If you read any casual scouting reports on presumptive No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL draft Connor Bedard, the superlatives jump off the page and for good reason.…
On the heels of the Vegas Golden Knights' 4-1 series win over the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Finals, all eyes turn to NHL free agency and which teams…
NHL Rumors: Connor Bedard Is Same Level of Prospect as Auston Matthews, Exec Says
Jun 13, 2023
LANGLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JANUARY 25: Forward Connor Bedard #98 of the Regina Pats skates for Team Red during the 2023 Kubota CHL Top Prospects Game Practice at the Langley Events Centre on January 25, 2023 in Langley, British Columbia. (Photo by Dennis Pajot/Getty Images)
With the 2023 NHL draft quickly approaching, presumptive No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard is receiving some lofty praise.
An NHL executive told The Athletic's Corey Pronman that Bedard's skills are comparable to one of the league's best players.
"He's the same level of prospect as Auston Matthews was as a No. 1," the exec said of Bedard. "I may have him over Matthews at the same age but it's closer to that than someone like [Connor] McDavid mostly because I'm worried Bedard may end up a wing at some point."
If Bedard turns out anything like Matthews, he's in for a stellar NHL career. A two-time league-leading goal-scorer, Matthews won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2017 after the Toronto Maple Leafs drafted him No. 1 overall. He earned the Hart Memorial Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award for his incredible 2021-22 campaign in which he totaled 106 points (60 goals, 46 assists).
The Chicago Blackhawks, who own the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL draft on June 28, surely would be happy with a player of Matthews' caliber if they decide to select Bedard.
Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli Will Be Linked Together Like McDavid and Eichel Are
Jun 10, 2023
Connor Bedard (center-left) and Adam Fantilli (far right) will be forever connected thanks to likely being the No. 1 and No. 2 pick in the 2023 NHL draft.
BUFFALO -- History repeating itself is a fascinating occurrence, especially when it comes to generational talent in hockey.
In 2015, Connor McDavid was the heir apparent to Sidney Crosby as a franchise-changing superstar-to-be. That year, McDavid was followed closely behind by Jack Eichel and the lead-up to the draft saw teams tanking to have the chance to pick either of one of them. The Edmonton Oilers won the biggest prize in McDavid and the Buffalo Sabres, the league's worst team who had the best shot at the No. 1 pick, "settled" for No. 2 and Eichel.
When they were young: a young Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel back in 2015.
Fast forward to the present day. Quite similarly to the 2014-15 season, teams decided to go all-in on being as bad as possible with the opportunity to draft Connor Bedard far too attractive. And just like McDavid had Eichel, Bedard has his own star-in-the-making behind him: University of Michigan star Adam Fantilli
While the Chicago Blackhawks are sitting in the same catbird seat as the Oilers were eight years ago, the Anaheim Ducks are poised to cash in with a superstar talent of their own at No. 2.
The parallels between Bedard and Fantilli haven't been as plainly stated as those between McDavid and Eichel, but the two young stars-to-be set to be picked at the end of June will forever be linked just the same. What's more, their talent backs it up.
"It's a season for the ages for both of them," NHL Director of Central Scouting Dan Marr said. "It's very difficult for a 17, 18-year-old to excel at the World Junior level and the way Connor had at every level that he played at and what Adam did, he was one of the younger players in the league and as a freshman, there's a lot at the college level, with seniors and juniors, the freshmen are at the bottom of the heap."
When you look at what Bedard and Fantilli did with their respective teams this season (Bedard with the Regina Pats of the WHL and Fantilli with Michigan) and compare them to what McDavid did with the Erie Otters and Eichel at Boston University during their draft years, you can see why it's such an accurate throwback to 2015.
One guy excelled in the Canadian Hockey League while the other was the best of the best in the NCAA as a freshman. It's kind of spooky.
