Has Connor Bedard quietly became underrated ?

[BHFAN92]

Scored again tonight.

Has points in 16 of his last 18 games.

shhhh the Bedard haters dont want facts

 

[BHFAN92]

Not a bust, but just about where most fans thought he would be. Speaking personally, I always felt that he would end up with a career more like Patrick Kane than Crosby or McDavid. But when I said that earlier in this thread, Bedard fans jumped all over me calling comparing Bedard to Kane as somehow disrespectful to Bedard.

I don't know why anyone would take this as a slight. Patrick Kane is and was a generational player in his own right and won 3 cups and multiple other accolades. If Bedard turns into a better scoring version of P.Kane then Chicago is likely going to win more cups in its future.

 

[jj cale]

Not a bust, but just about where most fans thought he would be. Speaking personally, I always felt that he would end up with a career more like Patrick Kane than Crosby or McDavid. But when I said that earlier in this thread, Bedard fans jumped all over me calling comparing Bedard to Kane as somehow disrespectful to Bedard.ane he would

I remember saying on here very early in his first year that if he ended up being as good as kane he will have turned out to be a hell of a player and had a great career but that there wasn't any guarantee that would happen as Kane is a pretty high bar.

I got quite a few of the usual and expected laugh emoticons thrown at me but I didn't think what I said was unreasonable at all.

 

[FiveFourteenSixOne]

I don't know why anyone would take this as a slight. Patrick Kane is and was a generational player in his own right and won 3 cups and multiple other accolades. If Bedard turns into a better scoring version of P.Kane then Chicago is likely going to win more cups in its future.

If you're calling Kane generational the word has lost all meaning, and there are 10 generational players in the league at any given time.

f*** me. Quit abusing the word to try and win arguments.

 

[daver]

Players like McDavid and Crosby, and maybe Stamkos, are perhaps the exceptions for superstar level prospects.

Winning trophies by age 19/20 is pretty exceptional. Mario was OK at age 19. Lindros took a few years to hit his stride.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Midard

 

[NVious]

Oh I can assure you I understand more than just basic logic. And I do appreciate your view on this don't get me wrong.

Every goal scored in a hockey game can be traced back to a mistake or more. That's just how the game is today. Mistake free game by all is 0-0 every time. Failing to contribute offensively can be bad but the math is done on the scoreboard only. And on the scoreboard you don't get to deduct anything for goals not scored.

This very shortly and awfully simplified. Deeper discussions could easily take days there's so much to discuss actually. So it's not an easy or simple topic by any means.

No you really don't lmao, according to you if you are not good defensively, it's costing the team. But if somebody isn't good offensively it's not costing the team? You realize games are won by SCORING GOALS right? So you HAVE to do that. You cannot outdefend an offense that literally doesn't score, you can outscore a defense that doesn't defend.

Again as I said though, when some forward isn't Kopitar/Bergeron/Barkov it's a massive problem, but when some defensive defenseman is putting up 1 goal a year, everybody is talking about what an awesome shot blocker and team guy he is lmao.

 

[BHawk21]

The notion he needs favorable deployment to be successful seems more a slight on Bedard than his former coach.

Your saying the blackhawks should be actively giving him unfavorable deployment?

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I don't know why anyone would take this as a slight.

Many Canadian posters and Blackhawk fans took the Kane comparison as an insult, and attacked those who made it (like myself) because they believed him to he a Crosby/McDavid level player, which he clearly isn't.

A Kane like outcome would be a great thing for the Hawks.

 

[Toby91ca]

Many Canadian posters and Blackhawk fans took the Kane comparison as an insult, and attacked those who made it (like myself) because they believed him to he a Crosby/McDavid level player, which he clearly isn't.

A Kane like outcome would be a great thing for the Hawks.

It's also early to write him off as well. It might be different if he was producing nothing....but he's been fine. MacKinnon had about 200pts total after 4 years in the league.

Anyone who was or is projecting this guy to be a McDavid/Crosby level player were/are just over doing it. I know I was looking at how he was doing prior to NHL and I'm pretty sure I suggested there is an argument to be made that he dominated juniors more than McDavid, but that does not = he's going to be as good as McDavid going forward....just provides context behind why he was getting hype. I agreed with his hype, but lets not get carried away.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

It's also early to write him off as well. It might be different if he was producing nothing....but he's been fine. MacKinnon had about 200pts total after 4 years in the league.

