By Scott Powers, Mark Lazerus, Corey Pronman
The Chicago Blackhawks won the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery on Monday, giving them the chance to pick star candidate Conor Bedard with the number one pick. Here’s what you should know:
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What does this mean for the Blackhawks’ rebuilding?
It certainly speeds up planning. Bedard won’t solve all of the Blackhawks’ problems and make Stanley a cup contender overnight. General manager Kyle Davidson will think differently about the next few years. , you’d want him to play alongside high-end players. This free agent class isn’t great, but there are some players who have played with stars in the past and would be the type of talent Davidson would want to have around Bedard. They may no longer be front-line prospects, but that’s okay. Reichel and Bedard could be a dangerous duo for the next decade. — powers
Did this make this season’s tank worth it?
Of course, right? The Blackhawks may have gone a little crazy this season by winning too much, but they were going to get star talent regardless of their top five picks. bottom. — powers
Where will Bedard fit in the line-up?
He instantly became Chicago’s No. 1 center and was able to pair dynamically with Rachel, who earned the 2020 first-round pick. The question is, who will play on the right side of that line? Chicago will soon become an attractive destination, with a relatively weak free-agent pool this summer but the opportunity to play with Bedard. Tyler Veteran players like Johnson, Andreas Attanasiu and Taylor Radish could take the place, but Bedard’s arrival has dramatically accelerated that process and means free agency has become more interesting. do. — Lazerus
Meaning of off the ice
On Monday night, the Blackhawks team store had six Patrick Kane jerseys, several Jonathan Toes jerseys and a lone Seth Jones chassis hanging in the window. Expect to see many 98 jerseys handed over this summer once the picks are official. Also will soon replace the face of the franchise. Jersey sales will rise, ticket sales will rise, matches on national television will rise. The Blackhawks want Bedard to be the turnaround leader on the ice. They know he will be the leader in off-ice turnarounds. — Lazerus
Bedard’s scout report
Bedard is the number one prospect that could change the franchise. His skill and shot are legitimate game-breaking attributes. His ability to beat defenders one-on-one is his one of the best I’ve ever seen of a 17-year-old, and the pace at which he demonstrates his skills in that elite Due to this kind of proficiency he played in the NHL. Bedard is a highly imaginative pack his handler and also a very creative passer. That, combined with the fact that his wrist shot is a top-notch NHL weapon from anywhere in the offensive zone, makes for a predicted nightmare for NHL coaches to stop power plays.
Deeper
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The only downside to his game is his frame, which has scouts wondering if he’ll ever be pushed out on the wing in the NHL. But he’s playing hard and has the physical edge in the game, so it’s not a pushover. His juniors Given his success as a center, strong skating and high level of competition, anyone who drafted him should try him half-heartedly and move to the wing if it doesn’t work out. think. Even if he were a winger, he could have a Patrick Kane/Nikita Kucherov effect on the franchise. Promman
inside story
The Ducks entered Monday’s lottery with the best chance of winning the No. 1 pick at 25.5% by finishing with the league’s worst record. The Blue Jackets (13.5%) were next, followed by the Blackhawks (11.5%), Sharks (9.5%) and Canadiens (8.5%).
The team was able to jump 10 spots in the lottery, but not more than 2 spots. Didn’t get 1st place in the lottery. If any of these five teams win, they move up 10 places and Anaheim is automatically declared the winner.
Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvey Mischkov and Leo Carlson are the unanimous top four contenders for the 2023 draft.
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(Photo: Larry McDougal / AP)
