Blackhawks Daily: Bedard’s Summer; Crosby’s Birthday

The Chicago Blackhawks have a lot of good things going for them right now. It is going to be a little while longer before they compete for the playoffs again. 

One of the reasons to be optimistic about them is Connor Bedard. Of course, Chicago landed him with the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Early in the summer, the NHL gave Bedard the Calder Trophy as the Rookie of the Year. Since then, he’s been prepping for what promises to be a big year for him. Chicago has added some help around him too. 

Bedard is one of those players that you build your franchise around for the decade ahead. From the moment he made his NHL debut against his idol Sidney Crosby, he has lived up to the hype. 

Speaking of Sidney Crosby, Wednesday is his birthday. He is turning 37 years old. Crosby has come a long way from being Sid the Kid. Now, he’s a legendary NHL player. 

Crosby is the poster boy for a “hockey player who lived up to the hype and then some”. At 37, Crosby has 592 goals, 1004 assists, and 1596 points in 1272 games played. He also has three Stanley Cups, two Conn Smythe, two Hart Trophies, two Art Ross Trophies, and two Rocket Richards. 

His name is in the hat for the best hockey player of all time. On his 37th birthday, we are reminded of how lucky we are to be alive at the same time to watch this level of greatness. 

Chicago fans can only hope that Bedard comes close to Crosby in terms of his level of impact. Only time will tell. He is surely looking good so far. 

Around National Hockey Now, there is a wonder if Crosby will finish his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins or not. There are a lot of ways that could to. Also, where do the Blackhawks stand in terms of prospects? 

Chicago Blackhawks

Kicking off CHN’s ranking of Chicago Blackhawks prospects, a look at prospects #7-10 led by Nick Lardis.

Oliver Moore leads prospects #4-6 in the Chicago Blackhawks pipeline.

Ethan Del Mastro is the #3 prospect in the Chicago Blackhawks system.

The Chicago Blackhawks have studs in Frank Nazar and Artyom Levshunov. Who is #1 in the pipeline?

There are some great honorable mentions in the Chicago Blackhawks prospect ranking.

A second wave of honorable mentions in the Chicago Blackhawks prospect ranking.

What do the recently graduated Chicago Blackhawks prospects look like now?

National Hockey Now

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Sidney Crosby has a few different futures to consider with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Nashville Hockey Now: Two former Nashville Predators have teamed up in Russia.

Philly Hockey Now: A few Philadelphia Flyers prospects have dominated at the WJC Summer Showcase.