The Bedard Era Begins: the 2023 - 2024 NHL Season Thread

[MartyFunkhouser]

It'll be fun to keep an eye on him. I'm just excited that the Coyotes have graduated from terrible to middle of the pack. Howwwwwwwwwwwwllllll

Cooley has certainly been racking up the assists. Good thing he is on a team with some talent to actually help him produce early on.

I think the article is right, expect streaks with Bedard. He is going to continue to have to do it all by himself on this team right now. Glad a high level pick is in place again this year. Also, it is nice seeing Oliver Moore playing well in college.

[Commando]

Cooley has certainly been racking up the assists. Good thing he is on a team with some talent to actually help him produce early on.

I think the article is right, expect streaks with Bedard. He is going to continue to have to do it all by himself on this team right now. Glad a high level pick is in place again this year. Also, it is nice seeing Oliver Moore playing well in college.

So I guess the Blackhawks are really hamstrung by some bad contracts, too? Probably safe to say that Bedard is going to be the only jersey that's a safe investment rn for Blackhawks fans...

[MartyFunkhouser]

So I guess the Blackhawks are really hamstrung by some bad contracts, too? Probably safe to say that Bedard is going to be the only jersey that's a safe investment rn for Blackhawks fans...

One bad contract, Seth Jones. It is a really bad one though. Other than that the team is good shape from a contract perspective.

The only 2 long term contracts of veteran players are Jones (though 2030) and Murphy (through 2026)

[MartyFunkhouser]

Great story on Connor Bedard's shot.

https://theathletic.com/5028179/2023/11/16/blackhawks-connor-bedard-shot/

Tim Turk - shooting coach:

“On a shot release basis only, if I had to bet on who could get the puck off the quickest, with the most deception, with optimal speed, power and accuracy based on a starting point to a finishing point, I’m picking Connor Bedard over Auston Matthews,” Turk said. “And I’m not taking anything away from Auston. It’s just a little bit different because one’s a righty, one’s a lefty and one’s got a little bit of a higher-angle pull-in change.”

Nick Quinn - NHL Skills coach

“As replicated in so many other areas of Connor’s game, it’s the deception and elite multi-tasking that catches opponents off guard,” Quinn said. “Connor’s ability to create deception and change the shot angle at top speed is like very few I’ve ever seen. The multi-tasking involved with attempting these shots at top speed is far beyond most player’s capabilities.”

Anonymous NHL shooting coach

“What’s really interesting is how high and left he can get his top hand,” the coach said. “So many players pull the puck in but can’t get the puck to release from under their body. His footwork is so underrated in that aspect. If you watch his front leg, at times it’s literally in the air at release — most have their back leg in the air at release. When he transfers his weight, he actually clears space for his hands to get tighter because he’s not afraid to actually lunge into the shot.”

[MartyFunkhouser]

The Great One on Bedard.

"With young players, one of the hard things is you always tell them, 'you got to shoot the puck, you got to shoot more,'" he said. "Young guys don't want to be called selfish on the hockey club. You want to show your teammates, 'look, I'm not a selfish player.' And he's not a selfish player. He sees the open man, but he doesn't hesitate to shoot the puck. I think he stepped in nicely, and he's been everything that everybody thought he was going to be.
"And he might even be better than we thought."

https://sports.yahoo.com/wayne-gretzky-makes-unbelievably-bold-195546588.html

[RC Vikings]

https://www.totalprosports.com/nhl/connor-bedard-mother-corey-perry-blackhawks-teammate-wild-rumor/

Perry doing his best to stay close to Bedard. This has got to be a first.

[Commando]

https://www.totalprosports.com/nhl/c...te-wild-rumor/

Perry doing his best to stay close to Bedard. This has got to be a first.

lol Bedard's mom wishes she was in the same league as Zach Wilson's...

[MartyFunkhouser]

https://www.totalprosports.com/nhl/c...te-wild-rumor/

Perry doing his best to stay close to Bedard. This has got to be a first.

Corey Perry is a piece of shit, so it wouldn't surprise me. Hated when the Blackhawks signed him.

