Connor Bedard will — almost certainly — be a Chicago Blackhawk.
The organization won the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery on Monday evening, giving the Blackhawks the first overall pick for this year's draft on June 28. They had the third-best odds going into the lottery at 11.5 per cent, behind the Anaheim Ducks and Columbus Blue Jackets.
After the era of franchise stars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews finally came to a conclusion this season, knowing the projected No. 1 pick Bedard will likely land in Chicago has provided Blackhawks fans with a new hope for their team's future.
Bedard, 17, is a product of the Western Hockey League, where he amassed 143 points (71 goals and 72 assists) in 57 games this season.
Unsurprisingly, the first overall pick going to the Blackhawks was met on social media with mixed reactions. While some celebrated the team's winning of the Bedard sweepstakes, others were nowhere near as pleased — to say the least.
Here's a glimpse at some of the mixed reactions on Twitter following the reveal:
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