Bedard No. 1 pick by Blackhawks in 2023 NHL Draft

NASHVILLE -- Connor Bedard was selected with the No. 1 pick by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday.

2023 NHL Draft coverage

Bedard (5-foot-10, 185 pounds), a right-shot center, became the second player from Regina of the Western Hockey League to go No. 1 (Doug Wickenheiser, Montreal Canadiens, 1980). The only player born in British Columbia to be chosen No. 1 was forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of Red Deer in the WHL, by the Edmonton Oilers in 2011.

"It's an unbelievable feeling to be with my family and friends and get to hear my name be called and experience that, especially with such a storied organization," Bedard said. "Everything I've heard about the people there has been nothing but positives.

"Very thankful that the staff, Kyle, Luke (Richardson, Blackhawks coach), everyone, put their faith in me with that pick."

RELATED: [2023 NHL Draft coverage | NHL Draft 1st-round results, analysis]

The right-shot center (5-foot-10, 185 pounds), No. 1 on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters presented by BioSteel, won Canadian Hockey League Top Prospect, Top Scorer, and David Branch Player of the Year awards after leading the WHL in goals (71), points (143), shots on goal (360), points per game (2.51) and goals per game (1.24) in 57 regular-season games. He finished tied for the league lead in assists (72) and game-winning goals (11). He was plus-39, won 53.6 percent of face-offs and had 45 power-play points.

The Blackhawks won the No. 1 selection in the NHL Draft Lottery on May 8. Rounds 2-7 are here Thursday (11 a.m. ET; NHLN, SN, TVAS).

Leo Carlsson, a center with Orebro of the Swedish Hockey League, was picked No. 2 by the Anaheim Ducks, and center Adam Fantilli of the University of Michigan was selected No. 3 by the Columbus Blue Jackets. William Smith, a center with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program Under-18 team, was chosen No. 4 by the San Jose Sharks, and defenseman David Reinbacher was selected by the Montreal Canadiens at No. 5.

In addition to enjoying the moment with his family, Bedard said he was thinking of his grandfather, Garth, after hearing his name called by Davidson. Garth died in a car accident April 6, 2021.

Bedard scored two goals in a 2-1 overtime win against Brandon three days after his grandfather's death. He was named the game's First Star and pointed to the heavens after scoring 49 seconds into overtime.

"I'm thinking about my granddad right now," Bedard said. "He doesn't get to be here, but just keeping him with us, our whole family."

Bedard was No. 1 in NHL Central Scouting's ranking of North American skaters; Carlsson was No. 1 in Central Scouting's final ranking of International skaters.

Carlsson was surprised to hear his name called by the Ducks at No. 2; Fantilli was the consensus No. 2 pick in many mock drafts prior to Wednesday.

"I mean, a little bit (surprised), it was kind of a 50-50 feeling there," Carlsson said. "It's important I had a meeting with [Anaheim on Tuesday]. "I didn't want to think too high. I could have gone like, No. 5 as well, so it was kind of hard to think about. But now, it's awesome."

Carlsson had 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in 44 games for Orebro, playing mostly on the wing, and was named Swedish junior hockey player of the year. He had six points (three goals, three assists) in seven games for Sweden at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, playing mostly left wing on the top line.

"Like I said 100 times, there's a lot of amazing players in this draft and a lot of guys could have gone anywhere, so I'm really happy for [Carlsson]," Fantilli said. "He's a great kid and terrific hockey player, so I'm excited to see what he's going to do."

Fantilli, No. 2 on Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters, won the Hobey Baker Award as the top men's player in NCAA ice hockey this season. The 18-year-old, No. 2 on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters, led NCAA players with 65 points and was tied for first with 30 goals in 36 games.

After a record three Slovakia-born players were picked in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft, two were selected in the first round Wednesday: center Dalibor Dvorsky (No. 10) of AIK in Sweden to the St. Louis Blues, and left wing Samuel Honzek (No. 16) of Vancouver in the Western Hockey League to the Calgary Flames.

"I think Slovakia hockey has improved so much in the last years and I'm happy to be part of this generation," Dvorsky said. "Also, a huge congratulations to 'Hanzi.'"

The Blackhawks acquired forwards Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno in a trade with the Boston Bruins for defensemen Ian Mitchell and Video: Connor Bedard drafted by Chicago Blackhawks on June 26. Hall played left wing in helping groom two other centers in their rookie season: Connor McDavid with the Edmonton Oilers (2015-16), and Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils (2019-20).

"It's very special," Bedard said. "Those two guys have been through everything in the National Hockey League. For me to get to learn from them, they're unbelievable players. They're such valuable guys to ask questions to, so it's awesome."

When Smith was picked by San Jose, it marked the fifth consecutive year at least one member of the NTDP U-18 team was chosen among the top five. It's the longest such stretch by any team in NHL Draft history.

