Franchise players are the crème de la crème of NHL talent, a rare breed of players that embody the pinnacle of skill, athleticism, and leadership. Names such as Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, and Auston Matthews come to mind when discussing these elite players, who possess a rare combination of talent and intangibles that make them truly special.
But as rare as franchise players are, it seems that hockey fans may have reason to get excited about a new prospect in the form of Connor Bedard. The 2023 draft-eligible player has been dominating the Western Hockey League this season, putting up impressive numbers with 70 goals and 142 points in just 55 games. In addition to his dominance in the WHL, Bedard also made his mark at the World Juniors, where he helped lead Canada to back-to-back gold medals with an outstanding performance of 9 goals and 23 points in just 7 games.
If Bedard continues on this path, he has the potential to become the NHL's next franchise player, with the talent and leadership qualities to take a team to the next level. However, it's important to note that becoming a franchise player is no easy feat, and many talented players have fallen short of this elusive designation. Nonetheless, Bedard's impressive start to his career has caught the attention of many NHL fans, and it will be exciting to see how he develops in the years to come.
But the sad truth is, with this talent, comes the fame and it's not always easy to deal with. Bedard's mother shared a shocking statement regarding the privacy around their home:
"There are very often people surrounding our house and waiting outside, then they photograph us as soon as we step outside. One day, someone even came through the back of our property, accessed the yard, and started screaming for Connor. And I would say that all this happens more frequently since the last Junior World Championship.
Recently, I had to turn off my cell phone for about ten days because I was receiving too many messages. It was uncontrollable! I've never been used to that, you know? And it's now almost impossible to go to the grocery store or the mall with Connor without being recognized."
