Connor Bedard is widely regarded as the most highly-touted prospect since the likes of Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews and Jack Hughes, and unless something major happens, he'll be taken 1st overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2023 NHL Draft. With 143 points in just 57 games for the WHL's Regina Pats, his talent was obvious right from the get-go.
But is the way that he performed in the recently completed NHL Scouting Combine, where he finished in the top-ten in only one of the events, of concern to fans?
The event he placed 9th in was the Wingate ergometer bike test, which simulates a full :30 second shift for a player.
"I didn't have any expectations coming in," said Bedard of his performance. "Just give it my all and I did that. I kind of left everything out there for the test. That's all you can ask for."
Bedard was able to last a full 12:00 minutes on the stamina-measuring Vo2 Max bike test.
"You're on [the Vo2] for way longer and by the end it's a full sprint for about a minute or more until you can't really go anymore," Bedard said. "I found that one a lot more difficult. ... The [Wingate] is tough but it's just 30 seconds so it goes by decently quick."
However, he still did finish in the top 25 among the 100 prospects who took part in the event.
The 2023 NHL Draft will take place from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena starting on June 28.
