What team is Connor Bedard on NHL 2023? Connor Bedard is not on any NHL team in 2023. He is the projected No. 1 pick in the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft.
The athlete is eligible to get drafted by an NHL franchise this year, most likely by the Chicago Blackhawks.
A Canadian hockey player, Bedard will be drafted as a first-overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft on June 28-29 at Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee.
Bedard was also the one who was selected first among all eligible draftees in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft. The Regina Pats was the franchise to pick and sign Bedard.
13-year-old Bedard played minor hockey with West Vancouver Academy Prep in Canadian Sport School Hockey League. Bedard began to rise as a young hockey prospect and was also titled "The Future of Hockey" in an article, The Hockey News.
Bedard played with U15 and U18 teams being the Most valuable player with the highest goals and points. He was permitted to enter the Major junior-level Canadian Hockey League with exceptional player status granted by Hockey Canada.
Now that he is turning 18 soon, he has become eligible to be drafted by NHL. The team for Connor in NHL is not decided yet. However, the Chicago Blackhawks have won the lottery to pick the number one draft.
Why would the Blackhawks choose another player over the top pick? But it is in their hands; whether or not to draft the so-called generational talent.
What Team Did Connor Bedard Get Drafted To?
Connor Bedard is expected to get drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in June. Bedard was eligible for the NHL Entry Draft in 2023 and has astonishing status in ice hockey.
Chicago Blackhawks won the 2023 NHL lottery, gaining the right to choose the highly talented prospect, Bedard, the top pick. So why won't they?
The Blackhawks have traded Patrick Kane and decided not to offer Jonathan Toews a new contract, so they need a new face of the franchise.
The insertion of Bedard to the team is seen as a prominent opportunity for Chicago; to have an immediate replacement for Kane and Toews.
The NHL draft lottery was held on May 8th, where the Blackhawks and the Anaheim Ducks won the first and second lotteries, respectively. It means Blackhawks will select a player first and then the Ducks.
The Blackhawks had 11.5% odds, less than half of the Ducks. But Chicago moved up two spots to grab the first pick leaving the Ducks and Colombus to move a step down.
The 17-year-old is widely considered a generational type of talent. Well, It is assumed that the pick will alter the future of the Blackhawks, who failed to enter the Stanley Playoff 2023.
Why Is Connor Bedard So Good?
Connor Bedard is so good at Ice hockey because of his extraordinary skills and understanding of the game. He has quick reflexes and accurate shots.
After getting exceptional status from Hockey Canada, he entered Major junior-level hockey and was drafted to WHL as the first overall pick. Again in 2023, he is chosen as the first among all draftees in NHL. Why is Connor so good?
At a very young age, he displayed his ability to read the game and make quick decisions. By age 16, Bedard is the youngest player to score 50 goals in the league's history.
Additionally, he has shown impressive maturity and poise for his age, both on and off the ice. His achievements have made him stand out as a top player in the hockey world.
Bedard has been considered a first-round draft class by his performance in the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Despite being the youngest hockey player, he has attained many achievements, some of them are:
First player in WHL history to be granted exceptional status, allowing him to play in the league as a 15-year-old.
WHL Rookie of the Year and CHL Rookie of the Year in the 2020-21 season.
Achieving a gold medal at WJC in the summer of 2022
Leading Canada to the gold at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he surpassed all players in goals, assists, and points.
No.1 North American Skater posting a 71-72-143 record in just 57 games with Regina Parts.
Bedard's 2023 tournament performance set several national and international records to become the event's Most Valuable Player. He has been compared to McDavid and his idol Sidney Crosby.
Jersey Number
Connor Bedard Blackhawks Jersey Number has not been confirmed yet. He wore jersey #98 in the "Regina Pats" of the Western Hockey League.
It is expected that he will continue to wear the same number with the Blackhawks if he gets selected by the team in the upcoming draft, as it has become like a signature number for him.
Also, he has played with #16 for Team Canada in the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship.
