| Connor Bedard | Regina Pats | WHL | R | C | 5’8″ | 181 | Regina Pats | 2020 | North Vancouver, BC | 2005 | 2022-2023: A |
Why: As Tina Turner said “He’s simply the best”
Why not: We feel like we’d just be making stuff up.
2004s: World Select Invites, July 10, 2019: We have had Connor in our profiles for a year or so as we received a few reports of his playing against 2003s. This was our first look of the well regarded 2005. He didn’t disappoint. He made the All-Star team and drew a lot of “oooohhs and ahhs” from the crowds. He is not yet a tall player but has a low center of gravity. His acceleration is elite and his speed and agility are both superb. The puck never slowed him. He played really fast and was very shifty. He dragged and fired a puck home on the power play as a right shot off the right ½ wall. His shot is a rocket and he changed his point of release very well. He can shoot far from his body or near his feet. Felt like he had an unlimited number of ways to fire pucks on the net. He used his backhand well to pass and shoot. Scored another goal where he split the defense and rifled a goal far side, top corner. It’s often tough for players with the hype like he has around him to live up to expectations. He mostly did, however. The few issues we had were a couple poor changes. One play he fired a puck wildly on his backhand and as Dinamo went up the ice 4-2, he changed. We understand he is 13. His talents are elite for sure and those small issues are easily fixed. We don’t have a great feel for the 2005 group for next year’s WHL draft but one has to think he is the heavy favorite to go number 1 overall. Fun player to watch. Grade: A
Bantams: Kamloops International Bantam Tournament (KIBIHT): January 18, 2018: As a 2005 Bedard really impressed us. He is extremely skilled with the puck both while handling it and shooting. He scored a lot in the tournament and multiple times in some games. For a young kid playing up he has a lot of upside and skill but he has a few concerning habits as well. Without the puck, he can sometimes stand around and look disinterested but once the puck comes to his side of the ice he turns it on. His body language could be improved. He plays with an attitude which is great when used properly. When it got physical, his answer would be to chirp or to go toe drag the guy who hit him, then score and then go let him know. Bedard is a prospect to watch as he begins to start playing with his age group because he was dominant playing a couple age groups up here. Connor is definitely a player to watch for in two years come his draft year. Lots of talent, confidence, grit and upside. Grade: A
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images