Has Connor Bedard quietly became underrated ?

[KirkAlbuquerque]

I wouldn't worry about Bedard. His team blows, and he is still a teen and eligible for junior level hockey.

Come back in five years and we can start to evaluate...

Evaluate what? Everyone believes he will be an elite player. But that’s not a generational player

 

[The Panther]

Evaluate what? Everyone believes he will be an elite player. But that’s not a generational player

Why would anyone expect him to be the best player of a whole generation, at age 17 or 18?

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Why would anyone expect him to be the best player of a whole generation, at age 17 or 18?

Because that’s what generational means. McDavid and Crosby were among the best in the world at 18

 

[The Panther]

Because that’s what generational means. McDavid and Crosby were among the best in the world at 18

Can you define "generational" for me? People on here throw it around so much, I actually don't know what they mean by it, so perhaps you can clarify. I would guess that it meant "best on a generation" or "once in a generation". But you haven't answered my question, which is why would anyone expect Bedard to be the best player in an entire generation?

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Richardson is absolutely clueless with deployments and it is certainly not a benefit for Bedard. Not to mention Seth Jones being on PP1 is a crime against Bedard.


Not to mention he has basically never seen any time to pad his stats with defending an empty net.

He gets tons of ice time and PP1 opportunity, especially compared to other Hawks forwards.

 

[GIADF]

He gets tons of ice time and PP1 opportunity, especially compared to other Hawks forwards.

You would have to actually watch Hawks games to understand.

Richardson is a really, really bad coach who needs to be replaced. A lot of decisions he makes that negatively impact Bedard won’t show up in a statistic.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

You would have to actually watch Hawks games to understand.

Richardson is a really, really bad coach who needs to be replaced. A lot of decisions he makes that negatively impact Bedard won’t show up in a statistic.

I do watch hawks games. I don't disagree about Richardson being a poor coach, but he's tried Bedard with all of the best offensive players on the team.

It's not Richardson's fault that Bedard keeps trying to beat goalies with perimeter wrist shots. Plenty of other Hawks forwards are having very good seasons under Richardson.

 

[GIADF]

I do watch hawks games. I don't disagree about Richardson being a poor coach, but he's tried Bedard with all of the best offensive players on the team.

It's not Richardson's fault that Bedard keeps trying to beat goalies with perimeter wrist shots. Plenty of other Hawks forwards are having very good seasons under Richardson.

Plenty? Not even close.

Donato and that’s it and that’s because he's shooting 25% so far.

TT and Bertuzzi have been disappointments.

Kurashev healthy scratched and has been terrible.

Dickinson has been notably worse this year.

No way you can say you watch the Hawks and have come to the conclusion that “Plenty of other Hawks forwards are having very good seasons under Richardson.”

 

[the valiant effort]

Can you define "generational" for me? People on here throw it around so much, I actually don't know what they mean by it, so perhaps you can clarify. I would guess that it meant "best on a generation" or "once in a generation". But you haven't answered my question, which is why would anyone expect Bedard to be the best player in an entire generation?

He was on the cover of THN at age 12 years, 11 months.. I remember hearing that issue sold 24 million copies in south Asia alone.

 

[ClydeLee]

Plenty? Not even close.

Donato and that’s it and that’s because he's shooting 25% so far.

TT and Bertuzzi have been disappointments.

Kurashev healthy scratched and has been terrible.

Dickinson has been notably worse this year.

No way you can say you watch the Hawks and have come to the conclusion that “Plenty of other Hawks forwards are having very good seasons under Richardson.”

This is an offense centric view only.

 

[GIADF]

This is an offense centric view only.

It’d a Bedard thread, of course the conversation is going to be focused on offense.

That said, it’s not like any of those guys are just crushing it defensively either.

Dickinson is probably the best defensive player I mentioned and he’s been pretty much terrible this year.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Plenty? Not even close.

Donato and that’s it and that’s because he's shooting 25% so far.

TT and Bertuzzi have been disappointments.

Kurashev healthy scratched and has been terrible.

Dickinson has been notably worse this year.

No way you can say you watch the Hawks and have come to the conclusion that “Plenty of other Hawks forwards are having very good seasons under Richardson.”

Donato and Reichel has been awesome. Foligno has been solid, Smith has been good, and TT has been really good at times (though inconsistent).

 

[GIADF]

Donato and Reichel has been awesome. Foligno has been solid, Smith has been good, and TT has been really good at times (though inconsistent).

Reichel has been awesome? Did you seriously just say that?

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Reichel has been awesome? Did you seriously just say that?

Yes - have you not been watching? He's been incredibly dynamic, creating chances out of nothing with limited ice time, especially at the start of the season. 3.02 p/60 at 5v5, all primary points. Bedard is at 1.95 p/60. He's had some beautiful setups.

