Bedard is the type of player that will improve at an area he is struggling with by putting in the work.
Connor Bedard didn't come into the league with a very good faceoff percentage in his rookie season. He had a 38.9 win% in the draws, but it wasn't even the worst among first overall picks since faceoffs started being tracked.
That faceoff % is very poor, but in comparison, no first overall pick that plays center had a win % over 48% in their rookie season. Bedard even happened to beat out Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (37.5%) and Jack Hughes (36.1%).
The other names included who didn't start their careers off the best in the draws were Connor McDavid (41.2%), Nathan MacKinnon (42.9%), Nico Hischier (42.9%), Steven Stamkos (45.4%), Auston Matthews (46.9%), and John Tavares (47.5%).
Just because a player starts out not being very good at something, doesn't mean they can't work on it and improve. First overall picks like Bedard didn't get to where they are by not working tirelessly on areas of the game they could improve. The Chicago Blackhawks first overall pick didn't get his incredible shot naturally or by luck, he worked at it, something he will do for faceoffs as he's a center.
Bedard has taken a step back in the faceoff circle, which is a little concerning, but the sophomore slump is a very real thing. There's a lot of weight on his shoulders in Chicago and he is starting to turn things around this season. He has had no trouble racking up assists, but goals and winning draws have regressed.
Former first overall picks like McDavid improved in the faceoff circle in year two, but regressed right back in his third season. It took him until his seventh season to be over 50% in the draws. A center like Nugent-Hopkins didn't have a steady climb to improve on draws, but did reach 50% in his ninth season in the NHL. Tavares, Matthews, Hischier, and Stamkos are some of the best faceoff men in the league now, while Hughes is the sole player from this group who never improved on faceoffs.
This is a very good track record and it's more likely that Bedard at least gets into the mid-to-high 40s in the next couple of years rather than stays below 40%. He is currently 30% on the draws, winning 60 of 200, but that's just something to work on and I'm sure he is.
Bedard belongs at center, but he doesn't always have to be taking the draws while he isn't that great at them. He's the type of talent that should get the responsibility and ice time of a centerman, even if his shot could be utilized and defensive responsibility could be decreased by playing full time on the wing.
Hopefully the Blackhawks and Bedard start to see progression for the rest of the season as at least his last two games have been better than 40%.
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