Connor Bedard

Early Life and Junior Hockey

Connor Thomas Bedard grew up in North Vancouver, British Columbia, with his parents Tom and Melanie and 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 played his minor hockey with West Vancouver Academy Prep in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League, where he led the league in goals and points for both the U15 and U18 teams and was named most valuable player in both seasons. His early promise was highlighted in a 2018 article by The Hockey News that dubbed him "The Future of Hockey." A fan of the Vancouver Canucks, Bedard attended games at Rogers Arena but considered Sidney Crosby his childhood idol, setting a high bar for his own career aspirations. In March 2020, Hockey Canada granted Bedard exceptional player status, allowing him to enter major junior hockey a year early, and 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-related delays to the WHL season, Bedard began the 2020-21 season on loan to the HV71 junior system in Sweden. He returned to Regina for a shortened 15-game rookie season, scoring 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points before leaving for the 2021 World U18 Championships. He was awarded the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as the WHL's rookie of the year. His development accelerated rapidly the following season, and by the 2021-22 WHL season, he became the youngest player in league history to score 50 or more goals in a season, scoring his 50th and 51st in the final regular season game. He finished the year with 51 goals and 49 assists for 100 points, ranking second in the WHL in goals and fourth in points, and was only the third 16-year-old to manage a 100-point season in the WHL and the first to do so in the 21st century.

Dominant WHL Career with Regina

Bedard's third and final WHL season in 2022-23 was one of historic dominance. He quickly established himself as the league's top scorer, recording a twenty-game point streak for the second consecutive season, a feat not achieved in a decade. His national profile soared after a record-setting performance at the 2023 World Junior Championships, which transformed his road games into major events. A January road trip through Alberta saw team record attendance of 7,287 at the Red Deer Rebels' arena, while the Medicine Hat Tigers sold out their arena to more than double their average attendance, and the Lethbridge Hurricanes offered standing-room only. A nationally televised game at the Calgary Saddledome drew a near-record WHL crowd of 17,223 when the home team's seasonal average was only 3,500. Despite intense media speculation about a potential trade to a contender, Pats general manager John Paddock asserted he would not trade Bedard, noting the player would have to consent and that Bedard wanted to finish his career in Regina, and the trade deadline passed without a transaction.

Bedard's on-ice production was staggering. He finished the regular season with 71 goals and 72 assists for 143 points in just 57 games, winning the Bob Clarke Trophy as the WHL's leading scorer. His point total led the entire Canadian Hockey League and was the first 140-point season in the WHL since the 1995-96 season. The league awarded him the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as its most valuable player, making him the first draft-eligible player to be named WHL MVP since Sam Reinhart nine years prior. At the CHL level, he achieved an unprecedented sweep of major awards, becoming the first person to win the CHL Top Scorer Award, the CHL Player of the Year award, and the CHL Top Draft Prospect award in a single season, and he was also named to the revived CHL First All-Star Team.

• Won the CHL Top Scorer Award for 143 points.
• Named the CHL Player of the the Year for the 2022-23 season.
• Received the CHL Top Draft Prospect Award in 2023.
• Selected to the CHL First All-Star Team in 2023.

In the playoffs, Bedard led the Regina Pats to a first-round series against the Saskatoon Blades. He recorded two goals and an assist in a Game 1 victory for his first career playoff points. The Pats won the first two games but lost the next three straight, forcing a Game 6 where Bedard had a goal and three assists to extend the series. The Pats were eliminated in Game 7 in Saskatoon by a score of 4-1. Bedard finished the series with 10 goals and 10 assists in seven games, which marked the expected end of his WHL and junior career.

Path to the NHL and Draft Selection

For years leading up to the 2023 NHL entry draft, Bedard was the consensus top prospect, often compared to generational talents like Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid. Early debate two years in advance centred on his merits versus Russian winger Matvei Michkov, with media suggesting a potential rivalry comparable to Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin. Following Michkov's signing of a multi-year KHL contract extension and geopolitical uncertainties from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it was widely presumed Bedard would be picked first. The anticipation for the draft lottery was so intense that several NHL teams, notably the Chicago Blackhawks and Arizona Coyotes, were said to be openly performing poorly in the 2022-23 season to improve their odds, a phenomenon captured in fan chants and a Sports Network parody song titled "Bad for Bedard." The Chicago Blackhawks won the lottery, and within an hour and a half of the outcome being announced, the team had sold $2.5 million in season ticket packages, reflecting the immense commercial draw he represented.