If Bedard keeps the number 98 in NHL, he will become the seventh player in NHL history to wear No. 98. Bedard's number 98 soon get famous if he consistently performs better in NHL.
The number is close to his idol McDavid's number and the Great One's 98.
On May 8th, the Chicago Blackhawks' team store had several jerseys on display for popular players like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. It is anticipated that once the team selects Connor in the upcoming draft, his jersey sales will increase significantly.
Rookie And Draft Year
Connor Bedard Rookie And Draft Year are 2020 and 2023, respectively. He got drafted by the Pats in the first round of the WHL Bantam Draft in 2020.
Beddard performed impressive numbers in the 2020-21 season as a 15-year-old. Bedard's playmaking skills made him an instant sensation in the league, which will be the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL draft.
He was named the WHL Rookie of the Year and Canadian Hockey League Rookie of the Year for his extraordinary performance.
Where Is Connor Bedard From?
Connor Bedard is from North Vancouver, Canada. Bedard is a Canadian junior ice hockey center player and captain of the Regina Pats, WHL.
Bedard was born on July 17, 2005, and raised in Vancouver. When he got drafted by Regina Pats, his mother lived with him in Regina. Bedard's father and daughter lived in their primary residence in North Vancouver.
North Vancouver is a city in Canada known for hiking and skiing trails in the forested North Shore Mountains. One of the famous places is Grouse Mountain, having a sky-ride cable car from where people can observe the city view.
The city was founded on May 13, 1907, which makes it 116 years old as of 2023.
Will Connor Bedard Play In The NHL Next Year?
Bedard will be drafted in the 2023 NHL draft. But it does not mean he will play in the NHL next year.
Unlike National Football League (NFL) and National Basketball Association (NBA), the players do not get signed a pro contract upon being drafted.
There is a high chance of Bedard playing the next season. The players rarely play in the league at 18 years old. They need to develop and improve to perform at a high level.
All players who are or will be 18 years old in the draft year are eligible for selection for that year's NHL Entry Draft. The player who has been drafted is not guaranteed a contract but holds the rights to the player.
The NHL uses NCAA as a development league for young players like Bedard. The college-level hockey often gets their 18 or 19 years old to compete with 22 and 23-year-olds. Even an 18-year-old top NHL prospect only sometimes becomes a star in the NCAA team.
How Old Was Connor Bedard When He Was Drafted?
Connor Bedard was 14 years old and from Vancouver, B.C. He was drafted by the "Regina Pats" in the 2020 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft.
Connor had become the historic pick having exceptional status allowing him to compete for the Regina Pats at age 15.
Bedard was the first to join the WHL with this distinction among the only six other players who have ever received, including John Tavares, Connor McDavid, Sean Day, Aaron Ekblad, Joseph Veleno, and Shane Wright.
Bedard will be drafted on June 28th in the 2023 Entry Draft. He will turn 18 next month after his draft.
Height And Weight
Connor Bedard Height and Weight in feet are 5 feet 10 inches and 185 pounds, respectively.
Bedard has the Smallest height among the previous top picks of the NHL Draft over the last decade.
Despite having a compact height at 18, his understanding of the game and skill set is so good that fans are waiting for him to get on the ice rink with an elevation above six feet like other players.
His build supports him to maneuver through the ice easily and provides the necessary agility.
Family Tree
Connor Bedard Family Tree includes his parents Tom and Melaine Bedard and his sister Madisen Bedard. His grandparents are Garth Bedard and Lynn Bedard.
His great-great uncle James is a former hockey player who played in NHL in 1949-51. Tom worked in forestry near the south Regin townhouse.
James Leo Bedard, also known as Jim Bedard, was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenseman. Jim played 22 games in NHL from the Chicago Black Hawks during the 1949-50 and 1950-51 seasons.
He had a career of a decade in hockey which lasted from 1945-1958. He played most of the games with the New Westminster Royals in WHL.
He played 231 total games in the WHL and 22 games in the NHL.
