Scout's Analysis: What's left to learn about Connor Bedard in WHL playoffs?

Finally, in his third season playing for the Regina Pats, Connor Bedard will suit up for a WHL playoff game. The Pats first-round opponent are the Saskatoon Blades and Game 1 is Friday night.

There is no question Bedard will be selected first overall at the NHL draft this June in Nashville. It feels like scribes are running out of adjectives to describe his game and what he will bring to the franchise that selects him.

From an NHL scouting perspective, Bedard will be dissected the same as any other draft eligible prospect.

Which begs the question: what more can the scouting community learn about Bedard at this stage of the season?

PLAYER REPORT

Here’s a look at my description of Bedard’s game and his statistical data over the past two seasons:

All NHL teams have customized skill category rankings. Some teams use a 0-5 scale, some 0-10, and others letter grades (A+ to D-). Here’s a look at my skill category breakdown for Bedard:

These are Bedard’s NHL projections. I take into consideration what I see at this stage of his development and forecast him at the NHL level. Some of the categories have room to move up or down as he evolves in the NHL. Prospects, no matter how elite, develop at their own pace once in the NHL.

The five main categories (skating, hockey IQ, physicality, offence, defence) are further divided into sub-categories. Without this article turning into a tutorial, here are some NHL comparisons to Bedard in a couple of the categories:

• Agility: Nick Suzuki, Montreal Canadiens

• Read/React: Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs

• Goal Scorer: David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins

• PP Contributor: Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers

• Distributor: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

• D-Zone Starts: Tim Stutzle, Ottawa Senators

Bedard is trending to be an NHL superstar someday and projects to be a franchise player. The hype that has followed him is not overblown.

WHAT'S LEFT TO LEARN ABOUT THE PLAYER?

The short answer to the question is not much! But considering this will be Bedard’s first experience in the WHL playoffs, here’s what is going to interest me when the puck drops:

• The Pats don’t have home ice advantage in the series. I’m assuming Saskatoon will deploy two different match-up forward groups against Bedard’s line. How will the close checking affect Bedard’s mindset and focus, especially if things don’t go his way offensively in the first two games of the series?

• Some of us are old enough to remember players like Esa Tikkanen and the role he played for the Edmonton Oilers and New York Rangers when they were winning Stanley Cups. Tikkanen was an extremely valuable player in playoffs. He was widely known as a checking forward who neutralized skill players while providing some secondary scoring on his own. He was like a severe case of “lace bite” that never went away.

• Is there a player(s) on the Blades who will be tasked with shadowing Bedard in the playoffs? If the answer is yes, how will Bedard work to get away from the checking and how much of a distraction will it be for him?

• Kalan Lind from the Red Deer Rebels is an example of a Darcy Tucker type of player who worked to get under Bedard's skin at the CHL Top Prospects game this past January. Bedard was held pointless in that game.

To be clear, Lind and Bedard both have an immense amount of respect for each other and their games. They were both very complimentary towards one another before and after the Top Prospects game. It’s part of the fabric of our game. For as long as rivals have laced up their skates they have bloodied themselves in playoff battles and then met for a post-game soda or slushy to reminisce.

BOX OFFICE BONANZA

Saskatoon has averaged around 4,000 spectators per game this season. When Bedard and the Pats came to town recently they packed in nearly 15,000 fans. I’m not a banker, but cashing in an extra 11,000 tickets (plus concessions) per home game in this series is plain good for business. Saskatoon ownership couldn’t have asked for a better box office attraction.

OTHER PATS TO WATCH

I don’t expect this series to be a sweep. Beyond Bedard the Pats have some dangerous offensive weapons.

Tanner Howe is a player to keep an eye on. He’s not eligible for the NHL draft until 2024, but the 5-foot-10, 185-pound forward has had a fantastic pre-draft season. He’s built like a fire hydrant, has a great release, makes plays under opponents' sticks and in tight quarters. Most importantly at this time of the year, he doesn’t back down from a challenge.

Here’s a look at the top scorers on the Regina Pats:

Note: Suzdalev is a Washington Capitals draft pick, 70^th overall in 2022 and Svozil is a Columbus pick, 69^th overall in 2022.

LASTING LEGACY

Bedard has nothing left to prove at the junior level. His impact in international play with Team Canada has come in one-game elimination and medal games. The only stone left unturned when scouting him is how he handles close checking over a full seven-game playoff series in the WHL.