The Philadelphia Flyers have drafted a Connor Bedard killer
The Philadelphia Flyers made a trade to select Carson Bjarnason, a goalie from the Brandon Wheat Kings in the WHL, during the 2nd round of the 2023 NHL draft. Bjarnason's potential could make him a valuable pick for the team later on.
One reason for this potential is that Connor Bedard, who scored 71 goals in the WHL this season, did not score a single one against Bjarnason.
«I've never scored on him,» Bedard told NHL.com. «Two games I've played him and he's got a few nice saves on me.»
Despite playing on a not-so-great team, Bjarnason managed to hold his own with a 21-19-6 record, a 3.08 GAA, and a .900 SV%.
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Bjarnason is 6'3" and weighs 186 lbs. He is an athletic goalie who sees himself as breaking from the mold of technicality and holds a certain stoicism in his game. He believes his aura and sense of calm are some of his best strengths as a goalie.
«I haven't looked too much into it,» Bjarnason said on draft night about the Flyers trading up for him. «It's pretty crazy. I just want to prove them right.
«I watch every game of his [Flyers starting goalie Carter Hart]. He's one of my favorite goalies since [Carey] Price stopped playing. He's the one guy I've been watching.»
Before the draft, Elite Prospects described Bjarnason's game: «Bjarnason's legs are his biggest weapon. He consistently takes away the bottom part of the net with them.
«He uses the overlap technique a lot on rush chances because if there is a backdoor pass, he has the ability to stretch across and cover the extra space with his pads.»
«I watch every game of his [Flyers starting goalie Carter Hart]. He's one of my favorite goalies since [Carey] Price stopped playing. He's the one guy I've been watching.»
Before the draft, Elite Prospects described Bjarnason's game: «Bjarnason's legs are his biggest weapon. He consistently takes away the bottom part of the net with them.
«He uses the overlap technique a lot on rush chances because if there is a backdoor pass, he has the ability to stretch across and cover the extra space with his pads.»
However, the Flyers already have three top goalies, Carter Hart, Samuel Ersson, and Cal Peterson, plus Egor Zavragin, Alexei Kosolov, and the IIHF's decision on Ivan Fedotov's tolled contract to consider.
It may take three or four years for Bjarnason to compete for a job in Philadelphia, but this gives him more time to develop into the goalie that Briere sees in him.
As Seen On: phillyhockeynow.com
| POLL | ||
6 AOUT | 46 ANSWERS The Philadelphia Flyers have drafted a Connor Bedard killer Do you think Carson Bjarnason remains a Connor Bedard killer? | ||
| Yes | 27 | 58.7 % |
| No | 19 | 41.3 % |
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