"Best player for a long time": Blackhawks star Connor Bedard names his NHL inspiration

By Zachary Roberts

Modified Dec 13, 2024 14:26 GMT

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At just 19 years old, Connor Bedard represents the future of hockey. He has been tabbed as a generational prospect and the next face of the league. That implies that there were some before him, and one of them has been cited as the young player's inspiration when he was growing up.

Bedard said that Sidney Crosby was his favorite player to watch and to follow because of how he handled himself off the ice with all the pressure he had to deal with.

Bedard said of the Pittsburgh Penguins star (0:50):

"He's always expected to perform, being probably the best player for a long time, looking with him, learn from him, with how he can help himself, was great for me and a lot of kind of kids, and my most prized member, Crosby, veteran stick. I got Crosby stick when I was pretty young kind of face his other generation for, you know, me watching growing up."

Crosby has been a top player for 20 seasons, and Bedard is barely into his second. Before he made it, the Penguins star was who Bedard looked up to. Now, he's one of his counterparts.

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Connor Bedard shares favorite memory from hockey game and more

Connor Bedard was also asked about his favorite memory from a hockey game. He said that his first game was "pretty cool," but added that his first game in the Chicago Blackhawks' home arena was "pretty unreal."

Connor Bedard revealed his favorite memory (Imagn)

He said:

"It was, it was rocking in there. And for me to kind of get my first taste of that was pretty, pretty sweet."

He went on to say that he likes being creative on the ice:

"That's the biggest thing for me, is just, you know, having get out there and being creative and trying to make something happen."

If Bedard had to pick his ultimate NHL lineup, he'd pick Sidney Crosby and a few others:

"I'll go Gretzky, David, Crosby. Pretty basic defense. I'll go Lidstrom, Orr, and then a goalie, I'll go Patrick Roy. Just some names that come to mind."

Bedard might be one of the youngest hockey players in the league, but he has a keen awareness of the history and the legends of the game.