What makes Connor Bedard one of the best NHL prospects since Connor McDavid
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Close your eyes for a second.
Imagine you’re 13 years old again. You’re in Grade 8. You’re focused on what high school you want to go to. You might still have unrealistic career aspirations, like an astronaut or a rock star.
And then imagine having people calling you the next Connor McDavid.
Projected first-overall picks are always hyped up, whether by the media or general fans who only watch a prospect during a few events each year. The best prospects – the smart ones – have advisors working with them at all times to avoid distractions and focus on living up to their potential. So a bunch of people going nuts about a prospect online typically isn’t noticed by anyone in that player’s camp.
But when you step up to the World Junior Championship level, and you happen to be Canadian – the country that seemingly always hosts the tournament – you can’t escape the hype.
That’s the reality for Connor Bedard, the 17-year-old phenom that’s a consensus to go No. 1 in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Most top prospects have the spotlight on them at a young age, but when there’s legitimate “generational” potential – whatever that means to you – that’s magnified. And Bedard is again showing on the top stage of junior international hockey why he’s one of the greatest prospects in the game right now – and among an elite group of superstars that have stood out above the rest.
So, what makes him so good?
I polled some scouts at various levels of the game to get a read on what makes the player we can all see dominating his peers so good. With 14 points in just three games, he’ll have no issue passing the post-2000 single-tournament points record of 18, set by Jordan Eberle and Trevor Zegras. He has 14 goals all-time at the WJC to tie Eberle, too, and should have no issue overtaking him before long.
And sure, 13 of the points came against two bottom-feeders, but there’s a bit of nuance behind that. He’s the one creating the damage. Bedard is also on pace for 140 points in the WHL, and he has 48 points in just 27 games with Canada in overall international play. This isn’t a kid kicking the butts of teams that can barely register a shot – he’s better than everyone he plays against, simple as that.
The first thing everyone notices is his NHL-level shot. Bedard isn’t big at 5-foot-9, so he uses a 70-flex stick. For reference, you start seeing pre-teens and young teenagers using that as they finally start building body mass. But he gets so much torque out of every shot, and his release is both quick and deceptive. Bedard can place a shot anywhere he wants, from any angle and regardless of how much pressure he’s dealing with.
“The kid doesn’t waste much time setting up a release,” a scout said. “He doesn’t even need to wind it up much. He gets so much power in so little time. He’s getting a shot away before a defenseman can make the motion for a poke check every single time, and that’s not hyperbole. He’s going to score 60 in the NHL, and more than once.”
“I’m not sure there’s an NHLer, outside of maybe (Auston) Matthews, that has as deceptive of a release as Bedard,” another scout said. “Maybe Patrick Kane. From a style perspective, Bedard has a bit of both. His shot alone is one of the best we’ve seen in a prospect in a long time. His ability to power through an odd-man rush without being taken down is mind-blowing.”
“Fuse Matthews and (Mitch) Marner together. You have Connor Bedard,” another scout said. “He has 34’s shot and 16’s skating. It makes him both unpredictable and nearly impossible to slow down when he’s at full speed.”
If there’s one criticism about Bedard’s play at Halifax, it’s that he can be more selfish. He knows about the record. The teammates know, too. They’re always trying to set him up, and he’s trying to return the favor. Against Austria in particular, he probably could have scored another two-plus goals had he not looked for the pass in transition.
But is there another prospect that can pass like Bedard? No, and that’s what makes him so dynamic. Especially on the power play, his no-look passes are exceptional, and he’s not afraid to position himself in the slot to create chances.
All everyone can talk about his shot, and for good reason. He’s a goal-per-game guy in the WHL and there’s a reason he broke the Canadian tournament goal record. But in his passing ability – whether it be the no-looks, the subtle fakes or the long-range passes from the slot/boards/you name it, Bedard is as elite as they come.
Connor Bedard does things that the vast majority of other hockey players can't, and often looks so freaking casual when he does them
Special, special, special player
“Watch him pass. He’s like Jonathan Huberdeau,” another scout said. “And yet it feels like an overlooked part of his game. Head is always up. Always finding his teammates. Always making those around him much better. He isn’t afraid to go through traffic to create a play because he knows exactly where he wants to put the puck.”
Comparisons can be misleading for the average fan. If it’s from a style perspective, sure, that’s one thing. But don’t look at the stats and base it on that. It’s why so many scouts hate comparisons. But without prompts, look at some of the names that appear above. Talk about flattery.
And that’s all just on the offensive side of the game. Bedard is mainly a center with the Regina Pats, but has played on the wing for most of his international career. As a center, he’s defensively sound and is just as active in his own zone as any of his blueliners. That carries over into his play on the wing, where he looks calm, cool and collected around the net – and he isn’t afraid to throw a few hits, either.
What about his hockey IQ? The decision-making? How does he think the game?
“The phrase ‘man among kids’ is a bit cliche, but it’s the best way of describing Bedard’s game,” a scout said. “There are at least four to five plays every night you don’t see coming. You eventually run out of adjectives to describe what you’re seeing.”
Good enough, I’d say.
No scouts want to use the term “generational,” especially with Connor McDavid still being an active NHL superstar. “Exceptional” is the most common one-word phrase used to describe him – which kind of feels like cheating since he’s the only WHLer to earn that status a year early. It’s one thing to do it against kids, it’s another to have to step up and play against the best players in the world.
But scouts don’t have any major doubts about that. They believe the hype. They create the hype. And now, Bedard is living up to it, and his assault on goaltenders around the world has only just begun.
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