NHL scout tells The Athletic their honest take on Bedard rankings.
As NHL teams get ready for draft day, there is an enormous amount of work done to get a list of players they feel would rank for teams to be able to draft them.
Most of the time, all NHL pundits and experts in the league usually get the top 10 right. Some teams will make a course change and throw off all the board but usually that happens in the middle of the first round or even into the second round.
This year's draft is cut and dry, especially for the first overall pick. Every pundit and expert has stated that Connor Bedard will go first overall and that the Chicago Blackhawks will select him. What's fascinating is that a scout was asked by The Athletic to rank the last 9 first overall draft choices in order and where their skill sets lie.
Bedard is ranked #2 in the list where he surpassed Auston Matthews, Jack Hughes, Rasmus Dahlin and many more.
Even though we have seen a sample size from the WHL and Team Canada, with the Blackhawks currently under a rebuilding phase and the roster due for a complete overhaul, it will be fascinating to see how Bedard handles the lack of talent he will have in his early years.
My gut tells me though he'll be just fine.
| POLL | ||
Will Bedard be better than Matthews? | ||
| Yes | 392 | 81.7 % |
| No | 88 | 18.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
