The Western Hockey League (WHL) has waited a very long time for a generational prospect like Connor Bedard to come along. While “the Dub” has certainly produced plenty of legendary NHL talent over the years (Bobby Clarke, Bryan Trottier, Joe Sakic, Scott Niedermayer, and Jarome Iginla some of the most notable among them), it hasn’t given us a “Wayne Gretzky”, “Bobby Orr”, or “Sidney Crosby” to speak of. Those are the kinds of players whose incredibly rare set of skills immediately set them apart from everyone else on the ice as being a truly special athlete in a pro-sports world designed specifically for special athletes. In other words, they are “the best of the best”. They are the players who define entire eras of the game with multiple team championships, various individual awards and heaps of accolades bestowed upon them by the adoring media and fans. Now, don’t get me wrong. Bobby Clarke has a trio of Hart Trophies as NHL MVP on his resume, Joe Sakic won a Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP) and a Hart Trophy, Bryan Trottier claimed an Art Ross Trophy as the league’s leading scorer, Scott Niedermayer has a Norris Trophy (best defenseman) and Conn Smythe, and Jarome Iginla finished his Hall of Fame career with two Maurice Richard Trophies (most goals), an Art Ross, and a Lester B. Pearson Award as the most outstanding player voted by the NHLPA. Those guys were phenomenal gamebreaking superstars, there’s no question about that. But did they reshape the NHL in their image the same way that Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr, or Sidney Crosby were able to? Are they considered to be among the top five all-time players in history the way those guys are? Not quite. There is a clear distinction between the two groups, and the WHL had produced none who could legitimately be placed in the “generational” tier. Thankfully, that is all about to change with 16-year old Regina Pats phenom Connor Bedard.
The tremendously gifted young centerman has already put on one hell of a show through the first two seasons of his major junior hockey career to date, racking up the same kinds of awards and accolades that his predecessors did at the same age. He doesn’t turn 17 until July 2022, and won’t be NHL draft eligible until 2023, but his trajectory is clearly on a stratospheric path based on the dominant body of work. Bedard is “The Next One”, by all indications, and the future heir to Connor McDavid’s current standing as the consensus best player in the world. Despite the 2023 draft class appearing to be one of the strongest in recent memory, his name is comfortably perched at the top of every preliminary or projected rankings list out there. He was born to be number one.
A HISTORY OF EXCELLENCE
As a native of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Connor Bedard spent most of his minor hockey with the West Van Academy Prep team in the Canadian Sports School Hockey League (CSSHL). In 2018-19, as a 13-year old competing in the U15 division, Bedard led all players in both goals (64) and points (88) after 30 games to easily win the league’s Most Valuable Player award. He would take home MVP honours again the following season as a 14-year old in the U18 division, putting up 43 goals and 84 points in 36 games to lead all players in both categories. Due to his dominance against players up to three years older than himself, he decided to apply for exceptional player status and early entry into the CHL at the end of the 2019-20 campaign. His application was ultimately granted, making him the first WHL prospect in history to receive the distinction. The Regina Pats held the first pick of the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft, and they used their selection on the 15-year old phenom (to the surprise of none).
Connor Bedard would begin his major junior hockey career in 2020-21 with a 12-game point streak that saw him collect 22 points (8g14a) over that span. The WHL had delayed their regular season start-up, then settled on a shortened 24-game schedule with no playoffs, but because of Bedard’s outstanding rookie campaign he was named to Team Canada’s roster for the Under-18 World Championships and was forced to cut his debut even shorter to just 15 total contests. By the time those 15 games were up, however, the 15-year old exceptional status rookie was sitting atop the league lead in both goals (12) and points (28) as arguably the WHL’s best player. Even though he did not play the final 9 games of the season, Bedard led all league freshmen in scoring and was deservedly named the 2020-21 Rookie of the Year as a result.
