Bedard's Younger Cousin Just Made HOCKEY HISTORY

NHL Child Prodigies | Where are they now?
In today's video we talk about Connor Bedard and his cousin Gavin McKenna, as well as the phenom Zayne Parekh who just broke Cale Makar's record.
Twitter
/ robtalkshockey
NEW MUSIC
Ryli | / rylimusic
/ @rylimusic1141
Lakey | / lakeyinspired
All of my videos are edited following the "Free Use" Guideline of KZbin as well as the Canadian and United States copyright acts.

[@RobTalksHockey]

Who is the best player to come from your home town?

[@Brooksie10]

Gerald Mayhew

[@topsu9998]

Arto Blomsten (he played 5 games)😭😭

[@alfiesmullet1311]

Steve Yzerman grew up in ottawa but wasn't born here so I dunno if he counts.. if not probably Claude Giroux, Mike Gartner, Denis Potvin or Rob Brind'Amour

[@costcm4991]

Joe Thornton

[@wyattschneider8817]

Carter Rowney

[@burgers_88]

I have been so lucky to be able to watch McKenna all season. Lucky enough he plays for my home town tigers.

[@bucki09er]

My nephew just signed with MH Tigers, Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll. Moving from Mission Chicago to MH. He's stoked to join the team.

[@burgers_88]

@@bucki09er That's crazy!! A big move too! He will be joining a young exciting roster. I will keep an eye out for him!

[@The_Waffle_House_Host]

Jesus loves you, his return could be imminent. If you don’t place your faith in the King, you will be judged, and if he returns before your death and you don’t find salvation through him, you will live through the apocalypse. Friend, as a warning, if you do go to the apocalypse, don’t worship the beasts, or get the 666 mark of the beast. Then and only then in the apocalypse you could find salvation, but the persecution would be insane, and it would likely cost you your head. Repent, and become my brother or sister in Christ, the Lord, the Savior, the King, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, Everlasting Father.

[@peterloewen1533]

Im also from around medicine hat...mckenna is a great player

[@subbydagwoods]

Sorry to hear you live there. “the hat” yikes.

[@jonmendelson1104]

2:27 Minor correction, McKenna was 15 at the start of the season but he turned 16 on December 20th.

[@Usiris23]

Parekh with nothing but the “sheathing the sword” celly 😂

[@kyledavidson8712]

Big Chi Chi Rodriguez fan

[@peter9962]

Without a doubt, the best player from where I grew up was Mr. Hockey Gordie Howe. He was actually from a tiny hamlet just outside the city limits of Saskatoon Sask called Floral. One of my best friend's father knew him, so we always cheered for Number 9 on Hockey Night in Canada. I saw him once, but unfortunately never got to shake his hand. We were just young teens at the time.

[@DustinoDelapine]

This guy is scouting for the scouts 😭

[@MuttzyDogg]

What are you talking about. Scout here. And this kid is not being scouted know why ? Because everyone sees him he can't be missed. Scouts are busy finding the other ones who can grow to be diamonds in the rough.. this kid is a diamond but not in the rough.. his stats and highlights are being played. Nobody needs to scout him. Hes done a great job making it so easy for the scouts they don't waste time with him.

[@DustinoDelapine]

@@MuttzyDogg Bro… I’m just complimenting him why are you so livid

[@MuttzyDogg]

@@DustinoDelapine because it's not true. Because it makes zero sense. Because being a scout demands whole lot more than what you think

[@wond3rlove]

@@MuttzyDogg you do realize hes not being serious right? He just complimenting for good content

[@MuttzyDogg]

@@wond3rlove nah lots of folks out here be serious about it this isn't the only comment like this ...

[@saulteanuts-vg8iu]

Gary Bettman is a scourge on Canadian hockey.

[@keistonballantyne3978]

Had the opportunity to go and watch him play when Medicine Hat came play the Prince Albert Raiders

[@payrysdoscs4903]

I knew McKenna was real good; his development curve in Chel is almost always amazing

[@aidentenibor1057]

From my hometown we have had Kirby Dach and now Keaton Verhoeff on the Victoria Royals

[@MiraiKishi]

When you put Bedard and McKenna side by side, and you said they're only related by marriage, I pretty much thought "Bullshit! They look so much alike???!" I thought they could be brothers!

