The Next Ones (after Bedard)

[wetcoast]

Bedard was a really, really tricky case. I would watch a WHL game and see Zach Benson be head and shoulders better than Bedard for two periods and then Bedard would pop four goals in five minutes. I would struggle to find what was impressive about Bedard except the finishing skills, but the production was undeniable. He was very smart with great hands and a great shot. So are we seeing a guy whose finishing isn't translating because he was beating up on CHL defenses and goaltending? Only time will tell, but I am not personally shocked by what's happening with him in the NHL.

Bedard's hand/eye and shot are incredible, if he was playing with an above average playmaker he would be easily above a PPG in his NHL career.

The skating is the biggest difference maker with a lot of these prospects though that gets overlooked.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Bedard's hand/eye and shot are incredible, if he was playing with an above average playmaker he would be easily above a PPG in his NHL career.

The skating is the biggest difference maker with a lot of these prospects though that gets overlooked.

If Bedard's shot were "incredible" by NHL standards, why is he a career 10.7% shooter in the NHL?

I still think he's a regular all-star and comfortably PPG over his career, but he was a generational CHL player.

 

[bigdog16]

People just need to stop using the word generational and just be more descriptive and also realistic in profiling skillsets.

This. People seem to forget what the word generational means. Crosby, Ovechkin, McDavid are the only generational players in the NHL. There are no prospects that are generational and Bedard wasn't generational. Could Dupont be that next one? Who knows, we won't know for another year or so from now.

 

[independent observer]

To be clear, I’m not here arguing who will end up being the best WHL player whilst I think it’s McKenna, that’s not relevant.

I’m saying based on the skill sets at the same age, it’s my belief that McKenna is going to be the better NHL player down the road. He’s the most dynamic prospect I’ve ever seen.

I still think Bedard is a superstar, best forward drafted since McDavid…until June 2026.

best forward drafted since McDavid is Bedard? C‘mon… you put Bedard over Matthews? Celebrini?

I just know that Bedard is a super disappointment… the last generational talents were leading the nhl in scoring in the 2nd season. Bedard is at best stagnating this season… from a first season that was way worse than what previous generational talents showed.

 

[HockeyProspects101]

best forward drafted since McDavid is Bedard? C‘mon… you put Bedard over Matthews? Celebrini?

I just know that Bedard is a super disappointment… the last generational talents were leading the nhl in scoring in the 2nd season. Bedard is at best stagnating this season… from a first season that was way worse than what previous generational talents showed.

My position is that Bedard is better than Matthews and Celebrini, all 3 are in the top 5 Fs drafted in the last 10 years, and none of them are generational. McKenna is better than all.

I personally view dmen on their own scale, so I don’t consider DuPont on the same scale.

But I think there were some very high end D drafted in 2024, I think Schaefer is better than all of them, and I think DuPont is better than that, so we will see, certainly fits the bill of a generational D.

 

[Bubbles]

People just need to stop using the word generational and just be more descriptive and also realistic in profiling skillsets.

Agreed. That word has no meaning to me anymore. People here use it for everything, and websites/scouting people toss it around to get more clicks.