Connor Bedard didnB次元官网网址檛 want to talk about his record-breaking performance.
He also wasnB次元官网网址檛 keen on looking ahead to the 2023 NHL draft.
The star of the recent world junior hockey championship isnB次元官网网址檛 interested in the rear-view mirror or what waits over the horizon.
ThatB次元官网网址檚 for the rest of the hockey world to debate and discuss.
Bedard provided a string of jaw-dropping performances for Canada at the recent menB次元官网网址檚 under-20 tournament in the Maritimes, setting a boatload of national and tournament records to help lead his country to gold.
There had been talk before the event that fellow forward Adam Fantilli B次元官网网址� a teammate in Halifax and Moncton, N.B., and a blue-chip prospect in his own right B次元官网网址� might be closing the gap on the 17-year-old phenom from North Vancouver, B.C.
Bedard instead showed just how wide the gulf is between himself and the rest of his contemporaries in the draft field.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a professional already,B次元官网网址� Canadian goaltender Thomas Milic said in the wake of the countryB次元官网网址檚 20th world junior crown. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 so good at everything he does B次元官网网址� the way he prepares, the way he looks at the game, studies it.
B次元官网网址淚ncredible to see a mind like that at such a young age.B次元官网网址�
The rest of the package is pretty good, too.
With moves and vision that have been compared to Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner, and a shot likened to the deadly release of Toronto centre Auston Matthews, NHL executives B次元官网网址� especially the ones whose teams sit near the bottom of the standings B次元官网网址� have to be dreaming of what Bedard would mean for their franchise.
B次元官网网址淲hat a talent,B次元官网网址� Marner told reporters last week. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 got a lot of skill B次元官网网址� his shotB次元官网网址檚 unreal. But his work ethic, his compete on pucks has been great to watch.B次元官网网址�
For all the gaudy numbers Bedard put up in Atlantic Canada, however, he declined to discuss those accomplishments in the wake of the gold medal.
B次元官网网址淚 want to talk about us and what we accomplished,B次元官网网址� Bedard, who had 23 points in seven games, said bluntly as some new hardware hung from his neck.
B次元官网网址淗umble,B次元官网网址� Canadian captain and Seattle Kraken prospect Shane Wright, who went No. 4 at the 2022 draft, said of Bedard. B次元官网网址淐ares about the team more than himself.
B次元官网网址淪peaks to the type of character guy he is, the type of person he is.B次元官网网址�
Dennis Williams, head coach at the recent world juniors and an assistant in the summer when Bedard also won gold, was impressed with how a player already mentioned in the same breath as Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby handled the demands.
B次元官网网址淎 lot of people look at what he does on the ice and donB次元官网网址檛 realize just how humble and cerebral a kid he is,B次元官网网址� Williams said. B次元官网网址淚 couldnB次元官网网址檛 imagine being in his shoes with the amount of attention and pressure he gets night in, night out. HeB次元官网网址檚 mature beyond his age.
B次元官网网址淐ares about winning more than anything else.B次元官网网址�
In his first game back with the Western Hockey LeagueB次元官网网址檚 Regina Pats on Sunday, Bedard had four goals and two assists in a 6-2 victory.
ThatB次元官网网址檚 been pretty much par for the course B次元官网网址� even with some lingering jet lag B次元官网网址� for a player with an outrageous 70 points in 29 regular-season games so far in 2022-23.
The countdown continues to JuneB次元官网网址檚 draft when the projected top pick will almost certainly hear his name called first.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 still so much time to go,B次元官网网址� Bedard cautioned. B次元官网网址淭aking it one day at a time.
B次元官网网址淎nd not looking too far ahead.B次元官网网址�
There are plenty of NHL teams eager for the calendar to move quicker.
WRIGHT ON THE MOVE
Wright was returned to the Ontario Hockey LeagueB次元官网网址檚 Kingston Frontenacs by Seattle following CanadaB次元官网网址檚 gold-medal victory.
The 19-year-old centre, who was subsequently traded by Kingston to the Windsor Spitfires in one of a handful of blockbuster deals across the Canadian Hockey League ahead of TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 deadline, had a goal and an assist in eight NHL games.
Wright also scored four times in five appearances with the KrakenB次元官网网址檚 American Hockey League affiliate, but will now turn his attention to an OHL title run and a potential trip to the Memorial Cup.
MARVELLOUS MCDAVID
The Edmonton Oilers captain is putting together what could be one of the best individual seasons in recent memory.
Heading into WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 action, McDavid led the NHL in goals (34), assists (43) and points (77) in just 42 games.
Set to turn 26 on Friday, the No. 1 pick in 2015 is on pace to register 150 points B次元官网网址� the most since Mario LemieuxB次元官网网址檚 161 in just 70 outings in 1995-96.
Jaromir Jagr put up 149 in 82 contests that season, while the salary cap eraB次元官网网址檚 high-water mark is the 128 from Nikita Kucherov in 2018-19.
On pace for 66 goals B次元官网网址� his previous high is 44 B次元官网网址� McDavid said before the season personal accomplishments are nice.
But what he craves is winning after the Oilers, who have endured an up-and-down first half, made last springB次元官网网址檚 Western Conference.
B次元官网网址淭eam success is first and foremost,B次元官网网址� McDavid, a two-time Hart Trophy winner as NHL MVP, said in September. B次元官网网址淣umbers, at this point, donB次元官网网址檛 matter.
B次元官网网址淏een there and done that.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址擩oshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press