The hype around Bedard had grown to massive proportions after his mindboggling major junior debut, but his performance as a double underager for Team Canada at the U18 Worlds would take things to a whole new level. Competing against the top under-18 talent in the world for the very first time at the age of 15, it took Bedard a few preliminary round games to adapt and get comfortable in his surroundings. By the time Canada reached the medal rounds, though, the undersized pivot was truly firing on all cylinders. Putting together an undefeated record through 6 contests, Team Canada faced off with a familiar foe for gold medal glory: Team Russia. Led by dynamic 2023-eligible winger Matvei Michkov, the Russians had put together an undefeated tournament of their own to that point and were considered a legitimate threat to dash the Canadians’ dreams. But Connor Bedard had other plans. In the first period of the final matchup, Bedard was awarded a penalty shot after he was interfered with during a breakaway. To the shock of many, he would fail to score on that shot and then skated back to the bench clearly agitated with himself. On his very next shift he came out flying like a man possessed, obviously determined to make up for his missed penalty shot attempt. He entered the offensive zone and stickhandled his way around an opposing defender before ripping a perfect backhander top shelf for an incredible highlight reel goal. He would add an assist on team captain Shane Wright’s empty net marker to seal the Canadian victory, bringing his tournament totals to a stunning 7 goals and 14 points in 7 games. That placed him in a tie with his teammate Wright for second among all players in scoring as Team Canada captured its first gold at the U18 Worlds since 2013. Unsurprisingly, Bedard was named an event all-star and the hype around him inevitably exploded even further. It didn’t take long until he was the most talked-about and anticipated prospect in the game of hockey. All eyes would be glued to Connor Bedard’s sophomore WHL campaign in 2021-22, that much was for sure.
The Regina Pats gave Bedard an “A” on his jersey as one of the team’s alternate captains to kick off the 2021-22 season, yet the 5’9” superstar strangely sputtered through the first part of the year. In fact, as the Christmas break rolled around and brought with it tryouts for the Under-20 World Junior Hockey Championships, he sat with “just” 24 points (14g10a) in 24 games played. He was creating plenty of scoring chances and getting good looks at the net, but his shooting accuracy appeared to be ever-so-slightly out of whack. Based on his history of consistently coming through in the biggest moments, Hockey Canada invited the 16-year old to tryout for the WJC team regardless of a lack of elite production and that move would certainly pay off for both Connor Bedard and Team Canada. While the U20 WJC was unfortunately cancelled after just three days, it provided us with a record-setting showing from the 16-year old. In Canada’s second contest, a match against the Austrians, he would score four goals in an 11-2 rout that showcased the wealth of world class abilities he has in his vast repertoire. He scored using his patented laser-beam wrister labelled for the top corner, he scored on a perfectly executed give-and-go with a teammate, he scored with a deft deflection in front of the net, and he scored with a soft set of hands and a gorgeous deke. He put on an absolute clinic that left many scrambling for words to describe what they had just witnessed, but what they had seen was quite simple really: greatness in-the-making. Connor Bedard not only surpassed Wayne Gretzky as the youngest player to record a hat-trick for Team Canada at the WJC, but he also became the youngest player in World Juniors history to score four goals in a single game. He finished with a brilliant 5 points (4g1a) in his 2 games played, providing yet another example of the “generational” talent he truly is.
Upon returning to Regina, the super sophomore carried the momentum from his WJC performance over into the rest of his WHL campaign. Amazingly enough, Bedard would score four goals for the Pats in his first game with the team since that tournament to give him back-to-back four-goal outings (if you include the previous contest against Team Austria). Over the final 38 games of 2021-22 following the World Juniors he was arguably the best player in the entire CHL, racking up 37 goals and 76 points to average exactly two points-per-game. His signature moment came during Regina’s final game of the season when he scored twice (his 50th and 51st goals) and added three assists to reach 100 points in his 62 games played. His 51 goals were just one behind the league’s leading goal scorer and his 100 points placed him fourth among all players, ending with Bedard as one of the finalists for WHL Player of the Year at just 16 years of age.
Named captain of Team Canada for this year’s U18 Worlds tournament, Bedard notched 6 goals and 7 points in 4 games to lead the club in scoring. Though Canada coughed up a lead to the Finns and were eliminated from medal contention after a 6-5 overtime loss, Bedard was his typical all-world self. Next up for the phenom is the restarted Under-20 World Juniors taking place this summer. He is widely expected to be a top player and a critical piece to Canada’s potential gold medal run.
