At 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, Bedard's nowhere as beefy as Toronto's 6-foot-3, 210-pound Matthews. But the Chicago rookie is applying some techniques from the Maple Leafs' and NHL's red-hot leading goal scorer.
Don't look for Connor Bedard to start running opponents.
Pestering, bumping and pickpocketing, well that's more like it for the 18-year-old Chicago Blackhawks center.
The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Bedard says he's taking a page from red-hot Toronto Maple Leafs sniper Auston Matthews. The NHL's leading goal scorer – much larger than Bedard at 6-foot-3 and 210-pounds — is on the cusp of hitting the 50 mark for the second time in his career.
Bedard Pesky, Persistent in Return
Bedard, the NHL's top draft pick of 2023, has been at his best this season when he's being pesky to complement his package of elite shooting, skating, puck-handling and ice-awareness skills.
For the most past, Bedard has upped that kind of hungry persistence since coming back from a broken jaw last week. The rookie has two goals and four assists in three games since his return and leads all first-year players with 17 goals and 39 points despite missing 14 contests.
"I think you're always trying to do it," Bedard said after practice on Tuesday. "It gets you into the game, really for myself. I'm not going to blow anyone up by any means, but you know maybe a bump here or there.
"I think it really gets you into it. Kind of gets you firing. I think that's good for me. Even on the forecheck, trying to steal pucks or whatever, I think that's a really good way to create offense."
Bedard Studying Top Players
Bedard's been studying the best in the NHL. That includes Matthews.
The two chatted in Toronto at the All-Star break while Bedard was still in the six-week recovery from his injury.
"You see a lot of guys, like Matthews for example, just the way he steals pucks and uses his body.
"He's not blowing guys up, but body positioning and stuff. It definitely adds to your offensive toolbox." See the following video.
Coach Luke Richardson has liked what's he's seen from Bedard.
'He didn't look shy at all," Richardson said last week. "He went in there at took it (the puck). He tried to attack like before he got injured and he's full-throttle."
Bedard and the Blackhawks got going too late, however, in Carolina against the Hurricanes in a 6-3 loss on Monday. The rookie finished with a goal and two assists after a little bumping session and stare-down with Carolina goalie Spencer Martin at the end of the second period.
"It's hockey and I don't think it's anything too meaningful or whatever," Bedard said. "Yeah, it was funny.
"I was kind of trying to be more physical and I guess I kind of got in his face a little bit there. I don't think any of us are waking up and caring too much about it."