Bedard_Hall_FantasySpin

NHL.com has the fantasy hockey spin on the Chicago Blackhawks selecting center Connor Bedard with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and trading for left wing Taylor Hall.

Center Connor Bedard has been selected by the Chicago Blackhawks with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and should be considered the highest ranked rookie and a top 50 overall player with point-per-game potential for this upcoming season.

Bedard, a generational prospect who led the Canadian Hockey League in points (143 in 57 games; 71 goals, 72 assists) for Regina of the Western Hockey League this season, will likely play on a line with left wing Taylor Hall, who was acquired by the Blackhawks from the Boston Bruins on June 26.

Hall, 31, played on mostly the third line for the Boston Bruins last season but won the Hart Trophy with the New Jersey Devils in 2017-18 (NHL career high 93 points in 76 games). He should be considered a fringe top 125 fantasy target and bounce-back candidate after the trade with a ceiling of being a top 100 overall player if he plays on the same line and the first power play with Bedard. Hall saw time with Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, the NHL's most valuable fantasy player, in 2015-16 and had 65 points in 82 games that season.

Hall had 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists) in 61 regular-season games for the NHL-best Bruins last season but bounced back with eight points (five goals, three assists) in seven postseason games despite Boston being upset by the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference First Round.

Although the futures appeal of the Blackhawks is still dependent on any other offseason moves, Bedard and Hall should accelerate their rebuild and boost the fantasy rankings of defenseman Seth Jones, breakout candidates Lukas Reichel, Taylor Raddysh and their chances of making the Stanley Cup Playoffs as early as this upcoming season.