There is one slight difference between the pairs. Instead of a Canada versus United States rivalry like McDavid and Eichel, Bedard and Fantilli were teammates for Canada during World Juniors. That know each other doesn't do much to make things spicy in the grand sense, but they're competitors and they'll more than likely be rivals in the Western Conference very soon. There's also the fact that they've been in the same draft conversations for years now with Bedard being the prime focus all along. That suits Fantilli just fine.
"He's a phenomenal hockey player and he deserves everything he's getting," Fantilli said. "There's a lot of eyes on him, in terms of everything that he's going to be expected to do with the amount of success he's had in juniors and at an international level...we've been in entirely different situations and we're going to be drafted in different spots so it's going to be a different experience for both of us."
Bedard has been in the spotlight since he was granted exceptional player status by the CHL when he was 14 years old in 2020. He's been the focus of the hockey media ever since and his childhood dream is nearly fulfilled. But his eyes are on what's happening right now and staying in the moment.
"I'm focused on what's important and what I can control with my own play and my own team, of course," Bedard said. "You don't really think about that stuff, just some extra interviews and attention and whatnot. I'm just staying focused on what I need to be focused on and try to become a better player and a better person so that's how I handle it."
Bedard's focus is steely and straight ahead in the most McDavid ways imaginable, even if his description of what he's doing doesn't excite you. The goal is to make the NHL and then to become the best player he can be. That puts him straight in line to compete with the likes of McDavid, Eichel, Leon Draisaitl and the rest of the elite players in the world.
"There's a lot of words that start with 'C' that analytics can't judge for you like character, and one of them is consistency, and that he can consistently play that high character game, game in and game out, is truly impressive," Marr said.
Knowing what the first two picks of the draft are most likely going to be is not a new phenomenon in the NHL. Surprises like last year's draft where Juraj Slafkovský was the surprise No. 1 pick ahead of Shane Wright (who ultimately went fourth) are rare, so knowing the expected order of Bedard going No. 1 and Fantilli No. 2 makes this draft special and will forever link the two youngsters.
Juraj Slafkovský struggled in Montreal this season.
It circles back to the same dream the Oilers and Sabres had in 2015. Their example proves more has to go into making those picks to have success. That Eichel is front and center with the Vegas Golden Knights after things didn't work out with the Sabres shows the future isn't predetermined. But the greatness those players have will carry them forward The only questions left are how far they will go and how often they will have to go through each other to reach the top.
With the NHL Draft on the horizon, top prospects will be accessible to NHL team scouts and officials starting Sunday in Buffalo as part of the pro hockey…
TSN: NHL to Review Quenneville; Ex-HC Resigned amid Blackhawks' Sex Abuse Allegations
May 19, 2023
RALEIGH, NC - DECEMBER 21: Head coach Joel Quenneville of the Florida Panthers coaches from the bench area during an NHL game against the Carolina Hurricanes on December 21, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
Former NHL head coach Joel Quenneville is set to meet with commissioner Gary Bettman after he resigned his position with the Florida Panthers in October 2021 amid an investigation into allegations of sexual assault and a coverup by team officials when he was with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Per TSN's Darren Dreger, Quenneville and Bettman will meet "as soon as the season ends" to review his status in the league.
The Blackhawks hired an independent firm to investigate allegations of sexual assault made by former prospect Kyle Beach involving video coach Brad Aldrich during the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Findings from the investigation, released in October 2021, revealed Quenneville, team counselor Jim Gary and five members of Chicago's senior management opted to defer any discipline on Aldrich to then-president John McDonough to avoid taking the team's focus away from the postseason.
The 64-year-old resigned his position with the Panthers on Oct. 28, 2021, after results of the investigation became public and he had a meeting with Bettman and others.
Bettman said in a statement at the time that any attempt by Quenneville to reenter the NHL in any capacity would require a meeting between the two "in advance in order to determine the appropriate conditions under which such new employment might take place."
Statement from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on the resignation of Joel Quenneville. pic.twitter.com/1KjdI2SKOL
Quenneville denied having any knowledge of the allegations against Aldrich when he offered to participate in the review.
