Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard opens up on former No. 1 pick’s major impact on him

Connor Bedard has had plenty of voices in his ear since the Chicago Blackhawks made him the face of the franchise , but few understood his situation quite like Taylor Hall. Hall, the first overall pick by the Edmonton Oilers in 2010, joined the Blackhawks in a trade from the Boston Bruins in June 2023, the same summer Chicago selected Bedard with the top pick. The two spent a season and a half together before Hall was dealt to the Carolina Hurricanes in January 2025. Bedard recently reflected on what Hall meant to him early in his career.