The Chicago Blackhawks were greeted with a big round of boos before picking phenom Connor Bedard first overall in the 2023 NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, but Bedard received nothing but applause.
Though Blackhawks fans showed up in droves for the draft and were definitely the second-most represented fanbase at Bridgestone, the home Nashville Predators fans were still able to drown them out with boos when NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced the Blackhawks were on the clock. The boos lasted almost 10 seconds but were quickly replaced with in-arena sound effects and music.
Minutes later when Bedard was picked, he didn’t receive the same treatment. Considered one of the top prospects in NHL history, Bedard earned a loud ovation from the Blackhawks faithful in the building as well as fans of other teams welcoming the 17-year-old Canadian into the league.
Blackhawks fans began cheering for Bedard the instant they heard Regina, the Canadian town he called home in the Western Hockey League. The cheering was so loud that it was tough to make out Bedard’s name from the stands. Luckily, Bedard heard enough.
“Yeah, I heard it a little bit,” Bedard said. “Obviously it was a lot of cheering which is exciting. I feel like it was the passion of the fans. Someone told me the number, I forget it right now, but it’s unbelievable how many people came and just to see the support I’ve gotten from them already, it’s only been 30 minutes, it’s incredible.”
Bedard is one of the most decorated hockey prospects in history. He scored 134 goals with 137 assists in 134 WHL games and added 30 more goals and 27 more assists in 27 international appearances. He won the WHL’s most valuable player trophy and was the league’s leading scorer last season, scoring 36 more points and 21 goals more than any other player.
In the hours leading up to the draft, the atmosphere outside of Bridgestone Arena was decidedly pro-Bedard. Blackhawks fans knew their team would be picking Bedard from the moment they won the NHL Draft lottery so lower Broadway shone red with custom-made Bedard jerseys. Not duct tape over the name plate homemade fare. Fully stitched sweaters.
Bedard walked the red carpet into Bridgestone about 90 minutes before the draft began and was bombarded by young fans and autograph hounds. A “Let’s Go Hawks” chant broke out while a pair of fans thrust miniature Canadian flags into Bedard’s face to be signed. Grown men filmed cell phone videos of Bedard’s back as the 17-year-old smiled through yet another TV interview.
Another “Let’s Go Hawks” chant broke out shortly before Bedard was picked.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on Twitter @nicksuss.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NHL Draft 2023: Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks booed in Nashville?
