Has Connor Bedard quietly became underrated ?

[FDBluth]

Absolutely massive failure on Chicago's part. How do you do that to your young star. I mean SJ isn't good yet either but at least they have a few decent players and play a fun style.

It was crazy how they gutted the team in the last few years--basically gave away players for free. Last year the team was basically an AHL team.

This year they're a bit better but they have no identity, no structure, and no players that have any chemistry with each other. Bedard had a bit of chemistry with Kurashev but Kurashev is also good to give you about a -2 every night, and is more cut out to be a skill player in the AHL than an NHL top six.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

It was crazy how they gutted the team in the last few years--basically gave away players for free. Last year the team was basically an AHL team.

This year they're a bit better but they have no identity, no structure, and no players that have any chemistry with each other. Bedard had a bit of chemistry with Kurashev but Kurashev is also good to give you about a -2 every night, and is more cut out to be a skill player in the AHL than an NHL top six.

Some decent depth guys can be available after free agency or on the waiver wire too. Makes me think they want to be as bad as possible again. Dangerous game though, if it affects Bedard long term.

 

[Turin]

When the Pens got Sid they signed Gonchar, Leclair, Palffy, Recchi and had Lemieux.. almost all of whom stunk/got/injured/left/retired but still provided some insulation in theory. Blackhawks need to protect their asset better and overpay if necessary to trade for top six/middle six players.

 

[CallMeShaft]

Absolutely massive failure on Chicago's part. How do you do that to your young star. I mean SJ isn't good yet either but at least they have a few decent players and play a fun style.

Some of it is just luck, or lack of it.

San Jose drafted Will Smith the year before they got Celebrini. They had Eklund in the system too. Both really decent kids with legit top 6 upside. They than added Granlund, who nobody expected would be at a PPG pace at this stage of his career. Also Jake Walman is having a big year, which is a surprise to many, but none more than Stevie Y who stapled a 2nd to Walman in the offseason to unload him.

Hawks didn't luck into getting a defender playing well above what he's been in the past. Nor did any of their old guys have a huge resurgence. And the Hawks didn't have a recent top 5 pick they could ice out there with Bedard. They did trade Kirby Dach, who they picked 3rd in 2019, but they traded him before they got Bedard, and Dach has had significant issues for a few years now. The few guys thought to be top 6 players they signed in the off-season (Teravainen, Bertuzzi) have been mostly quiet.

Hawks' future strength is mostly on the backend right now. Two recent top 10 picks (one being 2nd overall), a bunch of kids not picked top 10 that are excelling, and Vlasic who has already turned into a top pairing guy (though more of the shutdown variety). But defenders take longer.

We could really use a Martone, Hagens, or Misa. Or Schaefer and trade away Korchinski or someone else for forward help.

 

[Brookbank]

Bedard with a 3 pt night in the NHL in December 2024, Brookbank swoopin outchea with the junior stats

I've been ignoring the thread and haven't paid as much attention to Bedards play. Im playing the long game.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Absolutely massive failure on Chicago's part. How do you do that to your young star. I mean SJ isn't good yet either but at least they have a few decent players and play a fun style.

It's not for lack of trying. They added Hall, Teravainen, Bertuzzi etc. No superstars but they should be better than 40 point guys.

 

[Just Linda]

I think people are starting to accept what Bedard is. Prior to his draft, anyone had declared him anything but generational would get mocked. He's never been the next Gretzky, McDavid, or Crosby but he is a phenomenal prospect nonetheless. I often compared his game to Stamkos before his draft and people seemed to hate that compasion, I feel people understand why me (and others) saw a lot to their game.

I don't think Bedard will ever be best suited as a centre. He's not an attacker the same way top centres are, his best offense comes the same way that elite wingers do. His shot will someday beat goalies 60 times in a season but playing centre limits how often he can use it. His vision and anticipation will make him a 100pt player but only if he can have someone drive the play for him to open the ice.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Bedard doesn't have any empty netters this year and only had 1 last season. Pay attention.

Your team has to be winning in order to even have a chance at an open net…

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

Your team has to be winning in order to even have a chance at an open net…

They should try playing the Sabres more. Adam Fox just scored his first of the year that way, 2 apples too- fantastic way to get out of a slide.

 

[Bombshell11]

I think people are starting to accept what Bedard is. Prior to his draft, anyone had declared him anything but generational would get mocked. He's never been the next Gretzky, McDavid, or Crosby but he is a phenomenal prospect nonetheless. I often compared his game to Stamkos before his draft and people seemed to hate that compasion, I feel people understand why me (and others) saw a lot to their game.

I don't think Bedard will ever be best suited as a centre. He's not an attacker the same way top centres are, his best offense comes the same way that elite wingers do. His shot will someday beat goalies 60 times in a season but playing centre limits how often he can use it. His vision and anticipation will make him a 100pt player but only if he can have someone drive the play for him to open the ice.

Would the Oilers trade Draisaitl for Bedard 1vs1?

Right Bedard should be looked at as a veteran top6 sniper and be used as such. Chicago has to forget hes 19 and accept the fact hes not fast enough, strong enough to be that guy right now.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Your team has to be winning in order to even have a chance at an open net…

Source?

