Everyone in the NHL is talking about Shane Wright being the number one overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft and the kind of talent he brings. However, there is another gem we should all be paying attention to and that’s 16-yard old Connor Bedard, who is projected to be the number one overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Bedard scored four goals for Team Canada in World Junior’s on Tuesday night in an 11-2 win over team Austria.
This guy is going to be must-see television every single night when he gets into the NHL. Connor Bedard is going to be the next can’t miss prospect in the NHL since Connor McDavid, when he was drafted first overall by the Edmonton Oilers back in 2015.
With Bedard scoring four goals in World Junior’s for Team Canada, he is the first player to accomplish that feat since Wayne Gretzky. That is a great company to be a part of.
Connor Bedard is a very slick skater with tons of speed. He can get in the dirty areas and score. Bedard can also make plays for his teammates. He was playing on the fourth line for Team Canada and he needs to be moved up in the lineup.
Bedard is so talented that he could probably play in the NHL right now, but he can’t yet do so because of his age and also isn’t NHL Draft eligible. He is going to dominate this competition for the next year or two and then get into the NHL where he belongs.
Connor Bedard is a centerman and he is 5’9″ and weighs 181 lbs. Bedard has played in 24 games so far this season for the Regina Pats in the WHL. He has scored 14 goals and has recorded 10 assists. His plus/minus rating is -7.
Connor Bedard is averaging a point per game in juniors, which is really good. He probably gets double-teamed a lot in juniors, but Bedard can still finesse through defenders. This guy is a special talent.
Forget teams tanking for Shane Wright in the 2022 NHL Draft class. Teams who are bad next year in the NHL should really try tanking for Connor Bedard because he is going to be the next great dominant NHL generational talent and you can see it in his game from Team Canada in World Junior’s because it is rare for 16 years old to make the roster.
-Glenn Kaplan, 12oz Sports Contributor, Live Monday’s at 3 p.m. ET & Thursday at 11 a.m. ET on 12oz Sports
Photo Credit: Twitter @TSN_Sports
