Paul Bissonette in particular dishes out harsh criticism for anyone who perpetuated those rumours, especially in the context of being directed at the youngest superstar in the league. The show went on to praise Bedard for his professionalism, essentially not responding to any rumours or allowing the outside noise to affect his game.
For Bedard, this can just be a bump at the beginning of a legendary career, and it's commendable how well he's powered through these rumours at his age. It speaks to his mental fortitude, his competitiveness, and how strong his career projects to be.