Blackhawks select Connor Bedard 1st overall
The Chicago Blackhawks made the obvious choice official Wednesday, selecting potential franchise-altering prospect Connor Bedard with the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
"This is incredible. ... It's a dream come true to be selected," Bedard told Sportsnet. "Chicago, what a storied franchise there. I can't wait to get to work."
He added, "It's unbelievable. Just looking down and seeing the (Blackhawks) logo and feeling it on myself, it's crazy. ... I couldn't be happier."
Connor Bedard
Position: Center
Height: 5-foot-9.75
Weight: 185 lbs
Shoots: Right
Age: 17
Club: Regina (WHL)
Nationality: 🇨🇦
NHL Central Scouting final ranking: 1st among North American skaters
2022-23 stats
| GP | G | A | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regina | 57 | 71 | 72 | 143 |
| World juniors | 7 | 9 | 14 | 25 |
Bedard's rise is nothing short of remarkable.
In March 2020, Hockey Canada granted a then-14-year-old Bedard exceptional status to play in the WHL a year early. No western Canadian player had previously received the distinction.
What Bedard did as a 15-year-old in the WHL immediately put the hockey world on notice. Limited to just 15 games due to a COVID-condensed schedule, Bedard tallied 12 goals and 28 points. His 1.87 points per game dwarfed the 15-year-old production from previous exceptional-status players like John Tavares (1.18 points per game), Shane Wright (1.14), and Connor McDavid (1.05).
As a 16-year-old, Bedard proved his success was no fluke. He tallied 51 goals in 62 games, hitting the 100-point mark with a five-point game in the season finale.
Even with lofty expectations coming into his draft year, Bedard has fully exceeded what was imaginable. His 71 goals in 57 games are the most by a WHL player since 1999.
Bedard nearly single-handedly led the Regina Pats to a series victory in April during the WHL playoffs. He scored 10 goals and 20 points in the seven-game series, ultimately losing to the higher-ranked Saskatoon Blades.
While Bedard's club stats are more than noteworthy, it's his performance on the international stage that truly sent him into budding superstardom.
His piece de resistance came in January at the 2023 world junior. With nine goals and 23 points in just seven games, Bedard shattered both the tournament record for scoring by a draft-eligible player and the Canadian single-tournament scoring record. In the process, he became the all-time leading Canadian in goals and points at the event.
That performance en route to the gold medal made Bedard a household name. Upon returning to the WHL, arenas league-wide experienced a "Bedard Bump" in attendance. Under 3,300 fans were at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Oct. 2 when the Calgary Hitmen hosted the Pats; over 17,000 filled the rink on Feb. 1.
The hype isn't limited to the WHL or Canadian fans, either. The Blackhawks sold $2.5-million worth of season tickets following their draft lottery win in May in anticipation of Bedard's arrival in the fall.
He's the best prospect the sport has seen since McDavid in 2015. He's decimated his competition at every step. Next up is seeing what Bedard can do in the National Hockey League, and we'll get to watch it happen in the Windy City.
What they're saying
"Bedard is a potential franchise-changing No. 1 prospect," wrote The Athletic's Corey Pronman. "His skill and shot are legit game-breaking attributes. His ability to beat defenders one-on-one is among the best I've ever seen by a 17-year-old, and the pace at which he displays that elite skill is going to allow him to execute those types of skilled plays in the NHL."
"Doesn't have lightning-fast speed, but he's incredibly elusive due to his puck skill and ability to beat opponents under their hands and through their feet with the puck on his stick," wrote Sportsnet's Jason Bukala.
"Bedard is an offensive dynamo with a competitive drive and high hockey IQ," FloHockey's Chris Peters wrote. "He already owns one of the most devastating shots in hockey - not just among the draft class, but anywhere. His ability to score goals is unmatched in this class, and there's a reasonable expectation he will make an immediate offensive impact in the NHL."
Click here to view Bedard's highlights.