Connor Bedard

1. Early Life

Connor Bedard was born on July 17, 2005, and grew up in North Vancouver, British Columbia. His parents are Tom and Melanie, and he has a sister named Madi. Bedard has a distant family connection to the Chicago Blackhawks; his great-great uncle James Bedard played 22 NHL games for Chicago between 1949 and 1951.

From an early age, Bedard emerged as a notable hockey prospect. In 2018, when he was 13 years old, The Hockey News featured him in an article titled "The Future of Hockey." He played minor hockey for West Vancouver Academy Prep in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL). While playing with the school's U15 and U18 teams, Bedard consistently led the league in both goals and points, earning the Most Valuable Player award in both years for the respective age categories. As a child, he idolized legendary Canadian hockey player Sidney Crosby.

Regarding his diet, Bedard's mother previously stated that he had never eaten fast food. However, in a 2024 interview with Sportsnet, Bedard clarified that this report was inaccurate, stating he has indeed eaten fast food, specifically mentioning Subway and Chipotle. He added that his typical diet includes healthy meats like beef, chicken, and fish, along with potatoes and vegetables.

2. Junior Career

Connor Bedard's entry into major junior hockey was marked by an extraordinary achievement: in March 2020, Hockey Canada granted him exceptional player status. This rare designation allowed him to join the major junior-level Canadian Hockey League a full year earlier than typically permitted for players his age. He became the first player to receive such status to play in the Western Hockey League (WHL).

In the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft, the Regina Pats selected Bedard first overall, securing his rights. Before the WHL season began, Bedard was loaned to the HV71 junior hockey system in Sweden in September 2020, where he could continue playing during the delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He remained with HV71 until the WHL commenced its 2020-21 WHL season in March 2021.

2.1. Regina Pats (2020-2023)

Bedard's rookie season in the 2020-21 WHL season was significantly shortened due to the pandemic, with all Pats games played at Regina's Brandt Centre. Despite the curtailed schedule, he made a strong impact, scoring 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points in 15 games before departing to compete in the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships. At the end of the season, he was honored with the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as the WHL's Rookie of the Year.

During the 2021-22 WHL season, Bedard continued to set new benchmarks. He became the youngest player in WHL history to score 50 or more goals in a season, achieving his 50th and 51st goals in the final game of the regular season. He concluded the year with an impressive 51 goals and 49 assists, totaling 100 points. This placed him second in the WHL in goals and fourth in points. Notably, he was only the third 16-year-old to reach a 100-point season in the WHL, and the first to do so in the 21st century. Despite his individual scoring prowess, the Pats narrowly missed qualifying for the playoffs that year. Bedard's burgeoning talent attracted significant media attention, with The New York Times profiling him as "the most exciting future NHL player attending this week's draft" as he observed the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

The 2022-23 WHL season saw Bedard embark on a lengthy points streak immediately after his opening game without a point, quickly establishing himself as the league's top scorer. By November 17, he became the first WHL player in a decade to record 20-game point streaks in consecutive seasons. Bedard's presence generated immense excitement, leading to what was dubbed the "Bedard Bump" in attendance for Pats' road games. His first return to the Greater Vancouver area for a game against the Vancouver Giants drew over 5,000 fans, nearly doubling the Giants' seasonal average attendance.

Media discussions arose concerning a potential trade for Bedard before the WHL's 2023 trade deadline, as the Pats were not considered a title contender. However, Pats general manager John Paddock firmly stated he would not trade Bedard, emphasizing that WHL rules required Bedard's consent for any trade, and that "Connor has the final say. He wants to be a Regina Pat and finish his career in Regina, clear?" Ultimately, Bedard remained with the Pats.

The "Bedard Bump" effect intensified following his return from the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, which significantly elevated his national profile. A January road trip through Alberta witnessed record attendance (7,287 people) at the Red Deer Rebels' Peavey Mart Centrium. The Medicine Hat Tigers sold out their arena, Co-op Place, drawing more than double their average attendance. The Lethbridge Hurricanes even offered standing-room only tickets at the Enmax Centre. The Pats also played a nationally televised game against the Calgary Hitmen at the Scotiabank Saddledome, the home arena of the NHL's Calgary Flames. The Saddledome's upper seating was made available for this event, resulting in a near-record WHL attendance of 17,223 people, vastly exceeding the Hitmen's seasonal average of 3,500 people.

Bedard finished the regular season with an astonishing 71 goals and 72 assists in 57 games, totaling 143 points. He won the Bob Clarke Trophy as the WHL's leading scorer, and his 143 points also led the entire Canadian Hockey League in scoring for the year. He was the first WHL player to achieve a 140-point season since the 1995-96 WHL season. The league subsequently awarded Bedard the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as the WHL Player of the Year, making him the first draft-eligible player to be named league MVP since Sam Reinhart nine years prior. He later received the CHL's CHL Top Draft Prospect Award and CHL Player of the Year awards, becoming the first person to win these alongside the CHL Top Scorer Award in a single season. He was also named to the revived CHL First All-Star Team.

