Chicago Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard has lived up to expectations in his first NHL season, as the No. 1 draft pick boasts 13 goals and 30 points in 33 games. The 18-year-old center’s latest highlight came on Saturday, when he successfully pulled off a “Michigan goal” in a game against the St. Louis Blues.
The move, which was made famous by University of Michigan winger Mike Legg in 1996, occurs when a player picks up the puck with his stick behind the net—seemingly defying gravity—and scores on a wraparound shot, similar to a lacrosse goal. When Bedard got the puck behind the net against St. Louis there was enough room to execute the highlight, and he didn’t disappoint.
OH MY CONNOR BEDARD pic.twitter.com/WUzWhEraJp
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 24, 2023
Amazingly enough, hockey legend Wayne Gretzky was in attendance in St. Louis to see the moment live, and the Great One reacted in real time to Bedard’s dazzling feat.
“He’s been fun to watch. He’s been better than probably anticipated,” Gretzky said while being interviewed on the ESPN+ broadcast. “I couldn’t do what he did tonight. This wasn’t in my repertoire.”
"I couldn't do what he did tonight."
— ESPN (@espn) December 24, 2023
—Wayne Gretzky after Connor Bedard's Michigan goal 👀 pic.twitter.com/p3rr9ffpf3
Amazingly, it wasn’t the only “Michigan goal” of the day, as Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras executed the lacrosse-style play in a game against the Seattle Kraken.
Bedard is well positioned to win the NHL’s Calder Trophy, annually awarded to the league’s top rookie. The young center came into the league with high expectations, and he’s already impressing NHL royalty.
