Chicago drafted Bedard with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL draft and he clearly surpassed even the gaudiest expectations even though he missed 14 games with a broken jaw. Bedard managed to top all NHL rookies in points, ultimately winning the 2023-24 Calder Trophy as the best rookie.

With that free time and much more, Bedard went to work. After his first NHL season, his biggest focus was adding speed this offseason while he was back home in Vancouver. He sought to simulate NHL play as much and increase his skating within it. It’s early, but Bedard does look faster than he did a season ago. He feels it, too.