When the Blackhawks play the Red Wings, Bedard is “pumped” to play Kane for the first time.
“I think it’s pretty sweet that whenever someone does something, it’s always traced back to him, which I think is pretty cool,” Bedard remarked on Tuesday.
When Kane finished a hat trick in a 4-3 double-overtime victory against the Los Angeles Kings in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final on June 8, 2013, he did the celebration for the first time, drawing a heart in the air before punching it.
On January 2, 2022, in the quarterfinals of the IIHF World Junior Championship, Canada defeated Slovakia 4-3 in overtime. Bedard honored Kane with his own “heartbreaker” celebration.
Bedard remarked of Kane, “He’s had some cool cellys in his years.” He serves as a game icon. He is a player who will live in the annals of history and will always be regarded as such.
The No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, Bedard, has emerged as the team’s star player, much like former captain Jonathan Toews and forward Kane did during their 2007–08 rookie campaigns. When Chicago hosts Detroit at United Center on Sunday (6 p.m. ET; BSDET, NHLN, NBCSCH, SN), Kane—who is currently with the Detroit Red Wings—and Bedard will play against each other for the first time.
The Blackhawks selected Kane with the first overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft. He spent 16 seasons with the team before being transferred to the New York Rangers on February 28, 2023, as part of a three-way trade that also featured the Arizona Coyotes. After undergoing hip resurfacing surgery on June 1st, the 35-year-old signed a $2.75 million, one-year contract with the Red Wings on November 28th, following his recovery.
In 1,204 NHL games with the Blackhawks, Rangers, and Red Wings, Kane has 1,260 points (460 goals, 800 assists); 1,225 of those points (446 goals, 779 assists) were earned in 1,161 regular-season games with Chicago, where he had a part in the team’s Stanley Cup victories in 2010, 2013, and 2015.
With nine goals and fourteen assists in 24 games, he has amassed 23 points for Detroit (29-20-6), the Eastern Conference’s second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
With 39 points (17 goals, 22 assists) in 42 games, Bedard leads all NHL rookies. After taking a hit from New Jersey Devils defenseman Brendan Smith on January 5 during the opening frame of a 4-2 loss, he suffered a fractured jaw that required nearly six weeks of recovery.
In his three games since his comeback, the 18-year-old has six points (two goals, four assists) in a 4-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday. Even though Bedard is excited to play against Kane, he has even bigger expectations.
“I’m very excited about the video tribute,” stated Bedard. “It seems like it will be quite unpleasant; he displayed some sick moments in this.”I’ve probably watched all 100 of his highlight reels and his things. I’m excited about it, so