THE BEDARD BREAKDOWN

Connor Bedard has more than matched the hype as an NHL rookie on a superstar trajectory. How’s he doing it? We talked to NHL pro scouts, who looked at 10 different facets of the Blackhawks prodigy’s game

BY KEN CAMPBELL

HE HAS ALREADY SUCCESSFULLY executed ‘The Michigan,’ is part of a confusing and cringeworthy car commercial and – before sustaining a broken jaw that sent him to the sidelines in early January – had six multi-point games to his credit. All in all, 18-year-old Connor Bedard has come to the NHL as advertised – and, considering the years of hype prior to his arrival, that’s saying something. In some ways, he has even exceeded the enormous fanfare that preceded his NHL debut. There have been stunning displays of skill and agility and the on- and off-ice poise of a veteran. When the puck is on his stick, there’s no telling what might happen, but it’s usually good. After three years of playing for amateur scouts, Bedard is now performing in front of…

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The Hockey News (Digital) - 1 Issue, Rookie Issue 2024

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