So does Wayne Gretzky.
"I've had some conversations with Wayne. … Let's face it. It's the Sidney Crosby ticket, save-the-franchise-type of player. [Bedard] is 5-foot-9 so the question I had for Wayne is, 'Who, as a 5-9 player can save a franchise?' We talked about it, but with the new rules, and this guy's skill, he could be that guy," Tocchet said on the latest episode of "The Chirp with Daren Millard" podcast.
Tocchet, currently a studio analyst for NHL on TNT, had 952 points (440 goals, 512 assists) in 1,144 games with the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals and Phoenix Coyotes. He was 178-200-60 as an NHL coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Coyotes.
Bedard, a 17-year-old forward for Regina of the Western Hockey League who is expected to be the No. 1 selection in the 2023 NHL Draft, has been dazzling for Canada in the IIHF World Junior Championship, leading all players with 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists). Canada plays Czechia for the championship at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia on Thursday (6:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN).
"That goal against Slovakia the other night (in the quarterfinals), the pressure's on, as pressure can be, [Bedard] was put in that situation with your country on the line and he does that? that's pretty special," Tocchet said.
"His release is incredible. I love guys who can change their positional shot so quickly because defensemen are good now and teams have good structure. So, if you can get that puck to another position before the goalie can move, you have a better chance of scoring. That's why this kid scores a lot."
Tocchet also talked about Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson, who leads the Sabres with 55 points (30 goals, 25 assists) in 36 games this season. Tocchet said there are elements in Thompson that remind him of Hockey Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux.
"The way he kind of approaches the game, the way he can take the puck so wide and then pull it and go upstairs, that's Mario Lemieux," he said. "I was on Mario's line. I've seen it many times. I think you could've gotten [Thompson] three years ago for nothing and it just goes to show you, you have to develop kids, you have to be patient, get the right coach, stuff like that.
"He's definitely one of those guys you want to watch. If you're going to pay $150 (for a ticket), he's one guy I want to pay to watch, Tage Thompson, the way he plays the game."
"The Chirp with Daren Millard" features interviews with players, executives, alumni and other personalities around the game and is available now on multiple iOS and Android podcast apps. You can share your thoughts on Twitter using the hashtag #ChirpMillard.
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