Connor Bedard
The Crown Jewel of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 185 lbs.
Shoots: Right
Position: Center
Team: Regina Pats (WHL)
Nationality: Canada
The Draft Prospectus Ranking: #1
Whether you follow the NHL draft closely or are just a casual fan, Connor Bedard is a name known across the hockey universe. Since he was the first WHL player granted exceptional status to play major junior hockey at 15 years old, people have been enamored with Bedard as we eagerly await draft day and the all-but-likely scenario he’s selected first overall by the Chicago Blackhawks.
Bedard tore apart the WHL this season, scoring a whopping 143 points for the Regina Pats while having an unforgettable performance for Team Canada, securing his second World Junior Championship Gold medal for the Great White North.
At the WJC, Bedard was strides ahead of everybody else in the world's preeminent junior hockey competition, including players two years his senior.
“I've seen very few players in junior hockey that have a shot like Connor Bedard.” - Bob McKenzie, TSN
With his spectacular performance, Bedard was setting new Canadian records left and right. He toppled Dale McCourt and Brayden Schenn’s record of 18 points, registering 23 of his own. As if the record for one tournament weren’t enough, as a 17-year-old, Bedard also set the standards for career goals and points by a Canadian at the WJC. His 17 snipes passed Eberle (14), and 36 career points knocked Eric Lindros from the summit for the first time in 30 years.
Aside from his accomplishments at the WJC, Bedard has been nearly unstoppable in the WHL this season, finishing with 2.51 points per game. When Connor McDavid was drafted first overall in 2015, he averaged 1.72 points per game with the Erie Otters in the OHL. In what looks like the end of Bedard’s WHL career, he surpassed McDavid’s career mark while topping two points a game (2.02)
🥅 Bedard's skill set is one of the best we’ve seen coming out of the junior ranks, and the reason he is considered the top prospect in an exceptionally deep draft.
First off, Bedard has a deadly shot. He is extremely dangerous from all areas of the ice and has zero trepidation when using it. Scoring at more than a goal-per-game pace, Bedard’s shot is already tailor-made for the NHL.
The way Bedard loads up his shot is unlike many of the top scorers we see at the top level. He generates so much force with the puck exploding off his stick. You’ll never see Bedard take a shot from outside his body when he has possession of the puck. He corrals the puck inwards towards his feet and uses every ounce of his 5’10” frame and the 70 flex of his stick to generate enough torque that it looks painful.
When he isn’t striking fear into the eyes of opposing goaltenders, Bedard is more than capable of becoming a set-up man. If there’s ever a night where his shot is off-target, he can still find himself all over the score sheet in the assist column.
Bedard’s vision is second to none. His ability to draw attention with the puck constantly opens lanes for his teammates. He quarterbacks the powerplay from the half-wall, where he can fire a shot or seek a teammate with a cross-ice pass.
In the WJC quarterfinals against Germany, while Bedard’s eyes were fixated on the goal, he found Dylan Guenther across the ice for a powerplay goal. The assist became one of Bedard’s many highlights of the tournament.
If his shot and passing weren’t enough, Bedard has some of the silkiest mitts around. His ability to maneuver through opponents and create space for himself allows him the time and space to get his shot off.
His puckhandling was on full display during the overtime period of the WJC semifinal. Canada was on upset alert against Slovakia, as Bedard took the game into his own hands. In the 3v3 period, Bedard took the puck near the blue line and navigated his way through the alley towards the net. He beat all three Slovaks and the goaltender for the most memorable moment of the tournament.
Perhaps the only area of Bedard’s game that can be somewhat criticized is his shot selection. The kid isn’t afraid to shoot from anywhere on the ice and has scored from just about everywhere. He is miles above his current competition and can get away with shooting from where he pleases. At the next level, he’ll be expected to make the safe play more often, as opposed to losing the puck with an unnecessary shot.
🏒 It’s difficult to criticize Bedard in any way, but if there’s any part of his game that can be improved, it’s in the defensive end. Puck retrieval is not one of his strong suits, as he can be passive within his own zone.
On offense, Bedard has no problems getting his nose dirty while fighting in front of the crease as he thrives in that position. But when it comes to the dirty areas in the defensive end, he would prefer not to find himself battling against the boards.
You also won’t find Bedard killing penalties at any time soon, which will hurt his time on ice. When his team finds themselves in a game where they’re constantly on the kill, Bedard will be plastered to the bench - a sight opposing coaches will love to see.
📊 Undoubtedly, on June 28, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will announce Beadard as the first overall pick for the Chicago Blackhawks.
He will be compared to McDavid early on because of their outstanding junior careers, but they do not play similar styles, as McDavid likes to use his speed and playmaking to create. Only since the start of this year has McDavid decided to show the rest of the league he could be one of its best scorers.
Bedard is a much better shooter of the puck but doesn’t have the speed and agility of McDavid. There isn’t any player in the league currently that plays a similar style. He has the shooting ability of Auston Matthews and the playmaking of Patrick Kane put into a Mitch Marner-size body.
Aside from all of the on-ice attributes, Bedard is a leader in the locker room and always puts his team before himself. The kid only cares about winning, whether that means scoring five or being left off the score sheet altogether.
After Canada won gold at this year’s WJC, Bedard would not answer anything about his record-setting tournament, only wanting to talk about his teammates.
This is a franchise-altering player, making a losing season well worth it for the Blackhawks as they have their superstar of the future.
📈 📉 Rankings by Top Publications and Insiders
Sportsnet: 1
Wonderful breakdown of a unique prospect.
The training videos of him working on his skills are sick.