I'm not sure he has the skating in him (definitely not right now) to get to that level. And it's not like his skating is BAD, but it's just... okayish? He'll have to get that edge to him and play a similar style to Crosby if he wants to get to be that level of player which I haven't seen yet from him. Once he figures that out he'll be fine, not saying he'll be Crosby level but a top 10 to top 5 type player? sure.
Hughes was a better overall player than Bedard at 19 IMO, despite getting COVID. He had a 54% xG% and created lots of offense, even if his counting stats didn't reflect it.
Maybe....but I think people are looking at Bedard and wanting him to score more than he is, not sure if there is a role model issue there.
Taylor Hall is probably the worst vet you could pick in terms of players who make responsible decisions with the puck lol. He's the poster child for high risk low reward hockey.
Ok, tell me young offensive talent he's ruined.
He had better possession numbers, that doesn't make him a better overall player. He had a pretty bad shot, didn't make good decisions in the offensive zone including on the powerplay.
The Hawks "offense" is basically built around Bedard's line chasing the puck around in the defensive zone with whatever matchup they get dominated with, and then the bottom six toiling around because it's not like there's a big gap in league bottom sixes in most cases. Bedard is deployed in offensive situations (powerplay, etc.) because he is the Hawks most capable offensive player.
No, you're just confusing possession with production. He had some poor luck, but also had a lot of underlying issues to his game back then.
Confusing, I guess you're saying Bedard can score more but Hughes will drive possession more? Sure, possible. Possession is important, certainly on a team level, I go back and forth on the Bedard wing thing. He likes playing Center and Hawks don't have Centers (the most Centery Center Dickinson looks to be out for the year now). Probably fine to let him play Center now and move to Wing later rather than vice versa (because contrary to belief, Bedard isn't struggling mightily as he is still producing points and in the top 50 in scoring). If he's still in the 30-somethings in faceoffs like Jack Hughes in his mid-20s, then yeah he ought to be moved. For a player like Hughes who plays Center, being that bad at faceoffs in his sixth year as a possession driver type is pretty concerning.
Cheating up ice, not caring about defense, poor diet, poor conditioning, reputation as a bit of a whiner. How quickly people forget once the book is written and they just become known as the legend. Good thing Crosby was so self-motivated I guess.
No, but him driving the play and making more responsible decisions did. His shot was actually already pretty good.
I'm not confusing anything. I watched him play the entire year, he was already developing into an elite puck transporter that drove lots of offense, even if he didn't get a point on the play.
No, that wasn't me. I'm a big fan of Moore's game, but there's a big difference between Hughes and Moore.
Not necessarily, just more that Hughes has historically struggled to stay healthy. When healthy, I think Hughes is probably better offensively and better all around. But with some of his shoulder issues, his offensive game has been limited at times. A healthy Bedard should be capable of more production than an oft injured Hughes.
He's struggling mightily to play winning hockey as a center at ES. Racking up points isn't that impressive when your constantly cheating for offense, and he's really not even doing that very well outside of the PP. He's tied 102nd in ES points with guys like Kotkaniemi, Robinson, Staal, and Roslovic.
A force? Have you watched him play this year?
No it wasn't. Largely just muffin shots.
No, he could skate into the zone in a league where many players still were bad skaters. It did not "drive offense" because Hughes was not a productive player 5 on 5 or on the powerplay.
Yes obviously.
OK
That's ridiculous. The Hawks aren't playing "winning hockey" and aren't a "bench Bedard" away from doing, I believe you advocated they should go down the Luke Richardson route of try and grind games to 1-1 overtime? Perhaps, but I dunno about that as a longterm strategy. Their goal differential is still a lot better this year compared to last.
He's typically hemmed in his own zone.
Yes, the Hawks Bedard included are a very bad 5 on 5 team
"unsurprisingly" is a bit dismissive, I dunno if it was anticipated (by you) that he'd be one of the best powerplay players in the league already
Disagree, his stickhandling and vision are elite, needs to improve on decision making similar to how Hughes did
Yeah I have STH
Disagree
Yes it did. Just because he didn't score a point on the play doesn't mean he didn't create offense. Guys who are great puck carriers create lots of offense this way.
And he's often the reason
And they are worse with him
It was, I have receipts, check my post history.
He's just forcing it too much because he has limited help
And would you call him a real force?
OK
Creating possession is not creating scoring.
Young players, even most of the "instant stars" (occasionally some like a Young Toews are exceptions here) are often reliant on their more veteran teammates to win the puck for them and establish initial possession. Jack Hughes certainly wasn't winning possession as a young player, just good at carrying it then fluttering around once someone else got it to him.
The Hawks were not a better team when Bedard was out with a broken jaw. They couldn't score at all, even comparatively.
OK
Yes, he is often frustrated and tries to force the issue too much. Routinely discussed and something he needs to be better at, which will hopefully also improve naturally if team improves.
Like "afraid of", "generational" or whatever other words, "real force" isn't a meaningful enough expression. Bedard is a very gifted offensive player that has flashed incredible ability and shown he is a capable scorer at the NHL level at a time most kids his age are getting praised if they put up over a PPG in the U20s. There are a number of veteran players much more capable of making a larger impact on NHL teams and a limited number 'young' players. If that is a "real force" then I suppose so and if not then I guess not.
Grow how?
