The matchup of two of the top three players from the 2023 NHL Draft class on Wednesday is nice, but no big competition, Bedard says. Both Chicago and Columbus are struggling. Updated story with video.
Connor Bedard has been keeping an eye on Adam Fantilli, although the Chicago Blackhawks rookie says any competition between two of the top three 2023 NHL draft picks is mostly a media creation.
Bedard, the heralded No. 1 selection, and Fantilli, taken third by Columbus, will meet for the first time as pros on Wednesday night when the sliding Blackhawks take on the Blue Jackets in Ohio. Chicago, 5-11-0, is on a four-game losing streak. Columbus, at 4-11-4, is struggling more desperately, having lost nine straight (0-7-2).
There was little doubt Bedard would be taken first overall last June. Fantilli had been rated as the No. 2 prospect heading into the 2023 draft, but was selected third by Columbus after Anaheim took Leo Carlsson with the second pick.
Teammates on Canada's gold medal-winning 2023 World Junior Championship team, both Bedard and Fantilli are off to solid starts as NHLers.
Bedard leads NHL rookie scoring; Fantilli is eighth
Bedard is the NHL's leading rookie scorer with nine goals and 15 points in 16 games. Fantilli has four goals and nine points in 19 games and paces all first-year players with 54 shots on goal. Bedard is second in shots with 47.
"Of course this year he's doing great and it's just really fun to watch him, and he's obviously a buddy of mine," Bedard said of Fantilli. "It's just been a lot of fun to follow him and see his success."
But any competition between Bedard and Fantilli and Carlsson? Not really, says Bedard.
"I think media will kind of play stuff out however they like, just with it being the same draft, maybe," Bedard said. "But you know we're all friends and rooting for each other.
"But I don't think we're going into tomorrow like it's me versus him at all. It's Chicago versus Columbus." See video.
Fantilli, a 19-year-old from the outskirts of the Greater Toronto Area, is 6-foot-2 and 195-pounds and cuts a more imposing presence than Bedard. He skated last season at the University of Michigan, scoring an eye-popping 30 goals and 65 points in 36 games as a freshman in NCAA play.
Arguably, that rivals the 71 goals and 143 points Bedard put up in 57 games for Regina of the WHL.
At the WJC, Fantilli had two goals and five points in seven games. Bedard rewrote the record book with his performance for Team Canada, running up nine goals and 23 points in the seven matches.
Bedard, Fantilli Both Cooler Lately
Bedard's scoring trajectory has cooled off after the Blackhawks 18-year-old center erupted for four goals and two assists in a pair of games in Florida on Oct. 9 and 12.
Bedard had just two assists in his last three games entering Wednesday night's contest. Bedard popped off a combined nine shots on goal against the Lightning and Panthers in the consecutive road games. He attempted four more; two were blocked and two missed the net.
In the last three games, Bedard has only two assists. Both came when linemate Philipp Kurashev buried rebounds of Bedard's shots. Bedard has four total shots on goal in his last three contests, and has attempted nine more that missed the net or were blocked.
"Nashville I was all right. I think I kind of sucked against, Buffalo," Bedard said of his last two games. "I mean, we've got to get some wins here."
Fantilli has been held off the scoresheet in his last four games, but has 20 shots on goal during the span. The center took 10 shots on goal in a 3-2 loss to Arizona last Thursday.
Both Bedard and Fantilli are a minus-7.
Bedard Battling, But Hesitating
Coach Luke Richardson said Bedard has hesitated a second to read plays rather than jump right in. The rookie has been a feisty, willing participant in one-on-one puck battles, but sometimes an instant of delay has reduced his effectiveness.
"In his whole game, I think he watches a little bit of the play and analyzes it," Richardson said. "He knows the game and sees it very well. Instead of taking a couple of steps at the puck, which I think he did better on that trip in Florida."