Connor Bedard strode into a bright room on the 11th floor of an office tower overlooking Bridgestone Arena.
He took his place at the podium before a phalanx of cameras and a few dozen reporters.
It was a spot he害羞草研究所檚 slowly grown accustomed to 害羞草研究所� being the centre of attention.
Discussed in hockey circles as the potential 害羞草研究所淣ext One害羞草研究所� for a significant chunk of his young life, the 17-year-old phenom害羞草研究所檚 moment has nearly arrived.
Bedard is all but assured of being selected with the No. 1 pick by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the NHL draft on Wednesday, a moment that will signify the closing of one chapter and the beginning of another that 害羞草研究所� if projections are accurate 害羞草研究所� could see him eventually seated alongside the game害羞草研究所檚 greats.
害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 really know what to expect or what I think I害羞草研究所檒l feel,害羞草研究所� the centre from North Vancouver, B.C., with a bullet shot and a stunning tool belt of skill and intelligence said Tuesday of what it will be like hearing his name called.
Bedard, who was still in grade school when the articles about his talents first appeared, has also had plenty of runway to prepare.
害羞草研究所淚t was pretty gradual, it wasn害羞草研究所檛 an overnight thing,害羞草研究所� he said Tuesday of his rise to stardom. 害羞草研究所淭hat helps out a bit, learn how to deal with things. It害羞草研究所檚 gone up a bit this year with the draft.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been good to have it gradually grow.害羞草研究所�
It害羞草研究所檚 now at a fever pitch with the draft right finally at his doorstep.
And some of the players who have walked in similar shoes know what Bedard is going through as the hours tick down.
害羞草研究所淚 wouldn害羞草研究所檛 say it害羞草研究所檚 fair or unfair,害羞草研究所� Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, the top pick in 2015, said of the pressure and hype. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 part of the gig. We want to play hockey, and want to play in the NHL, and live out our dream.
害羞草研究所淲hen you害羞草研究所檙e really good, those expectations and those demands come.害羞草研究所�
Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos, the No. 1 pick in 2008, works out with McDavid in the summer, and met Bedard at one of those training sessions in the Toronto area.
害羞草研究所淕reat, down-to-earth kid,害羞草研究所� Stamkos said. 害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 a lot of pressure that comes with being a first overall pick, especially one as highly touted as him. I害羞草研究所檓 not sure I was in the same category as that coming up, but he害羞草研究所檚 got his head on his shoulders. He comes from, what I can tell, a good family.
害羞草研究所淭he skill speaks for itself. We害羞草研究所檝e all seen the videos of him shooting pucks and in the gym 害羞草研究所� the work ethic害羞草研究所檚 there, as well. I害羞草研究所檓 excited to see what he can do next year.害羞草研究所�
Bedard was grateful for the chance to spend time with both players ahead of his big moment.
害羞草研究所淩eally nice people,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淕etting to be with them and see how they approach every day, and then get a few (pieces) of advice.害羞草研究所�
Bedard害羞草研究所檚 dad, Tom, said in a recent interview he害羞草研究所檚 been impressed with how his son has navigated the attention since a young age.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 surprising sometimes with all the different things going on,害羞草研究所� Tom Bedard said. 害羞草研究所淏ut he seems to handle it pretty well to this point.
害羞草研究所淗opefully that continues.害羞草研究所�
Tom Bedard has also seen that drive up close ever since Connor first laced up the skates.
害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 think he害羞草研究所檚 ever totally satisfied,害羞草研究所� said the elder Bedard. 害羞草研究所淗e thinks he can get a little better at this or a little better at that.害羞草研究所�
Trades dominated the day before the draft as the Winnipeg Jets ended the Pierre-Luc Dubois saga by shipping the centre to the Los Angeles Kings for forwards Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari and Gabriel Vilardi plus a 2024 second-round pick.
Dubois also agreed to an eight-year, US$68-million contract through the 2030-31 season.
Prior to that blockbuster, the Montreal Canadiens acquired centre Alex Newhook from the Colorado Avalanche for the 31st and 37th selections in the draft along with defenceman Gianni Fairbrother.
The New Jersey Devils acquired veteran forward Tyler Toffoli from the Calgary Flames on Tuesday in exchange for Yegor Sharangovich and a 2023 third-round draft pick, which the Devils acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The 31-year-old Toffoli is coming off a career season with the Flames, scoring 34 goals and adding 39 assists. He has one year left on his four-year, $17 million contract.
Sharangovich, a 25-year-old from Belarus, scored 13 goals and added 17 assists this season with the Devils.
Bedard, meanwhile, leads a draft class heavy on forward talent, including No. 2-ranked North American skater Adam Fantilli and Leo Carlsson, who tops the European list.
害羞草研究所淪omething you害羞草研究所檝e tried to look forward to your entire life, and try to get to this point,害羞草研究所� said Fantilli, a product of Nobleton, Ont. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e all really excited 害羞草研究所� can害羞草研究所檛 play another game now, you can害羞草研究所檛 score another goal now.
害羞草研究所淪it back, try and soak it in, and enjoy it.害羞草研究所�
One of the draft害羞草研究所檚 biggest questions will be where does Matvei Michkov land?
The Russian forward, who might have the second-highest ceiling after Bedard, is signed in the KHL and slated to spend at least a few more seasons at home before coming to North America.
害羞草研究所淓veryone害羞草研究所檚 kind of in the same boat 害羞草研究所� media, players, teams, I imagine,害羞草研究所� said Zach Benson, the No. 6 North American skater said of Michkov being a wild card. 害羞草研究所淵ou害羞草研究所檙e not sure where he害羞草研究所檚 gonna go, but watching videos on him, he害羞草研究所檚 an elite player.
害羞草研究所淲herever he goes, that team害羞草研究所檚 getting a good one.害羞草研究所�
The moment, however, will belong to Bedard.
害羞草研究所淵ou always dream,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淟oved playing the game. I woke up every day and wanted to be on the ice. That was my mindset. I never thought too much about the future in any way. Everyone害羞草研究所檚 dream is to play in the NHL. It害羞草研究所檚 still my dream.
害羞草研究所淚 hope to achieve that one day.害羞草研究所�
He害羞草研究所檚 set to take a big step in that direction Wednesday.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER PICK 1?
The NHL Awards ceremony held inside Bridgestone Arena on Monday night served up a casual country, chummy comedic vibe.
Expect things to be more businesslike when the NHL entry draft takes over the home arena of the Nashville Predators for two tense decision-filled days.
The draft consists of seven rounds, with the opening round taking place Wednesday night. Rounds 2 to 7, covering all 224 player selections, is held Thursday.
The Chicago Blackhawks will make the first overall pick just after 7 p.m. ET Wednesday and are expected to grab Bedard.
The Anaheim Ducks select second, followed by the Columbus Blue Jackets, San Jose Sharks and Montreal Canadiens.
The Vancouver Canucks will have the 11th pick, followed by the Calgary Flames at 16th, Winnipeg Jets 18th and the Toronto Maple Leafs 28th. Round 1 ends after 32 players are selected.
Players expected to be drafted early include centre Adam Fantilli of the University of Michigan, centre Leo Carlsson of the Swedish Hockey League, forward Samuel Honzek of the Vancouver Giants, forwards Will Smith and Ryan Leonard of the U.S. National Team Development Program, forward Matvei Michkov of St. Petersburg in the KHL, and Nanaimo, B.C. product Matthew Wood of the UConn men害羞草研究所檚 hockey team.
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