Has Connor Bedard quietly became underrated ?

[Luigi Lemieux]

Hes too young to carry the worst NHL team down the middle.

He has been small and dominant at every other level

At every other level he was playing against children. What works in junior doesn't always translate to the NHL.

 

[NeverForget06]

They came into way better situations than Bedard is in now. Bedard is the first piece in a rebuild that was torn to the studs. Those guys had way more support.

Do you think Bedard would be doing better if he had Mario Lemieux and Malkin to play with?

I mean how many games did Mario play with Sid in reality lol? 20?
Geno came year two - Hawks could have drafted a Malkin equivalent this year and chose not to

Sid put up 102 points in his rookie season - next closest was Sergei Gonchar with 58

 

[belfour30]

I've been critical but this speaks to being unlucky rather than bad.

 

[PattyLafontaine]

He needed to live with the Chicago version of Joe Thornton and get on the sticks and play fortnite. Can't succeed any other way.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

They came into way better situations than Bedard is in now. Bedard is the first piece in a rebuild that was torn to the studs. Those guys had way more support.

Do you think Bedard would be doing better if he had Mario Lemieux and Malkin to play with?

Look what Ovi had to start his career... And like the other poster said how many games did Sid play with Mario

I'm just saying he's not Mcdavid Crosby or Ovi that's not a very hot take or anything.

Completely agree. He doesnt have the skating at his size to be that.

You can win with Kane/Backstrom/Giroux/St Louis/Panarin level all stars. Hopefully he can become that. Hes sooo extremely talented. Also hes a small 19 year old playing with 3rd and 4th liners.

Hughes Mackinnon are both top 5 forwards in the world that started off a little slower.

Hes got 74 points in 86 games on the worst team in the league. Thats the same PPG start as Patrick Kane better than Hughes or Mackinnon.

He needs a top flight winger or move to the wing and get a real center.

Hes playing the wing with Joey Anderson (waived) and Jason Dickinson (cap dump) tonight SMH.

Totally agree he's not in a position to succeed but he doesn't have the ability of those 3 to blow a NHL game open on his own with seperation strength or speed like those guys did at 18-19 , I mean we are talking about the 3 best players in the 21st century its not like its a knock on bedard

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I mean how many games did Mario play with Sid in reality lol? 20?

He lived with Mario for two years. Got to be mentored by one of the best - maybe the best - ever.

Bedard had Perry who promptly created a scandal with stupid rumours involving Bedard.

Geno came year two - Hawks could have drafted a Malkin equivalent this year and chose not to

But they didn’t. That’s not Bedard’s fault.

And it’s year two for him now. I’m pretty sure he’d be happy with Malkin on his team.

Sid put up 102 points in his rookie season - next closest was Sergei Gonchar with 58

Bedard was injured in his first year. Had the Perry crap to deal with. No support whatsoever.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

He lived with Mario for two years. Got to be mentored by one of the best - maybe the best - ever.

Bedard had Perry who promptly created a scandal with stupid rumours involving Bedard.

But they didn’t. That’s not Bedard’s fault.

And it’s year two for him now. I’m pretty sure he’d be happy with Malkin on his team.

Bedard was injured in his first year. Had the Perry crap to deal with. No support whatsoever.

Crosby actually lived with Lemieux's family for the first five years of his career. I do agree Crosby was better insulated by the franchise overall, on and off the ice. Chicago needs to do better.

 

[TLEH]

It’s never really linear. A lot of people point to MacKinnon because he had an uneven progression.

They’ve scored 1.88 goals per game since Halloween. They’re the lowest scoring team in the league again after being historically low scoring last year.

He was essentially their first draft pick of the tank. They didn’t tank in 2021-2022. They sold off then, so he’s literally been it. But it’s also been worse than last year, so we’ll see what happens coach and roster wise. You stop Bedard and the Hawks do not score.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

McDavid had so much more support than Bedard does. He was Edmonton's 4th or 5th number one in a row.

McDavid was the 3rd most productive player in the league as a rookie. Yeah, having decent teammates helps, but giving Bedard Eberle and Pouliot wasn't going to turn him into a top 20 scorer, let alone top 3.

Crosby had Lemieux and Malkin...

Totally different situations.

Mario played 20 games, and Malkin wasn't there during Crosby's rookie season.

Crosby's back half of his rookie season is where he really took off, and he did it with Hilbert and Armstrong on his wings. He was 2nd in league scoring from Dec 23rd onwards, scoring at a 117 point pace with scrubs on his wing.

 

[the valiant effort]

I heard Sid actually still lives at Mario’s place

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

McDavid was the 3rd most productive player in the league as a rookie.

