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Connor Bedard Wins Big Accolades for March
The month of March was a huge one for rookie Connor Bedard as he has attained honors yet again from the NHL.
For the month of March, Connor Bedard was given the "Rookie of The Month" award by the NHL.
This was a result of Bedard's productive month, posting 17 points(4 G, 13 A) in 14 games in March.
Connor Bedard of the @NHLBlackhawks, who led all rookies with 4-13—17 in 14 games, has been named the NHL's «Rookie of the Month» for March.#NHLStats: https://t.co/vdSakfsFVs pic.twitter.com/cVM9U9KMvq— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 2, 2024
Bedard's total assists for the month of March has been the most since the Florida Panthers own Anton Lundell in January 2022, who had 17 points(3 G, 14 A) in 15 games played that season.
Bedard also has won the "rookie of the month" award for the third time season, winning the honors in November, December and now March hasn't happened since 2015-2016 with Connor McDavid.
Bedard edged out rookies like Luke Hughes, Justus Aunnen, Logan Cooley and Cayden Primeau to win it for a third time.
The rookie, Bedard also edged out fellow competitors in shots with 54 this month, which put him 1st among all NHL rookies, along with his power-play point totals with 8.
He may have missed only 14 games this season, but continues to lead in rookie rankings with 21 goals, 36 assists, and 190 shots on goal this season.
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).
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).
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AVRIL 2 | 210 ANSWERS Connor Bedard Wins Big Accolades for March Do you think Connor Bedard will win the Calder Cup? | ||
| Yes | 176 | 83.8 % |
| No | 34 | 16.2 % |
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