Has Connor Bedard quietly became underrated ?

[Darren McCord]

Most career points: Bedard broke Eric Lindros' record of 31 points in 21 games with 36 points in 16 games.

For Canadians

• Peter Forsberg, Sweden 42

• Robert Reichel, Czechoslovakia 40

• Pavel Bure, USSR 39

Were all better.

Most points at a single tournament: Bedard broke Dale McCourt's and Brayden Schenn's record of 18 points with 23 points.

Again for Canadians

Peter Forsberg	Sweden	1993	7	24	31
Markus Naslund	Sweden	1993	13	11	24
Raimo Helminen	Finland	1984	11	13	24

Were all better.

Those guys all had great careers, just not generational. I think that Bedard will be an elite player but I don't see him as a generational talent.

Development isn't linear. Bedard is still a teenager.

It also isn't always guaranteed. He will get better, but I don't see the jump to generational that others see.

 

[Acallabeth]

 
Connor Bedard broke several records at the 2023 World Junior Hockey Championship, including

While Bedard's exploits against kids are very impressive, beating Eberle, Schenn and Dale McCourt (whoever that was) at a 'who scores most against Latvia' game doesn't make a player generational. Particularly when he didn't have to face Michkov and Russia.

 

[Hanji]

I watched the first 6 or 7 Hawks games this year. Bedard was getting shots and being a threat almost every shift.

But now he's really in a funk. His confidence is gone. The whole team is playing rather low event. The chemistry with Terivinen is gone.

It's more than a funk he's in. The dip in his play seemed to start at the end of last season. He has 5 goals in his last 26 games. 8 in his last 44.

Perhaps other teams have figured him out a little and he has no help to take the pressure off.

 

[ORRFForever]

You're trying to please the Bedard croud too much, you got bullied last year really hard for having a correct opinion about his potential, dont try to pamper to the negative people.

He was overhyped by the scouts and the NHL , they said hes going to be the next Gretzky.

Last year he had the label of a generational talent CHI gave him all the Ice time in the world, they thought he would develop that way. He did ok on the stats sheet but on the ice he was not up to par to the standards and expectations of NHL players in general.

This year, most people just view him as an elite prospect but in my opinion, i think injuries will take him out of the game and he's most likely going to be seen as just a top 6 forward.

Are you sure you meant me? Maybe it was me. TBH, I don't remember.

I believe Bedard's upside is Patrick Kane. I hope it is higher but that is pretty darn good.

Posters need to remember that Cole Caufield, who is even smaller than Bedard, struggled for months until he got it together. Also, I cannot emphasize how poor Bedard's line mates are. I am not sure why Chicago is leaving him out to dry but he's alone out there.

Also, like I said, he's never faced adversity. Everything has always come easy to him. This will be a wonderful test and it will build character.

 

[Bombshell11]

While Bedard's exploits against kids are very impressive, beating Eberle, Schenn and Dale McCourt (whoever that was) at a 'who scores most against Latvia' game doesn't make a player generational. Particularly when he didn't have to face Michkov and Russia.

Good point

 

[ORRFForever]

Perhaps other teams have figured him out a little and he has no help to take the pressure off.

Yes. He is also trying too hard. He is not being him.

He looks painfully UN-happy. I hope the BlackHawks know what they are doing because, if this keeps up, he'll bolt as soon as he can.

*************************************************************************************************************

I HATE the word "Generational". It should be banned from HFB.

Again, I see Patrick Kane and that is more than okay with me.

 

[ORRFForever]

I watched the first 6 or 7 Hawks games this year. Bedard was getting shots and being a threat almost every shift.

But now he's really in a funk. His confidence is gone. The whole team is playing rather low event. The chemistry with Terivinen is gone.

It has shades of RNH when he was trying to carry the Oilers down the middle as a kid.

But this is just a bump in the road to what he will ultimately be. The best player in the league in the coming years.

Good post. I hope you're right.

 

[Team_Spirit]

Kid is on a island by himself. Bertuzzi and Teravainen are not it.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Kid is on a island by himself. Bertuzzi and Teravainen are not it.

Hard to blame his teammates when hasn't even been his team's best player.

I don't disagree that having another elite offensive player would help him, but that's precisely why he's not a generational talent.

Move him to the wing and give him an elite play driving center, and I think he'd pot 35-40 goals 90+ points pretty easily.

 

[ORRFForever]

Move him to the wing and give him an elite play driving center, and I think he'd pot 35-40 goals 90+ points pretty easily.

Yup - you can always move him back to Center after he matures but take some of the pressure off his 19 year old shoulders.

 

[The Panther]

Scoring was down substantially compared to todays NHL when Mackinnon and Draisaitl were doing that. In that Mackinnon season Jamie Benn won the Art Ross with 87 points.

Yep. And if we tweak MacKinnon's and Hughes's point paces upwards to watch today's scoring levels... they were pacing for around 59 points at Bedard's age.

 

[ORRFForever]

Yep. And if we tweak MacKinnon's and Hughes's point paces upwards to watch today's scoring levels... they were pacing for around 59 points at Bedard's age.

Bedard is doing great for a 19 year old on a horrible team but there is NO downside to lowering expectations.