The excitement around Chicago is tangible after winning the NHL Draft lottery and the ability to draft Connor Bedard.
On Monday night, the Chicago Blackhawks won the NHL Draft Lottery. The ability to draft Connor Bedard has sent shockwaves around Chicago. Connor Bedard is a 17-year-old center from North Vancouver, Canada. Many have compared his potential to the likes of Sydney Crosby and Connor McDavid.
The Blackhawks only had an 11.5% chance of the #1 pick. Upon drafting Bedard, the Blackhawks will shave years off of their current rebuild.
2 minutes of Connor Bedard goals this season pic.twitter.com/DGE63gIoaK
— Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) May 8, 2023
Connor Bedard has injected new life into the frustrated Chicago Blackhawks fanbase. According to Darren Rovell, season ticket sales have skyrocketed since the Blackhawks won the draft lottery. After years of dysfunction, fans are ready to compete again.
$5.2 million: Revenue in season tickets sold by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first 12 hours after getting No. 1 pick, which will be Connor Bedard.
$4.54 million: Maximum compensation, including salary, signing and performance bonuses, Bedard can be paid for the 2023-24 season.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) May 9, 2023
Acquiring Bedard will make Chicago a much more alluring free-agent destination this offseason and in offseasons to come. There are several big-name free agents available this offseason. Some potential targets include Vladimir Tarasenko, Max Domi, and of course, Patrick Kane (who Bedard seems to be a big fan of). You can view a complete list of this offseason’s free agents here.
Needless to say, the impact of Connor Bedard is already being felt around Chicago.
CONNOR BEDARD IS A CHICAGO BLACKHAWK @StoolRiverNorth @BarstoolChief @Scott_Darling33 pic.twitter.com/qatf3BhwaP
— Barstool Chicago (@barstoolchicago) May 9, 2023
Cubs just put the NHL draft lottery results on the Jumbotron, eliciting cheers from the crowd as it revealed, with Chelsea Dagger playing, that the Blackhawks landed the No. 1 pick: pic.twitter.com/Xe3iB3cF1P
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) May 9, 2023
Good morning! 50 days until Connor Bedard is a officially a Blackhawk! pic.twitter.com/1d2G2TykgN
— CHGO Blackhawks (@CHGO_Blackhawks) May 9, 2023
Patrick Kane gushing about Connor Bedard in January: “Everyone’s kind of wondering how is he going to do at the next level, how's he going to be. From what I saw, I think it's all right there, he's going to be special." #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/NYJAosoqr6
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) May 9, 2023
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