ARLINGTON, Va. -- Connor Bedard circled the ice, waiting for his cue from a hockey card photographer for Upper Deck. He skated purposefully towards an empty net and unleashed a shot.
OK, not a shot, but the shot. That quick, powerful release that's his calling card as an NHL prospect. That skillful snipe that made him the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL draft by the Chicago Blackhawks, and has positioned Bedard as the league's latest franchise savior.
The puck rocketed off his blade and landed snugly under the crossbar.