Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard 'as advertised,' GM says - ESPN

Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson knows he has something special in Connor Bedard, the No. 1 pick in this year's NHL draft.

«He's been exactly as advertised,» Davidson told ESPN entering Tuesday's NHL season opener. «He's everything we thought he would be on the ice in terms of skill, the hockey sense, the highlight reel moves. The only thing he hasn't done is beat a goalie yet, which I'm sure is eating him up. But it will come.»

The rookie led the Blackhawks through the preseason with five points (one goal, four assists) in four games — though the goal was an empty netter. Bedard was also poke-checked on a shootout attempt by Minnesota Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury after trying some slick moves.

Bedard, 18, has also turned heads with some crafty plays in practice and preseason games, which has the entire league talking about him and his ability to live up to his pre-draft hype.

He is expected to center the Blackhawks' top line — flanked by veterans Taylor Hall and Ryan Donato — on Tuesday, when Chicago opens on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) and his childhood idol, Sidney Crosby.

Crosby immediately became the Penguins' best player in his 2005-06 rookie season, leading the team with 102 points in 81 games. Though Davidson was hesitant to make specific predictions for Bedard, he's expecting a similar transformative impact.

«He's going to be a big driver of our offense. He's going to be a big part of our team just walking in,» Davidson said. «As far as stat and goal totals, I really don't have a feel for that. But he's going to be a driver of impact for our team right away.»

Bedard has expressed frustration after losses in the preseason, and he didn't celebrate much after his