News came down that the Chicago Blackhawks will land the 1st overall pick at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The draft is expected to be held on June 28–29, 2023, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Blackhawks, as determined a team as any in the NHL, found themselves in the #1 spot, after securing the postion on May 8th/23. They say luck takes planning and one thing is for sure, you can’t say that Chicago didn’t do everything in their power to plan this result. Bedard is a phenomenal talent with the ability to completely transform the short- and long-term outlook of a franchise overnight. Of course, as it was with Gretzky, Lemieux, Crosby, Ovechkin & McDavid , Bedard has a lot to do, to prove he is even in their stratosphere.
Connor would be humble to just be mentioned in that sentence. Not often a generational talent comes along so close after another but that is what appears to be happening. Bedard is being drafted into the NHL only 8 years after McDavid was selected 1st overall by the Edmonton Oilers. Bedard is now headed in the direction of the Chicago Blackhawks. ( Enough pretending that Chicago would even entertain a trade option, it’s ridiculous to even think, although fun for fans of other teams).
Bedard finished his WHL career having played 134 games, scoring 134 goals in as many games and 137 assists for a total of 271 points. That is 2.02 points/game. Not bad huh? In only 7 games played on a weaker team in the playoffs, he scored 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points and a 2.80 points/game in the WHL playoffs. In his U20 WJC years he played 14 games, scoring 13 goals, and assisted on 13 more, scoring a total of 31 points which is 2.21 points per/game. This level is usually dominated by 19-20 year olds.
That’s amazing, considering Conner McDavid stats landed him playing in 166 games and scoring 97 goals and 188 assists for 285 points. That comes to 1.72 points/game. In McDavids OHL Playoff run he played in 34 games scoring 25 goals and 43 assists for 68 points. That comes to 2.00 points/game. McDavids U20 WJC years he played in 14 games, scoring 4 goals and assisting on 11, giving him 15 points for 1.07 points per/game
Imagine this, Bedard scored 14 less points than Connor McDavid but played in 32 less games. Bedard played in the exact number of U20 WJC games but averaged 1.07 more points/game, at the same level of hockey. Their comparison is vastly different though when comparing goals scored/game. Bedard averaged a goal/game in the WHL regular season plus above in the playoffs and in the WJC U20 he was almost a goal/game.
Anyway, I am sure you’re tired of the comparison. My point through all this is: Bedard has shown up to this point at every level of hockey and the challenge of him playing against bigger, tougher and skilled talent, he is still the best out there. McDavid did the same. The next biggest challenge of Bedard’s life is now in front of him and this summer he will jump leap years ahead and join the very best of the best in the world when he suits up for the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL. (Stop pretending they are not drafting him, it’s silly).
This is also where he may need a little more time to excel in comparison to McDavid’s first year. Why? Bedard is a smaller player and not as fast. McDavid is taller by 3 inches in their draft years and weighing at least 10-12 lbs heavier. This has allowed McDavid to be able to withstand the bigger players he would be facing off against. In addition McDavid had speed and more to burn in his rookie season, than 95% of the players already in the NHL.
Bedard will have to find ways to strengthen himself and be quicker in his decision making, as he won’t be able to always skate his way out of something like McDavid could and the game will move faster. However, do not write Bedard off! He has been proving people wrong his whole life and that is not about to change. I have no issue predicting Bedard will win NHL Rookie of the year in 2024, while averaging a point per game with the Chicago Blackhawks. Some have compared Bedard to Marcel Dionne while others have said Steve Yzerman. I see Bedard with Lemieux stick handling ability when one on one vs opponents and with Gretzky like Vision on the ice and lastly with Crosby determination to put a team on his back and lead. I know that’s a heavy load to compare him to these greats of the game but I am excited to say, I will be donning a Chicago Blackhawks jersey next season as I follow along with his career closely as a fan of his.
That brings me to the saddest news of the day yesterday. In what should have been an exciting day for all Blackhawks fans, 1000’s jumped on social media and started ripping the Chicago Blackhawks Franchise. I know many fans are still upset with the handling and management of the Kyle Beach situation but I had no idea how much outrage it would bring.
First of all, if I am mentioning something in these next lines that I am writing and you fit in that category, please I mean no disrespect. IMO I am totally disgusted with how the Blackhawks handled things, how the NHL did nothing to support Kyle in any way and in the end, it really did get swept under the rug with a small fine. Seeing the regime moved out from the franchise, did not set things right for me either. I also have seen teams lose their 1st round draft pick for lesser offences and certainly this likely should have been a part of that fine. Now moving forward (cause we cannot stay in the past) Hockey fans are outraged, angry that Chicago won the lottery and get to draft Connor Bedard. They feel they should lose their pick because of what happened in the cover up etc…I understand the anger and the frustration. Here, is just a few of the comments people were writing just to me alone but were all over twitter last evening. ( I will not make mention of who they were or their handles on twitter. You can go to my twitter account and look and read if you choose. @revingev )
“Chicago is so happy their fans have such short memories about a sexual assault cover up” / “Those teams cover up sexual assault like Chicago did?” / “$2M fine recouped today. Arizona lost picks for a combine violation. Plus, management tanked, which was not punished, and instead rewarded today. Seems like a lot to do with management.” /“Yes. The Coyotes literally lost the 11th overall pick in 2021 for asking an undrafted player to do jumping jacks. Clearly they should’ve just sexually abused them instead.” / “Your reward is: you can give the evil team owner more money, yay!” / “No, I think the people who covered it up don’t deserve the money generated from such a great prospect. Arizona fans deserved to lose a first round pick because their GM decided to test prospects?” / “Disgusting that you would stick up for this trash organization”
Anyway, I can go on and on for the responses that we’re coming in. It was mayhem! All that to say, my counter argument is the Blackhawks won the lottery and tanking or not, they’re was no guarantee they would win #1 overall. The other point about losing a draft pick? Ok, let’s say the NHL fined them and took their 1st round pick away, well it would not be this year’s 1st round. It would have been the 2022 draft. The truth be told, with every NHL draft, no one cares until there is a bonafide #1 overall prospect that can change a franchise, then everyone is jealous except the team that wins. Biggest argument about losing a draft pick is this was a criminal offence that happened and not a Hockey related offence.
You know what I feel bad about? What should have been a celebrated moment for Bedard and knowing where he will end up, turned this into an evening of anger by many. This will likely still hang over that franchise for another 10 years or more. This was the night for the entire Hockey world to take notice of the next great generational talent but instead it may become all about bringing up a players life over and over again. What happened should never have happened. But it’s Connor Bedard’s time to shine in the limelight and the Blackhawks fans to get excited about some exciting seasons of hockey in the years to come. So congrats to all you Blackhawks fans as you are about to witness some truly amazing talent on your ice once again. To all of us following other teams, it will be a delight to watch and follow Bedard’s career as he sets his sights high. The NHL is about to get even more exciting. Welcome Connor Bedard to the NHL Chicago Blackhawks!
Keep on Keeping on!
Evan ‘REV’ Renaerts
For news on Prospects in Jr hockey you can head over to REVS TOP 15 where I will post all my prospect watch information (not just the top 15 but prospects in several leagues around the world and anywhere from U12 and up. (Special thanks to several Scouts and agents around several Hockey leagues across North America & Europe for sending me stats and stories)
Connor Bedard will be a generational talent and he will be the face of the Chicago Blackhawks franchise for years to come. I wonder how well his jersey will sell in the coming years.