He was the 3rd most productive player on his team as a rookie. He had Taylor Hall helping him out. The following year he had Drai putting up 77 points with him.

Apples and oranges.

Yeah, having decent teammates helps, but giving Bedard Eberle and Pouliot wasn't going to turn him into a top 20 scorer, let alone top 3.

Having a decent team at least insulates you somewhat. Bedard has nothing.

How many more points do you think he'd have this year if he had Drai with him?

Mario played 20 games, and Malkin wasn't there during Crosby's rookie season.

It doens't matter. Again, he had Mario take him under his wing. And Malkin came in the following year.

Bedard had Perry who got him involved in the dumbest faux scandal in recent memory.

Crosby's back half of his rookie season is where he really took off, and he did it with Hilbert and Armstrong on his wings. He was 2nd in league scoring from Dec 23rd onwards, scoring at a 117 point pace with scrubs on his wing.

Cool. He was still in a much better environment. That's just a fact.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

He was the 3rd most productive player on his team as a rookie. The following year he had Draisaytl putting up 77 points with him.

He was third in the NHL in pts/gp as a rookie. Bedard wasn't in the top 50

Having a decent team at least inuslates you somewhat. Bedard has nothing.

Bedard has nothing, yet he's not even been the best forward on his team.

How many more points do you think he'd have this year if he had Drai with him?

You're acting like rookie Crosby and McDavid had a prime Draisaitl lol. I'm sure Bedard would score more points with better linemates.

Bedard isn't putting up 1.5 ppg with Hilbert and Armstrong.

It doens't matter. Again, he had Mario take him under his wing. And Malkin came in the following year.

Bedard had Perry who got him involved in the dumbest faux scandal in recent memory.

This all just sounds like excuses. Malkin had nothing to do with Crosby's rookie season. And I don't think Lemieux playing 20 games was all that helpful when they lost their first 10 games and had to fire their coach after being expected to be contenders.

Cool. He was still in a much better environment. That's just a fact.

They were different situations. Bedard came in with zero expectations to win, with great off ice pros like Foligno and Jones. Crosby was expected to carry the Pens to the playoffs right away, and then 10 games later he's already on his second coach.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

He was third in the NHL in pts/gp as a rookie. Bedard wasn't in the top 50
Bedard has nothing, yet he's not even been the best forward on his team.

You're acting like rookie Crosby and McDavid had a prime Draisaitl lol. I'm sure Bedard would score more points with better linemates.

Bedard isn't putting up 1.5 ppg with Hilbert and Armstrong.

This all just sounds like excuses. Malkin had nothing to do with Crosby's rookie season. And I don't think Lemieux playing 20 games was all that helpful when they lost their first 10 games and had to fire their coach after being expected to be contenders.

They were different situations. Bedard came in with zero expectations to win, with great off ice pros like Foligno and Jones. Crosby was expected to carry the Pens to the playoffs right away, and then 10 games later he's already on his second coach.

Sorry but no. Writing off Drai as some scrub is dumb. He put up 77 points with McD. Who does Bedard have who can do that right now?

Again, McD comes in at the end of a rebuild and Bedard is the first... It's not an excuse, it's just the reality of the situation. All those other players had support that Bedard could only dream of.

He has plenty of time to find his game. He's not even 20 yet. To say he won't be generational based on what we've seen so far is ludicrous. It's a marathon not a sprint.

 

[Mrfenn92]

Whiskey sure loves himself some Connor

 

[Pablo El Perro]

I can't name a single one of his teammates but I'm pretty sure that's how the owners want it.

He's got Hall, Beetuzzi, Foligno, Jones, and Vlassic. That would have been a great team 8 or 9 years ago.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Sorry but no. Writing off Drai as some scrub is dumb. He put up 77 points with McD. Who does Bedard have who can do that right now?

I wasn't referring to Draisaitl as a scrub. He's not even relevant, I don't understand why you keep bringing him and Malkin up.
McDavid was third in the league in ppg as a rookie without Draisaitl. Crosby scored 102 points before Malkin.

Again, McD comes in at the end of a rebuild and Bedard is the first... It's not an excuse, it's just the reality of the situation. All those other players had support that Bedard could only dream of.

You think Bedard finishes top 10 in ppg with Eberle and Pouliot on his wings? Or Armstrong and Hilbert?

He has plenty of time to find his game. He's not even 20 yet. To say he won't be generational based on what we've seen so far is ludicrous. It's a marathon not a sprint.

He lacks the god given athletic attributes necessary to be a Crosby/McDavid caliber player. He's not going to go from one of the weaker players on the puck to arguably the best puck possession player ever. He's not going to go from decent skater to the most explosive skater of all time. Young players don't fundamentally change to that extent.

