Who has best chance to land Bendard?
An NHL team finishing poorly this season has a chance to win a big prize.
That’s Regina (Saskatchewan) Pats 5-foot-10, 185-pound center Connor Bedard, a generational talent who was confirmed as the top North American prospect in NHL Central Scouting’s midseason rankings.
He had been considered the top pick for 2023 for years.
Teams find themselves in the mix for different reasons. The Chicago Blackhawks parted with four players in the offseason. The Columbus Blue Jackets, meanwhile, signed top free agent Johnny Gaudreau but have been crushed by injuries.
With the winner of the draft lottery in April able to move up only 10 spots this year, the bottom 11 teams have a chance to land Bedard. Here’s a look at the teams with the best odds (statistics are as of Feb. 12; this file will be updated at usatoday.com during the season).
Bedard, who entered the Western Hockey League draft early as a 15-yearold, has put up big numbers while playing against older players. He has an NHL-level shot. The 17-year-old was named world junior championships MVP after getting 23 points in seven games for gold medalist Canada. He leads the WHL with 96 points in 39 games, including a 35-game point streak that recently ended. Last season, he had 100 points in 62 games.
What are the draft lottery odds for Connor Bedard?
Columbus Blue Jackets – 53 GP, 1633-4, 36 pts., .340. Odds: 25.5%
Chicago Blackhawks – 51 GP, 16-30-5, 37 pts., .363. Odds: 13.5%
Anaheim Ducks – 54 GP, 17-31-6, 40 pts., .370. Odds: 11.5%
Arizona Coyotes – 53 GP, 17-28-8, 42 pts., .396. Odds: 9.5%
San Jose Sharks – 54 GP, 17-26-11, 45 pts., .417. Odds: 8.5%
Vancouver Canucks – 53 GP, 21-28-4, 46 pts., .434. Odds: 7.5%
Montreal Canadiens – 53 GP, 22-27-4, 48 pts., .453. Odds: 6.5%
St. Louis Blues – 52 GP, 24-25-3, 51 pts., .490. Odds: 6.0%
Philadelphia Flyers – 54 GP, 22-23-10, 54 pts., .491. Odds: 5.0%
Ottawa Senators – 51 GP, 24-24-3, 51 pts., .500. Odds: 3.5%
Florida Panthers – 55 GP, 26-23-6, 58 pts., .527. Odds: 3.0%
What’s the biggest recent news among teams in the Connor Bedard watch?
Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun, who was made a healthy scratch on Feb. 11 for “trade related reasons,” will continue to sit out. Signed through 2024-25 as a reasonable $4.6 million cap hit, Chychrun would get a strong return if dealt, so the team is protecting its asset. “He will remain out of the lineup until something happens for us,” coach Andre Tourigny told reporters. The decision also has a practical effect on the ice. Injured defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere also remains out, so the Coyotes are missing their top players in ice time, and two of their top five point-getters. Chychrun has 28 points in 36 games.