Connor Bedard Officially Signs with the Chicago Blackhawks
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Edgar Chaput
On Monday, which also happened to be Connor Bedard’s 18th birthday, the number one overall selection in the NHL Entry Draft signed with the Chicago Blackhawks. It is an entry-level deal for three seasons with an average annual value of $950,000.
Connor Bedard Signs Entry-Level Deal with Blackhawks
Fortune smiled on the Chicago Blackhawks when the NHL Draft lottery positioned them with the first overall pick of the 2023 draft class. No one doubted they’d opt for British Columbia native Connor Bedard of the Regina Pats.
Not only were his 2021-2022 statistics excellent (51 goals, 49 assists in 62 games), but his 2022-2023 were beguiling (71 goals, 72 assists in 57 games).
Chicago could use a serious boost to its roster. The past few seasons have been abysmal for the Illinois-based franchise. The years when Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane led the club to Stanley Cup championships are fading in the rear-view mirror. In 82 games last year, the Blackhawks went 26-49-7 for 59 points. They only had 68 points the season before.
Time will tell if Connor Bedard lives up to the hype in the NHL, but his resume so far definitely makes him what some describe as a generational talent.