[@CoopHawke]

Idk what he means by that though. Like one of them is a step child I guess.

[@ImVeryTactical]

I went with my dad to a tigers game few weeks back and he told me bedards cousin was on the team and he easily broke out and scored with minimal effort. Be cool to have some good tigers alumni

[@Phrovide]

I think if you name your kid Connor…you’re gonna have yourself a once in a generation talent.

[@frequentsee3815]

It's a rich person name.

[@Shaquille69355]

Nah just a basic white boy name lmao

[@BigSleepyJoeCooking]

9:47 very true in Pittsburgh you had letang, Washington carlson, St.louis petrangelo, tampa hedman, colorado makar, vegas petrangelo again and 🤞this year nucks hughes

[@MatsLM]

I’m convinced Rob is a KZbinr and a scout for the NHL Central Scouring Bureau..

[@MuttzyDogg]

No stop it don't be disrespectful buddy. This is no news to the scouting community nobody is paying attention to McKenna they're all busy trying to find another diamond in the rough McKenna is locked pick its no news he will be top pick. They're on to other fishes

[@Peilla]

Dylan Cozens or Gavin Mckenna.

[@CoopHawke]

7:29 Look at Bouchard's numbers on that chart. People have always underrated him because he plays calm and smart instead of fast and flashy.

[@kylechivers421]

His name was Gilmour. I can't stress how hard this guy tried to make his dreams come true and the dedication he showed every year. He never made the team though, his name was Gilmore, Happy Gilmore. His golf games decent too

[@Ville-u8g]

This Bedard hype is rediculouse. Yes, good player, but not so special that he deserves this level of hype.

[@RobTalksHockey]

The man is younger and has outscored a rookie Matthews, Kaprisov, Pettersson, etc. on a horrible team. He has special upside

[@Ville-u8g]

Sure he is a good player. Just that half of the Bedard hype videos are exaggerated. There are videos where he is just skating or giving a tackle and not really doing anything special. Yet the title of the video can be "incredible skill" or something similar - exaggeration. The same goes for the comments. People exaggerate. If the video is in line with the title and comments, I have no problem. But so often its not the case.

[@jeforyslimcock2008]

Clayton Keller played for a school with his brother in the St. Louis area. My coach played against him and he said that they put Keller on the ice for only the third period and he scored 8 goals

[@VincentGilligan]

keep an eye on Landon DuPont too. He's just about to get exceptional status.

[@MuttzyDogg]

Imma say it since im a scout. The fact the game has evolved and theres way less hits and overall violence allows these prodigee kids to shine a lot more. Kids competing against them often give up on plays when theyre on the ice.. which back in the days their average competitor would be headhunting them.. nothing less these kids are incredible their skills with the puck is quite astonishing to say the least. But having a more open ice helps a whole lot. If the history of life repeats itself and we see a young plaer come thru with a physical play and set a trend we can find a new balance but its unlikely to be immediately. Rempe is a nice proof of it all slowly having a shift where the youth might realize hockey played physically can still bring you to the show even with lesser skill and talent. But it wont be tomorrow or anytime soon. The next generation have zero sign of being agressive they give up on a lot plays. No true second and third effort off the puck.

[@RobTalksHockey]

Agreed. The rabbit and the wolf life cycle

[@marcusa6601]

Landon Dupont who just got granted exceptional status to the WHL

[@Ozzmutt87]

Congrats on 100k

[@kool9813]

I know bedard gets attention. But can we please call Mckenna by his name. Not just someone bedard is related too. Not just this channel did many others did the same. Im annoyed by this trend in all not this particular channel but still.

[@NNHgohabsgo]

Fr

[@dodgecity4081]

They’re not even blood relatives and didn’t meet until they were in the whl

[@newttella1043]

Having wealthy parents who can pay for elite coaching is paying off.

