Let's Watch: Connor Bedard

The episode you've all been waiting for... David St-Louis takes a look at prospective first overall pick Connor Bedard's game in the newest edition of Let's Watch!
#EliteProspects #ConnorBedard

[@davidharris6893]

I think one of the really tough things about evaluating Bedard in the WHL is that, at least in my opinion, it looks like he's playing down to the level of his team - not necessarily his opposition, he's obviously out-classing them at will, but you look at some of the decisions he makes on the ice and you can't help but feel like sometimes he's stuck in a crap situation where the only play is a bad one due to the lack of play creation from his teammates. It's not the case all the time but that shot that rimmed wide and resulted in a goal for the Ice is a good example of this. Nobody on his team was an option or even really trying to become an option for him, they were expecting him to just carry the play start to finish, and as a result, his play option quality was lowered significantly. It would be interesting to do Let's Watch of a world junior game, where he's playing with the best Canada has to offer at his age group. Even an IIHF world championship game in the Spring, I bet he and Wright will both get invites.

[@davidst-louis8315]

Great comment! I agree.

[@alid7192]

Great take! Obviously its not easy for an NHL player to read the game and react off of such a high quality player like Bedard, let alone a WHL player. His teamates are just always 1 step behind him.

[@LilybeeTV]

I would love to see a video where you guys take a step back from a specific player and teach us how to watch hockey games like a scout. Often, you use the term "projectable quality" when praising a player's strengths. While it's intuitive to see why a specific skill will translate to the pro level, I would be interested to know how you define these qualities in general. More broadly, I'd like to know how to better spot these qualities myself when watching games.

[@davidst-louis8315]

It would be a podcast episode.

[@danmoretti8898]

@@davidst-louis8315 And a fascinating one at that.

[@MrJray1120]

Great video, I'm begging the lottery gods to put this man on the Hawks

[@Surl9596]

We’ll try and help out with that tonight

[@MrJray1120]

@@Surl9596 Haha fair enough, glad to see the Devils crushing it this season. Jack Hughes is naaaaasty

[@AmpsTV]

no fucking thanks

[@yvonjrpierre5648]

Connor.bedard.aux.blackhawks.de.chicago.big.deal.ok.

[@MrJray1120]

@@yvonjrpierre5648 yes Yvon thank you

[@franknova7517]

So the Blackhawks trade Patrick Kane and wind up with Patrick Kane with updated software.

[@bijanravanbakhsh3530]

88 to 98.

[@theloniousm4337]

Watching Bedard without the puck is like watching Messi without the ball. The great ones separate themselves by constantly looking for and making opportunities when they don't have the puck/ball.

[@alid7192]

Thats a quality the great ones have. Scanning the play is so important to get one step ahead.

[@tallesttreeintheforest]

a player that has a brain that can process the game in slow motion

[@dancarpentieri7762]

He's obviously great, but i think his lack of pure speed will hold him back from being on the McDavid, Crosby and Gretzky level. I see him as more of a combination of Pat Kane and Pastrnak - but better. I think Fantilli will be the better NHL player in terms of an overall impact he can have on the game.

[@justinz39sabres]

because crosby and gretz are known for their speed

[@dancarpentieri7762]

@@justinz39sabres do you want to think about what you just said? Or should i explain it to you like you're 5 years old why their speed didn't matter nearly as much as it would for Bedard?

[@Zaghzackio]

Fantilli is not better than Bedard

[@dancarpentieri7762]

@@Zaghzackio he's going to be a more complete NHL player and those are the types players you win with.

[@marcussilva4011]

@@dancarpentieri7762 I agree with that if your saying overall impact dosent mean he’s better or valuable i think bedards offensive ceiling is makes him the better prospect for the future

[@peters5090]

He will look good in an edmonton jersey

[@matthewkabel6246]

Anaheim*

[@Just_a_Man780]

Its not enough to ruin McDavid and Draisaitl's carrer, you also want to ruin his?

[@at7915]

That would be such a tragedy

[@Blehhhhhhhhhgh]

Bedard finna b insane

[@genestdaniel9882]

His biggest quality: His head is always up. Look to him carefully, even at slow motion and look his head is always up scanning the ice, he's the master of the puck control, he can control the puck with eyes closed, so he's always scanning the play, even when carrying the puck or accelerating. He feels the puck like if its a part of himself, this allow him to not look at it and constantly scan the plays and allow him to plan one or two step forward, he sees everything on the ice in real time, he's ahead of the next play and other players wich can't follow him. This outstanding ability to keep the heads up all the way unlock a lot of rare tools like vision, puck protection and deception wich translate directly to the NHL at a high level.