After becoming the first overall pick in the NHL’s 2023 Draft, Connor Bedard has been compared to known hockey legends, like Wayne Gretzky.

   Bedard, playing for the Chicago Blackhawks, is a center. He has put up 11 points in only 12 games played, averaging .91 points per game. Bedard has seven goals and four assists in his career so far.

   Because the Blackhawks’ season only started on Oct. 10, there have not been many games for Bedard to show his true talent. Before being drafted into the NHL, however, Bedard played for Canada’s team in the IIHF World Junior Championship (WJC). He recorded 23 points in just seven games, setting a brand-new Canadian record for most points in a single tournament and proving what an excellent hockey player he is.

   However, even with the incredible statistics Bedard has put up so far, is it right to compare him to the well-known legacy Wayne Gretzky? Wayne Gretzky, also a center, played 1,487 games and secured 894 career goals. In Gretzky’s first 12 career games, he secured 16 points, which is five ahead of Bedard’s current streak.

   Whether Bedard will live up to be like Gretzky or not will not be obvious for the first couple years of his career. And, while Bedard may record some impressive points, he is still his own incredible player. 

   Wayne Gretzky will always be Wayne Gretzky, and Connor Bedard will always be Connor Bedard. While their statistics may be compared, they are both individual and incredible players. It is important to recognize each as their own person that has their own goals.