Chicago Blackhawks officially make Connor Bedard the number one pick

After months and months of anticipation, the Chicago Blackhawks have finally done it. They made Connor Bedard the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

This is an amazing moment in the history of the league and the franchise. Chicago has its new face after more than a decade of Jonathan Toews with Patrick Kane.

Bedard has been seen as the number-one pick in this draft for a few years now. He played his Major Junior career up to this point with the Regina Pats of the WHL where he was one of the most dominant players that the league has ever seen.

He also had significant (never before seen) success with Team Canada at multiple different levels. All of these accolades made him one of the greatest hockey prospects who ever lived.

Drafting Bedard was the easy part once they won the lottery. Getting through the 2022-23 season was difficult but now is where the work begins. It is on the Hawks organization to do something with this fortune.

The Chicago Blackhawks are finally the team that has Connor Bedard.

They already acquired Taylor Hall from the Boston Bruins to possibly play with him. They also have Andreas Athanasiou, Lukas Reichel, and a few others that will have their chance as well. Over the years, he will form chemistry with a lot of different players.

For now, Chicago can celebrate the fact that good times are ahead. They are getting a player that is seen as generational. Don’t think Toews and Kane. Think Connor McDavid or Sidney Crosby. Obviously, those players can be built around easier than most other number-one picks.

This is the first time Chicago has made a first-overall pick since they selected Kane first in 2007. Now, Bedard can only hope to win as much as those who came right before him.

When he reaches the NHL, it is unclear what position he will play but he will be tried out everywhere. He has the skills to do it all so you just never know.

Bedard’s best asset is his ability to score using his shot. He can make plays at a high level too but scoring is what makes him extra lethal. He pretty much invented a new way to shoot the puck and it confuses goalies in the most spectacular way.

Most prospects don’t make it right away but you can expect Bedard to be in the opening night lineup against the Pittsburg Penguins. That will obviously be a notable night in league history.

Not only will he play in the league but he should hit the ground running. He is that good. Now that he is officially drafted, we can actually start getting ready to see him in a Blackhawks sweater.