Over the weekend, NHL Media premiered a fun new behing-the-scenes video shot before and during the 2023 NHL Draft. It aired on NHL Network and is available on the NHL’s Youtube channel. I have shared it below if you haven’t seen it yet.
It’s an especially interesting piece because the Blackhawks’ first two selections — Connor Bedard and Oliver Moore — in the draft are among the seven players in the spotlight.
The NHL’s cameras followed seven top prospects – Bedard, Moore, Adam Fantilli (No. 3 overall, Columbus Blue Jackets), William Smith (No. 4 overall, San Jose Sharks), Oliver Bonk (No. 22 overall, Philadelphia Flyers), Carey Terrance (No. 59, Anaheim Ducks) and Jacob Fowler (No. 69, Montreal Canadiens) – as th༒ey walked the red carpet, waited to hear their names called inside Bridgestone Arena, and the flurry of activity that immediately followed their selections in the draft.
The first thing we hear from Moore: “Connor Bedard has gotten so much attention.” He’s right, you know.
About two minutes into the piece, they flash us back to May 8 — the night of the draft lottery. The Blue Jackets’ front office did not get to “chug a beer” after falling to No. 3, and the Ducks did indeed have “some work to do” after the Blackhawks moved up to the top spot. And, again, Kyle Davidson’s reaction is priceless.
They show us some conversations in war rooms around the league, 🍃including the Blackhawks, Coyotes and Flyers. Then off to the draft combine in Buffalo. A few more clips of Bedard, Moore and Fantilli working out and talking to cameras.
Then we get to the draft prep and the day of the first round. Connor’s mom, Melanie, tells us the story about his relationship with his late grandfather, who was killed by an impaired driver while Bedard was in the COVID bubble. They played cards together, which is why Connor — and all of the other members of his family — had poker chips with them.
Moore worries his pants might not make it through the night (who among us?) but his parents are great. His dad talks about never seeing a ceili𝓀ng for Oliver as he cont♛inued to develop.
As the video transitions to the draft, at one point Moore is standing next to a teammate from the US Development Program and he says “Take it all in, man.” This is a fun watch.
