The Chicago Blackhawks have 'earned' the right to select No. 1 overall at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, thanks to the annual draft lottery held on Monday evening in Secaucus, New Jersey.
Entering the lottery with the third-best odds out of the 16 non-playoff teams, Chicago leapfrogged both the Columbus Blue Jackets and Anaheim Ducks to secure its first No. 1 overall selection since drafting three-time Stanley Cup champion Patrick Kane first overall back in 2007.
Bedard, 17, will undoubtedly be the first player off the board come June 28, as the Blackhawks will take the Regina Pats forward with the shoo-in No. 1 pick.
"I'm a little bit speechless to be honest, but really, really excited," Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said moments after his team was awarded the top selection.
"Any time you can add elite talent like we'll be able to add in this draft with the first overall selection, it's a monumental thing. I'm really excited for the fan base and the city. But in the end, it's one piece. It's a big piece, but it's one piece that will go into building this team."
Chicago, which had the third-best odds at landing Bedard at 11.5 percent, jumped ahead of Columbus (13.5 percent) and Anaheim (18.5 percent) as one of the league's bottom-three teams following the 2022-23 season.
"You never want to move down in the draft and not retain the first spot, but the top players this year give us an opportunity to select an elite player with the second overall pick," Anaheim general manager Pat Verbeek reflected. "We are now in the unique position to draft one of the best players available and add to the exciting young players already in our organization."
The other-worldly junior super star will join the NHL's Western Conference for the 2023-24 season, to which he will see the most of his action within other Central Division teams' barns. Having played in Regina, Bedard will certainly draw a large crowd when he makes his two trips to the Winnipeg each year.
That excitement will be fantastic for True North Sports + Entertainment's ticket sales, but will also carry about it a certain level of difficulty as the Jets will be facing a player of generational talent more often than they would if he had gone to the Pacific, Metropolitan or Atlantic division.
The Blackhawks had actually fully-committed to the rebuild process with no guarantee of Bedard as the season wore on. The original-six club shipped off Kane in a blockbuster trade deadline deal with the New York Rangers, while captain Jonathan Toews later skated (and scored) in his final home game at the Madhouse on Madison.
Coming in to fill Kane and Toews' boots is Bedard. The first Western Hockey League player ever granted Exceptional Status from Hockey Canada, he went on to score 134 goals and 271 points in 134 games with the Pats. In 2022-23 alone, Bedard put up 71 goals and 143 points. He did so in just 57 games. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound North Vancouver product also added 10 goals and 20 points in seven playoff games this postseason.
Bedard also set the Canadian record with 17 total goals and 36 points through his time suiting up for Canada at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.
The Ducks, who now hold the second overall selection, will likely use it on University of Michigan forward Adam Fantilli. They most recently selected Bobby Ryan with the No. 2 pick in 2005.
As the second-lowest ranked playoff team this spring, Winnipeg (95 points) will select at No. 18, just behind the New York Islanders (No. 17).
Full 2023 Draft Lottery Results:
1. CHICAGO
2. ANAHEIM
3. COLUMBUS
4. SAN JOSE
5. MONTREAL
6. ARIZONA
7. PHILADELPHIA
8. WASHINGTON
9. DETROIT
10. ST. LOUIS
11. VANCOUVER
12. ARIZONA (VIA OTTAWA)
13. BUFFALO
14. PITTSBURGH
15. NASHVILLE
16. CALGARY