Comparing him to Kane instead of Crosby / McDavid isn't writing him off, because he never had that potential to begin. This was clear to those who understood that he lacked the raw athletic attributes required dominate the NHL in that manner.

 

[Toby91ca]

Comparing him to Kane instead of Crosby / McDavid isn't writing him off, because he never had that potential to begin. This was clear to those who understood that he lacked the raw athletic attributes required dominate the NHL in that manner.

Yes, totally agree....didn't mean to come across that way, I was more referencing a lot of other chatter about perhaps this guy is no good, he hasn't set the league on fire yet. Comparing him with Kane is fine and we still don't know if he'll reach those heights.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Yes, totally agree....didn't mean to come across that way, I was more referencing a lot of other chatter about perhaps this guy is no good, he hasn't set the league on fire yet. Comparing him with Kane is fine and we still don't know if he'll reach those heights.

Yeah he's an incredibly gifted offensive talent. Vision, hands, shot, patience. He's already one of the most dangerous players in the league when he's given time and space. He's an equal threat to snipe, dangle, or thread the needle backdoor.

 

[Brookbank]

Holy crap, we’re still discussing this? I think that kinda speaks to the fact that he’s definitely not underrated.

The Bedard skeptics sure think they've been vindicated.

But with time , if he gets to the level that he was projected to , the skeptics would be wrong. And they would be underrating him , as the title says.

My question to the skeptics is , were they skeptical of Mcdavid before he played a game ? What about Crosby ?

 

[WarriorofTime]

U20 scoring seasons 2017-18 through Present:
Patrik Laine (2017-18) 70 points in 82 games
Clayton Keller (2017-18) 65 points in 82 games
Andrei Svechnikov (2019-20) 61 points in 68 games
Connor Bedard (2023-24) 61 points in 68 games
Tim Stutzle (2021-22) 58 points in 79 games
Lucas Raymond (2021-22) 57 points in 82 games
Nico Hischier (2017-18) 52 points in 82 games
Juraj Slafkovsky (2023-24) 50 points in 82 games
Pierre-Luc Dubois (2017-18): 48 points in 82 games
Nico Hischier (2018-19): 47 points in 69 games
Brady Tkachuk (2018-19): 45 points in 71 games
*Connor Bedard (2024-25) 45 points in 51 games
Logan Cooley (2023-24) 44 points in 82 games
Rasmus Dahlin (2018-19) 44 points in 82 games
Mason McTavish (2022-23) 43 points in 80 games
Wyatt Johnston (2022-23) 41 points in 82 games
Seth Jarvis (2021-22): 40 points in 68 games
Mikhail Sergachev (2017-18): 40 points in 79 games
Rasmus Dahlin (2019-20): 40 points in 59 games
Andrei Svechnikov (2018-19) 37 points in 82 games
*Macklin Celebrini (2024-25) 37 points in 42 games
Jesper Bratt (2017-18): 35 points in 74 games
Jesperi Kotkamienmi (2018-19) 34 points in 79 games
Miro Heiskanen (2018-19): 33 points in 82 games
Robert Thomas (2018-19): 33 points in 70 games
Jamie Drysdale (2021-22): 32 points in 81 games
Jack Hughes (2020-21): 31 points in 56 games
Cole Sillinger (2021-22): 31 points in 79 games
Zachary Benson (2023-24): 30 points in 71 games
Tim Stutzle (2020-21): 29 points in 53 games
Leo Carlsson (2023-24): 29 points in 55 games
Adam Fantilli (2023-24): 27 points in 49 games
Filip Chytil (2018-19): 23 points in 75 games
Kirby Dach (2019-20): 23 points in 64 games
Kaapo Kakko (2019-20): 23 points in 66 games
Samuel Girard (2017-18): 23 points in 73 games
*Will Smith (2024-25): 22 points in 46 games
Tyson Jost (2018-19): 22 points in 65 games
Joel Farabee (2019-20): 21 points in 52 games
Alexis Lafreniere (2020-21): 21 points in 56 games
Jack Hughes (2019-20): 21 points in 61 games
Jesse Puljujarvi (2017-18): 20 points in 65 games
Simon Nemec (2023-24): 19 points in 60 games
Michael Rasmussen (2018-19): 18 points in 62 games
*Zachary Benson (2024-25): 17 points in 44 games
Kaapo Kakko (2020-21): 17 points in 48 games
Dylan Guenther (2022-23): 15 points in 33 games
Matthew Poitras (2023-24): 15 points in 33 games
Kevin Korchinski (2023-24): 15 points in 76 games
Jakob Chychrun (2017-18): 14 points in 50 games
Trevor Zegras (2020-21): 13 points in 24 games
Adam Boqvist (2019-20): 13 points in 41 games
Dylan Cozens (2020-21): 13 points in 41 games
Henri Jokiharju (2018-19): 12 points in 38 games
Cole Sillinger (2022-23): 11 points in 64 games
Kirby Dach (2020-21): 10 points in 18 games
Juraj Slafkovsky (2022-23): 10 points in 39 games
Quinton Byfield (2021-22): 10 points in 40 games