"I first learned of these allegations through the media earlier this summer," he said in a statement released by the Panthers on July 13, 2021. "I have contacted the Blackhawks organization to let them know I will support and participate in the independent review. Out of respect for all those involved, I won't comment further while this matter is before the courts."
The investigation determined on May 23, 2010, "Blackhawks' Senior Director of Hockey Administration Al MacIsaac was told by a Blackhawks employee that there may have been a sexual encounter involving Aldrich and John Doe."
MacIsaac relayed the information to Gary. Later that same day, the team counselor spoke with Quenneville and the members of senior management "to discuss what had been learned about Aldrich and John Doe."
The meeting between Gary, Quenneville and Blackhawks senior management occurred "within an hour" of the team's Game 4 victory over the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference Final, which clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup Final.
Beach revealed himself to be John Doe after the results of the investigation were made public.
Quenneville, who was fired by the Blackhawks early in the 2018-19 season after a slow start, was hired by the Panthers in April 2019.
Blackhawks Sold over $2.5M of Season Tickets After Winning Connor Bedard Sweepstakes
May 9, 2023
LANGLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JANUARY 25: Forward Connor Bedard #98 of the Regina Pats fires a slapshot for team Red during the 2023 Kubota CHL Top Prospects Game at the Langley Events Centre on January 25, 2023 in Langley, British Columbia. (Photo by Dennis Pajot/Getty Images)
Connor Bedard won't be a Chicago Blackhawk for another six weeks, but the franchise is already feeling his impact.
Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reported the Blackhawks sold $2.5 million worth of season-ticket packages within 90 minutes of winning the 2023 NHL draft lottery Monday night.
It's widely presumed Chicago will use the No. 1 overall pick on Bedard, one of the most hyped prospects in hockey history.
"There's a bit of buzz, and for me, it's kind of crazy to see some of the things and people I've been compared to," Bedard said, per Emily Kaplan of ESPN. "It's a lot different getting recognized out and about. It's something I'm getting used to. It's super cool feeling the support. But you know ... I'm still a kid."
The Blackhawks have had the top overall selection just twice in franchise history. The most recent time came when they took Patrick Kane in 2007. Kane's 15-year career in Chicago ended in February when he was traded to the New York Rangers—a move that in a sense paved the way for Bedard to take the torch of the franchise.
Chicago has reached the playoffs only once in the last six seasons, and that came during the COVID-19-shortened 2019-20 campaign when they won a qualifying round before being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
Bedard's arrival is expected to turn around the fortunes of one of the league's most storied franchises. No pressure or anything.
NHL Draft Lottery 2023: Blackhawks Win Bedard Sweepstakes; Full Selection Order
May 9, 2023
LANGLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JANUARY 25: Forward Connor Bedard #98 of the Regina Pats skates for Team Red during the 2023 Kubota CHL Top Prospects Game Practice at the Langley Events Centre on January 25, 2023 in Langley, British Columbia. (Photo by Dennis Pajot/Getty Images)
Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.
That was the case when the Pittsburgh Penguins and Edmonton Oilers won the NHL draft lotteries in 2005 and 2015, respectively, altering the trajectories of their franchises and the league by landing the rights to select Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid with No. 1 overall picks.
The Chicago Blackhawks surely hope to look back on Monday as the night they won the chance to draft foundational piece Connor Bedard of the Regina Pats.
The 17-year-old center is widely seen as the type of generational talent who can turn a franchise around, which made this year's draft lottery appointment viewing. Chicago ended up as the lucky one and could begin to climb out of the league basement with the top selection.
1. Chicago Blackhawks
2. Anaheim Ducks
3. Columbus Blue Jackets
4. San Jose Sharks
5. Montréal Canadiens
6. Arizona Coyotes
7. Philadelphia Flyers
8. Washington Capitals
9. Detroit Red Wings
10. St. Louis Blues
11. Vancouver Canucks
12. Arizona Coyotes (via Ottawa Senators)
13. Buffalo Sabres
14. Pittsburgh Penguins
15. Nashville Predators
16. Calgary Flames
There was plenty of online reaction given how coveted the chance to pick Bedard has been:
Drawing comparisons to players such as Crosby and McDavid places plenty of pressure on Bedard before he even laces up his skates for a single NHL game, but he has done nothing but dazzle on the ice.
