At the age of 18, Connor Bedard, has dominated the stat leaderboard for the Chicago Blackhawks, becoming a phenom after just the first few games of his rookie season. After an incredible 143 point season with the Regina Pats in the Western Hockey League (WHL), a Canadian hockey league, Bedard was selected as the first overall draft pick in the 2023 NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. The first-overall pick has started his season the way that everyone had anticipated.
Being a top player for Chicago might not seem like a big deal at the level of competition, but at 18 years old, it’s an excellent sign of success. The NHL had not seen a rookie with his skill in a long time; even the best players have yet to start their careers this strong. Bedard had become the third youngest player to score four points in a game, following Ted Kennedy and Bip Guidolin in 1994. Connor McDavid, also known as “McJesus,” is famously one of the NHL’s best players; in his first 13 games, he had five goals and seven assists, while Bedard had nine goals and 13 points.
Many West Essex students have been excited to see Connor Bedard in action with the pros.
“I’m not surprised Connor Bedard is living up to the hype everyone is giving him,” senior Gerardo Montone said. “I’m excited to see Connor Bedard’s wicked wrist shot. It is a quick move when he comes into the zone, and I expect to see a point per game, if not more, this season.”
Seniors are impressed that someone their age is playing in the NHL. Bedard has inspired young fans and showed them that all it takes is dedication and hard work to reach your goals. It will be an exciting season for the Blackhawks as people look forward to seeing the hockey prodigy play his game.
“I’ve been watching him before he came into the NHL, and I told myself this kid will be a star. He’s a hell of a player and only 18 years young,” senior Dom Contuzzi said. “I’m a fan of his style of play. He’s very shifty and reminds me of Jack Hughes. He’s a good player all around. I’m excited to see what happens. I think he’s going to be a big star.”
Bedard has surpassed the standard; his ability has much to prove, and many expectations are coming his way. Even though he contributes a lot for the Blackhawks, many still have doubts for the rest of the team.
“He’s a very hardworking player; he’s going to have a big year with the Blackhawks, put up a lot of points, and has a bright future ahead of him,” West Essex varsity hockey player Connor Maniscalco said. “I think they can make a playoff run with him, but they’re not going to go farther than the 2nd or 3rd round.”
There is a lot of promise for Connor Bedard in the future. There is hope that Bedard will assist the Chicago Blackhawks as they are rebuilding their team after trading Patrick Kane late last season. Coming across the quarter point of the NHL season, Bedard is the unanimous favorite to win the Calder Trophy—the trophy to the best rookie in the NHL—which the Professional Hockey Writers Association selects. There is a lot to look forward to watching throughout the rest of Bedard’s rookie season.
Photo credit: “evans bedard 12_14” by Jenn G is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