The Regina Pats qualified for the 2023 WHL playoffs, facing the Saskatoon Blades in the first round. Bedard recorded two goals and an assist in the series opener, a 6-1 Regina victory, marking his first career playoff points. The Pats won the first two games but then lost three consecutive games. In Game 6, Bedard notched a goal and three assists in a 5-3 Regina win, forcing a decisive Game 7. However, the Pats were ultimately eliminated by the Blades, losing Game 7 by a score of 4-1. Bedard finished the series with 10 goals and 10 assists in seven games, which was expected to be the conclusion of his WHL and junior hockey career.

3. NHL Entry Draft

Connor Bedard attracted considerable interest as a future high selection in the National Hockey League Entry Draft from an early age, speculation that was only amplified by his exceptional player status entry into the WHL. Much of the early conversation two years prior to the 2023 NHL Entry Draft revolved around a debate over his merits compared to those of Russian winger Matvei Michkov, also considered a budding top talent with the same draft eligibility. Following their competitive performances on their respective countries' national teams at the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships and the initial, aborted edition of the 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, many in the media suggested a career rivalry between them comparable to that between Russian 2004 first overall pick Alexander Ovechkin and Canadian 2005 first overall pick Sidney Crosby.

However, after Michkov signed a multi-year contract extension with his KHL club, SKA Saint Petersburg, coupled with geopolitical uncertainties stemming from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it became widely presumed that Bedard would be selected first overall in the draft. As his draft year approached, with Bedard as the consensus choice for the first pick, much of the discussion centered on whether he truly warranted being considered a "generational" talent, a label typically reserved for players like Crosby, Ovechkin, and Connor McDavid.

A number of NHL teams, most notably the Chicago Blackhawks and Arizona Coyotes, were observed by media to be openly engaging in tanking during the 2022-23 NHL season in the hopes of securing favorable odds in the draft lottery. TSN even produced a parody song about this phenomenon, titled "Bad for Bedard." ESPN remarked that fans of "potential lottery teams have adopted some variation of 'Fail/Tank/Lose Hard for Bedard' as a 2022-23 battle cry."

The first overall selection in the draft lottery was ultimately won by the Blackhawks, making them Bedard's highly anticipated destination. A Chicago Sun-Times reporter noted the immediate impact of the lottery outcome; within an hour and a half of the announcement, Chicago had already sold 2.50 M USD in season ticket packages, a clear indicator of the immense excitement surrounding Bedard's arrival.

In advance of the draft in Nashville, Bedard received the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence. This award is bestowed by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau to "the candidate who best exemplifies commitment to excellence through strength of character, competitiveness, and athleticism."

4. Professional Career

Connor Bedard made a swift transition to the National Hockey League (NHL) following his draft, quickly establishing himself as a key player for the Chicago Blackhawks.

4.1. Chicago Blackhawks (2023-present)

On June 28, 2023, the Chicago Blackhawks selected Bedard first overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. This marked only the second time in Blackhawks franchise history that they held the first overall pick, the first being Patrick Kane in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Bedard also became the second player born in British Columbia to be selected first overall, following Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Bedard officially signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Blackhawks on July 17, coinciding with his 18th birthday. He made his highly anticipated NHL debut on October 10, where he recorded his first NHL point, an assist, in a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The very next night, on October 11, Bedard scored his first NHL goal in the opening period of a 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins. His first two NHL games garnered significant attention, becoming the most-watched regular season ice hockey games for ESPN and TNT respectively.

On November 9, Bedard tallied two goals and two assists in a 5-3 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning, achieving a four-point game. This made him the third-youngest player in NHL history to record a four-point game, and the youngest rookie to do so since 1944. Furthermore, he became the youngest player in Blackhawks franchise history to record a multi-goal game.

On January 4, 2024, Bedard was selected to represent the Blackhawks at the 2024 National Hockey League All-Star Game. Had he participated, he would have been the youngest All-Star in NHL history. However, the following day, he sustained a broken jaw after a check from New Jersey Devils defenceman Brendan Smith. He underwent surgery and was subsequently placed on the injured reserve list, with an estimated recovery period of six to eight weeks. Due to this injury, he was excluded from the main All-Star Game rosters, but he still managed to make an appearance in the "One-Timers" skills competition, serving pucks to players like Mathew Barzal, Nathan MacKinnon, and David Pastrňák.

