NHL.com brings you the latest news on the upcoming draft year in the 2022 Draft Watch Series. In this issue: Bédard makes it easy to come back.
After the Junior World Championship in 2022, a next challenge awaits the candidates for the 2023 NHL Draft: the return to everyday life in the league. It’s the next chapter in an important but difficult season for the youngsters. At the end of June, their big dream can come true when one of the NHL teams obtains the rights. Until then, however, they have to prove themselves, which is often associated with a broken and changing season.
Especially players who are active in Europe must be flexible. While their North American counterparts often play full-time for a prestigious Canadian Hockey League junior team, a varsity team or the United States national team development program, multiple changes within a organization are not uncommon for European players. Many start in an under-20 team, then move up to a second-tier team and, once proven there, eventually move up to a top-tier team.
This constant switching between different teams, which means you have to deal with different teammates, coaches and environments, is anything but easy. Additionally, there may be travel constraints. Colleagues in North America generally have more consistency in their season and often stay with one team. For the best players, however, the season is always interrupted if they are called up to national youth teams for the U18 or U20 World Cup. Not all players manage to make a smooth transition to the league after playing for their country.
At least one young striker doesn’t seem to have a problem switching between the national team and the league: Connor Bedard! The big favorite for the first draft pick has once again impressed spectators and pundits in his first game after the World Junior Championships.
[Ähnliches Bedard wird nach dem Sieg bei der U20-WM von Teamkameraden gelobt]
The 17-year-old center is coming off a phenomenal tournament. With 23 points (9 goals, 14 assists), he was nine points clear of second-placed Logan Cooley and was by far the tournament’s top scorer. In doing so, he helped Canada defend their title, having already competed in the championship at the previous tournament, which was only postponed until August. As a result of his strong performance, he was named to the all-star team of the just-concluded tournament and was voted top forward and most valuable player.
It would have been only too understandable if Bedard had enjoyed his success and hadn’t made any extraordinary appearances in the first games after the World Cup. His place at the top of the draft year is all but guaranteed, having won two Under-20 gold medals and an Under-18 world championship with Canada in less than nine months. No other player that year can match him in the eyes of scouts. A few quiet games after returning from the national team would not have jeopardized his status.
However, what he showed in his first post-World Cup game for the Western Hockey League’s Regina Pats was a perfect display of his dominance. Last Sunday, the Pats won 6-2 against the Calgary Hitmen. Bedard himself scored four of the six goals and set up the other two.
With this brilliant performance, the exceptional striker also made sure to keep his place at the top of the scorers’ table, despite a good month of absence in the league due to the World Cup. He is eight points ahead of second-placed Andrew Cristall with 70 points (31 goals, 39 assists) despite playing seven other games. Bedard is also the best passer and the second best scorer behind Kai Uchacz (33).
Regardless of the circumstances, whether for the national team or for the Pats: Bédard confirms and exceeds the high expectations of the scouts again and again. What is a challenge for other players his age seems meaningless to him. Given his performance, it’s no wonder he works with players like Sydney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin and Connor McDavid is compared.
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