Generational NHL Prospect Connor Bedard Scores Unreal OT Goal As Historic WJC Run Continues

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Hockey is one of few sports where drafting a single player has the potential to drastically reverse the fortunes of a struggling team. We’ve seen that reality manifested multiple times over the past couple of decades, as the Capitals, Penguins, and Oilers have respectively reaped the benefits of drafting Alexander Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, and Connor McDavid with the first overall pick.

Each member of that trio has lived up to the “Generational Talent” label that’s now been bestowed upon the one kid who is undoubtedly the hottest prospect the hockey world has seen in recent memory: Connor Bedard.

The 17-year-old phenom was widely viewed as the presumptive No. 1 pick at the 2023 NHL Draft heading into the current campaign, and teams have slowly but surely begun to engage in a race to the bottom in the hopes of increasing their chances of landing him (including some who are having trouble mastering the art of the tank).

All eyes were understandably on Bedard when the World Junior Championship (WJC) kicked off shortly after Christmas, and to say the British Columbia native has shined after skating onto what is arguably his biggest stage yet would be one hell of an understatement based on what’s transpired over the past week or so.

Bedard put on an absolute show en route to helping Canada advance from the group stage, as he only needed a few games to tie a number of tournament records.

Bedard had the opportunity to take sole ownership of those achievements when Canada faced off against Slovakia in the quarterfinals, and he did exactly that when he opened up the scoring with a goal around six minutes into the first period.

The Slovakian squad was still able to hold its own in a back-and-forth contest that ended with the two teams tied 3-3 at the end of regulation. However, Bedard wasted absolutely no time bringing things to an electric end, as he undressed the three defenders who could do absolutely nothing to stop him from netting the game-winning goal that perfectly encapsulates why the prospect has drummed up so much hype.

It’s time for Tanking SZN to officially commence.