Strange “best-case scenario” emerges for Connor Bedard

The 2022-23 season was just underway and there were already reports that some NHL teams were looking to tank to land the best odds for the 2023 draft lottery. Connor Bedard has cemented his status as the No. 1 pick in the draft with his historic run at the World Juniors and in the WHL, and whatever club gets the luckiest break in the history of the franchise to select him in Nashville will come out as the biggest winner this summer.

When the crew of Daily Face-off discussed which teams are starting to hurt themselves in the race for Bedard in the last stretch of the calendar, Cam Charron put out a great explanation on what could be the best case scenario for the young player himself.

Prior to the deadline, there were a multitude of trades involving first-round picks at the 2023 trade deadline. As a result, the Columbus Blue Jackets, Montreal Canadiens, Arizona Coyotes, Detroit Red Wings, Nashville Predators, Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks all have two selections in the first round, and the St. Louis Blues own three.

Charron’s comments make a lot of sense, but you will agree that it could be a tough blow for the NHL fanbase - and Bedard - if the Blue Jackets were to win the draft lottery on May 8.

“I like the idea of Bedard going to a team that kind of has established NHL talent already, I would prefer that for him but I think wherever he goes he’s already going to be a star and if he can go to a team who has a couple of pieces up in the lineup for him he can be a real difference maker and you could see that become a team that could already make the playoffs. I’m immediately looking at Columbus, that team that bought last year and has some good pieces and prospects coming up and can surround the lineup with him. We saw him at the World Juniors and he took the stage and was the best player on that team by a mile as an under-18 player. You don’t see that, you don’t see players dominate this much, he’s opening up the league for players 17 and under like they do in Europe. He’s going to come in and legitimately be a number-one star.”

The Blue Jackets have a chance at pairing the budding superstar with two elite wingers in Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine, and it sure be interesting to watch as GM Jarmo Kekalainen attempts to make more moves this summer.

I can’t say if Bedard would be happy to head to Columbus, but I’m sure he’d find it better than Arizona. There is a weird conspiracy that went viral in recent days when the date for the draft lottery was announced. Fans are especially suspicious because we all know NHL commissioner Gary Bettman’s well-documented love for the Coyotes despite the poor market and their smallest arena in NHL history.

Fans noted: “Draft lottery is May 8th. Tempe election is May 16th. That’s not a coincidence.” Quickly, some comments that if Bedard ends up in the desert, there will be a riot.

I’ve tried the Mock Draft simulator three times - and each time - the Jackets came out on top.

The Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Los Angeles Kings, New Jersey Devils, Dallas Stars and Boston Bruins all traded away their first-round draft picks and don’t have a selection within the first 32 picks.

Recommended articles:

• Surprising admission from projected No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard
• Sidney Crosby makes bold statement about Connor Bedard
• Connor Bedard sells out the Saddledome in Calgary
• Connor Bedard returns to the WHL with a vengeance.