He led the Western Hockey League with 143 points (71 goals, 72 assists) this season and then went out and put up 20 points (10 goals and 10 assists) in seven playoff games.
Central Scouting director David Gregory made the Crosby and McDavid comparisons when discussing Bedard with Mike G. Morreale of NHL.com:
"I saw Sidney Crosby and I didn't think I'd ever see a junior player that would be as dominant as that, and then I saw Connor McDavid and thought I'd never see another player that dominant. But here comes Connor Bedard. It's really amazing what he can do, and those other guys had good players on their teams. I'm not saying Bedard doesn't, but those teams that Sid and McDavid played on had some stacked teams. ... Regina, to me, was not as stacked but were a good team with lots of good players.
"Bedard was bringing them along as this younger player in the league. I hate to be on the fence and not give a definitive answer, but I'd say those are the three that I saw and said, 'I'll never see another one like that again.'"
That is high praise, and the hopes of the Chicago fanbase will be placed firmly on Bedard.
If he can deliver, this will be a night that is remembered in franchise lore.
The
2022-23 NHL regular season ends Friday with the Buffalo Sabres facing
off against the Columbus Blue Jackets while the Colorado Avalanche
meet the…
Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews Won't Get New Contract; Final Game Will Be vs. Flyers
Apr 13, 2023
CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 01: Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews (19) looks on during warm-ups before a game between the New Jersey Devils and the Chicago Blackhawks on April 01, 2023 at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson announced Thursday the franchise plans to move on from Jonathan Toews when he becomes a free agent this offseason.
As a result, Thursday's season finale against the Philadelphia Flyers will be the last time the captain wears a Blackhawks uniform.
In an interview with The Athletic's Mark Lazerus on April 6, Toews explained he'll take some time in the offseason to weigh his future, regardless of whether a return to Chicago was on the cards:
"Right now, you ask me that question and the honest answer is, I got no idea. No idea whether I return to play for the Blackhawks next year, or play for another team, or I decide to move on to other things. I can tell the media wants to ask me about my so-called 'pending retirement,' even though I never said those words. But it'll be a process of just feeling out what I truly feel inspired to do.
"But at this point, I've realized there's no point in continuing to stomach this struggle. So if it's not a hell yeah, then it's a hell no."
Blackhawks fans knew this day would come eventually because they've watched every other key figure from the most recent Stanley Cup-winning squads depart the Windy City. Chicago's position in the standings made a breakup with Toews all the more likely. The organization has the second-fewest points in the league (58) and is facing a significant rebuild despite having already finished below .500 in the previous two seasons.
Patrick Kane was already shown the door ahead of the trade deadline, so Davidson obviously wasn't going to let sentiment drive his decision on Toews.
Kyle Davidson says the logic behind moving on from Patrick Kane & Jonathan Toews is to allow for the next group of young players to have the chance for “organic growth” in their careers & leadership roles, same way Toews & Kane, etc. had those opportunities years ago#Blackhawks
By announcing this now, the Blackhawks are at least allowing the 34-year-old to have a send-off befitting his legendary status within the franchise. Along with winning three Stanley Cups, he's fifth all-time in team history in appearances (1,066) and sixth in points (882).
Toews has been limited to 52 games this year. He said in February he was continuing to experience symptoms of long COVID-19, and he missed more than two months of action. As a result, his 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists) are on pace to be a career low after his 37 points in 2021-22 were a personal worst.
Perhaps the experienced forward will decide to hang up his skates this summer and step away from hockey altogether. Should he want to continue playing, he should have some interest from teams with eyes on a playoff run in 2023-24.
