Chicago Blackhawks rookie and 2023 No. 1 general decide Connor Bedard earned his first of probably many future All-Star Recreation nods on Thursday, making unimaginable NHL historical past within the course of.
At 18 years and 171 days previous, Bedard is the youngest participant in league historical past to be an All-Star, topping the earlier file holder, Jeff Skinner (18 years, 259 days previous), who set the mark in 2011 with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Bedard additionally takes the crown because the youngest All-Star among the many huge 4 professional sports activities: MLB, NBA and NFL. He beats out former New York Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden (19 years previous in 1984), late Corridor of Famer and Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant (19 years previous in 1997) and a number of other NFL gamers who made the Professional Bowl as 21-year-olds.
The accolade is not the one achievement Bedard has claimed this season. Solely months into his NHL profession, he is turn into the youngest participant in Blackhawks historical past to put up a multi-goal sport and topped Darryl Sutter for the longest street level streak (10) by a first-year participant in franchise historical past.
Bedard leads the Blackhawks in targets (15), assists (18) and factors (33) by means of 37 video games whereas holding a 10-point benefit for the rookie lead over Marco Rossi of the Minnesota Wild and Adam Fantilli of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
He is additionally on tempo for one more historic distinction. With constant play the remainder of the best way, Bedard must be the overwhelming favourite to win the Calder Trophy, awarded to the league’s most impactful rookie.