Videos of Connor Bedard from training and the first practice match have gone viral.
There is a lot of buzz surrounding the 18-year-old super-talent from Vancouver who wears jersey number 98.
– Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson says interest and expectation is something we rarely see.
Last Thursday, Connor Bedard arrived at Illinois FC’s junior camp.
On Saturday, the right shooting center scored a hat-trick in his first game for the Chicago Blackhawks in their rookie game against St. Louis. Louis Blues in St. Paul, Minnesota.
It’s the skating and shot in the social media footage that caused a stir, as all three goals in the match were scored with a quick wrist shot.
– We let him and his toy talk. Expectations have followed him for a long time and I’m sure he’s handling it well, Kyle Davidson tells the club’s website.
“Mature and impressive”
Connor Bedard as the first pick in the draft is the most interesting miracle since Connor McDavid was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in 2015.
– So far it’s been a game, but it was a great performance. It was clear how he led the team with his shots and goals. We saw that offensive hockey skill, that shot, and that sense of purpose that was praised before the draft. “We’re really looking forward to him stepping up further and joining the group,” says Kyle Davidson.
In 57 regular season games with the Regina Pats in the Western Hockey League last season, there were 71 goals, 143 points, 360 shots on goal, 2.51 points per game and 1.24 goals per game.
-I can’t express enough how well he handles pressure, and how he doesn’t let it affect his focus. It’s incredibly mature and impressive for an 18-year-old in a very unique situation. “We’re not going to put any pressure on him, we’re going to let him see what’s needed at the next level in the NHL,” Kyle Davidson says.
The Swede praised him
It was Anders Sörensen who led his first coaching career with the Chicago Blackhawks, and the Swede was the head coach of the farm team, the Rockford IceHogs.
– Connor Bedard is 18 years old and wants to come in and make an impression on everyone in the whole world. “He wants to play, and the impression I have is that he just wants to be on the ice and I have nothing but praise for him,” says Anders Sorensen.
The Chicago Blackhawks begin main camp on Thursday and play their first practice game at home against St. Louis. Lewis Blues next Saturday.