Blackhawks' Connor Bedard to Wear No. 98 Jersey After Being Taken No. 1 in NHL Draft

The Chicago Blackhawks selected Connor Bedard with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NHL draft at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Wednesday night, and we already know what number he will wear during his rookie season.

Instead of the standard No. 23 jersey, Bedard was presented with a No. 98 jersey when Chicago selected him first overall. He will become the first player in franchise history to wear the number.

Fans were excited to immediately buy jerseys of the new Blackhawks star as soon as they became available:

Bedard had long been expected to go No. 1 overall in this year's draft following a standout career in the Western Hockey League, which began with him being granted exceptional status to play for the Regina Pats as a 15 year old in 2020-21.

The 17-year-old is coming off an improbable 2022-23 campaign that saw him tally 71 goals and 72 assists for 143 points in 57 games, and now he'll be tasked with helping accelerate the Blackhawks rebuild.