How Bedard is becoming face of NHL

[LadyStanley]

Hyped Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard has the NHL ready for takeoff

The NHL has its guy. Now, with highly touted rookie Connor Bedard in the fold, it must capitalize.

sports.yahoo.com

So many Bedard jerseys sold before the draft, Fanatics had to halt sales (and not because they'd run out).

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[No Fun Shogun]

Highly touted first overall going to a team not only in a major media market but one that also has a far-flung and expansive fanbase thanks to a massive Chicago diaspora essentially everywhere.

I've said it before, I'll say it again. If the NHL, NFL, MLB, and NBA want maximum profits and exposure, the Hawks, Bears, Cubs,* and Bulls getting high-profile players and/or winning does wonders for the leagues' respective bottom lines. And that's seemingly still the case even for a franchise that's attracted a helluva lot of animosity as of late like the Blackhawks, to put it lightly.

* White Sox intentionally omitted not as a slight, but because their fanbase has remained much more localized for a variety of reasons, the most major factor being the team's odd insistence for extremely localized broadcasting and marketing for most of its history.

 

[joelef]

Hyped Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard has the NHL ready for takeoff

The NHL has its guy. Now, with highly touted rookie Connor Bedard in the fold, it must capitalize.

sports.yahoo.com

So many Bedard jerseys sold before the draft, Fanatics had to halt sales (and not because they'd run out).

Too bad he won’t be marketed to the general public

 

[Yukon Joe]

Is Bedard really thought to be a "generational talent"? Do we really expect him to be on par with a McDavid, Crosby or Gretzky?

But yeah - I highly touted #1 pick going to a major hockey market like Chicago is definitely going to sell some merch. I just think the "face of the NHL' talk is more than a little overblown.

 

[StreetHawk]

Is Bedard really thought to be a "generational talent"? Do we really expect him to be on par with a McDavid, Crosby or Gretzky?

But yeah - I highly touted #1 pick going to a major hockey market like Chicago is definitely going to sell some merch. I just think the "face of the NHL' talk is more than a little overblown.

Does Bedard have a personality that the NHL can sell? Is he comfortable giving out more than the carte blanche cliche answers of one shift at a time, dump the puck in, 110%, have jump?

At some point, I'm sure someone is going to ask him about the Beach situation. Someone better be helping him prepare to answer that, especially his own people, not just the Hawks.

NHL needs more than just the most talented player in a large market. I mean, even McDavid on the Rangers, Bruins, Hawks, Kings, doesn't change who he is.

Joe Burrow, has this cool, ice water in his veins level of confidence and it shows in his pressers. Mahomes has that Kermit voice and hair, but is comfortable talking. NFL has the advantage since they have set plays each snap and the QB can go through the sequence, pre snap reads, etc. Gives the QB more to talk about.

NHL needs something like that from Bedard. But, if that's not who he is, can't change it.

 

[Gnashville]

Further proof that the lottery was fixed to get him to Chicago.

 

[Ciao]

There's a lot of ground to cover between being picked #1 overall and becoming the face of the NHL.

Let's see how training camp goes, and take it from there.

 

[Jets4Life]

At some point, I'm sure someone is going to ask him about the Beach situation. Someone better be helping him prepare to answer that, especially his own people, not just the Hawks.

Earlier this year, some idiots tried to paint Bedard as a racist. Bedard has a superstition about his stick prior to game time (he will not allow anyone to touch it). So there is a video of mainly Indigenous kids trying to tap him or give him a high five. Bedard, who does this to everyone, held his stick out of reach, up in the air and walked past the kids, something he does before each game.

There were a couple of people on social media, and on blogs that went to the ends of the Earth to paint Bedard as a racist, who "only has time for White children." He handled it realitely well, ignoring the bait. Another time, he was giving autographs, and a women prodded her daughter to ask Bedard out on a date. He laughed, and said he was flattered but already had a gf. It was super awkward seeing it take place, and I felt sorry for Bedard.

Having said that, from all accounts, it appears he has his head on straight, and is good with the public.

 

[Spydey629]

Step 1: Be really, really, good at hockey. Check.

Step 2: Don't get drafted and/or play in Edmonton. Check.

Yep. He's well on his way to being a face of the league.

 

[Albatros]

Earlier this year, some idiots tried to paint Bedard as a racist. Bedard has a superstition about his stick prior to game time (he will not allow anyone to touch it). So there is a video of mainly Indigenous kids trying to tap him or give him a high five. Bedard, who does this to everyone, held his stick out of reach, up in the air and walked past the kids, something he does before each game.

At a certain level you can't afford ignoring the fans anymore even if it goes against your superstitions.

 

[Voight]

Helps that hes a team first guy. IIRC after Canada won the WJ's a reporter kept asking about his historic performance and every time he deflected to how great his teammates were and it was only possible because of them etc.

 

[Jets4Life]

At a certain level you can't afford ignoring the fans anymore even if it goes against your superstitions.

Yes you can.

 

[abo9]

At some point, I'm sure someone is going to ask him about the Beach situation. Someone better be helping him prepare to answer that, especially his own people, not just the Hawks.

