Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson is preparing for the NHL draft with the No. 1 pick, which is expected to be used to select 17-year-old Canadian center Connor Bedard. The Blackhawks underwent a tear-down process, trading away players like Alex DeBrincat, Kirby Dach, and Patrick Kane, and parting ways with longtime captain Jonathan Toews. Now, Davidson has the opportunity to start building the team back up with a promising young talent.
While Davidson didn’t confirm Bedard as the pick, he spoke highly of the player, noting his maturity and handling of the draft process. Bedard has been praised as a generational talent and has drawn comparisons to Connor McDavid due to his impressive performances in the Western Hockey League.
Bedard himself remains focused on taking things day by day and not speculating on the draft outcome. However, he acknowledges that playing for the Blackhawks, potentially alongside newly acquired Taylor Hall, would be an unbelievable opportunity.
Beyond the expected selection of Bedard, there are other intriguing storylines for the rest of the first round. Matvei Michkov, a skilled forward currently playing in Russia, presents a wild card due to limited exposure to NHL teams. The draft class is considered top-heavy with forwards, potentially making it the first draft since 2003 to not have a defenseman selected in the top five picks.
Trade possibilities are also in play, as many teams outside the top 10 are looking to move up in the draft order. However, completing trades can be challenging, and rumors often don’t materialize into actual deals.
As Davidson and the Blackhawks prepare to make their selection, they aim to add a new cornerstone player to the organization, similar to the impact Patrick Kane had when he was selected first overall in 2007.