The hockey world has been looking forward to the 2023 draft class for some time now, in anticipation of an exciting and deeply talented crop of players. It's a class with the potential to especially impact the league in the years ahead.
But there has been a clear choice at the very top of it all along.
Connor Bedard hasn't allowed a glimmer of doubt to loosen his hold on the No. 1 ranking, even though other prospects such as Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson, Will Smith and Matvei Michkov had phenomenal seasons of their own. Bedard's numbers and impact have simply been extraordinary and special.
Bedard figures to be the face of the Blackhawks franchise for years to come. Sam Cosentino and our own scout Jason Bukala tell us more about the player.
Sam Cosentino on the player: This draft will forever be known as the Connor Bedard draft, and he is likely to change the fortunes of the Chicago Blackhawks for years to come. Bedard is Patrick Kane 2.0. Three Stanley Cups may not necessarily be in the cards for Bedard, but with Chicago's teardown complete he is the perfect player to build around from scratch.
Consider this: Bedard’s WHL career with the Regina Pats spanned 134 regular season games, scoring 134 goals and 137 assists for 271 points. To further that, he only played seven playoff games, yet scored 10 more goals and 20 points. Now let’s add his play internationally at the U18s, two full world juniors and two games from the cancelled WJC. In 27 games combined at those events, the phenom scored 30 times with 57 points, all accomplished as an underaged player. Phenomenal.
Bedard was the first player ever granted early exceptional status into the WHL. He is projected to have a similar impact in the NHL. He scores from all over the ice, he makes plays and has a high level of compete that stood out at the CHL/NHL Top Prospects game in January even though he failed to record a point. This all points to Bedard playing top six minutes and being a force on the power play the second he steps on to NHL ice.
Jason Bukala's scouting report: Nothing left to prove. Consensus No. 1 overall pick. Generational talent who could change the trajectory of a franchise.
An elusive player who isn’t lightning fast in transition but his creativity with the puck, and sturdy core, make him hard to defend.
Bedard possesses the quickest, hardest, most accurate release in this draft class. If he can see the front of the net with the puck on his stick, he can score from anywhere. Top line NHL upside.
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