Connor Bedard No. 1 followed by intrigue at NHL Draft

Connor Bedard is considered a lock to be selected by the Chicago Blackhawks with the first overall pick of the 2023 NHL Draft on Wednesday in Nashville, Tenn.

While that answer has been known for quite some time, the questions come quickly in regard to the second overall pick held by the Anaheim Ducks. And they don't stop there as the Columbus Blue Jackets, San Jose Sharks and Montreal Canadiens round out the top five picks of the draft.

First things first, however.

Bedard has been considered a generational talent and is noted to be the best prospect to enter the NHL since Connor McDavid. For reference, the Edmonton Oilers superstar captain is expected to win his third Hart Trophy as the league's MVP on Monday night.

"I'm not a fan of the phrase 'generational player.' It kind of gets overused quite a bit," director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr told the Chicago Tribune. "(But) in my time in scouting, (Pittsburgh Penguins captain) Sidney Crosby was one of the first where I would use that term. Then the next one was Connor McDavid. And now Connor Bedard deserves to be in that same conversation.

"What stands out is the quickness in which he can execute on the play, whether that's his release, reading the play and being in position (or) just getting to the net and getting through the defenders."

Bedard will head to a Blackhawks team that emptied the cupboard. They traded Kirby Dach, Alex DeBrincat and former Hart Trophy recipient Patrick Kane, who was Chicago's only other selection in which it held the top overall pick of a draft (2007). The Blackhawks have accrued promising prospects and significant draft capital as they cast an eye toward the future.

Bedard, who will turn 18 next month, led Canada to the gold medal at the World Junior Championship with a tournament-best 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists) in January.

The British Columbia native swept player of the year, top prospect and top scorer awards in the Canadian Hockey League after recording 143 points (71 goals, 72 assists) in 57 games for the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League.

"I'm still young and have a lot I want do in my hockey career," Bedard said at the time. "But like I said, I've just been pretty fortunate to be able to play in some of these tournaments and leagues and experience these things that I've gotten to experience.

"It's been a hell of a ride so far and hopefully it continues."

While Bedard is the easy choice to kick off the draft, the decisions become more difficult from there.

Popular opinion has the Ducks taking either Michigan forward Adam Fantilli or Orebro forward Leo Carlsson with the second overall pick.

Fantilli, 18, recorded 65 points (30 goals, 35 assists) in 36 games during his first collegiate season with the Wolverines. He became the third freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award along with Vegas Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel (2015) and Hall of Famer Paul Kariya (1993).

"What Bedard did in the WHL was crazy," the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Fantilli said. "I mean, he scored 70 goals, which is pretty phenomenal. But ever since I was a kid, my goal has been to try and be the highest pick in the NHL draft and I think I've done the best I can to work and try to be the best version of the player I wanted to be by draft day.

"It'll all come down to what teams need and what teams want on their rosters so obviously it's not up to me. I think I've worked my hardest and I've tried to be the best player I can be, so it's out of my hands at this point."

Carlsson, 18, recorded 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in 44 games. The 6-3, 194-pounder was named the Swedish junior hockey player of the year.

The Blue Jackets likely will run to the podium to select the forward left behind by the Ducks, leaving the Sharks on the clock at No. 4.

The mystery effectively starts there with Team USA National Team Development Program forward Will Smith, HK Sochi forward Matvei Michkov and EHC Kloten defenseman David Reinbacher likely waiting in the wings.

The Canadiens will select fifth, followed by the Arizona Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals, Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues to round out the top 10.