Connor Bedard

Early Life and Minor Hockey

Connor Thomas Bedard was born on July 17, 2005, in North Vancouver, British Columbia, to parents Tom and Melanie and grew up with his sister Madi. His family has a distant connection to the NHL, as his great-great uncle James Bedard played 22 games for the Chicago Blackhawks between 1949 and 1951. Bedard developed as a young hockey prospect while playing minor hockey with the West Vancouver Academy Prep in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League. During his time there, he led the league in both goals and points for his U15 and U18 teams and was named the most valuable player in both seasons. As a child, Bedard was a fan of the Vancouver Canucks and attended games at Rogers Arena, but he considered Sidney Crosby his hockey idol. His potential was recognized early, with The Hockey News naming him "The Future of Hockey" in a 2018 article, a designation that followed him into his major junior career.

Major Junior Career with the Regina Pats

In March 2020, Hockey Canada granted Connor Bedard exceptional player status, allowing him to enter the Canadian Hockey League a year early. He was the first player to receive this status for the Western Hockey League. The Regina Pats selected him first overall in the 2020 WHL bantam draft. Due to pandemic delays, Bedard began the 2020-21 season on loan to HV71's junior system in Sweden before joining the Pats for a shortened rookie campaign. In just 15 games, he recorded 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points and won the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as the WHL's top rookie. The following 2021-22 season, Bedard became the youngest player in WHL history to score 50 goals in a season, finishing with 51 goals and 49 assists for 100 points. He was only the third 16-year-old to achieve a 100-point season in the WHL and the first to do so in the 21st century. Despite his individual success, the Pats narrowly missed the playoffs that year.

Bedard's final WHL season in 2022-23 was historically productive. He finished with 71 goals and 72 assists for 143 points in only 57 games, winning the Bob Clarke Trophy as the league's leading scorer. His point total led the entire Canadian Hockey League and was the first 140-point season in the WHL since 1995-96. Later, he earned the CHL's Player of the Year, Top Scorer, and Top Draft Prospect awards, becoming the first to win all three in a single season. Bedard's drawing power was immense, with his road games often selling out and setting attendance records. A January 2023 trip through Alberta saw record crowds, and a game in Calgary's Saddledome drew 17,223 fans, nearly five times the home team's seasonal average. The Pats qualified for the playoffs but were eliminated in the first round by the Saskatoon Blades, with Bedard contributing 10 goals and 10 assists in the seven-game series.

Path to the NHL and the 2023 Draft

For years before his draft eligibility, Connor Bedard was projected as the top prospect for the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. Early debate centred on comparisons with Russian winger Matvei Michkov, with media speculation suggesting a potential rivalry similar to Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin. However, Michkov's multi-year contract extension with his KHL club and geopolitical uncertainties from the Russian invasion of Ukraine solidified Bedard's position as the consensus first overall pick. The speculation around his talent was so significant that several NHL teams were accused of intentionally losing games during the 2022-23 season to improve their draft lottery odds, a phenomenon captured in fan chants and a Sports Network parody song titled "Bad for Bedard. Prior to the draft in Nashville, Bedard received the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence from NHL Central Scouting for his character, competitiveness, and athleticism. On June 28, 2023, the Blackhawks made the expected selection, choosing Bedard first overall, making him the second British Columbia-born player after Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to be taken first.

NHL Career with the Chicago Blackhawks

Connor Bedard signed his three-year, entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on his 18th birthday, July 17, 2023. He made an immediate impact in his debut season, recording his first point, an assist, in a 4-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 10, 2023. He scored his first NHL goal the following night against the Boston Bruins. His first two NHL games were the most-watched regular season games on ESPN and TNT respectively that season. Bedard's rookie campaign featured several highlights, including a four-point game (two goals, two assists) against Tampa Bay on November 9, 2023, making him the third-youngest player in NHL history to achieve the feat and the youngest Blackhawk to record a multi-goal game. In January 2024, he was selected for the NHL All-Star Game but suffered a broken jaw from a check by New Jersey's Brendan Smith, requiring surgery and sidelining him for six to eight weeks. He returned on February 15, 2024, and later recorded a career-high five points in a game in March. He finished the season leading all rookies with 22 goals and 61 points in 68 games, earning the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's top rookie, the first Blackhawk to win since Artemi Panarin in 2016.

