Blackhawks select Connor Bedard with top pick in 2023 NHL Draft

The Chicago Blackhawks have selected forward Connor Bedard with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Bedard is widely believed to be one of the best prospects to enter the NHL Draft in a generation. The 17-year-old sniper cemented his status as the runaway favorite to be selected first overall with a draft year for the ages.

The 5-foot-9 center collected a staggering 71 goals and 143 points in just 57 games with the Regina Pats during the 2022–23 Western Hockey League regular season. He added 20 points in seven WHL playoff games and 23 points in seven games with Team Canada at the 2023 World Junior Championship.

Bedard is Chicago’s first No. 1 pick since Patrick Kane in 2007. The North Vancouver product is now the centerpiece of a new-look Blackhawks core that also features Kevin Korchinski, Lukas Reichel, and Frank Nazar.

The Blackhawks moved up to the top spot from pick No. 3 in the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery. Chicago also possesses Tampa Bay’s 2023 first-round pick (No. 19 overall) and four selections in the second round.

Daily Faceoff‘s Steven Ellis ranked Bedard as the No. 1 prospect available in this year’s draft. Here’s what he had to say about Bedard in his final 2023 NHL Draft Rankings:

“You already know everything you need to know about the NHL’s next superstar,” Ellis said. “After scoring 71 goals and 143 points in 57 regular season games, Bedard followed it up by scoring 10 goals and 20 points in just seven playoff games with Regina. The Pats fell in the end, marking the conclusion of one of the best junior careers we’ve ever seen. Truly a special season for an exceptional prospect.”

The Blackhawks finished the 2022–23 regular season with a 26–49–7 record and 59 points in 82 games, enough to finish eighth in the Central Division and 30th in the league. They ultimately missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season.