The 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship is scheduled in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Moncton, New Brunswick, from Dec. 26-Jan. 5. Today, we feature Canadian forward Connor Bedard, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft.
Patrick Kane skated with many of the top players in the game when he attended the BioSteel Sports NHL camp in August.
The player that impressed him most, however, doesn’t yet play in the NHL.
“I skated with Connor Bedard this summer and I was with some of the best in the NHL, and he was the guy that stuck out to me,” the Chicago Blackhawks forward said. “I think the hype is real. I think he’s going to be an amazing player.”
Bedard (5-foot-10, 185 pounds) is the projected No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. He’ll also be the primary offensive weapon for Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, to be held Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Moncton, New Brunswick.
The 17-year-old is expected to play right wing on a line with center Shane Wright, the No. 4 selection by the Seattle Kraken in the 2022 NHL Draft, and left wing Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers) at a tournament composed of the best under-20 players each nation has to offer.
Canada plays its first game at the tournament against Czechia at the Scotiabank Center in Halifax on Dec. 26 (6:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN).
“[Bedard] thinks the game at such a high level,” Wright told TSN. “He can make plays. He’s a fast skater. He can shoot the puck. He can do just about everything. It’s definitely pretty fun playing with him, that’s for sure.
“His physicality, his puck protection, is something not a lot of people really talk enough about. He’s not the tallest guy, but he’s strong. He’s got a really strong lower body and can protect the puck really well. He can play against the other big defensemen in the corners and play down low.”
Bedard, a right-hand shot, had eight points (four goals, four assists) in seven games to help Canada win the 2022 WJC in August. He was the seventh 16-year-old to be selected to play for Canada at the WJC, joining Wayne Gretzky (1978), Eric Lindros (1989), Jason Spezza (2000), Jay Bouwmeester (2000), Sidney Crosby (2004) and Connor McDavid (2014).
Kane had 145 points (62 goals, 83 assists) in 58 games with London of the Ontario Hockey League in 2006-07 and was selected No. 1 by the Blackhawks in the 2007 NHL Draft. He won the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year in 2007-08.
Bedard leads the Canadian Hockey League with 64 points in 28 games, and the Western Hockey League in goals (27) and assists (37) despite not playing for Regina since Dec. 4.
“Bedard visualizes himself being similar to Kirill Kaprizov (Minnesota Wild),” director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr said. “Both elite talents, but it’s very reminiscent of me with Patrick Kane. Just the speed, the quickness, those big, timely goals when they’re needed, and the accuracy to finish on the play, or just in general to create the scoring chances when you need them.
“And the fact that he goes out there and makes it look so easy.”
Kane had 72 points (21 goals, 51 assists) in 82 games as a rookie with the Blackhawks but said it took him a few seasons in the NHL before he finally began to rediscover his goal-scoring prowess. He expects it’ll be no different for Bedard.
“When I came in… I was a scorer in junior and then my first few years in the NHL I was more of a playmaker,” Kane said. “The moves you did in junior, they might work, but you don’t have that extra step of space so if you’re coming down on a guy and you beat him, he might catch up and you might have to turn up and Hit the late guy or something instead of taking it to the net like you did in junior.
“I think the closure of space is probably the biggest thing, and once you realize that, maybe it’s more of a delay or give-and-go game … you kind of develop that as you go on.”
Bedard has a point in 27 straight games, the longest in the WHL since Brett Leason of Prince Albert had a 30-game streak in 2018-19.
“His shot is incredible,” the New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal said. “It comes off his stick so hot. I’ve really never seen anything like it. Obviously [Auston Matthews] rips the puck; I would say that’s the only shot I could really compare it to.”
Bedard could become the second player from Regina selected No. 1 in the NHL Draft (Doug Wickenheiser, Montreal Canadiens, 1980). The last player from the WHL chosen No. 1 was forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of Red Deer by the Edmonton Oilers in 2011.
“He’s going to play a role where he’s going to be playing against the other teams’ top players,” Canadian director of player personnel Alan Millar said. “Being cognizant of defense and working and tracking and all those things will be important, and he knows that. He’s prepared for that. You’re going to see a Connor Bedard that has matured in terms of that complete game.”
Bedard said, “I’ve skated with NHL players for a while now and that gives you confidence not passing on a 2-on-1, which I probably should. I think that confidence of being with guys in Vancouver (his hometown), going to Toronto and seeing Connor McDavid working out (at BioSteel camp), it just makes you feel comfortable. They’re just human beings that are unbelievable at a sport. It’s that part that’s fun and that helps the confidence.”
United States general manager John Vanbiesbrouck believes Bedard is the next generational talent who will enter the NHL.
“You’ve got to love watching Connor Bedard play,” he said. “I mean, you totally respect it. No doubt Connor is a generational talent that’s going to be fun to watch in the National Hockey League. We just don’t want to watch too many highlights of him in the coming weeks (during the WJC ).”
Photos: Keith Hershmiller, Regina
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