In advance of the draft in Nashville, Tennessee, Bedard received the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence from the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. This award is bestowed upon the candidate who best exemplifies commitment to excellence through strength of character, competitiveness, and athleticism. On June 28, 2023, the Chicago Blackhawks selected Bedard first overall in the 2023 NHL entry draft. This was the Blackhawks' second first overall selection in team history, after Patrick Kane in 2007. Bedard was also the second player born in British Columbia selected first overall, after Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in 2011.

NHL Career with the Chicago Blackhawks

Bedard signed his three-year, entry-level contract with the Blackhawks on his 18th birthday, July 17, 2023. He made an immediate impact in his debut season, recording an assist in his first game on October 10 in a 4-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins and scoring his first NHL goal the following night in a loss to the Boston Bruins. His first two NHL games were the most-watched regular season ice hockey games for ESPN and TNT respectively. A highlight came on November 9, 2023, when he tallied two goals and two assists against the Tampa Bay Lightning, becoming the third-youngest player in NHL history to record a four-point game, the youngest rookie to do so since 1944, and the youngest in Blackhawks history to record a multi-goal game. His rookie campaign was interrupted on January 5, 2024, when he sustained a broken jaw from a check by New Jersey Devils defenceman Brendan Smith, requiring surgery and sidelining him for six to eight weeks. Despite the injury, which caused him to miss the 2024 NHL All-Star Game after being selected, he appeared in the "One-Timers" skills competition serving pucks to other players. He returned to action on February 15, 2024, and posted a career-high five points with a goal and four assists in a game on March 12 against the Anaheim Ducks. His sophomore season in 2024-25 saw him play all 82 games and improve to 23 goals and 44 assists for 67 points.

The 2025-26 season brought further milestones, including his fourth career four-point game on November 7, 2025, in a win over Calgary, making him the first player since Steven Stamkos to record four or more four-point games before age 21. After a shoulder injury sidelined him for 12 games in December, he returned and was formally appointed an alternate captain following the mid-season trade of captain Nick Foligno. He finished the year with career highs of 30 goals and 45 assists for 75 points in 69 games, ranking sixth in league scoring at the time of his injury. In July 2026, Bedard signed a five-year, $75 million contract extension with the Blackhawks but suffered a shoulder injury during an off-season training session that required surgery and would sideline him for the first month of the 2026-27 season. On September 15, 2026, the Blackhawks named Bedard as the 37th captain in franchise history.

International Career

Bedard has been a key player for Hockey Canada at multiple levels, achieving remarkable success in international tournaments. He won his first gold medal with the Canadian national under-18 team at the 2021 World U18 Championships, where he tied for second in tournament scoring and earned a spot on the media all-star team. His World Junior Championship debut at age 16 in December 2021 was sensational, as he scored four goals in an 11-2 victory over Austria, breaking Wayne Gretzky's record for most goals by a 16-year-old at the championships and tying the overall Canadian record for most goals in a single World Junior game, though that initial tournament was cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns. He returned to win gold at the rebooted tournament in August 2022, recording four goals and four assists over seven games.

His defining international performance came at the 2023 World Junior Championships in Halifax. Bedard was utterly dominant, setting numerous Canadian and world records en route to a second consecutive gold medal. When he scored the opening goal in the quarter-final against Slovakia, he broke the Canadian record for career goals and points at the tournament. He also set a new world record for World Junior points by a player under the age of 19, previously held by Jaromír Jágr. He recorded nine goals and fourteen assists for 23 points during the seven-game tournament and scored the overtime game-winning goal in the gold medal final, described as an indelible stamp on the event.

• Set Canadian records for most career goals and points at the World Juniors in 2023.
• Broke the world record for points by a player under 19, surpassing Jaromír Jágr.
• Scored the overtime game-winning goal in the 2023 gold medal game.
• Named tournament MVP, best forward, and to the media all-star team in 2023.

