The 7 Best Landing Spots for Potential No. 1 2023 NHL Draft Pick Connor Bedard
The NHL's annual draft lottery will be held Monday at 8 p.m. ET.
The prize for the winner is the opportunity to select the top prospect in this year's draft class, Connor Bedard, a 17-year-old center with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League.
Scouts consider him to be a potential generational talent. A highly skilled center, he was the WHL's leading scorer this season with 71 goals and 143 points in 57 games. He was also named MVP of the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship after leading Canada to a gold medal.
Only the 11 worst teams in the standings have an opportunity to move into the top spot, and the Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks have the best odds of winning it.
But that doesn't necessarily mean they're the best fit for him. Other rebuilding teams could have a greater need for Bedard. There could also be those that provide him with a better chance to reach his full potential.
Here's a look at our choices of the seven best landing spots for Bedard based on need, roster makeup and potential role.
Do you agree or disagree with our choices? Let us know in our app's comments section.
7. Philadelphia Flyers
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After several mediocre seasons, the Philadelphia Flyers are poised to engage in a rebuild. Daniel Briere indicated as much in March following his hiring as interim general manager.
Winning the draft lottery and landing Bedard would be a great start. The last time the Flyers had the first pick was in 1975 when they chose Mel Bridgman. Sitting with the league's seventh-worst record, they have the lowest odds compared to the others on our list at 6.5 percent. Still, luck could smile on them in the lottery.
Bedard would join a club that already has several quality veterans to help him adjust to the NHL. Assuming Sean Couturier returns from the back injury that sidelined him this season, he would make a fine mentor for the young center.
Bedard could skate as the Flyers' second-line pivot if they end up trading Kevin Hayes this summer. The incoming rookie would benefit from having skilled wingers such as Travis Konecny, Cam Atkinson, Joel Farabee or Scott Laughton on his line.
6. San Jose Sharks
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The San Jose Sharks appear to be shifting toward rebuilding under first-year general manager Mike Grier. With franchise greats Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau long gone, they must make big changes after missing the playoffs for the fourth straight year.
Bedard could become the next big franchise star who helps them regain their former glory as a dominant team in the Western Conference. He'd be joining a club that is bringing in younger talent but also has some reliable veterans to guide him.
Bedard could be arriving at the same time as promising forward William Eklund, who was chosen seventh overall in 2020. The 20-year-old has already had a brief taste of NHL action over the past two years. He and Bedard could one day form the core of a resurgent club.
The Sharks also have long-time forwards Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl to ease Bedard's transition into the big league. Both can mentor the promising youngster, with one of them perhaps skating on the same line by shifting to his wing. They would also ensure Bedard wouldn't have to carry the Sharks offense on his own in his formative NHL years.
5. Montréal Canadiens
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Winners of the 2022 draft lottery, the Montréal Canadiens surprised most experts by choosing winger Juraj Slafkovsky over center Shane Wright. With 23-year-old Nick Suzuki already skating on the first line and 22-year-old Kirby Dach penciled in as their second-line center, there seems at first glance no need for the Habs to land this pick.
The Canadiens are already well stocked with promising young players on the roster and within their prospect pipeline. Nevertheless, they and their fans would be thrilled to have the lottery balls drop in their favor a second straight year, especially with someone such as Bedard as the top player in the class.
Winnipeg Jets center Pierre-Luc Dubois has been linked to the Canadiens in the speculation mill since last summer. Landing Bedard in the lottery, however, would take away the need for the Habs to part with assets to acquire Dubois from the Jets and then pay out a significant raise to re-sign him.
Bedard would fit in well with the rebuilding Canadiens. He could center their second line between veterans such as Josh Anderson or Brendan Gallagher on right wing and Mike Hoffman on his left side. Dach could move up to right wing on the first line where he had solid chemistry with Suzuki and Cole Caufield this season.
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4. Columbus Blue Jackets
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A lack of a true first-line center has been an issue for the Columbus Blue Jackets. They have two world-class wingers in Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine but no one with comparable skills to skate alongside them.
