Bedard Had Extra Security In D.C. Because Of Fans Staking Out NHLPA Rookie Showcase & Hotel; How He Handles The Noise

The 18-year-old had to be helped by security as the Capitals practice facility hosted the NHLPA Rookie Showcase in Arlington, Virginia.

ARLINGTON, V.A. — For rising Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard, his two days in Arlington, Virginia, were somewhat similar to the life of a rockstar. Though the NHLPA Rookie Showcase at MedStar Capitals Iceplex — the Washington Capitals practice facility — was closed to the public, it didn't stop fans from doing everything they could to get a piece of the future NHL superstar.

The player bus carrying Bedard and his fellow top prospects highlighting the Showcase found itself being chased by a number of fans, who tried to flock around Bedard for autographs and photo opportunities when the bus came to a stop. Security put an end to it, though.

Per The Athletic's Mark Lazarus, Bedard also had to be escorted through the back door of the Arlington hotel he was staying at because of fans staking out the property.

Then, on Tuesday, fans were still stationing themselves outside of the front of MCI, waiting hours to see if there would be a glimpse of Bedard following the event that ran until around 3:30 p.m. ET.

While it was a lot of attention for the 2023 first-overall pick, who will make his highly-anticipated NHL debut in a little over a month, he shrugged it off and treated it as business as usual.

After all, it's nothing new for Bedard, who's been dealing with this type of attention since he was just 14 when he was granted exceptional status to join the WHL early due to his talent.

"I've had crazier, I guess," Bedard said. "It's something you kind of get used to a little bit... for me, the outside noise isn't pressure; it's just kind of something that's there."

While Bedard didn't mind acknowledging it, he didn't want to dive too much into detail.

"It's kind of normal, so I don't want to speak on that too much," Bedard said. "It's not really a big thing at all."