What does Bedard have to do to make Team Canada?

[Akrapovince]

We hear almost every second about how a talented group needs to have a shooter and players need to not defer and look for the perfect play when it comes to Team Canada.

With that being said, Bedard is both known for his release/shot and his excellence with Team Canada. I think if he can put together a good season he might be valuable as a power play specialist.

What would he have to do to cement himself a spot at next years Olympics and is there even anything within the realm of possibilities he can do to make it?

I think if he can put up a 40 goal season next year and light the lamp on the power play often he has a shot. But it’s hard when you have established players like Point who can also shoot the puck that is experienced without the liabilities.

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[TheRarestDangles]

Play harder and smarter

 

[BraveCanadian]

Probably get a year older

 

[Regal]

Bedard’s shot is great but he’s not getting it off quick enough or getting enough space. That can be helped by better players, but I don’t think he’s there yet where his shot will be a big weapon for Team Canada like it should be in the future. I think we’ll need to see improvements there next year before he’d be taken, though with the selection of the teams typically before end of the calendar year, there’s not a lot of time to show it

 

[nucks88]

Play for a better team…..you can’t expect him to make chicken salad out of that…..

 

[TLEH]

Beyond just time and getting older and stronger, I think he needs to play with a bit more pace in his game.

 

[Linds]

Stop floating on D. Get stronger and older

 

[ViD]

I don’t think he’s even close to make team Canada as a C, he might make it to play as a winger but purely because of his hype

 

[koyvoo]

Continue developing into the final product. He’s 19 years old, right?

 

[FDBluth]

He's forced to lead a team and has no guidance from other established winners/elite players to learn from. Tough find a foothold on anything when that's the case.

I would love to see him play with other skilled players, because his reads when he has open space are truly gamebreaking.

I actually think a strong showing with Canada at the Worlds this year is one of his best shots at making the team.

 

[A1LeafNation]

Grow 4 inches and gain 20 lbs of muscle.

 

[LeProspector]

Continue progressing as he has, and start producing more consistently.

Once he gets quality vets around him, and legitimate teammates that can take some offensive pressure off of him. He’ll take off.

 

[WPGDEVILS]

tough position for him, he is the offence on the Hawks. They hone in on him so he can’t make plays knowing that the rest of the team is useless. At least the other bottom feeders have talent like the sharks.

I can’t recall a team this devoid of offensive talent and weapons

 

[SympathyForTheDevils]

The very last thing Team Canada needs is a powerplay specialist. If he wants to make the team he'll have to show that he can be an asset to the team without getting any powerplay time, and he's pretty far away from that now. He'll need to get significantly stronger and better defensively.

 

[StlBigFly]

Jarvis was the youngest at 23 for this tourney. Bedard is 19.

It’s gonna be a few years and it’s just because human beings grow. I think I value him higher than most - Crosby plays pond hockey from time to time, even in international tournaments. Still, the current group is stacked. He will get his turn, maybe even as soon as the Olympics depending on how things go, but I don’t look at this situation like he’s been snubbed. He’s growing. The game has evolved to be so positionally physical that it’s purely unfair to expect a 19 year old to play a complete game. Best on best requires a complete game. As bedard grows and learns he will become a guarantee for team Canada.

 

[sabresEH]

Just show in the world championships that he can play the right way to win. He does that, he’ll be on the Olympic team.

 

[Fatass]

Just show in the world championships that he can play the right way to win. He does that, he’ll be on the Olympic team.

Exactly! Bedard needs to play winning hockey. He has to commit to sacrificing offence to make the smart play. Right now he’s too risky defensively to be in tight games where one mistake can cause a goal against.
Bedard needs to be a plus player. No more dash 40 at evens.

 

[Turin]

Play in the WC, play well. That's probably it. He has the WJC pedigree and everybody understands how ass Chicago is. Hopefully both him and Celebrini make in next year.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

just up whats he's doing, work on his weaknesses and just keep developing. he will for sure be on Team Canada soon enough

 

[Juxtaposer]

Dominate at the Worlds this May in all situations, for one.

 

[JackSlater]

Have a good world championship, then be in the top 20 or so of NHL scoring come December next year. He's not going to suddenly become a strong defensive player but another step or two offensively will go a long way, plus a strong world championship will give them a better idea of how Bedard could contribute at the senior level. Given his history with Hockey Canada I expect that if he is in the running as a legitimate contender then Hockey Canada will pick him.

 

[Nogatco Rd]

He's forced to lead a team and has no guidance from other established winners/elite players to learn from. Tough find a foothold on anything when that's the case.

That Corey Perry / Taylor Hall “mentorship” duo will go down infamy.

 

[Mathieukferland]

Get faster north/south, become just somewhat competent in his own zone by staying inside the dots, and learn to get his shot off in tighter spaces

 

[CallMeShaft]

It's going to be hard for him next year, simply because team Canada has a ton of options and he'd be years younger than pretty much all of them.

Getting a step quicker this summer would help. Don't think "getting better defensively" is the way to go for him. He'll make that 2026 Olympics team as a scoring winger or not at all. Being better defensively wouldn't hurt, but him showing marginal improvements there won't change anything regarding being selected.

 

[Galaxydoggystyle]

I really feel bad for this kid. He is so talented but on such a shit team with no support in terms of quality vets to help him out in terms of being an actual professional on and off the ice.