FRIDAY COMMENTARY: BEDARD STAYING PUT

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It appears those who want to see Connor Bedard finish his junior hockey career in a Regina Pats uniform will get their wish.

Team Canada was still lapping the ice with the World Junior championship trophy Thursday night in Halifax – after a 3-2 OT victory over Czechia – when my phone started ringing from hockey people wondering what’s next for the 17-year old phenom?

It’s been talked about since at least last summer; will the Regina Pats trade Bedard given the fact they don’t seem to be serious contenders for the Memorial Cup this year?

The return in a trade for the greatest WHL player ever would bring an embarrassment of riches for the Pats franchise, and set them up for years.

But from what I was told Thursday night, it’s not going to happen.

A trusted source informed me that everything Pats coach & GM John Paddock has said recently is true; Bedard won’t be traded and the biggest reason is … he doesn’t want to be.

There are a myriad of reasons for Connor’s decision but chief among them is his strong loyalty to the Pats. Simply put, he’s a Pat.

And, Bedard’s already the #1-rated prospect for this summer’s NHL Draft and he’s already rewritten the WHL and World Juniors record books.

His stock can’t get any higher, and there’s not much left for him to do at this level.

There are other reasons down the list too, but they’ll probably never come out.

They don’t need to.

While conventional wisdom would suggest a trade should happen, this is different. Connor Bedard’s a special player, and this is a special franchise. And frankly, I’m happiest that John Paddock’s been a man of his word through all of this and as it turns out, we can take what he said at face value. It seems the Pats left this decision up to Connor and everyone should respect that. And as fans, we should all respect Bedard’s wishes. We owe him at least that much.

So for those who never wanted to see Bedard traded, or for those who did but have slowly been convinced otherwise, it appears they’re going to get their wish.

The winners will be the Pats fans, and those lucky enough to get to watch him play in junior over the next four months across Western Canada.

After that, the real fun begins.

That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary

(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm ET on Game+ TV, WQEE Radio and YouTube Live)

Photo: Hockey Canada