Blackhawks select potential franchise-changer with first overall pick in NHL Draft

Despite not having the strongest supporting cast around him, Bedard managed to post video-game numbers with Regina. He totaled 134 goals and 271 points in just 134 games of major junior hockey, taking home an endless number of league awards.

Bedard's international play has been similarly stunning. There aren’t enough words in the English language to describe his performance at the most recent World Junior Championships, where he scored nine goals and 23 points in just seven games.

Beyond size, Bedard offers just about anything a team could want out of an NHL scoring center. He is arguably the most intelligent player in this year’s class, with the type of hockey IQ that makes him stand out shift after shift.

The moment he skates into the NHL he will be among the league’s most lethal shooters, as well. Not only is Bedard’s shot extremely powerful and accurate, but the deception in his shooting motion really sets him apart. He is able to let high-end shots loose from a variety of angles and in the face of all sorts of defensive pressure and he’s got legitimate Rocket Richard Trophy upside.

The Blackhawks are still missing a lot of pieces that Stanley Cup contenders typically boast. Their long-term goalie of the future is still a mystery (Drew Commesso showed some promise at Boston University) and outside of Seth Jones, they still lack high-end NHL defensemen.

But Bedard signals an important shift for Chicago. The Blackhawks might not make the playoffs next year, but they’re no longer wandering the hockey wilderness in search of a young, league-altering star to build around. With this pick, they’ve drafted one.