A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE
Take a look at Connor Bedard and other familiar faces who are heading to new places in 2023-24, and see what might lie ahead for them in the hobby.
“AND WITH THE FIRST-OVERALL SELECTION OF THE 2023 NHL DRAFT, THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS ARE VERY PROUD TO SELECT, FROM THE REGINA PATS OF THE WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE...”
We all know what happened next. Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson practically beamed as he called the name of Connor Bedard, officially kickstarting his long-anticipated transformation from junior sensation to the next face of the NHL.
“He’s a pretty special player, a very special person,” Davidson said a erward, using the mildest superlatives possible.
Bedard, who just turned 18 in July, seemed to relish the experience of being the top pick a er weeks of avoiding any talk of the honor. “I didn’t want to jinx myself,” he explained at a post-dra press conference.
“I can’t put into it words,” he said of the emotion he felt when pulling on a Blackhawks sweater for the first time. “Growing up … that’s when they were going on their runs winning Cups. (I) watched a lot of them and you see the United Center going crazy and all of Chicago getting behind them and you know (the) Original Six and so much history here.”
Bedard got his first taste of NHL life at the team’s development camp. Perhaps to take some of the pressure off the youngster, the Hawks changed the format of the event, which was staged just days a er the dra . Instead of giving the fans their first look at Bedard in action against other recently dra ed hopefuls, the club opted to stage all activities off-ice. e focus was on teambuilding activities, including breathing workshops led by Johnny Oduya, boxing lessons from Luke Richardson, and a group excursion to a Chicago Cubs game where Bedard threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
“at was awesome,” Bedard said. “I didn’t know how the fans would be with all the rain that day … but it was packed in there.