NHL Scout Takes a Shot at Connor Bedard, Claiming he's Overrated

There's no doubt that Connor Bedard has the potential to make a big impact on a team. The Chicago Blackhawks got lucky and won the draft lottery, so they have the opportunity to select him. In the previous season, Bedard scored 71 goals and had 143 points in just 57 games. That makes him the leading candidate in this draft, with the best performance by a junior player since Connor McDavid, who scored 44 goals and 120 points in 47 games.

Although everyone agrees that Bedard is the top prospect, some believe he may not immediately revolutionize the NHL as many expect.

Insights on this viewpoint come from an interview conducted by Corey Pronman, a writer and scout for The Athletic. Pronman gathered opinions from other NHL scouts and executives about Bedard's potential.

Patrick Kane had an exceptional rookie year and went on to have a successful career in the NHL. He scored 72 points in his rookie season, but is it fair to set Bedard's expectations based on that?

If we compare this to McDavid, who scored 48 points in 45 games during a period when scoring was lower in the NHL, we see that Kane led the league with 106 points. Last season, seven players surpassed Kane's total. Additionally, during McDavid's rookie season, Jamie Benn was the second highest scorer with 87 points, a number exceeded by 20 players last season.

Considering these statistics, it would be reasonable to expect Bedard to have a rookie year similar to McDavid's, assuming his teammates perform at a high level. Playing with Bedard could be challenging for some, as his best teammate, Seth Jones, while talented, might not be the ideal partner.

Right from the start, Bedard will be the star player for the Blackhawks. He possesses the rare ability to elevate the performance of those around him, a skill shared by only a few NHL players.

As seen on House of Hockey - NHL Scout Claims Bedard Is Overrated