Olivia Wilk ‘25, Business/Circulation Manager
Conner Bedard, a 5’10” and 185-pound hockey player, is a brand new addition to the National Hockey League (NHL). The 18-year-old played for the Canadian under 18 Olympic team while also playing for the Regina Pats in the Western Hockey League (WHL). After three years on the Pats, he was drafted as a first round pick in the 2023 NHL entry draft. He was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks, and is now playing for them as a center. Bedard wears number 98 while making an annual average salary of $4,450,000.
Bedard has currently played a total of 13 games, and his statline is incredibly strong with nine goals and four assists. Bedard has been on the ice five times when the opposing team scored on his team—in other words Bedard is minus five. According to many officials, Bedard is predicted to have 34 goals and 50 assists if he plays 82 games. Bedard is incredibly skilled when dealing with the puck, and he is known for his immaculate shot. Junior Jillian Newhouse said, “I do not think he is overrated. He is only 18 years old and averages a couple points a game. I think he will be the next best thing in the NHL. Once he gets older and more experienced he will be one of the best players in the league.” Bedard has the most sold jerseys with his name on them since June after just starting to play in the NHL this year.
Bedard is one of the youngest and least experienced players in the NHL. Compared to Conner McDavid, Center and Captain for the Edmonton Oilers and Nathan MacKinnon, Center and Assistant Captain for the Colorado Avalanche. He does not have nearly as many points recorded. Many have come to his defense saying that experience is the only way he will improve, yet Bedard is still only 18. He has a lot of years to improve and grow his game.
Lately, Bedard has been all over the internet and social media. Every time he scores a goal or makes a crazy play, he gets posted by almost every hockey Instagram account because he is a rookie and he is doing some incredible things in the NHL for how young he is. This is putting him out into the world, which might make him look better than he actually is.
Bedard is still very young and inexperienced. Last year, he recorded 143 points with the Pats during the 2022-2023 season. In comparison, MacKinnon recorded 111 points during the 2022-2023 season. At that time, MacKinnon was in the NHL and Bedard was in the WHL. Although Bedard may have earned more points than MacKinnon, MacKinnon was playing at a higher level than him. Junior Gavin Hochthanner said, “I think he is good but he gets advertised too much and is over-hyped.”
He has won many awards, including two gold medals with team Canada in the 2022 and 2023 Olympics. He was also the inaugural recipient of the IHF Male Player of the Year award. Bedard also received the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence, by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. It was given to him because he shows commitment and excellence through his strength of character, competitiveness, and athleticism. Bedard also received the Bob Clarke Trophy in the WHL as the league’s leading scorer and was given the Broncos Memorial Trophy as its most valuable player. He also earned the Canadian Hockey Leagues top sorcerer and player of the year honors. Bedard’s first two NHL games were the most watched regular season ice hockey games for ESPN and TNT.
In conclusion Bedard is known worldwide by many people. Some people think he is overrated and some people think he is not overrated and will be the next best thing in the NHL. Bedard has won many awards and has always had a ton of points. He is also scoring a lot of goals and getting a lot of points for only being 18. He attracts a lot of people to all of his games and makes the crowds go wild when he scores. We will see what happens as the rest of the season goes on whether he is or isn’t overrated.
Lyon Life 