WHAT MAKES HIM GREAT?
Connor Bedard is much smaller than your typical superstar at just 5’9” and 181 lbs., but he has the speed and smarts to be successful without having size. He also has impressive lower body strength that makes him sturdier and stronger on his feet than one might first assume. He’s not afraid to battle against bigger opponents either, and he will stand up for himself if players try taking liberties with him physically. He’s still just 16, so he will likely grow another inch or two before the draft actually takes place. He is always going to be on the smaller side, but it hasn’t stopped him from dominating older and more experienced competition at every single level so far and I don’t see that stopping once he reaches the NHL.
The most noticeable aspect of Bedard’s game is his elite goal scoring ability, as evidenced by his 51-goal sophomore season. He has one of the deadliest wristshots we have ever seen from a 16-year old prospect. It is extremely accurate, lightning-quick, and he can fire an absolute bullet from a variety of different angles and release points to fool opposing netminders. Along with an NHL-calibre shot, he also has an incredible array of dynamic one-on-one skills that are nearly impossible to defend against. His ability to stickhandle his way around multiple defenders with ease, in practically each and every game he plays, is something special to behold. On a weak Regina Pats team that lacked much offensive punch outside of Bedard and fellow 16-year old stud Tanner Howe, he was forced to create most of the scoring opportunities himself using his great speed and soft hands in a one-on-one (or sometimes one-on-two or one-on-three) setting. I don’t think I have ever seen a junior hockey player with the tremendous level of individual skill he has, in all honesty, and I watched plenty of Connor McDavid’s junior games with the OHL’s Erie Otters prior to him becoming a four-time NHL scoring champion. Bedard isn’t quite as fast as McDavid was, though his skating took a significant step forward in 2021-22 from his rookie year, but his puck skills are probably further ahead than McDavid’s were at the same age.
I also saw some growth in Bedard’s playmaking this season, particularly over the second half. Opposing WHL teams began to increase their defensive coverage on him around that time, putting their focus primarily on getting in the way of his lethal shot. As his opponents made adjustments, so did Bedard. He was more or less forced to broaden his horizons as a passer and use his exceptional vision to set-up his teammates when the shot was taken away. He has elite playmaking talent already, but I believe he still has another level to reach in that regard that will only make him more dangerous with the puck on his stick inside the offensive zone. The truth is that Connor Bedard will always be a “shoot first” type of player in the same vein as guys like Auston Matthews, Alex Ovechkin, and Steven Stamkos are, but he might be a better passer than all three by the time he finally steps onto an NHL ice surface.
Team Canada’s head coach at the WJC earlier this year, Dave Cameron, stressed the importance of his players being good at both ends of the ice, and Bedard clearly took it to heart. His defensive game improved greatly following the tournament, to the point that he became quite effective inside his own zone by the end of the season. He carries himself like a natural leader, and it wouldn’t be a shock if the Pats anointed him as their new team captain for the 2022-23 campaign. Leadership roles seem to follow players of his ilk around, and he is likely already viewed as a leader in Regina’s dressing room due to his composure and work ethic.
THE FUTURE IS BEYOND BRIGHT
Connor Bedard became the youngest player in WHL history to score 50 goals in 2021-22, and was also just the third 16-year old (and first since 1980-81) to record 100 points in a single season. There is no question that he is the best WHL prospect of the last thirty years (at least), and in my opinion he is the greatest talent the league has ever produced. He is a surefire number one pick in the 2023 NHL draft, and is ultimately destined for legendary status in the sport of hockey when all is said and done. His accomplishments at the age of 16 rival, and in many ways exceed, the generational prospects he is closely compared to. The otherworldly skillset is undeniable, and he has the kinds of gaudy numbers, best-on-best international performances, and record-setting highlight moments that all the great ones have on their Hall of Fame resumes. The 2023-24 NHL season will be his debut campaign in the best league in the world, and it will see him begin his eventual ascension towards becoming the de facto “best player in the game”. It is his destiny, and he has given us no reason to doubt him.
The Draft Report 