The NHL regular season is winding down and some franchises are looking forward to 2023-2024 already. Some teams will be looking to land the next great one in the NHL in Connor Bedard. He is projected to be the number-one overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
In 57 games this season with the Regina Pats in the WHL, he has scored 71 goals and has recorded 72 assists, along with a plus/minus rating of 39. He is just 17 years old. Which teams are in the sweepstakes for him?
Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus has 53 points this season (23-42-7 record in 72 games played) and it is the worst in the Eastern Conference. In a loaded Metropolitan Division, the Blue Jackets need a franchise-changing player, but they also have a solid pool of young talent in their farm system. The Blue Jackets haven't had a player like him since Rick Nash.
San Jose Sharks
San Jose has also 53 points this season (73 games played with a 19-39-15 record) and it is the worst record in the Western Conference. The Sharks have been in rebuild mode for the last few seasons. Connor Bedard would potentially speed it up, but they would still have a lot of work to do.
Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago has 54 points this season (73 games played with a 24-43-6 record with 54 points) and they are entering a massive rebuild. They are going to transition into a new phase with Connor Bedard from Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews and what a way to do it. The Blackhawks are no strangers to having franchise-changing players.