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.

 

[GrumpyKoala]

+/- is an irrelevant stat until you manage a -44.

Well he currently on Pace to blow wild open the all time league record.
I heard Bob Stewart is starting to be nervous about it

 

[Boxscore]

Getting concerned, Hawks are gonna ruin this kid. Get him a decent linemate ASAP

I think the Hawks will regret passing on Demidov for the next 15 years.

 

[SaSaShi]

A lot of people are gonna eat a lot of crow. What Bedard is going through is a clear mental issue especially with the little support he is getting. This is not a talent or physical issue.

Ive watched his past few games and this is not the real Bedard. I still see him as the crown jewel of the 23 draft.

However, Chicago as an org has to do SOMETHING, because if the confidence issues linger it could take much longer to regain it and some even say the damage could be years or even permanent. So chicago must protect their player either by the coach or management.His body language and face tells it all. Not fair to compare to 87 and 97 right now.

Crosby and McDavid had much stronger support.

Crosby had Palffy and Recchi as ppg players. Great leaders in Mario Lemieux and Leclair to guide him. Sergei Gonchar as the off dman.

McDavid had Hall, Eberle, Draisatl and nugent hopkins all players with very good pedigree.

Bedard has no one of value right now. Still can't believe they didn't take Demidov.

I dont think comparing point totals at this stage to discount Bedard is valid if you ask me. I still believe he will be NHL's best player in 5 years.

 

[Hanji]

A lot of people are gonna eat a lot of crow. What Bedard is going through is a clear mental issue especially with the little support he is getting. This is not a talent or physical issue.

Ive watched his past few games and this is not the real Bedard. I still see him as the crown jewel of the 23 draft.

However, Chicago as an org has to do SOMETHING, because if the confidence issues linger it could take much longer to regain it and some even say the damage could be years or even permanent. So chicago must protect their player either by the coach or management.His body language and face tells it all. Not fair to compare to 87 and 97 right now.

Crosby and McDavid had much stronger support.

Crosby had Palffy and Recchi as ppg players. Great leaders in Mario Lemieux and Leclair to guide him. Sergei Gonchar as the off dman.

McDavid had Hall, Eberle, Draisatl and nugent hopkins all players with very good pedigree.

Bedard has no one of value right now. Still can't believe they didn't take Demidov.

I dont think comparing point totals at this stage to discount Bedard is valid if you ask me. I still believe he will be NHL's best player in 5 years.

If it's unfair to compare Bedard's D+2 season to those of 87 and 97 because he has less support, why not to the Great 8?

Here's Ovechkin's D+2 season:

 

[SaSaShi]

If it's unfair to compare Bedard's D+2 season to those of 87 and 97 because he has less support, why not to the Great 8?

Here's Ovechkin's D+2 season:


View attachment 932144

Yes this is impressive on Ovechkin's part. He was one man machine as a rookie.

HOWEVER....

Crosby and Ovechkin entered the league more NHL ready than Bedard imo from a physical standpoint. You can see in their career numbers. Crosby's best years were his first 2 years and since those first 2 years, he kept at those levels. His grittiness and defensive game improved but offensively Crosby as a rookie was not that much different 5 years later. Same with ovechkin, his offensive output were at peak levels in his first 5 years and one could argue he never maintained those first 5 yr offensive output ever again. Do you think Bedard's peak is 61 points in 68 games a player below ppg ??

There are players that take longer to develop. Mcdavid's rookie year was not as impressive as Ovi's nor Crosby's but he turned out to be a clear tier above them. Kucherov started slow , only becoming a ppg player in year 5. Kucherov's career is not finished, but if he racks up another 5 100 pt seasons and finishes above Ovechkin in career pts/game (already is), people will start saying perhaps HE is russia's best ever player.

What if Bedard reaches Kucherov's level in year 4 and keeps that level for 7-10 years straight and wins a cup or two? is the generational tag suddenly back on even if Bedard endured the dreaded sophomore slump?

Not everything is apple to apple....

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Mcdavid's rookie year was not as impressive as Ovi's nor Crosby's

Huh?

McDavid was third in ppg as a rookie and then led the league in scoring the next year.

Crosby and Ovechkin entered the league more NHL ready than Bedard imo from a physical standpoint.

