Connor Bedard played in his first preseason game with the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night, and fans of the Original Six franchise were ready. The 18-year-old center made a smooth pass to set up Andreas Athanasiou's goal at 4:02 of the extra period. Bedard dished from the right side, and Athanasiou flipped in a backhander.
After years of hype, highlights and piles of points — so many points at every level — Connor Bedard has arrived at his first NHL training camp with the Chicago Blackhawks. “Once you’re on the ice, it’s hockey, and you try not to be starstruck or whatever, anything like that,” Bedard said Thursday. The Blackhawks feel the same way, after they used a surprise win in the NHL draft lottery to take the highly touted center with the No. 1 overall pick.