Blackhawks reach deal with No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard

(670 The Score) The Blackhawks have agreed to terms with forward Connor Bedard, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, the team announced on Monday morning.

Bedard, who turned 18 on Monday, agreed to a three-year, entry-level contract that's worth $950,000 annually.

“Signing Connor is a huge step in building a new foundation for our organization,” Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said in a statement. “We’re excited to see him grow and play a large role in pushing our team forward for many years to come.”

Bedard was considered by most to be the best prospect to enter the NHL since Connor McDavid went No. 1 overall to the Oilers in 2015. A native of Vancouver, Bedard posted eye-popping numbers for the Regina Pats in the Western Hockey League, scoring 134 goals to go along with 137 assists in 134 games across three seasons. He won the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as the league’s top player in 2023, when he had 71 goals and 72 assists in 57 games. A North Vancouver native, Bedard also posted nine goals and 14 assists over seven games with Canada in the World Junior Hockey Championship earlier this year en route to being named the tournament MVP.

The Blackhawks landed the opportunity to select Bedard by winning the NHL Draft lottery back in May. The Ducks owned the best odds at 25.5%, while the Blue Jackets had the second-highest odds at 13.5%. The Blackhawks had the third-best odds with an 11.5% chance of earning the No. 1 pick.