Connor Bedard is performing exceptionally well for a teenager, especially on a struggling team. His pace at such a young age is rare, yet some people, even former pros like Hockey Hall of Famer Mark Messier, aren’t satisfied with his performance.
During the first intermission of Saturday’s game between the Chicago Blackhawks and Florida Panthers, Messier criticized Anders Sorensen for putting Bedard on the power play after Bedard lost a stick battle to Sam Reinhart, which led to a goal for the Panthers.
Reinhart’s goal gave the Panthers a 2-1 lead. It’s worth mentioning that Reinhart now has 30 goals this season, ranking among the top in the league behind Leon Draisaitl and Mark Scheifele.
Messier suggested that not earning ice time could harm the team’s morale, but this comment doesn’t take into account that Bedard is currently the team’s top scorer by 11 points. Bench him on the power play, and it could have the opposite effect on team morale.
Losing a battle to Reinhart isn’t something to criticize. Reinhart is a top-tier goal scorer, and Bedard’s mistake is just one of many that happen to young players. Bedard, being a teenager, will make mistakes—veterans do too.
Yes, Bedard has areas to improve, particularly defensively, but that’s normal for most young forwards in the NHL. However, benching your best offensive player over one mistake would be a mistake in itself, something that could cost a coach his job.
Messier, though a legendary player with a stellar career, doesn’t fully understand how modern NHL locker rooms work. The team dynamics now are different from when he played in the 80s and 90s. To claim that Bedard hasn’t earned his ice time is simply wrong. He has more than earned it.
You never bench a player like Bedard. Instead, you embrace his talent and work with him on his weaknesses. He’s going to be a star in the NHL for years to come.
