Yahoo Sports Bedard is Still Most Impressive Player From 2023 Draft, But It's Close
Despite some struggles this season, Connor Bedard is still the most impressive player drafted in 2023, but it is close.
Bedard was drafted first overall and there was no debate whether that was the right pick or not at the time. Teams were uncertain about when Matvei Michkov would come over to North America, and it was sooner than many expected. He has already shown this season that he is one of the two most skilled players from that draft, and he is technically a year behind Bedard, Leo Carlsson, and Adam Fantilli, the three top picks.
Will Smith was taken after that, but Michkov is the only player who even comes close to Bedard among the top-4 players selected, this season or last.
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Last season Bedard contended with a lot of rookies who were drafted in prior seasons other than Carlsson, Fantilli, and Zach Benson. None of those three came close to the Chicago Blackhawks' superstar in the making. Bedard finished with 22 goals and 61 points in 68 games while the next closest was Benson with 30 points in 71 games and Carlsson and Fantilli with 12 goals and fewer than 30 points.
Michkov coming onto the scene does give Bedard competition and it isn't so clear cut anymore who the very best is from the 2023 draft.
Bedard and the Blackhawks haven't had the best season and the young star has experienced a sophomore slump that many do in the league. The additions to the team haven't helped the offense to the extent expected, but since the coaching change in Chicago, Bedard has been producing.
Michkov came in hot to the season and he doesn't have the sophomore slump seeing as he's a rookie. He is currently going through a slump though. After putting up three goals and nine points in five games, he has gone scoreless in seven games with a +/- of -11.
If we go back to before the seven games, Michkov was a point-per-game player for the Philadelphia Flyers while playing in John Tortorella's system. He has 11 goals and 27 points in 34 games this season while Bedard has nine goals and 31 points in 36 games.
Bedard has this great shot that is praised, but I'd argue that he still has to figure out how to utilize it better at the NHL level. For a shooter like himself, he hasn't been over an 11% shooting percentage in his career yet. Michkov is sitting at 15.9%, and that's with taking 23 shots over the last nine games without a goal.
Bedard and Michkov play different games in different systems, but are both very likely to be superstars in the NHL for the next decade+. They will be compared throughout their careers as the two best players from the draft with amazing offensive abilities, but it will be a little different than if Michkov would have been drafted second overall.
Bedard has the edge as he's the best player on the Blackhawks and the top line center. It will be an interesting and long road for both of the great young players and be something to pay attention to for their careers.
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