ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Connor Bedard couldn't wait to play a game for the first time in more than five months.
That was evident as soon as the center, selected No. 1 by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2023 NHL Draft, stepped onto the ice against the St. Louis Blues at the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase at TRIA Rink on Saturday. By game’s end, he had three goals and an assist in a 5-0 win.
The 18-year-old, however, was as laid-back as always after his performance.
“Yeah, it doesn’t mean too much. It’s just nice to play a game,” Bedard said. “So much fun to be with the guys, getting here, the music’s playing, and you just have that mojo going in. That was the best part, just getting back into it and yeah, it was fun.”
It was the first game for Bedard since April 10, when Regina, his team for the past three seasons, lost to Saskatoon in Game 7 of the first round of the Western Hockey League playoffs.
The game may not mean much to Bedard, but it was certainly a reminder of why he is the most anticipated NHL prospect since center Connor McDavid, who was selected No. 1 by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2015 NHL Draft. His release and wrist shot are scintillating. His ability and desire to drive the net despite not being the biggest guy (5-foot-10, 185 pounds), the ability to shoot from anywhere -- it was all on display in his first game in a Blackhawks uniform.
“Yeah, he looked dangerous every time he was on the ice,” said Anders Sorensen, coach of the Blackhawks’ American Hockey League affiliate in Rockford and the prospect team this weekend. “He came up with 11 shots, right? So that’s pretty impressive.
“I mean, just lots of changing angles (on his release), the way he catches passes, deceptive, the way he can pull pucks in and out. Impressive to watch. It was fun.”
Bedard showed the scoring touch that helped him lead 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 last season.
He had great scoring chances throughout but was thwarted through the first half of the game by Blues goalie Colten Ellis, who didn’t allow a goal before he was replaced by Will Cranley 10:31 into the second period.
Bedard wouldn’t be denied on the Blackhawks’ second power play. He skated into the right face-off circle and sent a wrist shot past Cranley for a 2-0 lead at 14:23 of the second. After scoring, Bedard twirled his stick and playfully placed it back in its “holster.”
“It was nice, of course,” Bedard said of that goal. “A really good screen, just kind of threw it to the other side. It feels good, of course, to get one and of course, just a rookie game here. Doesn’t mean much but it always feels good to score.”
Bedard scored again at 4:54 of the third period, skating to the left circle, then pausing before lifting a shot into the top right corner from a sharp angle to give the Blackhawks a 4-0 lead.
Asked what he saw on that goal, Bedard said, “I saw where it went,” to laughs.
“No, a little far side and I don’t know, it was later on the power play, so I thought I’d go for it and lucky it went in.”
Bedard’s third goal came when he skated to the high slot and his shot off the crossbar went in with just over seven minutes remaining. Fans tried to throw hats on the ice but weren’t able to due to the safety netting around the rink.
The performance was no surprise to Bedard’s teammates.
“Yeah, I was (able to see what he did),” said goalie Drew Commesso, who had a shutout. “It doesn’t shock me. I’ve seen it in practice a lot.”
Louis Crevier and Colton Dach, with an assist from Bedard, also scored for the Blackhawks, who play the Minnesota Wild to wrap up the tournament at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Will Bedard play Sunday? He said he always likes to play but that he’d see what the coaches say. Sorensen said, “We’ll chat, and we’ll see what happens here.”
Even if he doesn’t play, Bedard put on quite the show during the showcase.
“Yeah, it was fun finally playing a game,” Bedard said. “It was a great pace out there, physical. We all had fun, so it was good to get that first one in and go from there, I guess.”
