I think it’s pretty fair to have the opinion that this is a bit of a watered down tourney. Russia being out on its own is enough to say that. Even Germany has been better in recent years but is a free bingo spot for everyone except the actual worst team that has no business being there at all (Austria).
People like to overrate players at these tourneys. You never know how someone is going to adjust to the NHL game, particularly below average size players or slow skaters (obviously Bedard is not slow but he is on the smaller side). Junior production is a good predictor but no sure bet.
Personally, I think Bedard will be an elite player and a top 10 forward in the league after he settles in, likely a top 5 one in his prime, with ease. But the generational tag is thrown around so much that it’s lost all meaning anyhow so maybe he’ll be generational in the way the media likes to bandy it about (Matthews etc). There were some that wondered if McDavid would be nearly as transcendent (offensively) as he has been, so who knows, maybe Bedard will prove doubters wrong as well.