Smith was one of four NTDP players chosen in the first round. The right-handed shot finished second on the NTDP with 127 points (51 goals, 76 assists) in 60 games.

After Smith, right wing Ryan Leonard went to the Washington Capitals at No. 8, center Oliver Moore went to the Blackhawks at No. 19 and right wing Gabriel Perreault was selected by the New York Rangers at No. 23. Perreault, Smith and Leonard played on the top line and will each attend Boston College next season.

Perreault, No. 10 on Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters, led the team with 132 points (53 goals) in 63 games. Moore, considered by many to be the fastest skater in the draft, will attend the University of Minnesota.

"We had Oliver way higher than we picked him," Davidson said. "We were constantly trying to move up for a lot of picks. I was on the phone the whole time, almost from when I got back to my seat (after choosing Bedard). I was working the phones trying to get up with him in mind, so it's almost a perfect scenario where we just stayed. We didn't have to give up any extra picks to get up and get him."

The Blues made three picks in the first round: Dvorsky, center Otto Stenberg (No. 25) of Frolunda in Sweden, and defenseman Theo Lindstein (No. 29) of Brynas of Sweden.

Dmitriy Simashev, a defenseman from Yaroslavl in Russia's junior division, was the first of four Russia-born players selected in the first round (No. 6, Arizona Coyotes). He was No. 19 on Central Scouting's final ranking of International skaters.

"Of course, I was surprised (when I heard my name called)," Simashev said. "To play in the NHL is my dream, and Arizona is a good club and city and I'm ready."

Simashev made his Kontinental Hockey League debut this season, averaging 6:55 of ice time in 18 games. The 18-year-old left-handed shot also had 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in 29 games with Yaroslavl in Russia's junior league.

Matvei Michkov, a right wing with St. Petersburg in the KHL and No. 2 on Central Scouting's final ranking of International skaters, went No. 7 to the Philadelphia Flyers. Michkov was projected by many draft experts to be the first Russia-born player chosen.

"I'm glad it was the Flyers," Michkov said through an interpreter. "There are no words; it's such an emotional moment. This means a lot to me. It's my dream and my dream is also to win the Stanley Cup."

Philadelphia drafted Michkov with the understanding his KHL contract with St. Petersburg runs through 2025-26.

"We felt that after watching him play, and after meeting him, it was a talent we could not pass up," Flyers GM Daniel Briere said. "He loved the Flyers and he wanted to be a part of the Flyers. He convinced us."

2023 NHL DRAFT FIRST ROUND

1. Chicago Blackhawks: Connor Bedard, C

2. Anaheim Ducks: Leo Carlsson, C

3. Columbus Blue Jackets: Adam Fantilli, C

4. San Jose Sharks: Will Smith, C

5. Montreal Canadiens: David Reinbacher, D

6. Arizona Coyotes: Dmitriy Simashev, D

7. Philadelphia Flyers: Matvei Michkov, RW

8. Washington Capitals: Ryan Leonard, RW

9. Detroit Red Wings: Nate Danielson, C

10. St. Louis Blues: Dalibor Dvorsky, C

11. Vancouver Canucks: Tom Willander, D

12. Arizona Coyotes (from Ottawa Senators): Danill But, LW

13. Buffalo Sabres: Zach Benson, LW

14. Pittsburgh Penguins: Brayden Yager, C

15. Nashville Predators: Matthew Wood, RW

16. Calgary Flames: Samuel Honzek, LW

17. Detroit Red Wings (from New York Islanders via Vancouver Canucks): Axel Sandin Pellikka, D

18. Winnipeg Jets: Colby Barlow, LW

19. Chicago Blackhawks (from Tampa Bay Lightning): Oliver Moore, C

20. Seattle Kraken: Eduard Sale, LW

21. Minnesota Wild: Charlie Stramel, C

22. Philadelphia Flyers (from Los Angeles Kings via Columbus Blue Jackets): Oliver Bonk, D

23. New York Rangers: Gabriel Perreault, RW

24. Nashville Predators (from Edmonton Oilers): Tanner Molendyk, D

25. St. Louis Blues (from Toronto Maple Leafs): Otto Stenberg, C

26. San Jose Sharks (from New Jersey Devils): Quentin Musty, LW

27. Colorado Avalanche: Calum Ritchie, C

28. Toronto Maple Leafs (from Boston Bruins via Washington Capitals): Easton Cowan, RW

29. St. Louis Blues (from Dallas Stars via New York Rangers): Theo Lindstein, D

30. Carolina Hurricanes: Bradly Nadeau, LW

31. Colorado Avalanche (from Montreal Canadiens via Florida Panthers): Mikhail Gulyayev, D

32. Vegas Golden Knights: David Edstrom, C