Bedard played all 82 games in his sophomore 2024-25 season, recording 23 goals and 44 assists for 67 points. His development continued into the 2025-26 season, where he tallied career highs of 30 goals and 45 assists in 69 games. He sustained a shoulder injury in a December 12, 2025, game against St. Louis, which sidelined him for 12 games. At the time of the injury, he was sixth in scoring among all NHL skaters. During that season, he was formally appointed an alternate captain after the trade of Nick Foligno. On November 7, 2025, he recorded his fourth career four-point game, becoming the first player since Steven Stamkos to record four such games before age 21. In July 2026, Bedard sustained another shoulder injury in off-season training, requiring surgery and expected to delay his start to the 2026-27 season. On July 17, 2026, his 21st birthday, he signed a five-year, $75 million contract extension with the Blackhawks. On September 15, 2026, the franchise named him the 37th captain in its history.

International Career

Connor Bedard's international career for Canada began with a gold medal at the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he tied for second in tournament scoring and was named to the media all-star team. At age 16, he was selected for the initial 2022 World Junior Championships in December 2021. He scored four goals in a single game against Austria, breaking Wayne Gretzky's record for most goals by a 16-year-old at the tournament and tying the Canadian record for goals in a single World Junior game. That tournament was cancelled due to COVID-19 but was replayed in August 2022, where Bedard won his first World Junior gold medal, recording four goals and four assists over seven games.

His defining international performance came at the 2023 World Junior Championships. He set Canadian records for career goals and points at the tournament and a world record for points by a player under 19, previously held by Jaromír Jágr. He was named the championships' best forward, most valuable player, and to the media all-star team. For his 2023 performance, he was the inaugural recipient of the IIHF Male Player of the Year award. Following his rookie NHL season, Bedard made his senior national team debut at the 2024 IIHF World Championship. He started strongly with five goals in the first three games but his production slowed later in the tournament. He finished with eight points in ten games as Canada failed to medal. In a notable omission ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, Bedard was left off Canada's initial roster announcement.

Playing Style and Impact

Connor Bedard is renowned for an elite, deceptive shot release that is considered among the best in the world, a skill that was highlighted during his dominant World Junior performances where he consistently beat goaltenders from distance. His offensive toolkit is complemented by high-end hockey intelligence, vision, and playmaking ability, making him a constant dual threat as both a scorer and a passer. Despite being listed at 5-foot-10, his strength, balance, and competitive drive allow him to protect the puck effectively and thrive in high-traffic areas against larger defenders. His arrival in Chicago has been a central part of the franchise's rebuild, revitalizing fan interest and providing a foundational player around which the team is constructed. As captain, he is expected to lead the Blackhawks' return to contention while maintaining his status as one of the most dynamic and marketable players in the league. His ability to draw audiences, evident from his WHL days through to his NHL debut, underscores his significant role in the sport's commercial and popular appeal.

Questions about Connor Bedard

What awards has Connor Bedard won?

Bedard has won numerous awards at every level. In the WHL, he won the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year, the Bob Clarke Trophy as scoring champion, and the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as Most Valuable Player. In the CHL, he won Player of the Year, Top Scorer, and Top Draft Prospect awards in the same season. In the NHL, he won the Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year in 2024. Internationally, he was MVP and best forward of the 2023 World Juniors and the inaugural IIHF Male Player of the Year.

When and where was Connor Bedard born?

Connor Thomas Bedard was born on July 17, 2005. He grew up in North Vancouver, British Columbia, with his parents and sister. His great great uncle James Bedard played 22 NHL games for Chicago between 1949 and 1951. As a child, Bedard was a fan of the Vancouver Canucks and considered Sidney Crosby his idol.

Which junior team did Connor Bedard play for and what records did he set?

Connor Bedard played for the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League from 2020 to 2023. In the 2021-22 season, he became the youngest player to score 50 or more goals in a WHL season. During the 2022-23 season, he led the WHL in scoring with 143 points, winning the Bob Clarke Trophy. He also won the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as the WHL's most valuable player that same year.

What did Connor Bedard achieve at the 2023 World Junior Championships?

At the 2023 World Junior Championships, Connor Bedard set several national and international records. He recorded nine goals and fourteen assists over seven games, leading Canada to a gold medal. He broke the Canadian record for career goals and points at the tournament. Bedard was named the event's most valuable player and best forward by the IIHF directorate.

How did Connor Bedard perform in his rookie NHL season?

In his rookie NHL season with the Chicago Blackhawks, Connor Bedard scored 22 goals and 61 points in 68 games. He led all NHL rookies in scoring and won the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year in 2024. His season included a career high five point game on March 12, 2024. However, his season was interrupted by a broken jaw injury in January that required surgery.

What international championships has Connor Bedard won with Canada?

Connor Bedard has won multiple international championships with Team Canada. He won a gold medal with the Canadian national under 18 team in 2021. He then won back to back gold medals with the Canadian national junior team in 2022 and 2023. He was also the inaugural recipient of the IIHF Male Player of the Year award.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-19.