The Race for the Calder Trophy

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Of course he has issues. I've seen a lot of good from him too. Backchecks well, steals pucks in the defensive zone, isn't the last guy back into his own zone.

Good for you, you found clips from one game to criticize him with, he's made many good plays as well.

Sure he's made some good plays, everyone has. But it's way more bad then good. The numbers support this, and I've seen many instances of him doing things like this clip highlighted.

This isn't a new thing with Bedard. If you bothered to watch him in Regina, you'd know his inconsistent defensive effort has been a problem for years.

I don't know if I could list 5 centers in the league that are worse defensively. Can you?

 

[wetcoast]

How is that possible in almost 25 years?

I guess that alone plays a big part in why your fanbase is so hyped about him.

It's because Minny had been a middling team for so long but they have a pretty solid base and might be a SC contender in a couple of years.

They have a solid young enough core of 5 guys with Faber, Rossi, Boldy, Eriksson Ek and Kaprizov but their future depends on how their top prospects pan out including goaltender Wallstedt.

 

[wetcoast]

Well, yeah that is extremely obvious. Chicago is the only team in the NHL where he ends up as the only threat though. Which makes judging his current standing in the NHL very difficult.

Exactly if somehow Bedard landed on Minny's PP and Faber was plying with the Black Hawks.......

Bedard is apparently; back tonight and both guys are tied in points so let's see where this goes.

 

[MS]

This should have been a unanimous vote for Faber before Bedard got hurt and it isn’t even really a discussion now.

Bedard isn’t even the best rookie on his own team.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Of course he has issues. I've seen a lot of good from him too. Backchecks well, steals pucks in the defensive zone, isn't the last guy back into his own zone.

Good for you, you found clips from one game to criticize him with, he's made many good plays as well.

Bedard loses a puck battle and then loses his man, leading to a Crosby goal. He was in absolute no man's land. Literally 15 seconds into his return and he's given us another example of his poor defensive game.

It's really remarkable that anyone could think he's anything but terrible defensively.

Edit: Add another one. Bad giveaway at the offensive blue line and then loses his man on the backcheck, who scores.

He's earned his minuses tonight.

 

[CallMeShaft]

This should have been a unanimous vote for Faber before Bedard got hurt and it isn’t even really a discussion now.

Bedard isn’t even the best rookie on his own team.

Yes he is.

I can only guess you mean to say Vlasic is better, which while he's been fantastic, he hasn't been as good as Connor. Also, he's technically not a rookie.

Signed, a Blackhawks fan

 

[AzHawk]

This should have been a unanimous vote for Faber before Bedard got hurt and it isn’t even really a discussion now.

Bedard isn’t even the best rookie on his own team.

Yep, Faber could miss six weeks at this point and still be the frontrunner. Literally 15 seconds into his return, Bedard isn't already firing on all cylinders.

 

[Mrfenn92]

Such a funny thread with some really funny posts.

 

[AKL]

Bedard loses a puck battle and then loses his man, leading to a Crosby goal. He was in absolute no man's land. Literally 15 seconds into his return and he's given us another example of his poor defensive game.

It's really remarkable that anyone could think he's anything but terrible defensively.

Edit: Add another one. Bad giveaway at the offensive blue line and then loses his man on the backcheck, who scores.

He's earned his minuses tonight.

They must have reverted back to that offensive game, forgetting all the defense they focused on while he was out. Or maybe his play really does just lead to a lot of GA. Who's to say, really.

 

[CallMeShaft]

Bedard got beat by Sid in his first shift in a month and a half. Not a big deal unless you're trying to push a narrative that Bedard is a net negative to his team.

 

[Mrfenn92]

Man bedard sucks. Washed up at 18 it seems.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Bedard got beat by Sid in his first shift in a month and a half. Not a big deal unless you're trying to push a narrative that Bedard is a net negative to his team.

Who said he was a net negative? The argument is about how terrible he is defensively. He's still a top 30 center IMO, but there's really no argument about whether or not he's a defensive liability. He absolutely is.

 

[AKL]

"Bedard isn't good defensively"

"

you're trying to push a narrative that Bedard is a net negative to his team.

Man bedard sucks. Washed up at 18 it seems.

"

Leave the straw man arguments at home guys

 

[Mrfenn92]

"Bedard isn't good defensively"

"


"

Leave the straw man arguments at home guys

ok

 

[FLAMESFAN]

Bedard got beat by Sid in his first shift in a month and a half. Not a big deal unless you're trying to push a narrative that Bedard is a net negative to his tea

"Bedard isn't good defensively"

"


"

Leave the straw man arguments at home guys

Man, can you try and take of the homer glasses and just enjoy the race?
You're really ruining the thread for the rest of us.