[@ejomamma6234]

Sad thing, when it used to be from going out on the cold ponds and rivers, and now it's money. Still the best game and still has a lot of humble awesome people in it. It still takes a lot of work, but having money sure helps, like anything. It's still Rock and Roll to me, Billy Joel.

[@saulteanuts-vg8iu]

Kitchener will win the '24 Memorial Cup. Bring it back to the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. Big up K-Town! F London in their little yuppie Ps.

[@RaarZipan]

Difference is kids are groomed to be hockey players to the extreme now, the best players were nurtured sure, but now its an industry to raise these kids and feed them supplements, private training, etc.

[@thatshortbuskid9801]

Boston needs to tank for mckenna

[@npg_renegade6722]

I went to school and played shinny with Carson Camron, he was drafted first round 7th overall to the Pete’s last year

[@Survivalist-of-war]

What does McKenna have to do with beddard? Who gives a F of they are related by marriage.

[@WilliamMorrissey-yl8if]

RYAN O'RIELLY GREW UP IN MY TOWN AND DID THE CUP PARADE IN IT TO GODERICH,ON

[@stockey]

Hutson in the CHL would have 100 points for sure.

[@rfitz4420]

From our town of (2000 pop.)we have Rob Flockhart (Van) Ron Flockhart (Phi) Chris Beech (Pitt) Adrian Veidaman (St L) Dale Purrigton (Nyr) Shea Weber (Nash) Cody Franson (Nash) Andrew Kozak (Atl Flames) Chris Johnstone (Cal Flames) Colin Fraser (Chi) Cain Franson (Van) and Bedards mothers family is still here ! I might have missed one !

[@cglasford1]

its hard to tell from the clips in the video if Parekh has the same level of skating ability as Makar but if he does he will be a star. The skating is really what sets Makar apart imho. that is what allows him to do all the other stuff.

[@phraenque6657]

the song you used for the zayne parekh montage is electric, who's the artist!?!

[@jamesbarels469]

McKenna had players to play with while Bedard was with the Pats.

[@gideon4942]

Put your scale at 0. That graph at 3:48 is actually disgusting. 1.25 -> 1.27 -> 1.5 is ridiculous. And neither axis starts at 0. You can still show how McKenna is doing amazing with fair graphs.

[@RobTalksHockey]

Why would I start at 0 if doesn’t apply to any player? Zooming in a graph provides much better perspective.

[@isaiahclarke6298]

Adin hill is from Comox Valley i hate the knights but its always nice to see talent come out of a small community

[@connergeekie]

best guy in my area in conner geekie

[@rfitz4420]

Maddox Martin Is another blood cousin of Bedard playing for Salmon Arm Silverback in BCHL. Should play NHL

[@cygnusx-1862]

By the time bedard gets good linemates he will have probably requested a trade.

[@drewgrsmith3340]

Brayden yager from martensville saskatchewan he also played with rylan pearce, max hildebrand, hunter mayo and ryley heidt they all played in the whl and nkw from martensville we have calder hamilton who is a top 10 projected whl draft pick

[@Thathockeyplayer497]

My home town brought Grant Fuhr to the league, I’m just bummed out I didn’t make it either!

[@ejomamma6234]

I'd say you'[re special, just because you are, lol

[@Klanchey]

I think you failed to mention that McKenna is from WHITEHORSE, YUKON TERRITORY. Which makes him incredibly easy to root for

[@zodiac5375]

I think the reason that he's not that high up on lists because he doesn't have that elite edge work the other three guys you mentioned do. Maybe not so much Fox but definitely Makar and Hughes

[@rowanlang5661]

Not to brag or anything but i played w Gavin at CWG. just gotta put it out there, make myself feel good

[@MrHunterbg]

McKenna is going to be better than that guy who plays for Chicago. Also, Parekh is very overrated. Sure he's great with the puck, but I've watched him enough to know how useless he is without it. He's just a fourth forward. Whoever drafts him just needs to make him a winger because that's all he's good for; and he might be underwhelming at that because he lacks the physical aspect. Any team who drafts him will realize he's going to be quite the project.

