Connor Bedard signs... with lululemon

Bedard, from the Vancouver area, becomes "ambassador" for active sportswear brand based in his hometown.

It's expected the Chicago Blackhawks will select Connor Bedard with the No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft on Wednesday, June 28.

But one day earlier, Bedard signed a different kind of deal with a hometown team.

lululemon announced on Tuesday it would become Bedard's exclusive apparel partner. The company said Bedard will wear lululemon’s latest training and lifestyle gear while he "provides feedback" to support the brand’s commitment to innovative design. (Note: lululemon's legal brand name is lower-cased.)

See the video in the Instragram link. https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ct_qJ9OAljg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The terms of the agreement weren't disclosed. But the relationship will augment the maximum $4.45 million Bedard can earn in base salary and signing and performance bonuses as an NHL rookie.

"Being from Vancouver, I’ve been a fan of lululemon for as long as I can remember,” Bedard said in lululemon's news release. “The gear is so comfortable, stylish, and great for training.

"The more you learn about the company, the more you recognize how much goes into their product design, so to get an opportunity to share my input during the development is pretty cool.”

“We are inspired by Connor’s athletic achievements and his humility, positivity, and natural leadership both on and off the ice,” said Michelle Davies, lululemon's vice president, global sports marketing and partnerships. “Through this partnership, we’re excited to support Connor as he enters this new chapter of his career and inspires the next generation of athletes.”

Bedard joins lululemon’s Team Canada collective and other ambassadors, including NBA player Jordan Clarkson, tennis champion Leylah Fernandez and F1 driver Zhou Guanyu. lululemon was founded in 1998 by Chip Wilson as a yoga-inspired technical athletic wear company.