There are ample parallels between Bedard and Kane, the only two players to be drafted first overall by Original Six Chicago. Bedard, the NHL's leading rookie scorer, knew all about Kane and his signing with Detroit on Tuesday. Story with videos.
Connor Bedard seemed to know all about Patrick Kane signing with the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday.
Bedard and Kane are the only first-overall draft picks the Chicago Blackhawks have ever had. The 18-year-old Bedard, said he was excited to see Kane, who just turned 35, return to the NHL with an Original Six team after undergoing hip resurfacing surgery.
"He's obviously one of the best players to ever play," Bedard said following his team's morning skate. "Growing up, getting to watch him, the stuff he was doing on a nightly basis was pretty remarkable. A magician, obviously, so he's always so fun to watch.
"I'm excited to see what he can do there." See video.
Kane, the NHL's first-overall selection in the 2007 draft, agreed to a one-year contract with the Red Wings that will pay just over $2 million for the rest of the season — a prorated $2.75 million. The playmaking Kane will rejoin former Blackhawks teammate and sniper Alex DeBrincat — they often clicked in Chicago — on an ascending Detroit club.
DeBrincat has 12 goals and eight assists in 20 games with the Red Wings, 11-6-3 a quarter of the way into the season.
The Blackhawks, losers of six of seven, host Seattle on Tuesday night. They play at Detroit on Thursday.
"It's cool that he and DeBrincat will be back together," said Bedard, the top draft pick last June. "I'm sure they'll be a pretty exciting duo.
"But obviously it's weird when he's here, a think I saw, like 16, 17 years."
Bedard: Odd to See Kane in Jersey Other Than Chicago's
Patrick Kane in his final season with Chicago.Kane was an unrestricted free agent. A three-time Stanley Cup champion with Chicago, he chose the Red Wings over several teams, including his hometown Buffalo Sabres.
With Kane near the end of his eight-year, $84 million contract, rebuilding Chicago dealt him to the New York Rangers on Feb. 28, 2023, just before the NHL trade deadline.
Kane's 1,225 points in 1,161 games with the Blackhawks are second in franchise history only to Stan Mikita, who had 1,467.
Even Bedard said it was odd to see Kane in a jersey other than Chicago's.
"It's weird just from being a fan growing up and seeing the success they had and winning those Cups and everything," Bedard said. "It's weird for every hockey fan not seeing them in Chicago ... it's probably weird for him, too."
Parallels Between Kane and Bedard
Like Bedard, Kane debuted with the Blackhawks at age 18. He had 21 goals and 51 assists as a rookie in 2007-08 to win the Calder Trophy.
Bedard is considered more or a goal scorer, and hasn't quite matched Kane's flashy stickhandling in the the NHL. But through 19 games Bedard is the NHL's leading rookie point producer with 17, on 10 goals and seven assists.
His 57 shots on on goal are second only to Columbus' Adam Fantilli among first-year skaters.