Three Reasons Connor Bedard Needs to be Featured in Amazon's New NHL Show

With the recent news that Amazon will be producing a documentary series featuring 10 to 12 NHL players, speculation has run rampant concerning which players will be on the show. Will the league’s reigning MVP Connor McDavid make the cut? How about the game’s best goal scorer, Auston Matthews? Does an older legend like Sidney Crosby or Alex Ovechkin finally get the recognition they deserve?

All of these superstars are certainly worthwhile picks, but one player needs to be on the show: Connor Bedard, the Blackhawks’ rookie phenom and the Calder Trophy favorite.

Here are three reasons why Amazon needs to feature Bedard...

The people want more Bedard.

Everyone knows the saying “money talks”, and the money points towards Bedard. Ahead of every other established star in the league, Bedard’s jersey tops the sales charts. People can’t get enough of him, and they want more. Open up any of the NHL’s social media pages and within a scroll or two, you will find a Bedard highlight. Yes, the NHL is incentivized to promote its brand-new toy, but Bedard’s skill is undeniable and generational. Hockey fans recognize that and want to learn more about their new favorite player.

Bedard has more personality to show.

A frequent lament of hockey fans is that players don’t show enough personality. In a sport where a team-first mentality is critical to success, players don’t want the attention or to create a distraction. But Bedard is part of the next generation of players, led by the Hughes and Tkachuk brothers – young players with elite skill and endearing personalities who aren’t afraid to reveal them when the moment is right. Bedard has already had his fair share of funny moments with the press, such as his deadpan “Yeah, I like hockey” quote or when he admitted he didn’t know what trepidation meant. Bedard is hyper-focused on his craft, but he’s still an 18-year-old kid living in one of the best cities in the world; hockey fans will appreciate seeing his personality more beyond the ice or a media scrum.

Featuring Bedard would allow fans an inside look at Nick Foligno’s and other veteran’s mentorship.

It’s well known Foligno has taken Bedard under his wing to show him the ropes of NHL life. If Amazon decides to feature Bedard, fans would get to see more wholesome moments like this:

Living on your own at 18 is challenging. Managing that while being anointed the savior and face of an Original Six franchise is near impossible. That’s why Kyle Davidson brought in Foligno and is counting on veterans such as Seth Jones and Connor Murphy to help Bedard. Seeing day-to-day interactions where these leaders provide advice and encouragement would make for fascinating TV and bring a bit more humanity to the star that is Bedard.