SECAUCUS, NJ — The Chicago Blackhawks won the NHL draft lottery on Monday night, and with it the right to pick Connor Bedard as first pick, turning one among the worst seasons in many years right into a potentially franchise-changing player.
That is the second time the Blackhawks have won the lottery in the last twenty years, with the previous win in 2007 bringing Patrick Kane to assist them win the Stanley Cup thrice between 2010 and 2015.
Bedard can now step into the void crammed with the departures of Kane and long-time captain Jonathan Toews and turn into the recent face of the Original Six organization, which is currently undergoing a full-scale rebuild.
Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly unveiled the Blackhawks’ logo plaque at 8:22 PM EDT, marking their No. 1 win and sparking frenzied celebration amongst fans at the viewing party. Chicago had the third highest odds of winning the lottery at 11.5%, behind Anaheim’s 25.5% and Columbus’s 13.5%.
![Connor Bedard No. 16 of Team Canada skates the puck during the overtime against Team Czech in the gold medal round of the 2023 IIHF World Youth Championships](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000004792593.jpg?w=1024)
“I believe I just said ‘Wow’ since you understand the impact that a primary overall pick – and a primary overall pick in the right 12 months – can have,” Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said at a news conference in Chicago. “I hope that is what we’ve here. It may possibly change the franchise, it could actually change the city and it could actually change the era of the team’s history. It’s of great importance and great importance.”
The league’s worst Anaheim won the second-choice lottery and can give you the option to pick from a trio of talented strikers: Canadian Adam Fantilli, Russian Matvei Michkov and Swede Leo Carlsson.
Geese GM Pat Verbeek waited for Daly to “turn the card”.
![Connor Bedard #98 of the Regina Pats is playing the puck](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/GettyImages-1453188458.jpg?w=1024)
“Let’s kill the tension here and get on with it,” Verbeek said during a Zoom call. “In order that they flipped the card and we ended up picking 2. I’m excited.”
Columbus is ready to pick third, continuing the Blue Jackets’ losing streak. GM Jarmo Kekalainen said an on-air mishap that exposed his team’s pick for third had “spoiled the moment”.
“We’ll have an excellent player at the age of three, I even have little doubt about it,” Kekalainen said during a video call with reporters. “Everyone desires to win the lottery, then the whole lot is under your control and after all everyone was talking about an exceptional player at the top of the rankings. But we’re confident that with 3 we are going to get a giant difference. “
Bedard was arguably the top pick in the 2023 draft for several years, considered the best pick available since Connor McDavid eight years ago, making this lottery almost as anticipated as Sidney Crosby’s 2005 draw.
A native of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Bedard led all juniors across Canada with 72 goals and 143 points last season while playing for the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League.
He won’t be 18 until July.
In a pre-recorded television interview that aired on ESPN, Bedard said about his future: “There are different emotions to observe, but I believe all of us just watch as fans. … It’s more for bands.”
The Blackhawks decided to hit all-time low last 12 months and plunge right into a lengthy rebuilding process, trading star forwards Alex DeBrincat and Kirby Dach, despite each being under 25.
The strategy worked: Chicago lost 56 of 82 games to create a likelihood for Bedard.
They are going to give you the option to announce Bedard’s name at the start of the draft on June 28 in Nashville, Tennessee.