How is Connor Bedard skating?

[authentic]

Some people just want to find ways to knock the kid. First it was he was tiny, they were saying like 5'8 160. The combine proved them wrong.

Now those same people started this narrative that he is an average skater (some say worse). It is false. While not a McDavid level skater, because he isn't a blazer in straight line speed. But high end skater at everything else. Here is a couple scouts on his skating.

Skating​

Bedard is a very good skater. While he is not the best skater in this draft class, he is still in the top echelon. He has a very good first step and excellent acceleration. Bedard can fool defenders with his ability to change speeds both with and without the puck. While he is not an absolute speedster, Bedard still skates well enough to create off the rush. His ability to control the puck and make plays while moving at top speed makes him seem even faster. He also has very good edgework and agility. Bedard can weave in and out of traffic both with and without the puck. His low centre of gravity gives him excellent balance. It is very difficult to knock him off the puck. He is also able to win battles on the boards and in front of the net. This area of his game should only improve as he gains weight and muscle on his frame.

Another thalking about skating.

Connor Bedard’s Skating ​

Bedard is a very good skater, but not quite elite. His agility and fluidity are fantastic, and he skates so effortlessly with or without the puck. He also utilizes his edges very well and can hit top speed very quickly. That acceleration and ability to know when to turn on the jets allow him to catch defenders off, allowing him to beat them. However, his top speed is not elite.

He’s faster than most, and this is by no means a knock on his skating. Bedard beats defenders using his agility, acceleration and insanely high IQ. When it comes to skating, under a microscope, he won’t purely burn defenders with his skating. That’s not a negative, in fact, it shows he knows how to work around it. Once he gets NHL coaching and continues to grow physically, especially in his lower-body strength, he has every trait to develop an elite speed. That’s a scary thought.

One more.
Because of his skating he’s able to gain the zone with ease, making him elite on the breakout and in possession. One thing that stands out when you watch Bedard play is his patience. He uses his elite skating and puck-handling to lull the defense to sleep and get into scoring lanes where he can get the puck past the goalie.

He's the only non elite skater who knows how to utilize his elite skating

People just have to go watch him play. His agility and edgework are unbelievable in combination with his hands and hockey sense, I agree with the one poster who compared him to Barzal except without that top gear in speed. I almost guarantee within a year or two he will be noticeably faster and that would indeed be scary as he would then have every single elite trait you could have in an offensive player.

 

[Happyhary9]

He's the only non elite skater who knows how to utilize his elite skating

People just have to go watch him play. His agility and edgework are unbelievable in combination with his hands and hockey sense, I agree with the one poster who compared him to Barzal except without that top gear in speed. I almost guarantee within a year or two he will be noticeably faster and that would indeed be scary as he would then have every single elite trait you could have in an offensive player.

To me you almost have to separate skating into 2 different skating categories.
Off puck skating- this is more how fast can you skate, more pure physical attributes.
On puck skating- this is a combo skating. Does it matter how fast your feet are if your hands/mind can't keep up carrying the puck? Basically can you carry the puck at you physical skating limits or do you have to slow down and how much do you have to slow down.

McDavid to me is in a category all alone. Some guys are right there with him in off puck skating, but nobody can carry the puck at his level and speed. Maybe the best skater in hockey ever.

Then you got guys like Andreas Athanasiou. That guy can absolutely skate. But put the puck on his stick and his mind/hands can't keep pace with his feet. He has to slow down his skating to compensate.

Bedard is one of those guys were ya he is not elite skating off puck (still good/very good). But when you put the puck on his stick he doesn't loose a step. His hands and mind can keep pace with the feet. His ability to deke/setup Dmen at high speed is elite.

 

[macbowes]

Bedard is very agile and when combined with his stickhandling and vision, he can weave quickly throughout the play, but he's not burning defenders, or exploding away from a check. McDavid has jetfuel in his veins. His first few steps are so explosive that he can create lanes for himself that do not exist for almost anyone else. McDavids skating is much more of a weapon than Bedards skating. Bedards feet are as fast as they need to be to let his mind do the work, whereas McDavid can choose to do either.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Skating isn't his best skill, however he is already a highest IQ player of all time and he hasn't even played an NHL game yet. I rank him as a top 10 player of all time.

 

[I am Bettman]

Skating isn't his best skill, however he is already a highest IQ player of all time and he hasn't even played an NHL game yet. I rank him as a top 10 player of all time.

I think he could get there eventually, but it’s very premature to be saying this before he even plays a game.

 

[Over the volcano]

His brain starts the process by deciding it's time to do so.

I was just reading about this - turns out it starts the process before deciding.

Unconscious determinants of free decisions in the human brain - PubMed

There has been a long controversy as to whether subjectively 'free' decisions are determined by brain activity ahead of time. We found that the outcome of a decision can be encoded in brain activity of prefrontal and parietal cortex up to 10 s before it enters awareness. This delay presumably...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[Rebels57]

Shifty player with really good speed. Think a more powerful Point

This is a great comparison.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

His skating has always reminded me a bit of Marchand. A quick skater with great lateral mobility who is really strong on his feet for an undersized guy. And while neither guy is slow, they aren't really considered burners.

Bedard will be a plus skater in the NHL, but it won't be one of his defining skills.

 

[Sweetpotato]

Similar to Crosby he is not the fastest straight line skater but he has worked on his edgework and explosiveness over the years and it won't be an issue at all in the NHL he will be able to challenge defenders with it.

His skating has always reminded me a bit of Marchand. A quick skater with great lateral mobility who is really strong on his feet for an undersized guy. And while neither guy is slow, they aren't really considered burners.

Bedard will be a plus skater in the NHL, but it won't be one of his defining skills.

Good comparison

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

He reminded me of Marner or Kucherov with his ability to look like he's floating as he cuts around the ice. Not "FAST" fast like McDavid, or explosive like Barzal, but it will never hold him back.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

He's a lot like Patrick Kane. Not really a burner but has very good edges and turns. Built less for speed and more for escapability. Not sure why people are comparing him to guys like Matthews though. Matthews has excellent edges and turns but is twice Bedard's size. You won't see Bedard shrugging off NHL d-men on the walls.

 

[Kranix]

They're able to make indoor ice year round in some communities.

 

[MichaelFarrell]

It’s hardly relevant. Get that man in the O-Zone and he’s immediately dangerous.

His skating is decent and is will certainly improve over the years. He has a good wide frame that will facilitate puck protection as well.

 

[Perfect_Drug]

When I saw the World Juniors, I most of us couldn't help but think he was sorta like Patrick Kane but with Auston Matthews shot.


Kane isn't some speed demon, but he's so crafty and shifty, with ridiculous hands.

 

[GirardSpinorama]

He's almost as good as skating as Crosby was.

 

[SUX2BU]

Average

 

[zar]

He’s a better skater than Stone and Tkachuk.

 

[authentic]

Similar to Crosby he is not the fastest straight line skater but he has worked on his edgework and explosiveness over the years and it won't be an issue at all in the NHL he will be able to challenge defenders with it.


Good comparison

Young Crosby was actually pretty fast in a straight line.

 

[ObeyMaroon]

Stone is 6’3”

STONE is cro-magnon though. You gotta compare likes not apples and oranges.

 

[Sempiternal]

Faster skater than McDavid. Harder shot than Weber. Bigger hitter than Stevens. Better dunks than Lebron. Dude is the total package!

 

[McVespa99]

There's a prospect thread to attract the people that follow players and don't just spit hot takes

That must be a very lonely place

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Average

You're correct here