Connor Bedard earned significant hype entering his rookie season.
The 2023 top overall pick dazzled the highlight reels during his time with the Regina Pats, notching an eye-opening 71 goals and 72 assists in his final season of junior hockey. He led his native Canada to back-to-back World Junior Championships, notching 23 points in seven games during the 2023 version.
It isn’t just the records that stand out with Bedard. He’s already drawing attention around the league for his explosive speed, quickness, scoring touch and shooting ability.
The stories of Bedard’s development only added to the hype. And at just 18 years of age, he’s already showcased maturity and growth handling the buzz that comes with the top-pick territory.
“It’s another player who seems like he’s going to be another extremely dynamic player,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said of Bedard. “You see the way he carries himself; I’ve been very impressed with how mature he is.”
The hype machine for top overall picks provided its share of casualties, including Patrik Stefan and Nail Yakupov. But plenty of other standout prospects drafted No. 1 proved worthy of the buzz surrounding their arrivals, especially Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Mario Lemieux and Auston Matthews.
The buildup of Bedard’s inaugural season is the highest since the McDavid and Matthews debuts in 2015 and 2016. The latter made an immediate impact, notching four goals in his first game as a member of the Maple Leafs.
“I think that guy will be alright,” forward Jake DeBursk said of Bedard with a smile.
The Bruins will witness the Bedard buzz firsthand to kick off their Centennial season on Wednesday night. The Blackhawks arrived in Boston in the wee Wednesday morning hours after kicking off their season against Crosby’s Penguins.
In front of a nationally televised audience, Bedard notched his first NHL point, tallying a secondary assist on Ryan Donato’s marker in the middle frame to cut Pittsburgh’s lead in half to 2-1.
The Blackhawks rallied from a 2-0 deficit to down the Pens in the season opener, with another former Bruin in Nick Foligno, capping off the 4-2 win on an empty-netter.
Bedard, centering a pair of ex-Boston wingers in Donato and Taylor Hall, showcased his offensive assertiveness in his debut, firing 11 shot attempts with five landing on net. He got a red carpet treatment of sorts, skating alone in his traditional rookie lap and receiving a welcome to the league from referee Kelly Sutherland seconds before facing his childhood idol at center ice for his first career faceoff.
With grace and humility, Bedard showcased that he belonged in the NHL. He gets his second taste of NHL action on Wednesday as the Bruins kick off their 2023-24 season with the pregame pomp and circumstance celebrating their 100th year as an organization.
Several Bruins legends will return for a gold carpet arrival shortly after 4 p.m. and a pregame banners ceremony a half hour before puck drop. Come game time, they’ll attempt to keep Bedard from racking up another highlight(s) for his career montage.
“It’s great for the game. Another special player and another special individual fans get to see,” Montgomery said. “We’re going to have to make sure we mark up quickly the first time we play against him. We’re going to be aware of him every time he touches the ice; put it that way. That’s how much he impressed me.”
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