Bedard picked No. 1 in the NHL Draft by Chicago, Michkov picked by Philadelphia

New nugget of Canadian hockey, the young Connor Bedard (17 years old) was chosen in first position of the NHL draft by the Chicago Blackhawks, Wednesday in Nashville. He was playing this season for the Regina Pats, a team of the Western Hockey League, one of Canada’s junior leagues. In 57 matches played, Bedard scored 71 goals and 143 points.

Another young hockey prodigy, Russian Matvei Michkov (18) was also selected, but only in seventh position, by the Philadelphia Flyers. This season, in KHL, the Russian Championship, he was loaned by SKA Saint Petersburg to HC Sochi. He had scored nine goals and 20 points in 30 matches. Despite being selected for the NHL, Michkov is tied to St. Petersburg on a three-year contract.

Carlsson and Fantili complete the draft podium

In second position, the Anaheim Ducks have chosen Swedish striker Leo Carlsson (18), who plays in his country in Örebro and who participated in the Senior World Cup in Finland last May. He had notably been credited with assisting in the victory against the France team (4-0). In third place, the Columbus Blue Jackets selected Canadian Adam Fantili (18) from the University of Michigan, USA. He too had taken part in the World Seniors and left with the gold medal.

Next were William Smith (USA) by the San Jose Sharks, David Reinbacher (Austria) by the Montreal Canadiens and Dmitriy Simashev (Russia) by the Arizona Coyotes. In 32nd and last position in the first round of the draft, the Vegas Golden Knights, NHL champions, selected Swedish striker David Edstrom (18), who was playing this season in Frolunda, Sweden. The draft will continue on Thursday.