Happy birthday, Connor Bedard. You’re now under contract as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks.
On Monday morning, Bedard turned 18 and thus became eligible to sign his entry-level NHL deal. The Blackhawks signed the greatest prospect since Connor McDavid to a three-year contract that will be made official later Monday, as reported by The Athletic’s Scott Powers.
After winning the NHL Draft Lottery in May, the Blackhawks were a lock to select Bedard first overall at the June 28 NHL Draft in Nashville, and they did. Heavily muscled for his age and armed with a deadly shot, Bedard is projected to become a superstar at the NHL level and an impact player from Year 1.
His jaw-dropping draft year included 71 goals and 143 points in 57 games for the WHL’s Regina Pats; nine goals and 23 points in seven games at the 2023 World Junior Championship, helping Canada gold while breaking Canada’s all-time scoring record at the tourney; and winning CHL Player of the Year.
From the moment the Blackhawks won the Draft Lottery May 8, things began to change for the franchise. Season ticket sales soared. Bedard jerseys flew off the racks. And the Hawks themselves began making moves in preparation of insulating their star rookie come October.
In a trade with the Boston Bruins during the week of the Draft, they acquired veterans Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno. Hall is an obvious favorite to open the season on Bedard’s wing, while Foligno will bring years of veteran leadership to a Blackhawks dressing room that has lost stalwarts Duncan Keith, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews over the last few offseasons.
Bedard and the Blackhawks play their first regular-season game Oct. 10 in Pittsburgh against the Penguins, giving Bedard a chance to go head to head with one of his childhood idols: Sidney Crosby.
