The Chicago Blackhawks are expected to select generational talent Connor Bedard: The new face of the Original Six franchise?
With the No. 1 overall pick, the Chicago Blackhawks select … Connor Bedard, Regina Pats (WHL)
Why pick him? The slick center is regarded as the best prospect since Connor McDavid was drafted by Edmonton first overall in 2015. Chicago won the 2023 top pick at the NHL's draft lottery on May 8.
A smidge under 5-foot-10 and at 185 pounds, Bedard figures to become a foundation for the gut-rehabbing Blackhawks. The North Vancouver, B.C. native would be a fitting franchise player for Chicago, now that Patrick Kane — a first-round pick in 2007 – and Jonathan Toews have moved on. It will take a few years and the Blackhawks need a lot of other parts, but Bedard would be tabbed with leading Chicago back to the top of the NHL.
Bedard has a dangerously quick, accurate shot that he never stops trying to improve. (Sounds like a young Kane, or...?). He has terrific on-ice vision, play-reading and passing skills; think floating a pass through three bodies. Bedard scored 71 goals and 143 points in 57 games for the WHL Regina Pats and was a driving force for Canada at the World Junior Championships with nine goals and 14 assists.
Besides McDavid, Bedard has been compared to Pittsburgh's Sydney Crosby, who notched 39 goals and 102 points as an 18-year-old rookie in 2005-06. Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson has stopped short of predicting those first-year numbers for Bedard — or even mentioning Bedard by name — but the forward is known for his composure, hunger and pushing himself to a higher level. Bedard has focused on becoming an ultra-elite NHL player, all while showing a blend of old-school Canadian hockey humility and cool PR savvy in an era of social media mayhem. He's not only skilled, but mature and on-message beyond his years.
Like dozens of other draft prospects, Bedard has met with Davidson and his staff. Barring a last-minute shocker, Davidson will finally call his name to open the draft in Nashville on June 28. Then, barring another shocker, Bedard will head to to the podium and pull on a No. 98 red Blackhawks jersey.
Who are the other options? If a shock happens, projected new-age power-forward Adam Fantilli would be more than a consolation prize. The 6-foot-2 center won the Hobey Baker Award as a freshman last season at the University of Michigan with 30 goals and 65 points in 36 games. A native of the Greater Toronto Area, Fantilli played for the USJHL Chicago Steel (based at the Fox Valley Ice Arena) before joining the Wolverines and helping them to the Frozen Four last April.
What else is on the agenda? Davidson has 10 other picks entering the 2023 draft, including another in the first round at No. 19. The NHL's youngest GM has said everything's on the table, including deals involving those picks. (See our story at this site "It's going to be an interesting road.") The Blackhawks need to add bodies to their roster, but don't expect Chicago to pursue any of the biggest-name free agents just because they have Bedard. Davidson doesn't want to tie up resources with large or long-term contracts at this point. Bedard would be a terrific foundation, but the Blackhawks are still rebuilding, mainly with upside-potential kids.