Blackhawks' Connor Bedard makes NHL history with first All-Star nod
Chicago Blackhawks rookie and 2023 No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard earned his first of potentially many future All-Star Game nods on Thursday, making incredible NHL history in the process.
At 18 years and 171 days old, Bedard is the youngest player in league history to be an All-Star, topping the previous record holder, Jeff Skinner (18 years, 259 days old), who set the mark in 2011 with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Bedard also takes the crown as the youngest All-Star among the big four pro sports: MLB, NBA and NFL. He beats out former New York Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden (19 years old in 1984), late Hall of Famer and Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant (19 years old in 1997) and several NFL players who made the Pro Bowl as 21-year-olds.
The accolade isn't the only achievement Bedard has claimed this season. Only months into his NHL career, he's become the youngest player in Blackhawks history to post a multi-goal game and topped Darryl Sutter for the longest road point streak (10) by a first-year player in franchise history.
Bedard leads the Blackhawks in goals (15), assists (18) and points (33) through 37 games while holding a 10-point advantage for the rookie lead over Marco Rossi of the Minnesota Wild and Adam Fantilli of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
He's also on pace for another historic distinction. With consistent play the rest of the way, Bedard would have to be the overwhelming favorite to win the Calder Trophy, awarded to the league's most impactful rookie.
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