He's going to be an elite world class offensive player in this league for a long time, and will probably be consistently thought of as the most dangerous player in the league with time and space. He should challenge for scoring titles when McDavid eventually slows and he gets more help.

But generational players don't need help to win scoring titles . They don't need excuses. They just dominate, and elevate their teammates while doing so.

Whiskey sure loves himself some Connor

He's an incredible talent. League needs more guys like him. I like what they did moving him to the wing, I think he's about to go on a heater.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I wasn't referring to Draisaitl as a scrub. He's not even relevant, I don't understand why you keep bringing him and Malkin up.
McDavid was third in the league in ppg as a rookie without Draisaitl. Crosby scored 102 points before Malkin.

You think Bedard finishes top 10 in ppg with Eberle and Pouliot on his wings? Or Armstrong and Hilbert?

He lacks the god given athletic attributes necessary to be a Crosby/McDavid caliber player. He's not going to go from one of the weaker players on the puck to arguably the best puck possession player ever. He's not going to go from decent skater to the most explosive skater of all time. Young players don't fundamentally change to that extent.

He's going to be an elite world class offensive player in this league for a long time, and will probably be consistently thought of as the most dangerous player in the league with time and space. He should challenge for scoring titles when McDavid eventually slows and he gets more help.

But generational players don't need help to win scoring titles . They don't need excuses. They just dominate, and elevate their teammates while doing so.

He's an incredible talent. League needs more guys like him. I like what they did moving him to the wing, I think he's about to go on a heater.

I think he's on a terrible team. Much worse than any of those others you brought up. Slice it up any way you wish, they were in a much better situation. Talking like Hall, Drai, Malkin etc... aren't relevant is insane.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I think he's on a terrible team. Much worse than any of those others you brought up. Slice it up any way you wish, they were in a much better situation. Talking like Hall, Drai, Malkin etc... aren't relevant is insane.

Malkin clearly wasn't a factor during Crosby's rookie year. Acting like he's at all relevant is what's actually insane.

And McDavid didn't even play with Hall after his first 5 games. Hall and Draisaitl played together.

McDavid played primarily with Eberle and Pouliot. You think Bedard could have finished top 3 league wide in ppg with those linemates?

 

[KillerMillerTime]

Look what Ovi had to start his career... And like the other poster said how many games did Sid play with Mario

I'm just saying he's not Mcdavid Crosby or Ovi that's not a very hot take or anything.


Totally agree he's not in a position to succeed but he doesn't have the ability of those 3 to blow a NHL game open on his own with seperation strength or speed like those guys did at 18-19 , I mean we are talking about the 3 best players in the 21st century its not like its a knock on bedard

He is closer to prime Kariya.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Malkin clearly wasn't a factor during Crosby's rookie year. Acting like he's at all relevant is what's actually insane.

He's a factor the following year. 85 points.

And McDavid didn't even play with Hall after his first 5 games. Hall and Draisaitl played together.

It doesn't matter who he played with. It matters that he had others who could score.

McDavid played primarily with Eberle and Pouliot. You think Bedard could have finished top 3 league wide in ppg with those linemates?

I think Bedard would be doing much better on a better team. He's on a tire fire. I can't even name another teammate other than Seth Jones.

 

[Pablo El Perro]

He's a factor the following year. 85 points.

It doesn't matter who he played with. It matters that he had others who could score.

I think Bedard would be doing much better on a better team. He's on a tire fire. I can't even name another teammate other than Seth Jones.

Nick Foligno, Taylor Hall, Bertuzzi's Nephew, Vlassic, and so on.

 

[ORRFForever]

Nice to see him get a pair of assists, tonight.

He's at 0.79 PPG on a horrid team with no line mates at the age of 19. If this is as bad as it gets, consider ourselves lucky. No, he is NOT Sid or McDavid but he's one heck of a young hockey player.

P.S. It was nice to see him smile - haven't seen THAT in a while.

 

[Nogatco Rd]

I can't name a single one of his teammates but I'm pretty sure that's how the owners want it.

Yeah it sucks, they are letting the kid down big time. Corey Perry and Taylor Hall are the vet leadership you decide to insulate him with? Seems like there is still some major dysfunction within the FO.

Watching his body language on the bench in his return to Vancouver was brutal.

 

[Senor Catface]

Has their been a generational player that didn't excel, at least offensively, in their second season?

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Has there been a generational player that didn't excel, at least offensively, in their second season?

Some great players took a bit. Mackinnon, Lafleur, Yzerman… they were good but not great.