[@mumumumah]

If Chicago can just stay crappy until 2026, Bedard might be playing with McKenna.

[@UTFT27]

This is because hitting and fighting has been taken out of the game. The young and inexperienced players have nothing to worry about except getting points.

[@kalebfowlow5660]

I got one here Jason miller he was one of the picks in the greatest trade he was my old boss he blame Gretzky for not making it in the NHL

[@Baslisk1]

Im proud to be from medicine hat!

[@jonmendelson1104]

Just need them not to take dumb penalties and maybe they can come back in this series!

[@ejomamma6234]

I'd say your hat is over your eyes, and you should open them to the possibility of moving. Kidding. Good luck and all the best always!

[@lindseylang7259]

Pettersson more of of all around player when McKenna is just more of a goal scorer tbh

[@justaverage7629]

lol why label him as “bedards cousin”, he has a name. Gavin McKenna, you’ll get it right eventually.

[@KJV1001]

ive played with jett dechamps in a camp cuz hes from winnipeg

[@SportsBros9975]

Conner bedard came from my town

[@NNHgohabsgo]

Played a couple shinnys with him last spring. Kids a wizard

[@MuttzyDogg]

Wizards have an easy time when you don't apply pressure and are aggressive with them new day kids aren't playing the type of hockey that cam counter him .. yall playing hockey that completes their style you give up on plays and don't try taking a guy head off which allows him to dangle thru you cones

[@NNHgohabsgo]

@@MuttzyDogg if it was that easy you’d probably be in the NHL

[@MuttzyDogg]

@@NNHgohabsgo I'm a scout I study hockey truth is if I got back to it I could probably make East Coast roster or European roster. I'm 26 played hockey my entire life now I scout. It's not just spouting and mumbling words. If you're still playing when facing skillful players don't only attack the body you go for hand to hand like a wrestling match you try to grav control of their wrist while using your body to make contact. We don't teach you kids the proper way of using your body it's all finesse nowadays and take the less penalties possible. The game has changed and ppl will start adjusting to win games against skillful players and teams. I'm thinking about start to coach you'll be seeing changes in the next 10years some academies will start developing a more defensive style as the years go on

[@MuttzyDogg]

@@NNHgohabsgo you kids aren't taught to properly take out a player of a play how to counter a 1 vs 1 yall are legit cones with it .. just look at them highlights kids literally give up let him dangle.. it will change sooner than later coaches will push back with a old school type of hockey using defense first

[@FREEDMFTR]

1st overall picks going to the worst team in the league is a terrible rule in the NHL. Set up superstars with the worst team? There should be a new rule change: If the worst team in the league cannot turn things around in 2 full seasons, the 1st overall pick from 2 seasons ago should have trade rights and full control, and the team that drafted them cannot try and change the players mind. To have the 1st overall pick stuck on a crappy team and waste their careers is such a waste. Not all 1st overall picks have it bad, but it happens far too often with the "lottery" system the NHL has now. Thoughts?

[@aanler]

No, the current rules are perfect. Literally perfect. It's the best way to balance the league.

[@Kcman1827]

Who the fuck makes these kids… like how does he get so good and how is he 6ft at 15!? Respect to him though, it’s clear he worked very hard to get to where he is today

[@ejomamma6234]

I'm still looking for the perfect woman to make one of "these kids", in case any hot slim athletic woman is listening. Oh, that's right, they have to listen. Oops, sorry, did I say that out loud......

[@justinjohnson4855]

jack quinn grew up in my area

[@sethwalton1861]

In Ekblads defense, he was already taller than most adults before he was 10 lol

[@mr2_mike]

All I see is the Matthews dip 😂

[@DropDeadJordan]

Bedard has a -39, Auston Matthews had a +2 in his rookie season, Ovi had a + 2, Datsyuk had a +4, Bedard is one dimensional and it shows.

[@TheChronicFiend]

Kurashev is underated af!

[@lime7494]

I feel bad for him, honestly. Somebody who he isn't blood related to, yet with the cousin-by-marriage relationship, that's what he's going to be labeled as for a while.

