NHL Draft 2023: Blackhawks On Clock With No. 1 Pick

CHICAGO — In what will probably be the least surprising result of Wednesday's NHL Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks are predicted to take star prospect Connor Bedard with the No. 1 pick. The 17-year-old Canadian is widely considered the top available player in the draft, scheduled to start at 6 p.m. at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. The draft will be telecast on ESPN and ESPN+.

Last month, Chicago defied the odds by winning the NHL Draft Lottery, giving them the rights to select a player many are calling a generational talent. The Blackhawks had an 11.5 percent chance of getting the No. 1 pick.

Following the news that Chicago had won the lottery, ticket sales for the Blackhawks have skyrocketed. Chicago sold 500 season tickets, worth approximately $2.5 million, in just 90 minutes after earning the right to draft Bedard.

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Bedard, who plays center, is currently captain of the Regina Pats in the Western Hockey League. Expectations will be high for Bedard as he comes to a Blackhawks' team that finished tied for the second-worst record in the NHL.

This will be the second time in franchise history that Chicago has the top pick, the last being in 2007 when it selected one of its best all-time players in Patrick Kane.