Bedard goes number one to Blackhawks

Regina Pats captain Connor Bedard was the first-overall selection by the Chicago Blackhawks Wednesday in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Bedard, the reigning WHL and Canadian Hockey League Player of the Year, becomes the third Regina Pats player to be selected with the first pick in an NHL Draft, joining Greg Joly (1974 – Washington Capitals) and Doug Wickenheiser (1980 – Montreal Canadiens).

The 17-year-old led the WHL in scoring with 143 points (71G-72A) during the 2022-23 Regular Season; he became the first WHL skater in 27 years to top 140 points in a single regular season, adding 20 more points (10G-10A) in seven post-season contests with the Pats.

His 71 regular season goals were the most by an NHL Draft-eligible skater since 1998-99; the product of North Vancouver, B.C. becomes only the ninth WHL skater to be selected first-overall in an NHL Draft and first since Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Red Deer Rebels) was taken first-overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 2011.

Bedard also becomes the fourth WHL skater selected by Chicago in the first round of an NHL Draft since 2019, joining Kirby Dach (Saskatoon Blades, third-overall, 2019), Nolan Allan (Prince Albert Raiders, 32nd-overall, 2021) and Kevin Korchinski (Seattle Thunderbirds, seventh-overall, 2022).

In 2020, Bedard was granted exceptional status by Hockey Canada; he stands as the first and only WHL player to achieve that feat.

Since being selected with the first pick in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, Bedard has amassed 271 points (134G-137A) in 134 WHL regular season contests with the Regina Pats.

Internationally, the 5-foot-10, 185-pound forward has collected gold medals with Canada’s entries at the 2022 and 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship as well as at the 2021 IIHF U18 World Championship; he was named the 2022-23 IIHF Male Player of the Year earlier this month.

On Monday, he was presented with the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence at the 2023 NHL Awards; the award has been presented annually since 2015 to a candidate who best exemplifies commitment to excellence through strength of character, competitiveness and athleticism.

Five other WHL products were taken in the first round of the entry draft.

Brandon Wheat Kings co-captain Nate Danielson joined Bedard among the top 10 selections in the 2023 NHL Draft after he was taken ninth overall by the Detroit Red Wings. A product of Red Deer, Alta., Danielson was named to the WHL East Division Second All-Star Team in 2022-23 after leading the Wheat Kings in scoring with 78 points (33G-45A) in 68 games.

The WHL earned three picks in a four-selection span midway through the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft, beginning with forward Zach Benson, selected 13th overall by the Buffalo Sabres. Benson, who hails from Chilliwack, B.C., led the Winnipeg ICE with 98 points (36G-62A) in 60 games. Benson earned WHL East Division First All-Star Team honours in 2022-23 and is joined in the Sabres organization with ICE linemate Matthew Savoie, the ninth-overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft.

At 14th overall, the Pittsburgh Penguins claimed Moose Jaw Warriors forward Brayden Yager. The product of Saskatoon, Sask. put up a career best 78 points (28G-50A) for the Warriors during the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season, earning the Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy as the WHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player.

The Calgary Flames added WHL talent to their organization with the 16th-overall pick, selecting Slovak forward Samuel Honzek from the Vancouver Giants. Honzek, who represented his country at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, collected 56 points (23G-33A) with the Giants in his first season in North America despite being limited to 43 regular season contests.

Saskatoon Blades blueliner Tanner Molendyk was the first WHL defenceman selected in the 2023 NHL Draft after being picked 24th overall by the Nashville Predators. Molendyk, who hails from McBride, B.C., totalled 37 points (9G-28A) in 67 games for the Blades during the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season before helping the Club reach the Eastern Conference Championship for the first time in 29 years, collecting three goals and eight points along the way.

The 2023 NHL Draft marks the 15th time in the past 17 years in which the WHL has seen five or more players selected in the first round of the NHL Draft. With six more WHL players chosen in the first round of the NHL Draft, the WHL’s all-time total number of first-round NHL Draft selections sits at 339 since the 1967 NHL Amateur Draft.

The 2023 NHL Draft resumes Thursday morning at 9 a.m. MT. For more information on WHL players at the NHL Draft, please visit WHL.ca.

2023 NHL Draft – WHL Players
Overall – Player (Pos.) – NHL Team; WHL Team; Hometown
#1 Connor Bedard (F) – Chicago Blackhawks; Regina Pats; North Vancouver, B.C.
#9 Nate Danielson (F) – Detroit Red Wings; Brandon Wheat Kings; Red Deer, Alta.
#13 Zach Benson (F) – Buffalo Sabres; Winnipeg ICE; Chilliwack, B.C.
#14 Brayden Yager (F) – Pittsburgh Penguins; Moose Jaw Warriors; Saskatoon, Sask.
#16 Samuel Honzek (F) – Calgary Flames; Vancouver Giants; Trencin, Slovakia
#24 Tanner Molendyk (D) – Nashville Predators; Saskatoon Blades; McBride, B.C.