Oh, well. The best first-year NHL player in the first month of the 2023-24 season was... Anaheim goalie Lukas Dostal. Bedard finished fourth in the running, but has learned a lot already about being an NHLer. See story with videos.
Connor Bedard says he's soaking in what it takes to be an NHL player and enjoying it, even if the rebuilding Blackhawks have struggled so far at 3-6-0.
Chicago has been wildly inconsistent, but the high-skilled, low-key Bedard is doing what he loves — playing hockey.
Following big wins at Pittsburgh, Toronto and Vegas, the Blackhawks have let down big time in the next games. That includes their most recent contest, an 8-1 drubbing at Arizona on Monday after skating with the Stanley Cup champion Golden Knights on Friday and coming back for a 4-3 win in OT.
The 18-year-old Bedard stayed out on the practice ice for about 30 extra minutes of shinny with 19-year-old defenseman Kevin Korchinski and a couple of helmeted mannequins on Wednesday. See X/Twitter photo from Daily Herald writer John Dietz at https://x.com/JDietzSports/status/1719771888971366899?s=20
When Bedard returned to the dressing room at the Fifth Third Arena, reporters asked him about his first month in the NHL. The 2023 No.1 draft pick has four goals and two assists in nine games and leads all rookies with 28 shots on goal.
Learning about defensive coverage, along with teammates
Bedard is a minus-5 on a team that has scored 19 goals and allowed 32. Yep, there have been plenty of defensive breakdowns. He mentions what he's seeing and learning in the following video.
Chicago has a core of veterans — including forwards Nick Foligno, Corey Perry, and Taylor Hall — to help guide younger players like Bedard during its rebuild. Foligno sits to Bedard's left in the dressing room and Perry is a few spots down on his right.
Here's what Bedard says about the direction the "old guys" are providing, especially when it comes to being ready for every NHL opponent and then making good decisions on the ice
Bedard says adjusting to the "full-time job" routine of the NHL hasn't been daunting, although he's constantly learning. He enjoys playing a game, on average, every other day and has been impressed with the first-class treatment NHL players receive from team staff.
Although he's known as a sniper, Bedard says he's just trying to make the right play given an individual circumstance on the ice. He acknowledges the pace of the game is NHL is much quicker, but has been far from daunting for the 2022-23 CHL Player of the Year who scored 71 goals and 72 assists with the WHL Regina Pats.
Bedard calmly say she knows what to expect now and is continuing his transition in a workmanlike way.
And by the way, about those other top NHL rookies...
The 23-year-old Dostal is 4-1-0 with a 2.79 goal-against average and .921 save percentage for the surprising Ducks.
Also finishing ahead of Bedard in the October rookie race were Toronto goalie Joseph Woll (3-2-0, 1.89 GAA, .942 save percentage) and Ottawa center Ridly Greig (two goals, five assists in eight games).