NHL Issues large honour to Blackhawks sensation Connor Bedard

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Sam Walker
March 18, 2024 (6:03 PM)

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The NHL announced its top performers of the week on Monday, with Blackhawks' rising star Connor Bedard earning recognition as the league's second star.

Leading the pack was Tampa's Nikita Kucherov, followed by Minnesota's Marc-Andre Fleury taking the third spot.

The NHL issued the following statement on Bedsy's name:

"Bedard earned a share of the League points lead last week (2-5�7 in 3 GP), helping the Blackhawks post a pair of wins. The first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft set several notable marks with a five-point performance (1-4�5) in a 7-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks March 12. His goal was his 20th of the season, joining Eddie Olczyk (20 in 1984-85) as just the second 18-year-old to score 20 in a campaign for the Blackhawks. His five-point game matched 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 just the fifth by an 18-year-old in NHL history. Nugent-Hopkins and Kovalchuk are the only other 18-year-olds with a four-assist game. Bedard was held off the scoresheet in a 5-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings March 15 and ended the week by notching his 12th multi-point game of 2023-24 (1-1�2) in a 5-2 win over the San Jose Sharks March 17. The NHL's rookie scoring leader increased his season points total to 21-32�53 in 54 GP, with his points-per-game rate of .98 ranking sixth among all rookies in the past 20 seasons (min. 40 GP)."