In doing so, Bedard can make his own history. According to NHL stats, he could become the first Blackhawks player to score a point in each of his first four NHL games since Jonathan Toews in 2007-08. The last time a team’s No. 1 pick accomplished that feat was in the 2005-06 season, when Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby and Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin accomplished the feat.
What makes Bedard’s accomplishments even more impressive, according to Matthews, is the grueling opening schedule he and the Blackhawks are working on, with road games against Crosby and the Penguins and Brad Marchand and the Boston Bruins. It’s about being active and playing hockey. Night in Canada” vs. Montreal Canadiens. After the game against Matthews and the Maple Leafs, they will conclude their road trip against Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday.
“They definitely started him on a whole circus tour here,” said Matthews, the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, before bursting into laughter. “There’s a lot of things going on, but I think at the end of the day I just want to play hockey. That’s the most important thing.
“Being with the players and having fun playing in the NHL is obviously every kid’s dream in the hockey world.”
Bedard couldn’t agree more.
“There’s a lot of media coverage and attention, but I’m focused on playing hockey,” he said. “And of course, I just enjoyed the whole experience. It was very nice.”
So is the chance to play against Maple Leafs rookie forward Frazier Minten. The two played minor hockey together in the Vancouver area and actually lived together in Toronto for several weeks this summer.
“When I joined the team, he sent me a message of congratulations, which made me very happy,” Minten said. “It’s nice. We grew up together. He’s been a big part of my success. I’ve gotten a lot better playing with him the last few years. Watching him work. When I’m with him, his work ethic is contagious. He helped me grow a lot as a player and I’m grateful for his friendship now.
“When he was 11 or 12 years old, there was already a buzz around him in Vancouver. He was playing a few years older. I didn’t know how good he was. But he dominated everyone. I never knew how good he was compared to other players in the world, but at home he was definitely was the best player.”
Do you have any advice for controlling bedard?
“Try to give him as little space as possible, because if you give him space, he’s a killer. So, never put the puck in his hands,” Minten said. said.
So far, the opposition has not figured out how to make that happen.
At least not enough to keep him off the scoresheet.
