When one is selecting in the first round of a fantasy hockey league this year, they will see stars like Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, Nathan MacKinnon, and Leon Draisaitl, amongst others, on the board. 

As currently constructed, the Chicago Blackhawks don’t have more than a handful of players worth considering in a fantasy draft. However, there is one Blackhawks player who could help win a title. 

Connor Bedard has had 20 goals and 60 points in each of his first two NHL seasons. Those are disappointing numbers to some people because of his hype coming into the league as a number one pick, but the truth is that those are big-time stats for an 18 and 19-year-old season. 

Bedard has been fantasy worthy since he stepped onto the NHL ice, but his level of contribution has been that of an above-average offensive producer. Nobody was winning a championship with Bedard being one of their core pieces. 

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With that said, Bedard could win people their league in 2025-26, if all goes according to plan. He will likely be selected in the fourth or fifth round, depending on how bullish teams are on his potential. The highest he will go is the third round. 

Suppose he is taken in the fourth round or later and has an 80+ point season for Chicago, that could make a huge difference in a fantasy lineup. Bedard, in his breakout season, being someone’s 4th or 5th most productive forward would make for a great core. 

The Blackhawks will have better players around Bedard this year. They haven’t signed that elite winger in free agency yet, but having Frank Nazar, Sam Rinzel, and Artyom Levshunov, amongst others, to work with on the power play should help his point totals rise.

Teuvo Teravainen, Tyler Bertuzzi, and others will get the chance at even strength, but it’s on Bedard to make those players better in that situation. 

Over the summer, Bedard has been working hard on his strength and speed. He skipped the World Championships to stay home and prepare for the upcoming NHL season, which was a display of maturity that suggests he is ready to turn a corner. 

If his preparation turns into results on the ice, both he and his teammates will look better in 2025-26. That means more points. 

If Bedard is sitting there in the fourth round of your fantasy draft, he is worthy of consideration because there is incredible "boom" potential there without much risk of a "bust". 

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