 

[CallMeShaft]

Who said he was a net negative? The argument is about how terrible he is defensively. He's still a top 30 center IMO, but there's really no argument about whether or not he's a defensive liability. He absolutely is.

The highlighted is all I needed to hear. I don't care if Faber is viewed as better than Bedard this year, I have a problem with posters calling Bedard a 2C (while simultaneously calling Faber a top 10 D in the league).

If you want to say Faber is hovering around that top 10, top 20 mark and consider Bedard a top line center, even if it's one in that 20-30 range, I have zero quarrels with that.

 

[AKL]

Man, can you try and take of the homer glasses and just enjoy the race?
You're really ruining the thread for the rest of us.

I'm ruining the thread for you by calling out when people make straw man arguments/posts?

 

[FLAMESFAN]

I'm ruining the thread for you by calling out when people make straw man arguments/posts?

No you're ruining it by trying too hard to put down Faber's top competition.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Yep, Faber could miss six weeks at this point and still be the frontrunner. Literally 15 seconds into his return, Bedard isn't already firing on all cylinders.

He's been missing assignments like this all year... He's 18, it's not that shocking.

The highlighted is all I needed to hear. I don't care if Faber is viewed as better than Bedard this year, I have a problem with posters calling Bedard a 2C (while simultaneously calling Faber a top 10 D in the league).

If you want to say Faber is hovering around that top 10, top 20 mark and consider Bedard a top line center, even if it's one in that 20-30 range, I have zero quarrels with that.

I've said that like 4 times in this thread. I think it's semantics really, but some folks don't necessarily think there are 32 true 1Cs in the league just because there are 32 teams. IMO there are probably 20-25 guys who I'd feel comfortable starting a playoff round with as my top center.

 

[AKL]

No you're ruining it by trying too hard to put down Faber's top competition.

Trying too hard to put down Bedard by pointing out that when we talk about his defensive deficiencies we're not saying he's washed and peaked at 18, nor that he's a net negative to his team?

 

[FLAMESFAN]

Trying too hard to put down Bedard by pointing out that when we talk about his defensive deficiencies we're not saying he's washed and peaked at 18, nor that he's a net negative to his team?

Man, you just don't give up hey? Pointing out any bad play in his first game back is is an obvious agenda. You & a couple of your buddies dissect every second and jump on to make a post all giddy if he has a give away.

Did anyone do that when Faber was giving up goals in that brutal stretch the Wild had a bit ago?

 

[CallMeShaft]

I've said that like 4 times in this thread. I think it's semantics really, but some folks don't necessarily think there are 32 true 1Cs in the league just because there are 32 teams. IMO there are probably 20-25 guys who I'd feel comfortable starting a playoff round with as my top center.

I honestly couldn't remember if you said it or not. You generally sound like one of the most pessimistic posters on this site when it comes to Bedard, but if you feel he's among the top 32 centers, maybe you're just nitpicking more than others; nothing necessarily wrong with that, just hard to tell that you think highly of him without a specific comment saying that.

I'm also the type here who views the number of 1st line centers as 32.

 

[AKL]

Man, you just don't give up hey? Pointing out any bad play in his first game back is is an obvious agenda. You & a couple of your buddies dissect every second and jump on to make a post all giddy if he has a give away.

Did anyone do that when Faber was giving up goals in that brutal stretch the Wild had a bit ago?

Are you allergic to discussion too? It's part of an ongoing conversation about his defensive play.

If you guys actually wanted to watch Faber a bit, and you find something to criticize him for, go ahead. I promise I'm not going to be as upset about it as some of you guys are.

 

[AKL]

I'm also the type here who views the number of 1st line centers as 32.

I'm not telling you you can't believe this, but the reason some others don't is because by this definition, Barrett Hayton (or Jack McBain at this moment) is a first line center and prime Evgeni Malkin wasn't.

 

[CallMeShaft]

I'm not telling you you can't believe this, but the reason some others don't is because by this definition, Barrett Hayton (or Jack McBain at this moment) is a first line center and prime Evgeni Malkin wasn't.

Top 32 overall centers, not specifically the top center on each team.

So not every team has a real 1C, but a team like the Oilers (for example) have 2 1Cs.