At just 18 years old, rookie Connor Bedard is already impressing many curious people with his immense talent, including the most famous player in ice hockey history.
The great Wayne Gretzky saw some of the Chicago Blackhawks forward's performances on Saturday, particularly his recent brilliant move. That evening on ESPN+, La Merveille was able to provide commentary on the Michigan-like goal Bedard scored against the St. Louis Blues. In the first period of a 7-5 loss, the 2023 first-round draft pick surprised goaltender Jordan Binnington with a play used by lacrosse players.
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Such a move would have been impossible for Gretzky during his National League career.
“It just wasn’t in my repertoire. I didn't have the right curve. [Brett Hull] could have made it possible, he said. It was pleasant to watch. So far it's been better than expected. Not only is he a good ambassador on the ice, but he is also fantastic off the ice for a kid his age [de celle-ci]. I’m happy for him, especially because he has a good coach and a good team in Luke Richardson.”
However, the rankings are far from supporting Gretzky's comments. The Hawks are second to last in the Western Conference with 21 points in 33 games. Bedard scored 13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points. Furthermore, Trevor Zegras of the Anaheim Ducks imitated him that same evening by scoring a similar goal in the game against the Seattle Kraken.