Bedard returned to action on February 15, recording one assist in a 4-1 loss against the Penguins. On March 12, he achieved a career-high five points, with a goal and four assists, leading the Blackhawks to a dominant 7-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks. He concluded his rookie season with 22 goals and 39 assists, totaling 61 points in 68 games, leading all NHL rookies in scoring. For his outstanding performance, Bedard was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as the rookie of the year, becoming the first Blackhawks player to receive the award since Artemi Panarin in the 2016 season. He was also named to the NHL All-Rookie Team.

5. International Play

Connor Bedard has been a prominent figure representing Canada in various international ice hockey tournaments, showcasing his talent on the world stage.

In April and May 2021, Bedard competed for the Canadian under-18 team at the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships held in Frisco, Texas. He played a crucial role in Canada's gold medal victory, tying for second in the tournament in points, and was subsequently named to the media all-star team.

On December 12, 2021, Bedard was selected for the Canadian national junior team to participate in the 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, becoming only the seventh 16-year-old to receive this honor. Initially listed as the thirteenth forward, his strong play quickly moved him into the top six forward lines by the end of the team's first game. Bedard scored four goals in an 11-2 victory over Austria, breaking Wayne Gretzky's record for most goals by a 16-year-old at the championships, and simultaneously tying the overall Canadian record for most goals in a single World Junior game. However, the tournament was abruptly cancelled on December 29 due to concerns about COVID-19. It was later announced that the event would be rebooted in August 2022.

On April 18, 2022, Bedard was named to the Canadian team for the 2022 IIHF World U18 Championships, notably being the only returning player from the previous year's championship team. He scored a hat trick in the second game of the tournament, an 8-3 victory over Germany. In doing so, he broke Shane Wright's record for Canada's goal-scoring at the U18 Championships and simultaneously surpassed Mathew Barzal's Canada points record for the tournament. Later that summer, Bedard again played for Canada in the rebooted 2022 World Junior Championships. He drew considerable attention for his "super-elite" shot and continued to amaze with his performance, recording four goals and four assists over the course of the seven-game tournament, contributing to Canada's second gold medal victory.

On December 12, 2022, Bedard was once again named to the Canadian national team for the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. His performance in this tournament was historic. When he scored the opening goal in the quarter-final match against Slovakia, Bedard broke the Canadian record for career goals and points at the tournament. He also set a new world record for World Junior points by a player under the age of 19, previously held by Jaromír Jágr. His game-winning goal, scored in overtime against Slovakia, was widely described as an "indelible stamp" on the tournament. He finished the seven-game tournament with an outstanding nine goals and fourteen assists, totaling 23 points, as Canada secured its second consecutive gold medal. For his dominant performance, Bedard was named the championships' Best Forward and Most Valuable Player by the IIHF directorate, and was also included on the media all-star team. Following this, Bedard was the inaugural recipient of the IIHF Male Player of the Year award in 2023.

Following the conclusion of the 2023-24 NHL season, with the Blackhawks not qualifying for the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, Bedard accepted an invitation to make his debut with the senior national team at the 2024 IIHF World Championship. He scored his first senior international goal on May 11, 2024, against Great Britain, contributing to Canada's 4-2 victory. Bedard began the tournament with a strong offensive showing, recording five goals and one assist in Team Canada's first three games. However, his production subsequently tapered off, with no points registered in the following four contests. This offensive drought led to diminished ice-time, and he was eventually relegated to Team Canada's 13th forward. He appeared in Canada's final game against Sweden, where he was held without a point in a 4-2 loss. Bedard finished the tournament with eight points in ten games, as Canada placed fourth.

6. Public Image and Impact

Connor Bedard's extraordinary talent has led to his widespread recognition as a "generational talent," a term reserved for players believed to possess the potential to significantly alter the landscape of the sport. His ascent through junior hockey and into the NHL has been accompanied by intense media attention, establishing him as one of the most talked-about figures in ice hockey.

His influence became evident in his junior career, particularly through the phenomenon known as the "Bedard Bump." This term refers to the significant increase in fan attendance and ticket sales that occurred whenever he played, especially during road games with the Regina Pats. Opposing teams and venues frequently reported sellouts and near-record attendance figures, often doubling their usual averages, simply because Bedard was on the ice. This effect demonstrated his drawing power and ability to captivate audiences well before his NHL debut.

Upon entering the NHL, Bedard's impact continued to be profound. His first two NHL games garnered record viewership for major sports broadcasters, highlighting his immediate appeal to a broad audience. His presence has not only invigorated the Chicago Blackhawks franchise, leading to a surge in season ticket sales immediately after the draft lottery, but has also generated widespread buzz across the entire league. Bedard's dynamic style of play and remarkable skill set have captured the imagination of fans, media, and fellow players alike, underscoring his broader influence on the sport of ice hockey. He is seen as a key figure in attracting new fans and maintaining interest in the game.

7. Awards and Honours

8. Career Statistics