[@Nichaelas]

If I were the hockey gods I'd give McKenna to Detroit for that joke of a lottery they got screwed on that literally made the league have to change how the lottery worked.

[@BarbieHitsBack]

ALL COUSINS ARE BY MARRIAGE! They DO share a blood line or they wouldn’t be cousins they be FRIENDS! Great reporting though, thank you! My grandson has just signed a contract with the MH Tigers to play with Gavin McKenna starting this August, 2024. Great opportunity!

[@RobTalksHockey]

Yes haha! I meant that they aren’t blood related. That’s going to be a lot of fun

[@BarbieHitsBack]

@@RobTalksHockey your reply gets you a subscribe, you’re with it!

[@pinkladies66]

I’m still confused though. Won’t they still share some blood? Unless they’re step cousins or adopted?

[@BarbieHitsBack]

@@pinkladies66 yes, absolutely they share blood, either the mother or father of say Gavin are siblings to Connors mother or father and that’s how cousins are made😂 Who’d-a thunk something so simple could be so c o m p l i c a t e d 😍

[@LucasAustin-o5l]

McKenna has the face of a killer. I love it

[@Lebowski55]

McKenna is not Bedard's cousin. He is Bedard's cousin-in-law.

[@RobTalksHockey]

He is still a cousin

[@nxlxn3207]

The best player from my town has to be Jason Dickinson what a guy he is

[@gTuya11]

What i don’t understand is how the big knock on Parekh is his defense as a defenseman. I’m newer to hockey so pardon me if this is a dumb question but, with offensive talent like that, why not bump him over to Center if its such a huge concern?

[@Cannball16]

usually on average he'd get more icetime as 1D than as a 1C

[@benjamindoiron3662]

the skills needed to be a good offensive dman dont necessarily translate to a centerman

[@thefinaldispatch]

I’m sure he could learn but it’s a big difference going from D to centre. If he’s this talented though, he’d be a good candidate

[@RobTalksHockey]

The new generation of “offensive d-man quarterbacks” is a new style of player. A player like Makar will have a far greater impact on the blue line, especially when you consider he spent his entire life developing defensive instincts

[@douglepong]

They just changed the game. Back in the day players couldn’t pass the puck up the ice past 2 lines. That’s the only reason people see so much scoring nowadays. Also players aren’t allowed to really hit anyone either. It’s not because players are better.

[@MatthewTaylorBlais]

Impressively wrong lmao

[@taupevolcano3732]

Dude look like Gretzky. the way he just floats around his opponents and he’s hockey iq.

[@ed_7875]

Who did crosby have 🧐

[@RobTalksHockey]

Mario Lemieux for a stint, Palfy, Recchi, Gonchar (one of the best powerplay quarterbacks in the league) Marc Andre Fleury, with Malkin and Letang in the pipeline

[@ejomamma6234]

He had the dryer, silly. Thought everyone knew that!

[@coastaku1954]

You talk about a player on the Saginaw Spirit, but you made no mention of the London Knights, which beat the Spirit in points to take home the Hamilton Spectator trophy for regular season champs. The Knights have Easton Cowan, Denver Barkey, Ruslan Gazizov, Jacob Julien, Landon Sim, Max McCue and Will Nichol for forwards, and Oliver Bonk, Isiah George, Jackson Edward and Sam Dickinson on the blue line for a truly unstoppable team that had a 24 game point streak, a 14 game win streak, and 2 7 game win streaks. As well as like 5 blow outs including a 10-0 Shutout against the Owen Sound Attack. The Knights also have like 6 players with over 30 goals, 9 over 20 goals, and 4 players with over a point per game, with Easton Cowan having a point streak that lasted 36 games (November till the end of the season!)

[@larrygrassinger2819]

I could be wrong but I believe they are related only through marriage? Not by bloodline? That's what was said when I was watching MH play RD in the playoffs

[@ejomamma6234]

You're right, which makes the coincidence crazy.

[@MapleSyrupPoet]

Wowww Gavin 👍 😅 🏒🥅

[@cottoncandybroz4808]

Conner Bedard

[@stretchstretch9112]

Bring back bidy checking and see what hspoens.

