Connor Bedard No. 1 followed by intrigue at NHL draft
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[June 27, 2023]
Connor Bedard is considered a lock to be selected by the
Chicago Blackhawks with the first overall pick of the 2023 NHL Draft
on Wednesday in Nashville, Tenn.
While that answer has been known for quite some time, the questions
come quickly in regard to the second overall pick held by the
Anaheim Ducks. And they don't stop there as the Columbus Blue
Jackets, San Jose Sharks and Montreal Canadiens round out the top
five picks of the draft.
First things first, however.
Bedard has been considered a generational talent and is noted to be
the best prospect to enter the NHL since Connor McDavid. For
reference, the Edmonton Oilers superstar captain is expected to win
his third Hart Trophy as the league's MVP on Monday night.
"I'm not a fan of the phrase 'generational player.' It kind of gets
overused quite a bit," director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr
told the Chicago Tribune. "(But) in my time in scouting, (Pittsburgh
Penguins captain) Sidney Crosby was one of the first where I would
use that term. Then the next one was Connor McDavid. And now Connor
Bedard deserves to be in that same conversation.
"What stands out is the quickness in which he can execute on the
play, whether that's his release, reading the play and being in
position (or) just getting to the net and getting through the
defenders."
Bedard will head to a Blackhawks team that emptied the cupboard.
They traded Kirby Dach, Alex DeBrincat and former Hart Trophy
recipient Patrick Kane, who was Chicago's only other selection in
which it held the top overall pick of a draft (2007). The Blackhawks
have accrued promising prospects and significant draft capital as
they cast an eye toward the future.
Bedard, who will turn 18 next month, led Canada to the gold medal at
the World Junior Championship with a tournament-best 23 points (nine
goals, 14 assists) in January.
The British Columbia native swept player of the year, top prospect
and top scorer awards in the Canadian Hockey League after recording
143 points (71 goals, 72 assists) in 57 games for the Regina Pats of
the Western Hockey League.
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"I'm still young and have a lot I want do in my hockey career,"
Bedard said at the time. "But like I said, I've just been pretty
fortunate to be able to play in some of these tournaments and
leagues and experience these things that I've gotten to experience.
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"It's been a hell of a ride so far and hopefully it
continues."
While Bedard is the easy choice to kick off the
draft, the decisions become more difficult from there.
Popular opinion has the Ducks taking either Michigan forward Adam
Fantilli or Orebro forward Leo Carlsson with the second overall
pick.
Fantilli, 18, recorded 65 points (30 goals, 35 assists) in 36 games
during his first collegiate season with the Wolverines. He became
the third freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award along with Vegas
Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel (2015) and Hall of Famer Paul
Kariya (1993).
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2019/Sep/05/images/ads/current/stclara_lda_SPONSOR_090519.png)
"What Bedard did in the WHL was crazy," the 6-foot-2, 195-pound
Fantilli said. "I mean, he scored 70 goals, which is pretty
phenomenal. But ever since I was a kid, my goal has been to try and
be the highest pick in the NHL draft and I think I've done the best
I can to work and try to be the best version of the player I wanted
to be by draft day.
"It'll all come down to what teams need and what teams want on their
rosters so obviously it's not up to me. I think I've worked my
hardest and I've tried to be the best player I can be, so it's out
of my hands at this point."
Carlsson, 18, recorded 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in 44 games.
The 6-3, 194-pounder was named the Swedish junior hockey player of
the year.
The Blue Jackets likely will run to the podium to select the forward
left behind by the Ducks, leaving the Sharks on the clock at No. 4.
The mystery effectively starts there with Team USA National Team
Development Program forward Will Smith, HK Sochi forward Matvei
Michkov and EHC Kloten defenseman David Reinbacher likely waiting in
the wings.
The Canadiens will select fifth, followed by the Arizona Coyotes,
Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals, Detroit Red Wings and St.
Louis Blues to round out the top 10.
--Field Level Media
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