Connor Bedard is a name that has been making waves in the hockey world lately. The 16-year-old Canadian forward has been compared to some of the biggest names in the sport, including Connor McDavid, who is widely considered one of the best players in the NHL today. But how do Bedard’s achievements stack up against those of McDavid and other prominent prospects in the NHL draft? Let’s take a closer look.
First, let’s start with McDavid. The Edmonton Oilers center was the first overall pick in the 2015 NHL draft and has since become one of the most dominant players in the league. In his rookie season, he scored 48 points in just 45 games and was named the NHL’s Rookie of the Year. Since then, he has won two Art Ross Trophies (awarded to the player with the most points in a season) and a Hart Trophy (awarded to the league’s most valuable player). He has also been named to the NHL First All-Star Team three times.
So how does Bedard compare? Well, it’s important to note that he hasn’t played a single game in the NHL yet. However, he has already made a name for himself in the junior leagues. Bedard was granted exceptional player status by Hockey Canada, which allowed him to play in the Western Hockey League (WHL) as a 15-year-old. In his rookie season with the Regina Pats, he scored 28 goals and 40 assists for a total of 68 points in just 15 games. He was named the WHL Rookie of the Year and was also named to the league’s First All-Star Team.
But Bedard isn’t just a one-season wonder. In his second season with the Pats, he continued to dominate, scoring 12 goals and 16 assists for a total of 28 points in just 15 games before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was also named to Canada’s U18 team for the IIHF World Championships, where he scored six goals and three assists in just five games, helping Canada win the gold medal.
So how does Bedard compare to other top prospects in the NHL draft? Well, it’s difficult to make direct comparisons since each player has their own unique strengths and weaknesses. However, Bedard is widely considered one of the top prospects in the 2023 NHL draft (which will be his draft year), along with players like Matvei Michkov and Adam Fantilli.
Michkov, a Russian forward, has been drawing comparisons to Alexander Ovechkin for his scoring ability. He has dominated in the Russian junior leagues, scoring 62 goals and 33 assists for a total of 95 points in just 61 games last season. Meanwhile, Fantilli, a Canadian forward, has been compared to Auston Matthews for his size and scoring ability. He played in the USHL last season, scoring 18 goals and 10 assists for a total of 28 points in 53 games.
It’s worth noting that all three players are still very young and have a lot of development ahead of them. However, based on their performances so far, it’s clear that they have the potential to become some of the best players in the NHL in the coming years.
In conclusion, while it’s difficult to make direct comparisons between players at different stages of their careers, it’s clear that Connor Bedard has already established himself as one of the top prospects in the NHL draft. His exceptional status and dominant performances in the junior leagues have earned him comparisons to some of the biggest names in the sport, including Connor McDavid. It will be exciting to see how his career develops in the coming years and whether he can live up to the hype.
