The Chicago Blackhawks have won the draft lottery and end up with the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, and thus have the right to select sensational prospect Connor Bedard.
Eleven teams were in the running for him, with the Anaheim Ducks holding the best odds to retain the top pick (25.5 per cent). And though Bedard’s talent is great enough for this to be called The Connor Bedard Draft, we can’t forget that there are other phenomenal talents to be had early in the process.
But Bedard is the one who single-handedly could change the trajectory of the franchise the same way Connor McDavid did for Edmonton, or Auston Matthews did for Toronto. That’s what’s on the line tonight. Follow along with the latest reaction here with our live blog.