Rookie Watch: Bedard, Cooley among best in Central Division

Connor Bedard, F, Chicago Blackhawks: Connor Bedard, the right-shot center and number one pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, has been living up to the hype. At just 18 years old and standing at 5-foot-10, 185 pounds, Bedard has already scored five goals, putting him in a tie with Marco Rossi of the Minnesota Wild for the lead among Central Division rookies. In addition to his goal-scoring prowess, Bedard has recorded seven points and taken 34 shots on goal. He also leads all rookie forwards in average ice time, playing an impressive 19 minutes and 27 seconds per game in his first 11 games. Notably, Bedard became the youngest player in Blackhawks history to have a three-game goal streak from October 27th to November 4th. His performance so far places him alongside Andrew Shaw, Jonathan Toews, Igor Radulov, and Dimitri Nabokov as one of only five Blackhawks players to score five goals in their first 10 games in nearly 80 years.

One of the many strengths that Bedard showcased during his time with the Regina in the Western Hockey League over the past three seasons (where he accumulated 134 goals and 271 points in 134 games) was his ability to locate the perfect spot on the ice to unleash his incredible shot against the opposing goalie. He has continued this trend in the NHL, with 10 of his shots coming from high-danger areas and 18 from mid-range, according to NHL Edge.

“He learns from every shift, and I think we’ll be amazed by his progress as we reach the 20-game mark and beyond this season,” said David Gregory from NHL Central Scouting. “With his elite skill level, he’ll be able to replicate what he achieved as a junior player. He’s adapting well, getting off plenty of shots, and there’s no doubt he’ll continue to excel.”