From that team, I believe Kane is the only one still playing in the NHL, let alone the Blackhawks

What do we expect Bedard to say about a situation that happened when he was 7 or 8 years old with player/staff he wouldnt know about?

 

[StreetHawk]

From that team, I believe Kane is the only one still playing in the NHL, let alone the Blackhawks

What do we expect Bedard to say about a situation that happened when he was 7 or 8 years old with player/staff he wouldnt know about?

Bedard just needs to give a smart answer to protect his own brand.

Something that includes some of the following:
1) What happened shouldn't have happened
2) Can't put trying to win ahead of people's lives
3) I want to be part of a leadership group that creates a good team environment that players feel comfortable coming to, to talk
4) Would want to make sure he and the leadership group follows up with those who have the power to address any matter that comes up.
5) Doesn't know Bowman, Coach Q, or the players back then, so can't/won't comment on them.

 

[Jets4Life]

Bedard just needs to give a smart answer to protect his own brand.

Something that includes some of the following:
1) What happened shouldn't have happened
2) Can't put trying to win ahead of people's lives
3) I want to be part of a leadership group that creates a good team environment that players feel comfortable coming to, to talk
4) Would want to make sure he and the leadership group follows up with those who have the power to address any matter that comes up.
5) Doesn't know Bowman, Coach Q, or the players back then, so can't/won't comment on them.

Bedard should not have to answer anyone about the Kyle Beach situation, since it predates his time with the Blackhawks organisation by 13 years. Bedard is an athlete, not a politician. Should Bedard also have to answer questions about Bobby Hull's domestic abuse, or Patrick Kane's assault on cab drivers, or rape allegations too?

 

[Negan4Coach]

I'm just mad that after "Fail for Nail", "Pejorative Slur for Bedard" never caught on

 

[rsteen]

I'm just mad that after "Fail for Nail", "Pejorative Slur for Bedard" never caught on

Yeah, I can see why it didn't.

 

[Negan4Coach]

Yeah, I can see why it didn't.

But the fun part is. when used in that context and manner, the word isn't a "slur".

 

[HanSolo]

Makes sense that they'd want to move on from this face.

 

[Mike C]

Is Bedard really thought to be a "generational talent"? Do we really expect him to be on par with a McDavid, Crosby or Gretzky?

But yeah - I highly touted #1 pick going to a major hockey market like Chicago is definitely going to sell some merch. I just think the "face of the NHL' talk is more than a little overblown.

Like him or not, McDavid is the face of the NHL

 

[jetsmooseice]

There were a couple of people on social media, and on blogs that went to the ends of the Earth to paint Bedard as a racist, who "only has time for White children." He handled it realitely well, ignoring the bait. Another time, he was giving autographs, and a women prodded her daughter to ask Bedard out on a date. He laughed, and said he was flattered but already had a gf. It was super awkward seeing it take place, and I felt sorry for Bedard.

That was a super cringe moment, I have a young daughter and I cannot imagine ever, ever putting her up to something like that.

I can only imagine the awkward moments that a star athlete has to put up with day in, day out. Someone on the level of Gretzky, Crosby or McDavid has to have the patience of a saint.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

That was a super cringe moment, I have a young daughter and I cannot imagine ever, ever putting her up to something like that.

I can only imagine the awkward moments that a star athlete has to put up with day in, day out. Someone on the level of Gretzky, Crosby or McDavid has to have the patience of a saint.

Young daughter here too, totally agree, terrible position for her to be in.

 

[McFlash97]

This thread is so cringe. You need to be the best in the game for starters to be the face. Secondly there is nothing Bedard has shown personality wise to be the face at this young age , lastly the McDavid has a personality of a door opinions by absolute Homer's seems to be so out of touch, you start to wonder if people watch anyone outside thier region ? Bedard is the same guy who acted like a jerk and ignored a young girl during the CHL playoff drive caught in camera. How is he going to handle the NHL fanbase ? It's too early.

McDavid is actually quite personable and pretty funny. It's a failure on the NHLs side to portray that properly. Secondly they will make the exact same goofup with Bedard. Doesn't matter if it's Chicago. You just know Chicago fans are going to do what Chicago fans do. Pretend they have the best...Lastly Bedard has a long way to go to catch McDavid in anything. You will see the gap between them when the Oilers play the Hawks this year. This is not a McDavid vs Crosby comparison where McDavids otherwordly talent basically put him on par with Crosby from the first puck drop. Just hope Bedard can keep improving the way McDavid has Goodluck.

 

[Jets4Life]

This thread is so cringe. You need to be the best in the game for starters to be the face. Secondly there is nothing Bedard has shown personality wise to be the face at this young age , lastly the McDavid has a personality of a door opinions by absolute Homer's seems to be so out of touch, you start to wonder if people watch anyone outside thier region ? Bedard is the same guy who acted like a jerk and ignored a young girl during the CHL playoff drive caught in camera. How is he going to handle the NHL fanbase ? It's too early.

How did Bedard "act like a jerk?" Or are you just an entitled Oilers fan, who is mad the NHL didn't gift you another generational player in the draft?

 

[TheMoreYouKnow]

Call me old-fashioned but I figure Bedard should play a season and show the world what he's got before he's made to be the face of anything.