Blackhawks rookie first-overall pick Connor Bedard has seen it all in his first six months in Chicago. As one of the most highly touted prospects to ever enter the league, Bedard was hounded by the media long before he even joined the professional ranks. That extensive coverage has allowed the young star to be involved in interviews and availability with the likes of Sidney Crosby and others.
Coverage of Bedard hasn’t been without its drawbacks. The 18-year-old has already had to endure his fair share of tough moments, including when he was asked about his rumored involvement in the contract termination of Corey Perry, which was ultimately proven false, of course. It’s hard for anyone to focus on their craft with that much media coverage, although Bedard has done a better job of handling it than anyone could have hoped.
On Thursday, the Blackhawks provided fans with one of the finer media moments of Bedard’s young career in a crossover event that seemed straight out of a movie. The Blackhawks had a practice today, and don’t play until they host the Canadiens tomorrow night at the United Center. But with Bedard busy at Fifth Third Arena, he wasn’t the only 2023 first-overall pick in town. With the Bulls set to host San Antonio Thursday night, that meant Victor Wembanyama was in town. The rookie superstar stopped by for a conversation and jersey swap in the Blackhawks’ locker room, an event that made for some photos that we’ll call… interesting.
Let’s hope both have already begun their respective collections of memorabilia because neither of those jerseys is going to fit!
The 19-year-old Wembanyama draws plenty of attention with his NBA-leading 7-foot-4 frame, but his never-before-seen physique is far from the only reason he was taken first overall by the Spurs in this year’s draft. He’s averaging 19 points per game and grabbing 11 boards per game already and is one of the top two favorites to win the league’s Rookie of the Year honors at the end of the season.
Those iconic photos tell an interesting story of the differences between the two leagues, but Bedard isn’t tiny, either, at 5-foot-10. He is, of course, the overwhelming Calder Trophy favorite in his own right. Both “generational” talents have caught the attention of the media, and their draft slot may be about the only thing the two have in common!
