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Connor Bedard on Caps prospect Alexander Suzdalev: ‘He’s so skilled and it seems like he can find me all the time’

By Chris Cerullo

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September 6, 2022 4:10 pm

Washington Capitals 2022 third-round draft selection, Alexander Suzdalev, signed with the Regina Pats of the WHL for the 2022-23 season in mid-August. The deal reunited him with former teammate Connor Bedard.

Bedard, the expected runaway number one overall selection in the 2023 NHL Draft, played parts of the 2020-21 season with Suzdalev on HV71’s Jr. team. The 17-year-old phenom spoke after a day of Regina Training Camp action about what it’s like to play with the talented Swede.

“He’s such a skilled player,” Bedard said. “I got to play with him a bit in Sweden a couple years back. In these couple intrasquad games so far, it’s been so fun to play with him. He’s so skilled and it seems like he can find me all the time. I’m really looking forward to building that chemistry and he’s definitely a special player.”

Bedard made those comments after Pats’ training camp on September 3 that featured two scrimmages. He scored eight goals playing on a line with Suzdalev who potted three himself.

The deadly combination will be a semi-unique one as Bedard is more of a shoot-first center evidenced by his 51 goals in 62 games last season. Suzdalev is a pass-first winger that recorded 36 assists in 45 games at the Swedish junior level in his most recent campaign.

“Trying to do my best, lead by example,” Suzdalev said in his own presser. Overall, it’s been very great. Kinda different from Sweden. The training, the games, and the way they play hockey here. But, I like it, it’s fast game, a lot of room for skill. Just develop my game, become more physical because I’m pretty big player but I need to try and play more physical and get in the dirty areas.”

Some of that skill was on full display from the 18-year-old winger when he pulled off a fake between the legs shot to backhand combo during a penalty shot attempt in Monday’s scrimmage.

“I’ve done it a couple times back home in Sweden,” Suzdalev said. “Just tried it out here, glad it worked.”

The Russian-born, Swedish-raised winger has a whole bag of tricks up his sleeve. He scored a Michigan during a game in the past and pulled off Trevor Zegras’ famous “pop-pass” over the back of the net for an assist. Bedard is not lying when he calls him “so skilled”.

The dynamic duo begin their preseason against the Prince Albert Raiders on September 9 and will drop the puck for their first regular season action against the Moose Jaw Warriors on September September 23.

Screenshot via @WHLPats/Twitter

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