from Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey Now,

“Connor has all the skill, but what impresses me is his intensity like Stevie Y’s, a killer’s instinct,” Button told reporter Gare Joyce for his story in the New York Times.

Bedard is the first 17-year-old in 35 years to reach 100 points in the Western Hockey League. He’s dynamic and ultra-competitive.

“Bedard is fast and elusive,” said Sportsology’s Russ Cohen who does draft analysis for Sirius Radio. “He has more energy per shift than most hockey players I’ve seen. He has a strong wrist shot and his dekes are pro-level already. His quickness, edgework, and elusiveness make him a generational talent.”

Red Line Report Chief Scout an Publisher Kyle Woodlief believes Kontinental Hockey League forward Matvei Michkov of St. Petersburg could challenge Bedard. He broke Nikita Kucherov’s scoring record as a U17 player.

“Bedard and Michkov are the clear top two, and both would be No. 1 overall material in almost any draft year,” Woodlief said.

Woodlief says Bedard-Michkov is the best NHL duo since Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel were dueling before the 2015 draft.

“There’s not much separating Bedard and Michkov; both are quite small, but phenomenally skilled.” Woodlief said. “(They are) so skilled that each could become a 50-goal scorer, not 35 or 40 goal scorers, in the NHL. ”

According to Cohen, the only negative for Michkov is that he’s tied contractually to the KHL until 2026.

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