Comfortable birthday, Connor Bedard. You’re now underneath contract as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks.
On Monday morning, Bedard turned 18 and thus grew to become eligible to signal his entry-level NHL deal. The Blackhawks signed the best prospect since Connor McDavid to a three-year contract that might be made official later Monday, as reported by The Athletic’s Scott Powers.
After successful the NHL Draft Lottery in Might, the Blackhawks have been a lock to pick out Bedard first total on the June 28 NHL Draft in Nashville, they usually did. Closely muscled for his age and armed with a lethal shot, Bedard is projected to change into a famous person on the NHL degree and an influence participant from Yr 1.
His jaw-dropping draft 12 months included 71 objectives and 143 factors in 57 video games for the WHL’s Regina Pats; 9 objectives and 23 factors in seven video games on the 2023 World Junior Championship, serving to Canada gold whereas breaking Canada’s all-time scoring file on the tourney; and successful CHL Participant of the Yr.
From the second the Blackhawks received the Draft Lottery Might 8, issues started to vary for the franchise. Season ticket gross sales soared. Bedard jerseys flew off the racks. And the Hawks themselves started making strikes in preparation of insulating their star rookie come October.
In a commerce with the Boston Bruins through the week of the Draft, they acquired veterans Taylor Corridor and Nick Foligno. Corridor is an apparent favourite to open the season on Bedard’s wing, whereas Foligno will convey years of veteran management to a Blackhawks dressing room that has misplaced stalwarts Duncan Keith, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews over the previous few offseasons.
Bedard and the Blackhawks play their first regular-season recreation Oct. 10 in Pittsburgh in opposition to the Penguins, giving Bedard an opportunity to go face to face with one in all his childhood idols: Sidney Crosby.