Also, I question the reporting on this one considering that they think Corey Perry is a defenseman.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Corey Perry put on unconditional waivers and his contract will be terminated. The rumors about Bedard's mom were addressed and called "disgusting" by Kyle Davidson.

After an internal investigation, the Chicago Blackhawks have determined that Corey Perry has engaged in conduct that is unacceptable, and in violation both of the terms of his Standard Player’s Contract and the Blackhawks’ internal policies intended to promote professional and safe work environments. As such, Corey Perry has been placed on unconditional waivers. In the event Mr. Perry clears waivers, we intend to terminate his contract effective immediately.

https://www.nhl.com/blackhawks/news/news-statement-from-the-chicago-blackhawks-on-corey-perry

[MartyFunkhouser]

Fucking hell, Kane reportedly signing with the Red Wings. Of all the teams he could sign with. Seriously.

[Joe Public]

Fucking hell, Kane reportedly signing with the Red Wings. Of all the teams he could sign with. Seriously.

https://www.cougarstadium.com/forum/sports/the-sports-bar/2300027-the-bedard-era-begins-the-2023-2024-nhl-season-thread?p=2300031#post2300031

Of course, he’s coming off of major surgery and in his mid-30s, so who knows how this ends up.

[Commando]

My Tuesday night hockey takes place at the Mountain America Credit Union community rink, which is just through the wall from Mullet, where the Yotes vs the Lightning was happening. We could hear the bass from the sound system and the horns when goals were scored. Unfortunately the horn didn't correspond w the goal I got last night on a chip-in at the net. Around 10:30 p.m. about 5 or 6 freshly showered Lightning players in suits filed past our rink as the hallways are interconnected and players often sneak out the back hallways to the buses to avoid the view of crowds. A little surreal-- I can see why all those rabid Canadian hockey fans are so mad at Phoenix having a team.

[Bo Diddley]

My Tuesday night hockey takes place at the Mountain America Credit Union community rink, which is just through the wall from Mullet, where the Yotes vs the Lightning was happening. We could hear the bass from the sound system and the horns when goals were scored. Unfortunately the horn didn't correspond w the goal I got last night on a chip-in at the net. Around 10:30 p.m. about 5 or 6 freshly showered Lightning players in suits filed past our rink as the hallways are interconnected and players often sneak out the back hallways to the buses to avoid the view of crowds. A little surreal-- I can see why all those rabid Canadian hockey fans are so mad at Phoenix having a team.

When we go watch Bo Jr's team (Holy Sheets) do their curling, there's also usually a hockey game being played on the other ice sheet. I love the slap of the pucks on the wall or glass as I'm walking past that second sheet to leave. Hockey's a fun sport to watch in person. I imagine playing it would be a blast.

[MartyFunkhouser]

https://www.cougarstadium.com/forum/sports/the-sports-bar/2300027-the-bedard-era-begins-the-2023-2024-nhl-season-thread?p=2300031#post2300031

Of course, he’s coming off of major surgery and in his mid-30s, so who knows how this ends up.

February 25th in the United Center is going to be absolutely insane. Chelios jersey retirement and the first time that Kane is back in the United Center.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Corey Perry clears waivers and his contract is terminated.

Perry has issued a statement on the situation and apologized.

https://twitter.com/reporterchris/status/1730320098726949296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1730320098726949296%7Ctwgr%5Eb7fcef583acbe73d7ecc0969e484077a8f74a510%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.secondcityhockey.com%2Fcorey-perry-releases-public-statement%2F

He has 60 days to challenge the contract termination. It will be interesting to see if he will.

The whole situation has been ugly. The Blackhawks rightfully deserve criticism for how they handled the Kyle Beach situation. I don't t have a problem with any of the criticism there. However, I hate that they are being criticized for how they handled this situation. A problem came up with a player violating team standards, they suspended him, quickly investigated it, and acted decisively. The decision to let Perry go is bad for the team on the ice.

Even worse is the bullshit that people started throwing out there about Bedard's mom. Bedard is barely 18 years old and that bullshit was as Kyle Davidson put it "disgusting."