 

[Mrfenn92]

Great thread as always

 

[Bombshell11]

Source?

For some people the Price will always be right no matter what the cost is

 

[sensfan4lifee]

He is better than Bedard right now.

No hes not lol go away

 

[The411]

All joking aside, no one sane is saying that Bedard won't be a star scorer in the NHL. He's an incredible talent. Just that maybe we should put to bed the "generational" talk and admit that he isn't in a separate tier from Celebrini and Michkov.

Those three guys are the NHL stars of tomorrow.

I am. It’s unfortunate but I think Bedard is not going to meet the hype and he’ll be a 30-40 goal scorer who tops out at 85-90 points max, which is still very good

He was a center in name only. The guy is 30.7 in the face off circle, which is abysmal. He’s a playmaking wing who can score.

He’s a slightly better Mat Barzal.

 

[WTG]

I am. It’s unfortunate but I think Bedard is not going to meet the hype and he’ll be a 30-40 goal scorer who tops out at 85-90 points max, which is still very good

He was a center in name only. The guy is 30.7 in the face off circle, which is abysmal. He’s a playmaking wing who can score.

He’s a slightly better Mat Barzal.

That's a incredibly bold take. Matt Barzal was on a team with 5 50 point guys. Bedard would be lucky to have one of his teammates hit 50 points this season. Right now, all you have to do to beat Chicago is put your best guys out against Bedard and you can just win. His teammates are not good enough to carry the play so they can't bail him out.

Also, faceoffs can be improved. Pettersson was also shit when he entered the league in faceoffs, he had Miller take faceoffs for him and he learned.

 

[MuckOG]

https://thehockeynews.com/collectibles/card-market/hockey-collectors-starting-to-call-bedard-a-bust

 

[FuryOfTheSwarm]

His game away from the puck is putrid. If his name was Matvei he would be looked at as the next Afinogenov.

That said, he's young and has years to grow and turn it around. I think he ends up somewhere between Stamkos and Stamkos Prime (Stamkos from the multiverse where he never breaks his leg)

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I am. It’s unfortunate but I think Bedard is not going to meet the hype and he’ll be a 30-40 goal scorer who tops out at 85-90 points max, which is still very good

He was a center in name only. The guy is 30.7 in the face off circle, which is abysmal. He’s a playmaking wing who can score.

He’s a slightly better Mat Barzal.

I'm quite confident that Bedard will have multiple 100 point seasons.

His game away from the puck is putrid. If his name was Matvei he would be looked at as the next Afinogenov.

He just let Engvall skate right past him leading to a breakaway and subsequent goal against. He was constantly flying the D zone yesterday in NJ.

His defensive game is really really terrible.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

That's a incredibly bold take. Matt Barzal was on a team with 5 50 point guys. Bedard would be lucky to have one of his teammates hit 50 points this season. Right now, all you have to do to beat Chicago is put your best guys out against Bedard and you can just win. His teammates are not good enough to carry the play so they can't bail him out.

Also, faceoffs can be improved. Pettersson was also shit when he entered the league in faceoffs, he had Miller take faceoffs for him and he learned.

Bedard has it tough but he also shouldn't be 7th in goal scoring on his own team. He's underperforming, don't think there's any doubt about that right now.

 

[FuryOfTheSwarm]

He just let Engvall skate right past him leading to a breakaway and subsequent goal against. He was constantly flying the D zone yesterday in NJ.

His defensive game is really really terrible.

Might be the only young player in the league who actually deserves John Tortorella

 

[Mattb124]

For some people the Price will always be right no matter what the cost is

How much have you watched of Celebrini? Guessing very little. I watched them both over the past couple of days and Celebrini definitely looks better than Bedard. He doesn’t have Bedard’s offensive flair, but his contribution in all 3 zones is much more impressive. Bedard without the puck looks like he is just going through the motions - waiting for someone to get the puck and give it to him so he can do his thing. Celebrini is attacking the puck carrier to force turnovers, winning board battles, blocking passing lanes, and creating clean O-zone entries. Just a more dynamic player overall.

 

[ORRFForever]

I have NO idea what to make of his 2nd season. The kid has likely never faced adversity ON the ice before and he will need to sort though it. Thankfully for him, he has time and talent on his side.

Right now, Celebrini is the more complete / better player but he also has the advantage of a better team around him.

Just like a team losing a game during the Round Robin of a tournament, a little adversity is NEVER a bad thing in the long run.

 

[WTG]

Bedard has it tough but he also shouldn't be 7th in goal scoring on his own team. He's underperforming, don't think there's any doubt about that right now.

This is misleading. He's tied for 4th on his team in goal scoring, is 4 goals off top scorer on the team, and he has 6 more points than everyone else on his team. Is anyone really under the impression that Bedard is going to end up not being the leading goalscorer on the team at the end of the season?

The under preforming part only refers to the fact hes not "just" PPG +10 in his draft +2. But he can easily go hot and score a boatload of goals and nobody would blink an eye. Bedard is crazy talented, but the support around him is straight up garbage and it's up to the front office to fix that.