The Jackets have two promising centers in Kent Johnson and Cole Sillinger, but it could take them several years to reach their full potential. Bedard could provide a speedy resolution to their problem without the Blue Jackets having to resort to trades or free agency if Johnson and Sillinger struggle to reach expectations.
Bedard would be coming into what could be a dream situation with the Jackets. If he proves to be as good as promised, he could immediately slot into that first-line center role between Gaudreau and Laine. They could also use him on one line with Gaudreau or Laine and move the other to a different line to spread their offense around.
The Jackets hold the second-best odds (13.5 percent) of winning this year's lottery. Going to Columbus with two readymade stars would take pressure off Bedard, giving him talented veteran mentors as linemates. They could help him become the biggest star in franchise history.
3. Chicago Blackhawks
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Trading Patrick Kane in February to the New York Rangers ahead of Jonathan Toews' imminent departure in July via free agency removes the last two links to Chicago's Stanley Cup glory years from 2010 to 2015. Now in a full rebuild under general manager Kyle Davidson, the team could use a foundation piece such as Bedard.
Chicago has the third-best odds (11.5 percent) of winning this year's lottery. Should those balls bounce the right way for the Blackhawks, it will mark the first time they've had the No. 1 overall pick since 2007. They chose Kane with that selection, who went on to become one of the greatest players in franchise history, as he helped them win three Stanley Cups.
Regardless of whether he fully matches that success, he'd be the perfect player for Davidson to build around. The GM's done a fine job in a short period of restocking his club's prospect pool, adding Kevin Korchinski, Frank Nazar and Sam Rinzel.
Those prospects, along with young roster players Lukas Reichel and Arvid Söderblom, could one day form the core of a contender for Chicago. Having a potential generational star such as Bedard could help the team reach that goal sooner. At the very least, he'll give the fans a reason to come out and watch during the rebuild.
2. Anaheim Ducks
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Finishing last in the overall standings, the Anaheim Ducks have the best odds (18.5 percent) of winning the draft lottery. Clearly, landing someone of Bedard's potential could accelerate their rebuilding program.
The Ducks have already incorporated a handful of talented youngsters into their lineup. Forward Trevor Zegras was the ninth overall pick in 2019, defenseman Jamie Drysdale was selected sixth in 2020 and forward Mason McTavish went third in 2021.
Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek has continued to replenish the team's prospect system. Defensemen Pavel Mintyukov, Olen Zellweger and Tristan Luneau along with forwards Nathan Gaucher and Sasha Pastujov could figure prominently in their future.
Bedard might fit in very well with this young group of promising players. He and Zegras could become a lethal one-two scoring punch the Ducks have been lacking since Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry were in their heydays. Within a few years, perhaps they'll help bring another Stanley Cup to Anaheim.
1. Arizona Coyotes
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Lost amid the ongoing saga over the Arizona Coyotes' arena issues is the fact that they showed real improvement this season. Granted, they finished well out of playoff contention and have the sixth-best odds (7.5 percent) of winning the draft lottery. However, several of their young players made significant strides in their development.
Winger Clayton Keller, 24, emerged as a star by tying the franchise record for single-season points with 86. Center Barrett Hayton, 22, had a career-best 43 points, while 25-year-old winger Lawson Crouse had a career-best 24 goals. Rookie winger Matias Maccelli finished with 49 points, while sophomore defenseman J.J. Moser finished with 31 points.
The Coyotes have never won the draft lottery. General manager Bill Armstrong has been stockpiling picks that will eventually become part of their deep prospect pool that already features Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther.
Should the Coyotes win their bid to construct a new NHL arena in Tempe, they'll have a team filled with potential stars but still lacking a true franchise player. Winning the lottery and selecting Bedard would make the Coyotes a major draw in Arizona and around the league, potentially turning them from a perennial doormat into a serious playoff contender.
Stats via NHL.com, line combinations via CapFriendly, and prospect info via The Athletic.
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