Former controversial NHL referee Tim Peel puts Connor Bedard on blast for his actions

Tim Peel, the former NHL referee who was fired after being caught uttering some controversial words over a hot mic, has been very active on X, where he has expressed his sometimes-controversial opinions.

Recently, Tim Peel targeted two promising young NHL stars: San Jose Sharks' Macklin Celebrini and Chicago Blackhawks' Connor Bedard.

Both have flashed exceptional skill early in their careers, yet both are clear-cut franchise cornerstones.

Outrage truly reached a fever pitch, though, when Peel declared Connor Bedard "overrated" in his post comparing the two careers. Rather than making either a case for one or the other, or, heaven forbid, praising both players, Peel seemed intent on tearing down Bedard.

Despite some fairly substantial adversity, Bedard has thrived. The promising forward has 32 goals and 94 points through his first 106 NHL games, which is quite impressive considering the limited talent the Blackhawks have surrounded him with in Chicago.

The Blackhawks are paper-thin, with really only Taylor Hall and Tyler Bertuzzi as other notable forwards and Seth Jones as a top defenseman.

General Manager Kyle Davidson has yet to build around Bedard with a worthy supporting cast, which makes it all the more impressive the feats he's accomplishing for the team.

Meanwhile, Macklin Celebrini has outperformed expectations in his first year in the league, putting up 27 points in 28 games and firmly planting himself in the Calder Trophy discussion.

Both players are still developing at 18 and 19 years old. This is far too early to call Bedard a "bust" or "overrated."

Give these developing stars time to flourish before making any definitive comparison or conclusion about their respective careers. The talent and potential should be appreciated by fans and analysts alike.