Connor Bedard grew up in North Vancouver, with the Canucks as his favorite childhood team. But he still hasn’t played in his former hometown.
Bedard is a generational talent and has shown why since being drafted first overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
Bedard led or co-led all rookies in goals, assists, and points in his rookie season, winning the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie.
Bedard’s great start to the season
He’s continued to improve in his sophomore year despite playing in the Chicago Blackhawks, who seem to be in for yet another year of being far away from playoff contention.
Bedard has started the season with 13 points in 16 games, leading the Blackhawks in assists, points, and shots. And now, for the first time in his career, he’s set to play in Vancouver for the first time.
Bedard probably looked at the date January 22 when the schedule was released for the 2023-24 season. But the Vancouver local was sidelined with a fractured jaw when the Blackhawks played against the Canucks, in Vancouver last season.
How Bedard will lose (!) money
This weekend, it’s finally time for Bedard to make his first NHL appearance in front of friends and family in Vancouver, and it will be special for him. But it will also be expensive…
Ahead of the game, Bedard revealed that he has so many friends and family from ’home’ visiting the game that he’s actually losing money playing it. Although he said his ticket request wasn’t ’crazy,’ he still claimed that it would exceed his salary for the game to pay them.
”It’s not crazy, but I’ll be paying to play for a night,” Bedard said per Blackhawks insider Charlie Roumeliotis.
