What to expect if your team wins the Connor Bedard sweepstakes
These teams all have medium odds of landing Connor Bedard’s elite talent.
Philadelphia Flyers – 6.5%
The Philadelphia Flyers were probably expected to be even lower on this list but they managed to have some good games in 2022-23. They weren’t at the bottom of the league which has its pros and cons.
Of course, they have a long way to go before they are a Stanley Cup contender again and Connor Bedard would go a long way in helping them build back up. They haven’t completely torn it down in Philly so he’d certainly be playing with some good veterans like Travis Konecny and Kevin Hayes.
Arizona Coyotes – 7.5%
The Arizona Coyotes, much like the Philadelphia Flyers, were expected to have a much higher percentage. For the entire first half of the season, they looked like they might finish at the bottom of the league. However, they had other ideas.
Guys like Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz, Matias Maccelli, and Lawson Crouse all turned it on and were so good. If a team that worked hard deserved the lottery the most, it would be them. Bedard and Keller would be as good as any duo in the league.
Montreal Canadiens – 8.5%
The winner of the 2022 NHL Draft Lottery has the fifth-best odds to do it again. Juraj Slafkovsky was the first overall pick last year and he didn’t have the best year. However, someone like Connor Bedard might be able to help unlock his skills.
Add in kids like Cole Caufield, Kirby Dack, and Nick Suzuki amongst others, and the next great Montreal Canadiens core could be in place. All of those youngsters would be very fun to watch skate together in one of hockey’s most important markets.
San Jose Sharks – 9.5%
The San Jose Sharks flirted with having the best odds at the lottery for a little bit at the end of the year but it didn’t end up happening.
However, they still have the fourth-best odds and will be hopeful while the lottery is taking place. Seeing kids like Connor Bedard and William Eklund play/grow up together would certainly be awesome. The plays that they would make would dazzle all hockey fans.
The Sharks could use another superstar as they rebuild and Bedard would be perfect for them. California could use some Connor Bedard right now. He would look great in teal. If he went there, you can expect to see him do very well.