Connor Bedard has been just as good as everyone expected him to be during his first year in the NHL. Bedard has been called a phenom, and despite missing more than a month due to a broken jaw, he leads the rookies in points this season.
Bedard can do pretty much it all when on the ice, but he’s not really known for being a big hitter.
This season, it’s been more about him receiving big hits, but when Patrick Kane returned to Chicago for the first time as an opponent, Bedard saw an opportunity to lay a hit on the former face of the Blackhawks franchise, and he took it.
It was a big night for Kane. The Blackhawks-Red Wings game was the first time Kane was back at the United Center, having left the organization last year.
Kane spent 16 seasons with the Hawks before he was traded to the New York Rangers a year ago. Before the game, Kane gave some big praise to Bedard for how he’s played during his first NHL year.
”He’s been special, I’m sure you guys see covering him every night. He’s worth the price of admission. He does special things. He’s going to be a great player for a long time,” Kane said.
During the game, Bedard was able to pin Kane near the glass, which had fans off their seats. In a post-game interview, Kane jokingly commented on the hit.
”He’s good. He’s a great player, very creative. Go a little physical on me in the other corner there. So, he’s lucky he had the bubble on, or I was going after him,” Kane said, referring to Bedard’s cage, which he is forced to wear due to his earlier injury to his jaw.
Kane got the last laugh in the game, as he won the game for the Red Wings in overtime for his 12th goal of the season. Kane now has five goals and seven assists during an eight-game point streak.