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

My question to the skeptics is , were they skeptical of Mcdavid before he played a game ? What about Crosby ?

Nope, I was a huge Crosby supporter, and have posts saved from 12+ years ago saying that McDavid had a higher ceiling than Crosby.

 

[Mattb124]

Your saying the blackhawks should be actively giving him unfavorable deployment?

What I am saying is, if Bedard needs sheltering to be effective, blaming the coach is misattribution. Every player is better against worse competition, but a coach cannot shelter the entire team and players with Bedard’s draft pedigree shouldn’t need it.

 

[rielledup]

I think when he's in his prime and if he's playing with good players he'll average around 50-60 and 100-120. Potential hart trophy winner in his best seasons but a clear level below a true generational talent like mcdavid.

 

[tyhee]

Crosby and McDavid led the league in scoring and were 1st team all-stars and winners of both the Hart (mvp) and Lindsey (most outstanding player) awards in their sophomore seasons. Bedard, about 5/8 of the way through his sophomore season, is tied for 43rd and no objective voter is going to give him a vote for the Hart nor the Lindsey this season. He's projected to be an excellent player but at this time there is no reason to put Bedard in a class with the all-time greats of the league.

 

[Panthaz89]

Crosby and McDavid led the league in scoring and were 1st team all-stars and winners of both the Hart (mvp) and Lindsey (most outstanding player) awards in their sophomore seasons. Bedard, about 5/8 of the way through his sophomore season, is tied for 43rd and no objective voter is going to give him a vote for the Hart nor the Lindsey this season. He's projected to be an excellent player but at this time there is no reason to put Bedard in a class with the all-time greats of the league.

neither of them would be hitting that high on a team that purposely tore itself apart like the Blackhawks..........great players but they both actually ended up on teams that weren't the result of a massive teardown.

 

[daver]

neither of them would be hitting that high on a team that purposely tore itself apart like the Blackhawks..........great players but they both actually ended up on teams that weren't the result of a massive teardown.

How can you say this with certainty? Mario hit another level in his 2nd season on a terrible Pens. Great players tend to produce regardless of their teammates.

 

[ClydeLee]

How can you say this with certainty? Mario hit another level in his 2nd season on a terrible Pens. Great players tend to produce regardless of their teammates.

And nobody in their right mind thinks Bedard was ever thought of on the level of Mario Lemeuix.

Great is a pretty low superlative when you're talking about a top 3 player all time

 

[Five Alarm Fire]

Holy crap, we’re still discussing this? I think that kinda speaks to the fact that he’s definitely not underrated.

Let's call it for what it is. There is a passive-aggressive Canada-USA rivalry on this site that uses player and prospect threads as a battleground (with a little bit of contamination from fans of teams who own the rights to said players). This thread will continue to get bumped as Bedard produces or goes through slumps.

 

[daver]

And nobody in their right mind thinks Bedard was ever thought of on the level of Mario Lemeuix.

Great is a pretty low superlative when you're talking about a top 3 player all time

He was thought to potentially be on the level of Crosby/McDavid (I guess you are one of those people). Both players saw their teams take huge point jumps in their 2nd seasons.

 

[alphafox]

I thought he was far and away the best member of his class and that no one would even come close to touching him. I still think he is the most elite by a way but the gap to the rest of the class seems to be smaller than I initially thought. Not sure if that is more praise for Fantilli (homer bias acknowledged), Carlsson and Michkov) or if that is an indictment of Bedard. I still wish that we had gotten the chance to unite Kent Johnson and Bedard in Columbus.