Connor Bedard Wins Big Accolades for March

Bedard, who also ranked among the March rookie leaders in shots on goal (1st; 54), power-play points (t-1st; 8), power-play assists (2nd; 7) and average time on ice (3rd; 21:06), set a franchise record for assists in a calendar month by a rookie – ahead of Brandon Saad's 12 in March 2013 (3-12—15 in 14 GP) – and became the third Blackhawks rookie to compile at least 17 points in a single month, joining Steve Larmer in December 1982 (9-10—19 in 14 GP) and March 1983 (8-9—17 in 14 GP) as well as Jeremy Roenick in December 1989 (7-11—18 in 12 GP).The 18-year-old Bedard, the No. 1 overall pick from the 2023 NHL Draft, found the scoresheet in nine of his 14 March appearances. That included his fourth career multi-goal and third career three-point performance March 10 vs. ARI (2-1—3), followed by a career-best 1-4—5 March 12 vs. ANA. The latter marked the fifth five-point game by an 18-year-old in NHL history, following Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (0‑5—5 on Nov. 19, 2011), Ilya Kovalchuk (1-4—5 on Jan. 19, 2002), Dale Hawerchuk (3-2—5 on March 13, 1982) and Jack Hamilton (4-1—5 on Dec. 4, 1943), as well as the third four-assist contest by an 18-year-old (after Nugent-Hopkins and Kovalchuk).Bedard also reached the 50-point and 20-goal milestones as part of his five-point performance (52 GP). He became the third-fastest Chicago player, from the start of his NHL career, to hit the 50-point mark – behind Bill Mosienko across three campaigns from 1941-42 to 1943-44 (35 GP) and Terry Ruskowski in 1979-80 (50 GP) – as well as the second 18-year-old in franchise history to score 20 goals in a season, joining Eddie Olczyk in 1984-85 (20-30—50 in 70 GP).