Connor Bedard in action in Kamloops on Wednesday night (Image Credit: Allen Douglas / Kamloops Blazers)

By Chad Klassen

CONNOR BEDARD

Bedard says going No. 1 would be special; focused on enjoying final year of junior

Dec 1, 2022 | 4:18 PM

KAMLOOPS — He’s been called a “once-in-a-generation” talent — the next Connor McDavid, another superstar named Connor.

In the latest draft rankings by TSN’s Craig Button, Connor Bedard is ranked number one (Blazers forward Connor Levis is ranked 62nd) and many have him pegged as the first overall pick.

“Yeah, it means a little, but we’ve only played 25 games this year so obviously there’s a lot to go. That doesn’t mean much right now. It’s still November, so a lot of work to do and I’m obviously not focusing on it right now. Focusing on what’s going on in Regina,” said Bedard.

The Pats are seventh in the Eastern Conference and trying to return to Kamloops in May, although it’s not likely.

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While Bedard isn’t thinking about the draft now, he says going No. 1 overall would be special.

“Yeah it would be awesome,” he said. “When you think of it, pretty good history of No. 1 picks. Like I said before, it’s so far away. I haven’t thought about it too much, but it would be pretty cool.”

How about joining his hometown Canucks? As Vancouver has struggled early in the season, suffering fans have put out #TankForBedard on Twitter and elsewhere on social media, hoping their team gets the first pick.

“I don’t know, it would definitely be cool being a fan of them since I was kid,” noted Bedard. “But I think any team would be equally as cool. It is the NHL and if I was lucky enough to be drafted, it would be an honour wherever that would be.”

His Canadian junior teammate Logan Stankoven knows all about the draft process, going 47th overall to Dallas in 2021.

“It’s stressful, there’s no way around it,” said the Blazer forward, who trails Bedard by 20 points with nine fewer games in the books. “Obviously it’s exciting, but at the same time there’s 32 teams, so you don’t really know at the time what team’s going to choose you. Some teams may tell you the right thing, and then they’re on the clock and draft day you think they’re going to take you, but they take a different guy. So you never know at the end of the day and all you can do is perform to the best of your abilities and end up with a good organization and it’s all about the opportunity.”

Wherever he goes — likely to the winner of the draft lottery — Bedard is looking forward to living out his dream of playing in the NHL. At the same time, he’s looking forward to his final six months of junior hockey.

“For me, I try not to look at what other people are saying too much. I’ll see stuff or get tagged in stuff or whatever, but for me I’m enjoying junior. I’ve loved every second of it in Regina. I’m just going to enjoy that and see what happens.”