For this historic performance, Bedard was named the inaugural IIHF Male Player of the Year. He made his senior national team debut at the 2024 IIHF World Championship, scoring his first senior international goal on May 11, 2024, against Great Britain. He began with five goals and one assist in Canada's first three games but recorded no points in the next four contests, leading to diminished ice time before appearing in the final loss to Sweden. He finished the tournament with eight points in ten games as Canada was eliminated in the quarter-finals.

Playing Style and Impact

Connor Bedard's game is built around an elite, release-quick shot that is considered among the best in the world, a trait that attracted considerable attention during his junior and international play. His offensive instincts, high hockey IQ, and ability to execute plays at high speed make him a constant scoring threat, evidenced by his rapid point production at every level. From a young age, his presence has had a significant commercial and cultural impact, driving unprecedented ticket sales for his junior team's road games and generating immense fan interest for the Chicago Blackhawks upon his draft selection, a phenomenon noted by media outlets like ESPN which remarked on fan slogans like 'Lose Hard for Bedard'. His appointment as captain of the Blackhawks at age 21 confirms the leadership qualities and central role the organization sees for him in its rebuilding efforts. While his career is still in its early stages, his rapid ascent from a heralded prospect to an NHL award winner and national team mainstay has already established his place as one of Canadian hockey's most prominent figures, a journey that began when he was profiled in The New York Times in 2022 as the most exciting future NHL player attending that year's draft.

Questions about Connor Bedard

What awards has Connor Bedard won?

Bedard has won numerous major awards. In the WHL, he won the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy (top rookie), the Bob Clarke Trophy (leading scorer), and the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy (MVP). He swept the CHL's Top Scorer, Player of the Year, and Top Draft Prospect awards in 2023. In the NHL, he won the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year in 2024. Internationally, he was the MVP of the 2023 World Juniors and the inaugural IIHF Male Player of the Year.

What records did Bedard set at the World Junior Championships?

At the 2023 World Junior Championships, Bedard set several historic records. He broke the Canadian records for most career goals and points at the tournament. He also set a new world record for points by a player under the age of 19, surpassing Jaromír Jágr. During the tournament, he recorded 23 points in 7 games, a dominant performance that led Canada to a gold medal.

Where is Connor Bedard from?

Connor Bedard is from North Vancouver, British Columbia. He was born there on July 17, 2005, and grew up in that city with his parents and sister. He played his minor hockey for West Vancouver Academy Prep in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League, where he led the league in goals and points for both his U15 and U18 seasons. Bedard grew up a fan of the Vancouver Canucks and attended home games at Rogers Arena, but he considered Sidney Crosby his childhood idol.

When was Connor Bedard drafted into the NHL?

Connor Bedard was drafted first overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2023 NHL entry draft. The draft was held in Nashville, Tennessee, where Bedard also received the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence from NHL Central Scouting. He had been the consensus top prospect for his draft year, with much media discussion framing him as a generational talent. The Blackhawks won the draft lottery to secure the first overall pick, an event that reportedly led to a surge in season ticket sales for the franchise.

When did Connor Bedard become captain of the Blackhawks?

Connor Bedard was named the 37th captain in Chicago Blackhawks franchise history on September 15, 2026. This appointment followed his signing of a five year, 75 million dollar contract extension with the team on July 17, 2026. Prior to becoming captain, Bedard had been formally appointed an alternate captain during the 2025 26 NHL season after a mid season trade involving the previous captain. His leadership role was established as he continued to be a central figure for the Blackhawks' future.

Has Connor Bedard had any significant injuries?

Yes, Connor Bedard has sustained a few significant injuries early in his NHL career. In January 2024, he suffered a broken jaw from a check by New Jersey Devils defenceman Brendan Smith, which required surgery and a six to eight week recovery period. This injury forced him to miss the 2024 NHL All Star Game, though he did participate in a skills event. Later, in July 2026, he suffered a shoulder injury during an off season training session that also required surgery, sidelining him for the first month of the 2026 27 season. He had also missed 12 games in December 2025 due to a separate shoulder injury.

Sources and further reading

• Connor Bedard (Wikipedia)
• Connor Bedard Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Title (hockey-reference.com)
• Connor Bedard EA SPORTS™ NHL 27 Player Ratings (ea.com)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-19.