I see your account is new, so maybe you're new to the sport, but Reichel has been playing great hockey.

 

[GIADF]

Yes - have you not been watching? He's been incredibly dynamic, creating chances out of nothing with limited ice time, especially at the start of the season. 3.02 p/60 at 5v5, all primary points. Bedard is at 1.95 p/60. He's had some beautiful setups.

I see your account is new, so maybe you're new to the sport, but Reichel has been playing great hockey.

He’s been awful with Bedard since he’s been promoted. He had a few good games as a 4th liner against easy competition.

You have no idea what you’re talking about.

TT was demoted and has 1 point in his last 9 games who you also said has “been really good at times.” He’s basically had two good games all season. Earned his demotion, and has been just as pitiful since.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

He’s been awful with Bedard since he’s been promoted. He had a few good games as a 4th liner against easy competition.

You have no idea what you’re talking about.

Speaking of awful, Bedard has been hot steaming garbage tonight. But please, continue to blame the coach for a young player struggling and getting frustrated.

TT was demoted and has 1 point in his last 9 games who you also said had a nice stretch.

He did have a nice stretch.

 

[GIADF]

Speaking of awful, Bedard has been hot steaming garbage tonight. But please, continue to blame the coach for a young player struggling and getting frustrated.

He did have a nice stretch.

Bedard absolutely gets plenty of blame, but he’s also not exactly in a great situation to thrive either. Especially since he isn’t dynamic like McDavid who can create for himself any time he wants.

He had two games a month ago. Some “stretch.”

 

[SimpleJack]

Speaking of awful, Bedard has been hot steaming garbage tonight. But please, continue to blame the coach for a young player struggling and getting frustrated.

Its disgusting how you get so excited and happy whenever Bedard struggles. Why are u this obsessed with wanting him to fail? I don't get it. He's struggling right now. We get it. But why do you personally have it out for him so much i really don't understand. And plz don't play dumb and act like you don't know what I'm talking about.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Its disgusting how you get so excited and happy whenever Bedard struggles. Why are u this obsessed with wanting him to fail? I don't get it. He's struggling right now. We get it. But why do you personally have it out for him so much i really don't understand. And plz don't play dumb and act like you don't know what I'm talking about.

I don't have it out for him at all. If my posts sound that way, it's probably because I get frustrated with homer Hawks fans telling me I don't watch the games or don't know what I'm talking about when I am very clearly not wrong about Bedard's struggles.

He's going to be a fantastic, fun player for years. But just like any other top player, he shouldn't be immune to criticism when he's not playing well.

Bedard absolutely gets plenty of blame, but he’s also not exactly in a great situation to thrive either. Especially since he isn’t dynamic like McDavid who can create for himself any time he wants.

He had two games a month ago. Some “stretch.”

Like many lottery picks, his team sucks. This isn't unexpected.

 

[SimpleJack]

I don't have it out for him at all. If my posts sound that way, it's probably because I get frustrated with homer Hawks fans telling me I don't watch the games or don't know what I'm talking about when I am very clearly not wrong about Bedard's struggles.

He's going to be a fantastic, fun player for years. But just like any other top player, he shouldn't be immune to criticism when he's not playing well.

Idk...I'm skeptical. But whatever. I suppose who cares, its not important anyways. Its fair to criticize i just hope that there aren't people that do so while actively rooting against him because he really seems like a legitimately good guy, and even if you don't like the Hawks you should want a young talent like that to blossom when they're good people/show strong character like he does under such a microscope.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Idk...I'm skeptical. But whatever. I suppose who cares, its not important anyways. Its fair to criticize i just hope that there aren't people that do so while actively rooting against him because he really seems like a legitimately good guy, and even if you don't like the Hawks you should want a young talent like that to blossom when they're good people/show strong character like he does under such a microscope.

Couldn't agree more. The kid is under a lot of pressure to meet what I think were unreasonable expectations, and I would hate to see that have a negative impact on him. I would love to see him succeed.

I was glad to see he had a much better 3rd period, with a beauty assist (and unreal backhand pass from Donato). I thought he was really strong at the end of the game too - he made a great defensive play and then you could see he was buzzing trying to tie the game.

He's enormously talented and fun to watch. Whenever the Hawks are playing I try to put the game on - the league needs more talent like his, not less.

 

[RedHawkDown]

Remains to be seen but I do think he has an issue with strength which is going to limit his effectiveness vs a McDavid/Crosby level true "generational" player. I see Bedard now as more of a Patrick Kane-level player, which is still a game changing franchise forward, but maybe not the 100+pts every year type.

He got bullied quite a bit by Edvinsson/Seider in the Wings game and you could see he was getting frustrated. The exceptional talent is undeniable though.