Connor Bedard stuns with answers on how he feels about Connor McDavid

The Biosteel camp is underway and it is a nice reminder that the 2023-24 NHL season is fast approaching. At the training camp, furst overall pick and Chicago Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard had the chance to work out with Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid, but he also made sure to remind everyone he is not the Oilers’ captain and does not intend to be.

“You never want to be like, ‘Oh, I can’t do this.’ I don’t really think that mindset is great,” Bedard said, per ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski . “But I’m not him. I’m my own person and my own player. I think he’s kind of the pinnacle right now. And you’re like, ‘This guy is the best, or one of the best, (so) how can I get closer to him?’”

Described as a generational prospect along the likes of McDavid and Sidney Crosby, Bedard does not want fans to expect him to be like them. He wants to become his own player and follow his own path in the NHL.

It may be surprising to hear someone say they do not want to be like one of their idols, especially when it’s McDavid, the reigning Art Ross and Hart Trophy winner…

“I think that’s such a great thing in sport. You’re always competing against guys. For me to get to spend some time with him on the ice and just try to compete with him … he’s obviously unbelievable. You can barely talk about his stats because they’re so ridiculous. But for me, it’s just trying to be my own player. Be the best I can be,” Bedard added.

McDavid did offer some advice to Bedard, who recorded 71 goal, 143 point with the Regina Pats in his last season in the OHL.

“So he’s someone that I’ve been able to kind of be a sponge with and ask some questions. And then, of course, Crosby and all those guys, you try to get as much information out of them as you can. And they’ve all been really good to me— really good role models and just kind of showing me what it takes a bit.”

It feels like everyone but Bedard knows he’s got what it takes to become the new face of the NHL. While it is too soon to compare Bedard and McDavid on an NHL level, this will put things in perspective: McDavid scored 44 goals and 120 points in 47 games in his final season with the Eerie Otters before heading to the big league.

While we are aware that McDavid is at the top of his game at the moment, Bedard could beat him at one thing this season, and that is winning the Calder Trophy in his rookie year. McDavid was limited to just 45 games in his debut season as he sustained a shoulder injury.

Bedard, who is set to face the Oilers for the first time on Dec. 12 in Edmonton, is the odds-on favorite entering 2023-24.

The kid is way too humble!

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