The Blackhawks selected Canadian center Connor Bedard with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL draft Wednesday night.
The 17-year-old is widely considered to be the one of the best draft prospects to enter the NHL since Connor McDavid was taken No. 1 by the Oilers in 2015.
This is the second time that the Blackhawks have owned the top pick. The only other time the club possessed the No. 1 selection was back in 2007, when it selected Patrick Kane. The star forward would dominate during his time in Chicago, helping to lead the franchise to three Stanley Cups (2010, ’13, ’15) in his 16 seasons.