5 things we learned about Chicago Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard, who is trying to be ‘a sponge’ around NHL greats

For four days, Chicago Blackhawks prospect Connor Bedard gets to work out and play with Connor McDavid — and several other NHL greats — at the BioSteel camp in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

But other than sharing a first name and status in the No. 1 overall draft pick club, those are the only commonalities Bedard’s willing to draw at this point.

“You never want to be like, ‘Oh, I can’t do this (like McDavid),’ I don’t really think that mindset is that great, but I’m not him,” Bedard said in a Zoom call with reporters. “I’m my own person and, you know, my own player.

“He’s kind of the pinnacle right now. This guy’s one of the best and (it’s about) how can I get closer to him. That’s such a great thing in sport is you’re always competing against guys and … you’re competing against teams. you want to win and for me to get to spend some time with them and beyond the ice limit. … You barely talk about his stats because they’re so ridiculous, but for me, it’s kind of trying to be my own player and be the best that I can be.”

That’s not to say Bedard can’t pick up some tips from McDavid. He’s been watching and learning from some elite company: McDavid as well as Nathan MacKinnon, Leon Draisaitl, John Tavares, Jack Eichel and others.

Here are five things we learned about Bedard at the camp, which ends Thursday.

1. Bedard has been ‘a sponge.’

It’s a short list of NHL players who have received as much hype at a young age as Bedard, but McDavid can relate.

Bedard, who’s attending his second BioSteel Camp, said the Edmonton Oilers star, eight years his senior, has given him good advice.

“I’ve been able to kind of be a sponge with him and ask him questions. And then course (Sidney) Crosby and all those guys, you try to get as much information out of them as you can. And they’ve all been really good to me, really good role models.”

His elders just relay what to expect.

“Obviously it’s not easy in the league. It’s the best league in the world,” Bedard said. “It’s just preparing yourself the best you can, and I feel like I’ve done that this summer. I’ve worked really hard. it’s all you can really do leading up to (Blackhawks) camp.”

2. Bedard dropped another pearl of wisdom.

The 18-year-old phenom has been in the spotlight since he was 14, if not younger, so he’s picked up some lessons from experiences and the players who came before him.

But he has a way of phrasing things that indicates how he has internalized those lessons; how he just gets it.

One of those moments came Tuesday when he talked about how he has learned to handle pressure — from media, from fans, from himself.

“Pressure goes away, in my mind, when you’re just doing what you love,” he said.

3. The Drake name-drop was cool.

In July, the rapper and music mogul posted a picture of Bedard with the caption “Dialed in” on his Instagram account before kicking off his “It’s All a Blur” tour at the United Center.

When music crosses over into sports it can create a viral sensation, and it certainly did when it involved a household name like Drake.

“A couple buddies texted me, and he’s playing in Chicago that night. They’re asking me for tickets or whatever,” Bedard said with a big grin. “And I’m like, I haven’t talked to the guy or anything. But no, it’s pretty cool.

“Obviously one of the most famous people in the world and obviously what he’s done in his craft is pretty special. So to have him do that … it was pretty cool to see, for sure.”

4. Bunkmates will have to wait.

It’s a well-known practice for the NHL to stash rookies in veteran’s homes. Kirby Dach lived in Brent Seabrook’s basement, for example. But it remains to be seen where Bedard will be dropping his moving boxes.

“We’ll see on living arrangements, what happens,” he said.

But if you’re looking for candidates, Bedard dropped a few names himself.

He said Corey Perry “seemed like a super nice guy,” which must come as a surprise to any player or fan who has Perry’s face on their dart board.

Bedard continued, “Nick Foligno probably texts me every two weeks checking in on how I’m doing. And I’ve heard from every single person that has mentioned him that he’s one of the best people you’ll ever meet. So I’m pretty excited for that.

He noted Taylor Hall and Ryan Donato are “super experienced,” as well.

“That’s pretty good for myself and all the young guys heading into camp,” Bedard said.

5. Bedard admits the nerves are there.

He’s had years of hearing hype around being hockey’s next “Chosen One,” but despite his coping skills, there’s a reality that’s hitting home: Day 1 of his NHL career is drawing closer.

It could be as soon as Day 1, when the Hawks open the season against Bedard’s favorite players growing up, Sidney Crosby, and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Bedard joked in late June, “I was trying not to look at the schedule. People were telling me, I didn’t want to look too hard into it. Man, if I’m able to make the squad come October, that’s my idol ever since I can remember. That’d be unbelievable. It’s a little bit of time away.”

A lot of time has ticked away since then.

“It’s just about, right now, training, going to camp and earning my spot on the team,” he said Tuesday. “I want to be a good player and (make) a difference, and I want to win — and that’s like anyone in the league, but of course there’s some nerves.

“But it’s so much excitement just to get there and get going.”