All eyes on North Vancouver’s Connor Bedard at NHL Draft

Thursday’s NHL Entry Draft may be a bittersweet one for Vancouver hockey fans, as a local prodigy is expected to be selected by a longtime Vancouver Canucks rival.

North Vancouver’s Connor Bedard is expected to be taken first overall by the Chicago Blackhawks — the team that served as the proverbial thorn in the side of the Canucks for a half-decade span in the 2000s and 2010s.

Bedard — a self-proclaimed Canucks fan — is the consensus first-overall pick and is being touted as a generational talent by scouts. His hockey journey began on the North Shore as a member of the West Vancouver Academy. In two seasons with the prep school, Bedard racked up 172 points in 66 games.

From there, he was drafted to the Regina Pats, where he finished his final season with 143 points in 57 games. He won a gold medal for Canada at this past year’s World Junior Hockey Championship, also winning MVP.

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As for the Canucks, they’ll be picking 11th in the draft. At a media availability on Wednesday, General Manager Patrick Allvin suggested that a defenceman may be selected if one is available when they’re on the clock.

The No. 11 pick will be the franchise’s highest since 2019 and its six picks in the first four rounds are the most for the Canucks in 29 years.

For Vancouver Giants fans, forward Samuel Honzek is projected to be selected in the mid-to-late first round. The 18-year-old Slovakian recorded 56 points in 43 games with the Giants last season.

The NHL Draft can be watched live from Nashville on Sportsnet beginning at 4 p.m. PT.

-With files from Sportsnet