McDavid expects Bedard to handle sky-high expectations: 'He's that good'

Connor McDavid is confident Chicago Blackhawks phenom Connor Bedard can handle the pressure of adapting to NHL life as a potentially generational No. 1 pick.

"It's a really, really hard league," the Oilers captain told NHL.com's Tracey Myers. "It's a league full of grown men that have been playing for a long time, and you know what? He's a really special 18-year-old hockey player, and it'll take some time.

"I don't expect it to take all that much. He's that good. But I think that's just a reminder. It's a really, really hard league, and there's a lot of change going on at that age."

Bedard is widely regarded as the top talent to enter the NHL since McDavid was given the same label when he was drafted in the top spot in 2015. Comparisons between them have been commonplace at this point of Bedard's career, but the 18-year-old said in August he isn't aiming to immediately match McDavid's lofty standards.

McDavid has lived up to his pre-draft hype and then some, winning three MVPs and five scoring titles through his first eight seasons. The 26-year-old had 48 points in his debut campaign, which was limited to 45 games due to a shoulder injury.

Bedard, the odds-on favorite to win the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year, looked comfortable in the preseason, notching one goal and four assists in four appearances.

His regular-season debut is scheduled for Oct. 10 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Bedard and McDavid will clash for the first time on Dec. 12 in Edmonton.