'Special skill set': NHL stars eager to see what Connor Bedard brings on big stage

Connor Bedard thinks hockey fans are probably sick of hearing about Connor Bedard.

The No. 1 pick at June's NHL draft, the sport's most talked about prospect since Connor McDavid, has been mentioned as a potential "Next One" since age 13.

And after Bedard dominated junior hockey on both the national and international stage the last few years, once-proud Chicago hit the jackpot when it won the right to select the phenom from North Vancouver, B.C.

There have been countless articles written, stories splashed across screens, and jaw-dropping highlights posted to social media. The hype will have reached a fever pitch by the time Bedard makes his NHL debut next week.

The calm, soft-spoken, 18-year-old Bedard has done his best to keep that noise at bay.

"I don't really see it," he said at the recent NHL/NHLPA player media tour in suburban Las Vegas. "Of course, there's a lot on the outside, but I focus on what I can control.

"People are probably getting sick of seeing me all the time."

The rest of the NHL, however, is eager to see what the game's next great talent has to offer on the big stage.

"Special player," Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield said. "Successful everywhere he's been. Being a No. 1 pick, he gets thrown into a pretty bad team. There's going to be some ups and downs, but he's got so much potential.

"It's just how fast it occurs."

New Jersey Devils centre Jack Hughes said the attention afforded Bedard is wholly justified.

"Here for a reason," said the top pick in 2019. "Tremendous junior career. He's going to be a great player in the league for a lot of years.

"Gonna be special."

Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg just wishes Bedard, who had 71 goals and 143 points in 57 games with the Western Hockey