Bedard equipped to handle ‘circus’ surrounding generational player, McDavid says

McDavid was also a generational player coming into the NHL and the cornerstone of a rebuild in Edmonton. He likely would not have been looking off Crosby on a 2-on-1 rush as a 17-year-old.

“No. Probably not,” McDavid laughed. “I would say, obviously, when you’re around it your whole life, at 12 years old and around NHLers, it just becomes normal. This has been his path probably since even before that.”

McDavid had 48 points (16 goals, 32 assists) in 45 games as a rookie in 2015-16, missing 37 games with a broken collarbone sustained when crashing into the end boards against the Philadelphia Flyers 13 games into the season. The injury may have cost him the Calder Trophy as the NHL rookie of the year. He was third in voting behind then-Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere and winner Artemi Panarin, who finished with 77 points (30 goals, 47 assists) in 80 games for the Blackhawks.

Bedard is on pace for 70 points this season, and if he stays healthy would be the front-runner for the Calder.

“It looks like he’s handling everything really well,” McDavid said. “Obviously, there are things going on there in Chicago, and he’s handled it really well and is playing at a very high level. 

“For him, I’m sure it’s a lot. Everywhere he goes, it’s a circus. It’ll be no different here when he comes to Edmonton, I’m sure you guys (the media) will make him feel good and welcome, but he’s handled it all, it seems like, very well.”

McDavid said dealing with off-ice issues also comes into to play for a young player like Bedard. He lived in a house with Taylor Hall, chosen No. 1 by the Oilers in the 2010 NHL Draft, and forward Luke Gazdic during his first season. Bedard lives on his own in Chicago and is teammates with Hall, a forward out for the season with a knee injury.

“Away from the rink, you just feel a little bit more like an adult, even though you’re not quite ready,” McDavid said. “I remember being 18 years old and not living with your family, not living with a billet family. Obviously, in the NHL you get treated like an adult, there’s no rules and curfew and all that stuff. It has to be a choice that comes from within and to be prepared. I feel like most of the stuff away from the rink was the biggest change.”

Despite their similar paths, McDavid said he hasn’t given Bedard much in the way of advice but is keeping tabs on his progress.

“There’s little conversations, things that he might ask about, certain situations or plays, more on-ice stuff,” McDavid said. “There’s not a lot of advice giving. Who am I to give him advice? He’s got a good head on his shoulders. I got a chance to meet his family at the draft. It seems like he comes from a great family. He’s got many good people around him to talk him through all that.”