Bedard says going No. 1 to Blackhawks in 2023 Draft would be 'huge honor'

BUFFALO -- The reality is setting in for Connor Bedard.

In less than three weeks, the 17-year-old center will finally learn his fate at the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft, when the Chicago Blackhawks are expected to select him with the No. 1 pick.

The first round of the draft, which will take place at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, will be held June 28 (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN, TVAS). Rounds 2-7 will be June 29 (11 a.m. ET; NHLN, SN, TVAS).

"I think everyone has been putting a lot of work in since they were really young," Bedard said. "For all the guys, it's pretty exciting that it's coming up and it's definitely in the back of your head a lot, so I think we're all pretty excited.

"This is our dream, so I think we kind of just got to take it in, enjoy it and kind of everything that goes along with it."

Bedard, who has been the projected No. 1 pick of the 2023 draft for nearly two years, was one of three draft-eligible prospects made available at LECOM HarborCenter on Friday to provide some insight on their season and future during the NHL Scouting Combine. He was joined by center Adam Fantilli of the University of Michigan and center Leo Carlsson of Orebro of the Swedish Hockey League.

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During the availability, Bedard said his interview with Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson on Wednesday was a positive experience and that he'd be honored if Chicago took him with the No. 1 pick.

"It would be awesome," he said. "I mean, the history of that organization and that city with sports would be unbelievable. We'll see what happens, but to select me ... that would be a huge honor."

Bedard (5-foot-10, 185 pounds) won the Canadian Hockey League Top Prospect, Top Scorer, and David Branch Player of the Year awards this season after leading the Western Hockey League in goals (71) and points (143) in 57 games with Regina. He is the first player in the WHL to have more than 140 points in a single season since 1995-96.

Bedard also had 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in seven games in the WHL playoffs, when Regina was eliminated by Saskatoon in the first round. He is the first WHL player to score at least 10 goals in a postseason series since 2012.

"I'm not going to compare myself to other guys or anything, but I think for me, my best attribute is probably my hockey IQ," Bedard said. "I'm pretty creative and stuff and love to try to create plays, but I think hockey IQ is probably my best attribute."

Fantilli (6-2, 195), who is projected to be selected by the Anaheim Ducks with No. 2 pick in the 2023 draft, won the Hobey Baker Award voted as the best men's player in NCAA ice hockey as a freshman this season after he led all players with 65 points and tied for first with 30 goals.

"I think me and Connor are completely different players. ... I think we can impact games differently," Fantilli said. "I think the way we approach the game is a little bit different. At the end of the day, it comes down to what a team wants and what a team might need."

The 18-year-old said he interviewed with Anaheim on Wednesday and the Columbus Blue Jackets, who have the No. 3 pick, on Thursday.

"They more or less were pretty standard questions about myself, my family, my experiences at World Juniors and the World Championship," Fantilli said. "They were trying to get to know me a little bit better, and I really tried to get to know them the best I possibly could in that time frame. They just wanted to get to know me as a person and ask a couple of questions."

Fantilli played with Bedard at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, getting five points (two goals, three assists) in seven games to help Canada win the gold medal. He also won gold with Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Championship, getting three points (one goal, two assists) in 10 games.

"My ability to play up and down a lineup (sets me apart from other prospects in this draft)," Fantilli said. "I thought I was able to show that at World Juniors and at the World Championship. I don't have to be in that top role, necessarily, to be able to have an impact on the game.

"My physicality and compete is something that I pride myself on and something that I'm able to use up and down the lineup. I can be a depth guy if that's what's needed."

Carlsson (6-3, 198), who is No. 1 in NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of International skaters, said he spoke to 11 NHL teams this week. The 18-year-old was named Sweden's Junior Player of the Year after he had 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists), including seven power-play goals, in 44 games with Orebro.

Among the teams he met with were the Blue Jackets (Wednesday) and San Jose Sharks (Thursday), who have the No. 4 pick in the 2023 draft.

"The interview with Columbus was good," Carlsson said. "We talked about me being a center or [wing], and I'm a center, so that's one thing. We also talked about the whole NHL experience and what I can expect there, what I can expect if I get drafted there."

NHL.com deputy managing editor Adam Kimelman and independent correspondent Heather Engel contributed to this report

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