Prospect Info: Connor Bedard - 2023 1st - C, Regina

[piteus]

Bedard eats, sleeps, poop hockey 24/7. His parents have done great job raising him. That said, Bedard will have just turned 18 when he gets to Chicago. I'm sure the Blackhawks are planning for his off the ice infrastructure ... but it is critical we have the right mentors / support so he'll only have to concentrate on hockey for the first couple of years in Chicago ... as he moves from adolescent to adulthood.

On the ice, I have no concerns for Bedard. Off the ice, it'll be interesting how his infrastructure is set up for the first couple of years ... the pressure will be immense. Bedard appears to be the second most popular athlete in Chicago already (after Justin Fields) and he is 6+ years younger. That's also an indictment how bad the Chicago pro teams have been.

 

[HawksDub89]

Bedard eats, sleeps, poop hockey 24/7. His parents have done great job raising him. That said, Bedard will have just turned 18 when he gets to Chicago. I'm sure the Blackhawks are planning for his off the ice infrastructure ... but it is critical we have the right mentors / support so he'll only have to concentrate on hockey for the first couple of years in Chicago ... as he moves from adolescent to adulthood.

On the ice, I have no concerns for Bedard. Off the ice, it'll be interesting how his infrastructure is set up for the first couple of years ... the pressure will be immense. Bedard appears to be the second most popular athlete in Chicago already (after Justin Fields) and he is 6+ years younger. That's also an indictment how bad the Chicago pro teams have been.

Agree with all of this.

Kid turns 18 in July…I really hope the front office has a plan for this kid off the ice his first year.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

Kids a rink rat through and through. It's the best thing you can get in a kid.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

Bedard eats, sleeps, poop hockey 24/7. His parents have done great job raising him. That said, Bedard will have just turned 18 when he gets to Chicago. I'm sure the Blackhawks are planning for his off the ice infrastructure ... but it is critical we have the right mentors / support so he'll only have to concentrate on hockey for the first couple of years in Chicago ... as he moves from adolescent to adulthood.

On the ice, I have no concerns for Bedard. Off the ice, it'll be interesting how his infrastructure is set up for the first couple of years ... the pressure will be immense. Bedard appears to be the second most popular athlete in Chicago already (after Justin Fields) and he is 6+ years younger. That's also an indictment how bad the Chicago pro teams have been.

but also think about the pressures he has dealt with and felt as being the next one while growing up in Canada where hockey is royalty, that pressure to win a gold medal for his country at the WJC was nothing to sneeze at, he just has that IT factor, extremely lucky to build around this kid

 

[HeisenBaez]

One thing that stood out to me. Media asked the prospects what was their "welcome to the NHL" moment. Smith said the players lamborghini cars. Carlsson said all the chefs and the suits. Bedard? He said the amount of sticks the players have....

God I love this kid.

I remember the story of why CB wears 98. Kids wear numbers of the favorite jersey and when he was asked, "who wears 98?" Bedard says, "I do."

 

[HeisenBaez]

It's been 32 years since the ASG was held in Chicago. I believe that is going to be corrected fairly soon. I'm thinking 2026, the ASG will be in Chicago (Screw NY, they don't/won't have Bedard).

 

[x Tame Impala]

As soon as we won the lottery all my playoff excitement is gone. I can't wait for this f***in' draft to happen. Bring on the trades, lets get going with our Bedard era!

 

[clydesdale line]

It's been 32 years since the ASG was held in Chicago. I believe that is going to be corrected fairly soon. I'm thinking 2026, the ASG will be in Chicago (Screw NY, they don't/won't have Bedard).

Would make sense. Thats the Hawks centennial 100th season anniversary. Although it's also the New York Rangers anniversary as well. Hopefully the Hawks having a played of Bedard's caliber and the Rags likely on the downswing by that time will tip the scales.

 

[Malaka]

Agree with all of this.

Kid turns 18 in July…I really hope the front office has a plan for this kid off the ice his first year.

It would be nice if kaner rented out his lake forest mansion to him while he rehabs for some paltry amount

 

[Crow]

Saw my first bedard jersey in Elmwood Park today. Looked pretty f***ing hot

 

[Putt Pirate]

3 weeks from today……3 weeks from today.

 

[Chuck Testa]

3 weeks from today……3 weeks from today.

Time seems to be crawling since they've won the lotto haha. I can't wait for the draft and I'm hoping KD will be able to swing some deals to get more picks and/or move up in the 1st round again.

 

[Putt Pirate]

Time seems to be crawling since they've won the lotto haha. I can't wait for the draft and I'm hoping KD will be able to swing some deals to get more picks and/or move up in the 1st round again.

With yesterday’s 3 way hoping KD gets us something this year in the draft. Some thing a little extra. He seems very crafty so I expect something to happen. I need to block that week off for prep lol!

 

[clydesdale line]

Took those two days off to watch the draft. I ain't missin generational history.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

Took those two days off to watch the draft. I ain't missin generational history.

feels like KD is going to have at least 3 1st round picks again with potential for a 4th if they take on multiple cap dumps like Matt Murray from TOR, Myers/Garlund/Boeser/OEL from VAN...should be an exciting first round for sure...just give me the sweat of Michkov dropping to VAN's pick and we do what is needed to get it and end up with Bedard and Michkov

 

[EddieTheEagle]

feels like KD is going to have at least 3 1st round picks again with potential for a 4th if they take on multiple cap dumps like Matt Murray from TOR, Myers/Garlund/Boeser/OEL from VAN...should be an exciting first round for sure...just give me the sweat of Michkov dropping to VAN's pick and we do what is needed to get it and end up with Bedard and Michkov

I'd love it but there is no way Michkov is making it to 11th.

I think he will be a SJ Shark. They're going full KD with a teardown, years of sucking and collecting high picks. Fully expect them to offload more players this offseason and tank reeeeally hard for two years while they wait for Matvei.

 

[clydesdale line]

The legend of Bedard continues. Incredible article by Drance here. A must read.

 

[Deleted member 339941]

 

[Putt Pirate]

Love that celli!

 

[Kevin Musto]

This kid is f***ing built like Bane

 

[Kurtosis]

This kid is f***ing built like Bane

Not even 18 yet. That’s an NHL ready body.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

kid is going to be a monster...its like if you took the best attributes from toews, kane, keith and hossa and combined them into one plus you mix in an ovy type shot you get bedard...so lucky to have him coming here

 

[Putt Pirate]

Kid is ripped already. Damn!

And....wearing my 98 Bedard jersey as I type this.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

This kid is f***ing built like Bane

Wtf I thought this kid was small? No wonder he looked so dominant everywhere and not getting pushed around