Is Connor Bedard playing tonight vs. St. Louis Blues? Chicago Blackhawks rookie center's availability status explored

Hockey fans are in for a treat as 18-year-old sensation Connor Bedard prepares to make his highly anticipated NHL preseason debut for the Chicago Blackhawks in a clash against the St. Louis Blues. The talented center, who was the first overall draft selection in 2023, has been eagerly awaiting for this moment.

Bedard, known for his exceptional skills and goal-scoring prowess, has already showcased his talent during the prospect tournament, where he impressively notched a hat trick. However, fans have been eagerly awaiting his appearance in an NHL preseason game.

Expressing his excitement for the upcoming game, Bedard emphasized his love for playing hockey. In a discussion with NHL.com’s Tracey Myers, he said:

“Yeah, I can’t wait. I think I’ve said this the whole time: I just want to play hockey. That’s what you want. You train so hard throughout the summer and every day, which is great, and you want to see where that gets you in the game.”

In a strategic move, Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson has placed Bedard on the team's top line alongside experienced wingers Taylor Hall and Ryan Donato. Taylor Hall, a former first-overall draft pick himself, has quickly formed a connection with the young center, providing mentorship and guidance.

Furthermore, Bedard has been given the opportunity to shine on the team's top power-play unit, sharing the ice with Hall, Donato, Seth Jones, and Corey Perry.

Fans expect Connor Bedard to continue his WHL performance in the NHL

Connor Bedard's journey to the NHL's preseason stage has been nothing short of remarkable. Hailing from North Vancouver, he made a name for himself in the WHL with the Regina Pats, where he showcased his incredible scoring ability by accumulating a staggering 143 points (71 goals, 72 assists) in just 57 games.

His exceptional performance made him the first WHL player to reach the 140-point mark since the 1995-96 season.

As Connor Bedard takes to the ice for his NHL preseason debut, hockey enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the beginning of what promises to be a remarkable career filled with excitement and potential.

St Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks: SEPTEMBER 28 ROSTER

Here's a list of players included in the roster.

FORWARDS

89 Andreas Athanasiou
98 Connor Bedard
8 Ryan Donato
17 Nick Foligno
71 Taylor Hall
52 Reese Johnson
23 Philipp Kurashev
76 Nick Lardis
53 Marcel Marcel
68 Martin Misiak
94 Corey Perry
27 Lukas Reichel

DEFENSEMEN

42 Nolan Allan
4 Seth Jones
44 Wyatt Kaiser
55 Kevin Korchinski
5 Connor Murphy
72 Alex Vlasic

GOALIES

29 Drew Commesso
34 Petr Mrazek

About the author

Ankit is an NHL journalist at Sportskeeda with over 3 years of experience in the writing industry. He has expertise in sports, product, and travel content writing. His interest in ice hockey was piqued after watching Sidney Crosby play and he has been passionately following the game since then. Ankit admires Crosby’s personality and hockey IQ, and when he crossed the 1,500 points tally, Ankit was among the biggest fans to celebrate the occasion.

An Edmonton Oilers fan because of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, Ankit also admires the Pittsburgh Penguins due to Crosby and the Colorado Avalanche for Nathan MacKinnon. He is also a fan of Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr.

Holding a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Language, Ankit believes his education has helped him develop a knack for presenting information in a precise and compelling manner. He only sources information from credible avenues and trusted people from his network for his articles.

When he is not watching or writing about the NHL, Ankit loves listening to music and reading books.

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Edited by Krutik Jain