Bedard Countdown, Hall Call for Hank, Panger Talks Larmer, Phil’s Smoke, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

One week from today, we’ll know what the Blackhawks did in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft. The entire, rational world is picking Connor Bedard first overall. But after that? Who knows! One week from today the Blackhawks will really get busy, with six picks in the first two rounds of the draft’s second day. How many will they still own by the time Day Two starts? Will they have more? Will they have added veterans via trade? I can’t wait!

  • First, an easy poll question: do the Blackhawks actually pick at No. 19? Or do they make a trade — up or down? Vote and let us know what you think!
  • Six days until the Blackhawks select Bedard. So let’s all get a little more excited about him being at the United Center this year.
  • Bedard’s point production as a rookie will depend on the skaters who surround him. And that’s still very much a TBD reality for the Chicago Blackhawks. They have a collection of forwards under contract, but they really don’t have an established veteran scorer who can take pressure off Bedard — and I say that will all due respect to Taylor Raddysh and Andreas Athanasiou, both of whom scored 20 last year. Elliotte Friedman floated a short-term deal for Vlad Tarasenko yesterday on his podcast, and I’m intrigued. I do wonder if he won’t have better/longer options out there at his age, but the thought is worth noting again.
  • published their final mock draft on Wednesday. They have Gabe Perreault coming to the Blackhawks at No. 19 overall (Bedard is obviously first). This is a name that will continue to be in play for Chicago… if they stay there…
  • The celebrations at Madison Square Garden are coming for The King. Henrik Lundqvist was named a Hall of Famer on Wednesday. He’s joined by two other goaltenders in a seven-member class this year — that still doesn’t include Steve Larmer. Not cool.
  • New Blackhawks color analyst Darren Pang, who played with Larmer, was on the CHGO show yesterday and my guy Jay Zawaski asked him why the #%@& Larmer hasn’t been inducted into the Hall yet. I loved his response.
  • posted a look at attendance numbers from around the NHL this past season, and the trend overall is great for the game. They note that “only Arizona, Chicago, San Jose, Winnipeg and Buffalo dropped more than 1,000 fans per game from 2019-20.” I have to believe Chicago will see an increase with Bedard in the building this year.
  • I just want to know what their cigars of choice are! Here’s your classic Phil Kessel celebration photo. I’m sure there will be more.
  • Finally, the NBA Draft is tonight (yeah, all of it — they only have two rounds). Usually drafts get interesting the day before/day of, and the NBA waited until late last night to go off the rails with a blockbuster trade and a star player in the Bulls’ division opting for free agency. Eli’s got you covered from the action late last night through the picks and trades tonight!
  • written by

    Tab Bamford has been writing about the Chicago Blackhawks for almost two decades. He joined Bleacher Nation as the lead Blackhawks writer in May 2022. Tab is a member of the and is the author of three books about the Blackhawks: (Triumph Books),"100 Things Blackཧhawk🥂s Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die" (Triumph Books) and "Chicago Blackhawks: An Illustrated Timeline" (Reedy Press, 2021). Find him on Twitte♔r/X/Instagram/Th♌reads at @The1Tab

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