As anticipated, Connor Bedard chosen first in NHL draft by Blackhawks

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Chicago Blackhawks chosen Connor Bedard with the primary choose within the NHL draft on Wednesday night time, kick-starting a hopeful new period with a extremely expert offensive ahead who’s drawn comparisons to Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby.

Bedard grew to become the second No. 1 choose in Blackhawks historical past, becoming a member of Patrick Kane, who went first total in 2007 and helped type the core of a workforce that received three Stanley Cups from 2010 to 2015.

Though Blackhawks normal supervisor Kyle Davidson declined to disclose who he would take first since profitable the draft lottery in May, Bedard was thought-about Chicago’s goal all alongside amongst a prospect class crammed with proficient forwards.

“It’s incredible. I couldn’t be happier,” Bedard stated.

His debut might very effectively be in opposition to Crosby on the NHL’s opening night time on Oct. 10, when Chicago is scheduled to play at Pittsburgh.

“I got to make it first, but that would be unreal. He’s a big idol of mine,” Bedard stated.

The intrigue of the draft started with the Anaheim Ducks deciding on Sweden ahead Leo Carlsson, who was considered the highest European skater. With the third choose, the Columbus Blue Jackets chosen Michigan ahead Adam Fantilli, who grew to become the third freshman to win faculty hockey’s high award, the Hobey Baker Trophy.

The first American participant off the board went fourth, when the San Jose Sharks chosen USA Hockey Development Program ahead Will Smith, who’s from Boston and has dedicated to taking part in at Boston College subsequent season.

The Montreal Canadiens spherical out the highest 5 picks. One of the questions is when a workforce picks Matvei Michkov, who’s underneath contract to play in his native Russia by means of the 2025-26 season.

A big contingent of Blackhawks followers have been in attendance, with an exceptionally loud cheer going up throughout the pre-draft roll name of groups when it got here Chicago’s flip. They cheered even louder, adopted by chants of “Let’s go Hawks!” when Bedard took the stage and pulled on a No. 98 jersey, which he’s worn for a lot of his profession.

“We’ll see. We’ll let him figure that out,” Davidson stated, when requested about his expectations for Bedard. “He’s a pretty special player, a very special person. We’ll let him determine how special that first season is.”

Weeks shy of his 18th birthday, Bedard has spent a lot of the previous two years projected as this 12 months’s high draft prospect. From North Vancouver, British Columbia, Bedard has finished nothing to offer pause to the excessive projections after posting 100-point seasons in back-to-back years with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League.

His 71 targets in 57 video games final 12 months have been probably the most by a WHL participant in 24 years, and his 143 factors have been probably the most since 1995-96. At just below 5-foot-10 and 185 kilos, Bedard is regarded a generational prospect, very like McDavid, who was chosen first in 2015 and this week was named the league’s MVP for the third time.

The Blackhawks have already begun refitting their roster to assist Bedard’s growth by buying veterans Taylor Hall (the primary choose within the 2010 draft) and Nick Foligno in a commerce with Boston this week.