[@hockeyfan2777]

my hometown prodigy is the band the prodigy

[@PoXPuLar]

Been watching him play against my rebels. Kids the real deal. Immediate standout on the ice. Dangerous every time he’s out. His awareness and IQ is off the charts.

[@joer8854]

Genetics plays a much smaller roll than people think. Players today like Matthews and McDavid it's about how they see the game, not as much genetics. Sure physical ability and athleticism plays a roll, but that's not what makes them elite. They earned that. It's the IQ.

[@TwoFingerSaloute]

If the Blackhawks play their cards right, they can have both

[@JayTayD]

Why does nobody talk about Carter Yakemchuk? Another 30+ goal 17 year old defender

[@cranehook4715]

Then there's Terik Parascak who had 40+ goals and 100+ points and yet there's talk that he'll slip to the middle of the 2nd round like Cristall did last year. Guess production doesn't mean as much as it used to.

[@RyanTheSharkie69]

PERSONALLY Yakemchuk > Parekh, but that might be because I’ve watched more Yakemchuk

[@TickedGoose]

micheal misa video? or zayne parekh?

[@MatthewTaylorBlais]

Half this video is about Parekh lmao

[@dsc4178]

He won't be a Leaf. Nor will Parekh. McKenna and Parekh will be awesome.

[@ericcook7622]

Cousin by marriage?

[@jzimm1075]

That’s what I’m trying for to figure out. I looked it up, and it seems to be very incestuous. I have no idea how the stated relationship works.

[@TheJimmyStDenisShow]

With the first pick of the 2026 nhl draft the Utah Coyotes select Gavin Mckenna

[@RobTalksHockey]

Haha!

[@TheJimmyStDenisShow]

@@RobTalksHockey if Arizona had Bedard they’d be selling tickets like crazy

[@DORIANUPDEGROVE]

Ever thought of doing draft ratings? Like he's a hit, miss or meh

[@eastonhedemann]

from cochrane mason ramon

[@mitchellshea7740]

Went to high school w the Hughes brothers had a couple of classes w Jack he’s a ridicules hockey player and a really nice guy

[@hippomancy]

bobby orr? name ring a bell? best defensemen ever from rookie year on...

[@ejomamma6234]

I can still do Bobby Orr's autograph perfectly. Bobby Hull came to Winnipeg, and he made the Jets and me fans forever. Great man to my family and I. His kids didn't realize until late the lies about his life, and how much he cared about everyone, especially them. Fact.

[@petercruz8615]

I love how I've watched less than a minute of Zayne Parekh and I already know his go-to celly. Kid's slick with it *holsters stick*

[@enderlordmc_7777]

There are no prospects from around where I play lol

[@TH3BIGL61]

my home town is Michael and Luke Misa

[@thegreatbadon8033]

I hope my caps are bad in 2026

[@MatthewStephens-zg1nr]

The Blackhawks are gonna be a problem for the foreseeable future.

[@Nathan-bs3cx]

Zane is pretty good and I don’t know who is better *cough* cough* Hutson*

[@johanjotun1647]

It's not something in the waters its rule changes and the way they ref the games, its less dangerous in years past the league was far too rough for a boy to walk the man's path also composite sticks require less wrist strength.

[@cliffordfarley30]

I’m not hating on the kid, i’m sure he’s real good. But we need to stop embellishing everything we say. It needs to come to a stop..to describe something as impossible…when it’s clearly possible for the majority of anyone that can stand on skates and hold a stick is ridiculous. That pass he made was in a lane the size of a mack truck..it was far from impossible. But you’re not the only person who does this, its the majority of society. Just because it’s not possible for someone who’s never stepped onto a hockey rink. It’s definitely possible.

[@RobTalksHockey]

"impossible angle" pass or goal, is just a fun term that describes a crazy angle, it's not that serious. I would also strongly disagree that the majority of people who pick up a hockey stick can make these plays. Just because some of the best prospects and or players make it look easy, doesn't mean it is.