Bedard, the NHL's leading rookie scorer, may be a few years off from challenging for the league's overall points lead. But he's been closely watching Nikita Kucherov, Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid. Story with video.
Connor Bedard leads NHL rookies with 21 goals and 58 points entering Thursday. The Blackhawks 18-year-old forward has posted those numbers in 61 games and despite missing 14 with a broken jaw.
When he's not on the ice himself, Bedard says he watches a lot of hockey. That includes keeping tabs on the tight fight atop the league's overall scoring list between Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov, Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon and Edmonton's Connor McDavid.
Kucherov had 130 points with seven games remaining. MacKinnon had 127, also with seven to go. McDavid, had 126 with eight contests left as the Oilers swift center pursues his fourth straight Art Ross Trophy and sixth in nine seasons.
"Pretty wild. This is one of the better years for sure," Bedard said of the 2023-24 Ross race. "They're just as close in skills. Basically any year they're winning the MVP. It's unbelievable what they're doing.
"All three of them of them are three of the top players in the world and every year they're getting better. So it's pretty impressive and for sure, trying to watch those games I suppose."
Bedard, tactfully, isn't projecting a favorite. He has been wowed by MacKinnon's explosive skating and McDavid pure speed this season.
Bedard hasn't played against Kucherov since mid-November.
"I don't know. I don't want to say. It's a tough one either way," Bedard said. "I think any guy has a pretty good shot. Whoever gets hot here at the end." See video.