electric start overall, why can’t you?

 

[PainForShane]

I think what people aren't considering is Bedard's strengths. I'm a neutral here, but in the 5 or so games I've seen of him (all on TV, none in person), he consistently thinks the game at an elite level, in general is in the right spot offensively most of the time (very impressive for an 18 year old), and even at this stage has arguably the most deceptive shot in the league, in my opinion even moreso than Auston Matthews.

I would hate to be an opposing goalie because there's no way to get a read on when / where the shot is coming from or the puck trajectory immediately after it comes off his stick. Meaning you're going to be a quarter second late to react, that's an eternity in goaltending.

This particular skill is something I've never seen before, and I don't know that it's something you can teach. Matthews' release is the same idea, it's not quite as deceptive but the shot velocity is higher (at least when his wrist is healthy). I'm not sure how well or even if goalies will be able to adjust to either players' shots even over the course of their entire careers.

***

McDavid's more of a highlight reel -- 'look how fast he skates and stickhandles,' Bedard's not that type of player at all. He won't will pull casual fans out of their seats like a McDavid, Bure, prime Kariya etc. But, I think if you understand the game and actually pay attention to Bedard, you'd get the sense of why he was a generational prospect, his goal scoring with the Pats wasn't a fluke.

To be clear he's not perfect -- under 40% on faceoffs last year (?!) and as others have said he's not great in the defensive zone. He's also not especially quick, and the league seems to be trending toward greater speed. But, his skillset is unique and very conducive to scoring points, especially goals.

***

Anyway, if I were a Hawks fan, I'd want him to spend this year working on becoming better in the faceoff dot and also more of a 200 foot player. If he does that while going 40-50-90, even better. But becoming a good pro is what he should be doing this year, especially because the Hawks aren't the playoffs anyway.

But after what that franchise has been through the past few years (both on and off the ice) I'd just be happy to have someone to cheer for. Helps that he seems like a good kid too