Has Connor Bedard quietly became underrated ?

Faceboner

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Jan 6, 2022
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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

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Nov 7, 2009
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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

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Jul 25, 2013
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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.
 
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BLKHKhockey

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Aug 28, 2009
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He’s been playing well lately. Maybe the best I’ve seen from him so far.

Now would be a good time to tune in and see what his game is really about now that the coach isn’t holding him back.
 

independent observer

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Apr 9, 2023
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Bedard looks more and more like the 2nd coming of Alexandre Daigle…

I said that already a couple of years ago… maybe I was right after all…

Daigles rookie season was also solid, but the longer he was in the nhl the worse it got…

He more and more reminds me of Pierre Marc Bouchard and Sam Gagner… highly skilled undersized players, that had great junior time but couldn‘t translate to superstars in the nhl.
 

Chelios

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Bedard looks more and more like the 2nd coming of Alexandre Daigle…

I said that already a couple of years ago… maybe I was right after all…

Daigles rookie season was also solid, but the longer he was in the nhl the worse it got…

He more and more reminds me of Pierre Marc Bouchard and Sam Gagner… highly skilled undersized players, that had great junior time but couldn‘t translate to superstars in the nhl.
Or maybe you aren’t and you are trying to convince yourself you are.
 

CallMeShaft

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Apr 14, 2014
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Bedard looks more and more like the 2nd coming of Alexandre Daigle…

I said that already a couple of years ago… maybe I was right after all…

Daigles rookie season was also solid, but the longer he was in the nhl the worse it got…

He more and more reminds me of Pierre Marc Bouchard and Sam Gagner… highly skilled undersized players, that had great junior time but couldn‘t translate to superstars in the nhl.
There was never a season in Daigle's NHL career where he was the best player, offensively, on his team. Bedard easily had the most points for the Hawks last season, and is doing so again this season.

If you're thinking he's the next Daigle, then you lack proper evaluation skills. I'd honestly be embarrassed if I said something like this on a hockey forum.
 

independent observer

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Apr 9, 2023
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There was never a season in Daigle's NHL career where he was the best player, offensively, on his team. Bedard easily had the most points for the Hawks last season, and is doing so again this season.

If you're thinking he's the next Daigle, then you lack proper evaluation skills. I'd honestly be embarrassed if I said something like this on a hockey forum.
e
There was never a season in Daigle's NHL career where he was the best player, offensively, on his team. Bedard easily had the most points for the Hawks last season, and is doing so again this season.

If you're thinking he's the next Daigle, then you lack proper evaluation skills. I'd honestly be embarrassed if I said something like this on a hockey forum.
Lol… to be the best scorer on the Blackhawks team is no achievement… if you sometimes dress Kurashev on the first line it says all…

Alexei Jashin was one of the best players at that time, but maybe you are too young to remember.
 
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ClydeLee

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Lol… to be the best scorer on the Blackhawks team is no achievement… if you sometimes dress Kurashev on the first line it says all…

Alexei Jashin was one of the best players at that time, but maybe you are too young to remember.
That Bedard got Kurashev 50 pts last year says it all. You can uh, come to reality now
 

CallMeShaft

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Apr 14, 2014
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Lol… to be the best scorer on the Blackhawks team is no achievement… if you sometimes dress Kurashev on the first line it says all…

Alexei Jashin was one of the best players at that time, but maybe you are too young to remember.
So he's putting up points despite having a guy like Kurashev as a frequent linemate.

Are you trying to disprove your own point?
 
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shello

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Bedard looks more and more like the 2nd coming of Alexandre Daigle…

I said that already a couple of years ago… maybe I was right after all…

Daigles rookie season was also solid, but the longer he was in the nhl the worse it got…

He more and more reminds me of Pierre Marc Bouchard and Sam Gagner… highly skilled undersized players, that had great junior time but couldn‘t translate to superstars in the nhl.
Not really a good comparable considering Daigle mentally checked out from hockey after getting drafted
 

CallMeShaft

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Apr 14, 2014
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It's weird before he was drafted everyone was gushing about how good his shot is but so far from what I've seen from Bedard is that his passing and playmaking ability is underrated while his shot is very overrated.
Shot hasn't been quite as elite as advertised yet, but he's also not getting a lot of room to get it off; teams know to zero in on him specifically.

His playmaking is very high end, though. His confidence has been up and down, especially this season, but when he's playing confident, his playmaking is Kane-esque.
 

SimpleJack

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Jul 25, 2013
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I cant believe how good 98 is at facilitating and being the primary playmaker with the puck. His shot remains elite, its just very difficult for him to get it off and he's hit like 10,000 posts/crossbars too. Its gonna start going in. And in the coming years his goal totals will skyrocket as he gets help around him/others who are able to aid with some of the facilitating responsibilities. As for now he's looking MUCH better since the coaching change(no surprise).

Guy over here is legit comparing Bedard to Sam Gagner and Alexandre Daigle. U cant even make this crap up. "Maybe I was right after all" ummmmmmmm no. You weren't.
 

WarriorofTime

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Jul 3, 2010
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I was browsing the list of the 84 players that have at least a 0.8 PPG or better 2023-24 through 2024-25 to date and that played in at least 60 games and Bedard really stands out on the list as far as being on an island in terms of productive teammates. You have to look at superstrs in their prime in David Pastrnak and to a lesser extent Artemi Panarin that are being asked to carry so much of their team's scoring load. Hopefully Teuvo and Bertuzzi can keep this productive run going. Teuvo is on a crazy assist tear right now, the line with him and Mikheyev has been good.
 

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