Connor Bedard Clicks in "Scrambly" First Preseason Game with Blackhawks

Connor Bedard wasn't dominant, but was one of the most noticeable players on the ice in his first NHL exhibition game.

The NHL's top draft pick of 2023 assisted on both of Chicago's goals, including setting up Andreas Athanasiou's game-winner at 4:02 of overtime. He also picked up a point on Philipp Kurashev's score midway through the second.

“I don’t think I personally played great,” Bedard said. “I’ve got a lot better than that from myself hopefully coming forward, but it was a good start.”

Bedard finished with 21:42 of ice time – including a big chunk of the 3-on-3 extra period — and five shots.

"It was a bit of a scrambly game I thought." Bedard said. "Not really much flow.

"I don't know if there was surprise," he added. "Obviously less room, but that's nothing that I didn't expect, so just kind of get used to it here."

For most of the night, Bedard centered a line with Taylor Hall and Ryan Donato on the wings. The trio started the game, and Bedard won the opening faceoff after getting the loudest cheers from the crown in pregame introductions. See video below:

On Athanasiou's goal, Bedard dished off the right wing to the middle. The speedy Athanasiou zipped down the slot, corralled the puck and backhanded it in.

"I saw he was half a zone behind the guy (Blues player) and I was 100% sure he was going to beat him," Bedard said. 

On Kurashev's goal, Bedard cruised down the slot and deflected top defenseman prospect Kevin Korchinski's shot from the point. St. Louis goalie Joel Hofer made the save, then Kurashev buried the rebound at 10:48 of the second period to put Chicago ahead 1-0.

Bedard flashed a few other slick moves in the contest.  

 Hofer stopped Bedard from the left circle in the first period after a nifty fake. Bedard stole the puck from Colton Parayko in the third and raced in on net, but didn't get off a shot cleanly after some in-tight stickhandling.

Veteran Petr Mrazek played the first 24:37 in goal for Chicago, stopping the eight shots he faced. Rookie Drew Commesso, the Blackhawks top netminding prospect finished and blocked 16 of 17 shots.

The two lower tiers levels of the three-level, 20,500-seat United Center were mostly full. The team closed off the upper deck.

Fans of all ages, shapes and sizes were wearing Bedard’s No. 98 jersey as they paraded the United Center concourses before the game. More were trying on the sweaters – at $250 for an authentic version and $200 for a replica — at a team store and smaller stands around the arena.

Bedard loves playing 3-on-3 hockey, so overtime might be his favorite time. He did get caught on a long shift to start OT on Thursday, but no harm done.

"I play 3-on-3 maybe five, six days a week in the summer with everyone back home," Bedard said. "So it's probably the most fun thing in my life."

The Blackhawks returned forwards and 2023 draftees Nick Lardis, Martin Misiak and Alex Pharand to their junior clubs after the game.

Veteran winger Corey Perry, signed to a one-year $4 million free agent contract, tussled with the Blues Pavel Buchnevich after Buchnevich's high hard hit on Misiak in the second period.  Misiak, a second-round draft pick (55th overall), stayed down on the ice for a minute after the impact.