Daily Faceoff Live: is Connor Bedard a generational prospect or franchise superstar?
On Tuesday’s edition of Daily Faceoff Live, Daily Faceoff President Frank Seravalli and former NHL goaltender Mike McKenna take a look at Connor Bedard’s sensational World Juniors career.
Frank Seravalli: Connor Bedard had an incredible night in Halifax, Nova Scotia; just an incredible scene, a spine-tingling scene with his ability to set himself apart from the competition not just in this world juniors but in world juniors lore. Lapping the field now in terms of point production, 34 points in 15 games played, absolutely incredible. That moment coming in that game against Slovakia in overtime is something people will be remembering for a long, long time.
Mike McKenna: No question. That’s taking the team on your shoulders, winning the game for your team, and being the best player on the ice at the biggest moment, that’s what Bedard did last night. Frank, I just keep thinking about what this guy’s NHL future is going to look like and the comparable. It’s hard to even find any in junior hockey, you know he’s been playing with the Regina Pats in the Western Hockey League (WHL) scoring at almost a goal-per-game pace over his 15, 16 and 17-year-old seasons. You just don’t find anyone that does that Frank. We could be looking at a guy who could score 60-70 goals in an NHL season and it’s his vision. There are a lot of players with great individual skill sets, but his game sense and peripheral vision with the way he plays with his head up, I haven’t seen much of that from a 17 year old. It’s no wonder he is dominating and it’s going to translate really quickly to his play at the NHL.
Frank Seravalli: It’s also his confidence, It is one thing to have the awareness but it’s another to have the confidence to pull stuff like that off. It’s one thing to see it, but another to do it. A lot of people can see it and think it but can’t actually pull it off. He’s got the confidence and creativity to pull it off and it’s scary. I just wonder at one point if we should pump the brakes a little bit. I’ve got a scout, a close friend who has watched Bedard his entire career and I keep asking the question, and I asked the question yesterday before the game “through the preliminary round, is Connor Bedard a generational talent or is he a franchise superstar?” And he said “still in the franchise superstar category” so not quite in the McDavid/Matthews category. But you watch a game like that, in that stage, in Canada putting the team on his back, and that kinda feels generational. Maybe we’re drawing a line that doesn’t need to be drawn, but nonetheless a very special player.
Mike McKenna: Yeah, this guy will contend for Hart Trophies. He’s going to be as good as Auston Matthews, I don’t know how many players can touch McDavid in terms of skill altogether but Connor Bedard is going to be right there. He’s special.
You can watch the full episode here…