Has Connor Bedard quietly became underrated ?

[Faceboner]

His goalscoring will take off at some point. No one on the Hawks has the ability to get him the puck with any kind of time and space right now. So he's mostly been a playmaker by default because he's the one that has to create the plays for others. Creating your own shot with no other offensive help is almost impossible in the NHL. Ovechkin's kinda the only exception, but even Ovechkin has always had Backstrom.

Bedard's a better playmaker than I thought actually. Once he gets his shot and playmaking working together with a team that complements him, I think he could threaten 60 goals + 70 assists.

Even with scoring up 60 is a really unique feat on today's nhl but 45 to 50 is easily doable hawks really went full scorched earth they need to get more good ufa pickups and vets while they are still drafting high

 

[93LEAFS]

Lets pretend he was never compared to the Gratzky, McDavid, Crosby or Matthews.

He sure did get that level of coverage. I remember the first freaking 5 games the media were ONLY talking about Bedard.
They had Gretz sit down with Bedard at the same table with sportsnet analysts.

I remember sportsnet running clips of Bedard non stop every 2 minutes.

Sportsnet guys got so fedup and as a troll they showed Bedard just doing a routine skating to meme their bosses.

I mean, he was often put ahead of Matthews.

 

[SimpleJack]

His goalscoring will take off at some point. No one on the Hawks has the ability to get him the puck with any kind of time and space right now. So he's mostly been a playmaker by default because he's the one that has to create the plays for others. Creating your own shot with no other offensive help is almost impossible in the NHL. Ovechkin's kinda the only exception, but even Ovechkin has always had Backstrom.

Bedard's a better playmaker than I thought actually. Once he gets his shot and playmaking working together with a team that complements him, I think he could threaten 60 goals + 70 assists.

This is spot on. It has definitely played a part in holding back his goal scoring, as he's been essentially forced into being the primary playmaker/facilitator whenever he's on the ice. He has to set everything up and do all the work it seems and the lack of help has been GLARING. In time he will put up big #s i have no doubt about it. But for now this is an issue he has put up with, unfortunately.