On May 8th, one NHL franchise will get the right to select Connor Bedard this summer. That night will be the 2023 NHL Draft, which will decide the fate of the Regina Pats superstar a month and a half before he is actually selected.
Bedard set himself apart from the rest of the class with an incredible 61-goal, 125-point season for Regina and is considered one of the greatest draft picks in recent history.
While the league’s worst teams will cross their fingers and hope for some luck on the day, Bedard won’t actually be able to put on a sweater until Wednesday, June 28, the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft.
This year’s event will take place at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, with rounds 2-7 taking place on Thursday, June 29. That’s less than a month after the Stanley Cup, with the Finals tentatively set for June 3rd, though. that could change depending on how quickly the playoffs go.
All the key dates released by the league are:
Monday, April 17
Start of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Monday, May 8
2023 NHL Lottery
Saturday, June 3
2023 Stanley Cup Finals preliminary kickoff
Sunday, June 4 – Saturday, June 10
2023 NHL Scouting Combine presented by adidas (Buffalo)
Monday, June 26
2023 NHL Awards (Bridgestone Arena)
Wednesday, June 28
2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft Round 1 (Bridgestone Arena)
Thursday, June 29
Rounds 2-7 of the 2023 Upper Board NHL Draft (Bridgestone Arena)