Bedard says going No. 1 to Blackhawks in 2023 NHL Draft would 'be unreal'

NASHVILLE --The moment of truth is approaching for Connor Bedard.

After years of hard work and record-setting performances, the 17-year-old will officially learn his next hockey destination at the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday.

Bedard, the generational talent with many NHL-ready traits already in his arsenal, is expected to be the first player chosen by the Chicago Blackhawks when the first round begins (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN, TVAS).

Rounds 2-7 of the draft will be Thursday (11 a.m. ET; NHLN, SN, TVAS).

Though the Blackhawks haven't tipped their hand on who they will select, it would be stunning if it's not Bedard, especially because they are moving on from franchise icons Patrick Kane (traded to New York Rangers on Feb. 28) and Jonathan Toews (they have said they won't re-sign the pending unrestricted free agent).

"If I'm picked No. 1, it'd be awesome," Bedard said. "I think whether you get drafted first or whatever round, it's a dream come true. If I get that honor, it'd be unreal, I'd be super grateful to the people who have helped me with that. For now, I'm just kind of focusing on what I can do to improve myself as a player. It'd be unbelievable to go No. 1 but we'll see what happens."

The right-shot center (5-foot-10, 185 pounds) of Regina of the Western Hockey League is No. 1 on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters presented by BioSteel. He won Canadian Hockey League Top Prospect, Top Scorer, and David Branch Player of the Year awards. No player had won all three in the same season since the Top Scorer award was introduced in 1994.

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He led the WHL in goals (71), points (143), shots on goal (360), points per game (2.51) and goals per game (1.25) in 57 regular-season games. He 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 (16 goals, 29 assists). His 35-game point streak (90 points; 44 goals, 46 assists) from Sept. 24-Feb. 1 was tied for the league's longest this season.

"I think it's tough to use the word 'generational' because you're still dealing with 17-year-old kids," Blackhawks director of amateur scouting Mike Doneghey told the 'NHL Draft Class' podcast. "Obviously, in his age group, he's one of a kind, as well as guys in the past have been, the Connor McDavid s of the world, Auston Matthews' of the world. They have been able to do it on the next level. [Bedard] still has to prove, as they all do, that when they're playing against bigger, older, faster players, that they're able to replicate what they did with their own age group.

"I don't want to put that (generational) moniker on him yet but every indication and every place he's been, whether it be World Juniors, the WHL, he's exceeded expectations."

The Anaheim Ducks own the second pick in the draft and could select either center Adam Fantilli of the University of Michigan or center Leo Carlsson of Orebro of the Swedish Hockey League.

Fantilli (6-2, 195), 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 freshman led NCAA players with 65 points and was tied for first with 30 goals in 36 games. He played with Bedard at the 2023 World Junior Championship, with five points (two goals, three assists) while playing wing in seven games to help Canada win gold. He also won gold at the 2023 IIHF World Championship, where he had three points (one goal, two assists) in 10 games.

Carlsson (6-3, 198), No. 1 on Central Scouting's final ranking of International skaters, had 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) and seven power-play goals in 44 games. The 18-year-old won the SHL award for Junior Hockey Player of the Year after leading Sweden's top professional men's league in his age category in assists and points, and finishing second in goals.

The Columbus Blue Jackets (No. 3), San Jose Sharks (4), Montreal Canadiens (5), Arizona Coyotes (6), Philadelphia Flyers (7), Washington Capitals (8), Detroit Red Wings (9) and St. Louis Blues (10) round out the top 10.

Columbus general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said he has taken multiple calls from opposing GMs regarding the asking price for the third pick.

"It would take a whole lot," he said. "I don't think anybody's willing to offer that much."

The Blackhawks (Nos. 1, 19), Sharks (Nos. 4, 26), Canadiens (Nos. 5, 31), Coyotes (Nos. 6, 12), Flyers (Nos. 7, 22), Red Wings (Nos. 9, 17), Blues (Nos. 10, 25, 29), and Nashville Predators (Nos. 15, 24) each have multiple first-round picks.

"I've been fielding a lot of calls on our picks, all three picks quite honestly, and letting people know what we want and then they go back to work and see if there's a fit," Blues GM Doug Armstrong said. "But no one has brought to us anything that would perk our interest as of yet, but that's not abnormal. We're pretty honed down to what it would take to remove that [No. 10] pick from us. We haven't had any conversations with anyone to move back, and moving back is something that you do at the table (on draft day)."

Rounding out the top five on Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters are center William Smith of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team, right wing Matthew Wood of the University of Connecticut, and right wing Ryan Leonard of the NTDP.

Matvei Michkov, a right wing with Sochi of the Kontinental Hockey League, is one of several Russia-born prospects playing overseas this season who could be chosen among the top 20 of the draft.

Smith (6-0, 180), a right-handed shot, ranked second on the NTDP with 127 points (51 goals, 76 assists) in 60 games. That includes 40 points (16 goals, 24 assists) in 22 games against NCAA competition. The 18-year-old is committed to play at Boston College next season.

Wood (6-4, 197) led Connecticut with 34 points (11 goals, 23 assists) and 102 shots on goal in 35 games. Wood had been selected in the second round (No. 41) by Regina in the 2020 WHL bantam draft and could have played with Bedard. Instead, the 18-year-old chose to attend Connecticut and carved his own path as the youngest player in NCAA Division I men's hockey this season.

Leonard (6-0, 190), who will join Smith at Boston College next season, was third on the NTDP with 94 points (51 goals, 43 assists) in 57 games. The 18-year-old had 33 points (16 goals, 17 assists) in 22 games against NCAA competition.

Michkov (5-10, 172), No. 2 on Central Scouting's final ranking of International skaters, had 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in 27 games on loan with Sochi this season.

"We feel Carlsson is a bit more mature and more of an NHL type of player as he is bigger and stronger," NHL European Scouting director Goran Stubb said. "Carlsson is also a better two-way player with a good knowledge of his defensive responsibilities. Both are very special players, excellent prospects and have the tools needed to be stars in the NHL in the future.

"Both played big roles on their club teams this season against seniors. It won't be easy to say who will be better in 3-to-5 seasons."

Whichever NHL team decides to select Michkov in the draft will do so with the understanding the 18-year-old's KHL contract with SKA St. Petersburg runs through 2025-26, so patience will be needed. Additionally, live-scouting Michkov and other Russia-born players hasn't been easy since the country has been banned from international tournaments because of its invasion of Ukraine.

"I think obviously the political climate is a little bit different and [Michkov] has a long-term contract that I assume he's going to honor ... I assume they're going to make him honor it," Armstrong said. "We haven't had live scouting on him, too, so this year's dynamic is different but in general these players are so far away from playing that I wouldn't run scared of drafting Russians.

"With free agency at 27 (years old) you want to get these guys in the League as quick as possible because you only have them for a finite amount of time, but I have no problem in European players developing in their home country at their own pace."

Carson Bjarnason of Brandon (WHL) is No. 1 on Central Scouting's final ranking of North American goalies.

Bjarnason (6-3, 190), who also was No. 1 in the midterm ranking in January, was 21-19-5 with a 3.08 goals-against average, .900 save percentage and three shutouts in 47 games. He will turn 18 on Friday.

"For being such a young goalie, the presence that he has, the confidence, the poise and skill level at this point in his career is amazing," Central Scouting's Al Jensen said. "He can carry the load and he very rarely leaves holes and has that upside. The moment that you see him you can tell that he's a quality goalie and his play over the course of the year backs that up."

Listen: Video: Behind-the-scenes look at Bedard at NHL Scouting Combine