They were more NHL ready because they were bigger guys, not necessarily because they were further ahead in physical maturity. I'm not fully convinced Crosby was any further ahead in his physical development at 18/19 than Bedard.

Crosby was 5'11 193
Bedard is 5'10 185

That's pretty much the same density. I'm not sure how much bigger you expect Bedard to get. Maybe he gets to 190 without losing any speed?

I expect to see improvements from him over the next 5 years, but I question how much those improvements will be a result of him reaching a new level of physical maturity.

 

[SaSaShi]

Huh?

McDavid was third in ppg as a rookie and then led the league in scoring the next year.

They were more NHL ready because they were bigger guys, not necessarily because they were further ahead in physical maturity. I'm not fully convinced Crosby was any further ahead in his physical development at 18/19 than Bedard.

Crosby was 5'11 193
Bedard is 5'10 185

That's pretty much the same density. I'm not sure how much bigger you expect Bedard to get. Maybe he gets to 190 without losing any speed?

I expect to see improvements from him over the next 5 years, but I question how much those improvements will be a result of him reaching a new level of physical

When jack hughes scored 51 pts combined in his first 2 years (outscored by Bedar's rookie season alone) did you also question how much he would improve? Bedard has much more room to grow from what he is showing right now. We should make final judgements later. I don't know why we are always in a hurry to give labels.

Pls answer my question....if in year 4 Bedard produces like Kucherov 120 + pts/season and keeps that up for 7 seasons and wins a cup a long the way, will you re-assign the generational tag on him again??

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

When jack hughes scored 51 pts combined in his first 2 years (outscored by Bedar's rookie season alone) did you also question how much he would improve?

Hughes was built like a 12 year old during his rookie season. Bedard was nearly 20 lbs heavier than Hughes. During his sophomore season, he was 2nd to only Connor McDavid in terms of neutral zone efficiency and zone entries/exits - the talent was very clearly in excess of what his point totals would suggest (partly because of terrible puck luck in his first 2 seasons).

Bedard has much more room to grow from what he is showing right now. We should make final judgements later. I don't know why we are always in a hurry to give labels.

You'd have to ask the people who branded him generational before he even set foot on NHL ice.

Pls answer my question....if in year 4 Bedard produces like Kucherov 120 + pts/season and keeps that up for 7 seasons and wins a cup a long the way, will you re-assign the generational tag on him again??

Not necessarily, as there is a lot more to being a generational player than piling up points. He needs to be controlling the game and dictating the pace in addition to putting up gaudy numbers.

For the record, Kucherov was one of my main comparables for Bedard coming out of junior.

 

[SaSaShi]

Not necessarily, as there is a lot more to being a generational player than piling up points. He needs to be controlling the game and dictating the pace in addition to putting up gaudy numbers.

For the record, Kucherov was one of my main comparables for Bedard coming out of junior.

If a guy scores 100 plus consistently, there is NO WAY he is doing that without controlling play and dictating pace. I mean come on now....

This thread sounds like a lot of people didn't appreciate all the attention Bedard got last year and now are piling on him when he is down. I wish he was a Flyer too....

He has everything you want in a player , shot, stickhandling, passing, IQ, work ethic. Just needs to calm down, get stronger and gain experience along with a little more team support. He will win multiple MVPs when all is said and done.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

If a guy scores 100 plus consistently, there is NO WAY he is doing that without controlling play and dictating pace. I mean come on now....

It's not really all that hard - guys that don't drive play out of their d zone and through the neutral zone, but are elite offensive zone & PP weapons.

Ovechkin didn't really control the play or dictate pace. Pastrnak, and to a lesser extent Kucherov, are also guys that don't due a ton of heavy lifting on exits & neutral zone play. But they are absolute weapons once you cross the blue line.

He has everything you want in a player , shot, stickhandling, passing, IQ, work ethic.

I think you are forgetting about skating and strength - 2 key attributes, and you want a top player to have at least one of those to be elite. Bedard is currently a good, not great skater and is very easy to knock off the puck. He's got great edges and lateral mobility, but his top end speed is pretty mediocre.

And while his off ice work ethic seems to be tremendous, he's not always the hardest working guy on the ice. I think he'll grow out of that as he matures.