Chicago Blackhawks sensation Connor Bedard becomes youngest All-Star in NHL history as 18-year-old is elected to league’s prestigious game in his rookie season

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard will be put side-by-side with the NHL’s best after being elected to the league’s All-Star game on Thursday night. 

Bedard, who couldn’t rescue the Blackhawks in a 4-1 defeat to the New York Rangers on Thursday night, is set to become the youngest All-Star in NHL history at 18 years, 201 days old when the game takes place on February 3 in Toronto. 

He will take the record from fellow Canadian Jeff Skinner, who accomplished the feat at 18 years, 259 days old. NHL legend Steve Yzerman is now the third youngest on the list, appearing in his first All-Star game at 18 years, 267 days old. 

The trio of Yzerman, Bedard, and Skinner are also the three youngest to appear in an All-Star game of of the ‘Big Four’ North American sports.  

LeBron James was 20 years, 52 days old when he made his first NBA All-Star game in his second season in the league. 

The Chicago Blackhawks center is the youngest All-Star in league history by nearly 50 days

Bedard was drafted by Chicago in late June and has tried to live up to his massive expectations

The NHL and MLB have rules in place where every team must have at least one representative at an All-Star Game, while no such requirements are in place in the NFL and NBA.  

Bedard is having statistically the best season of any Blackhawk with 33 points, 11 better than second-best Philipp Kurashev. 

Bedard’s 33 points ranks tied for 48th in the league, but 10 more than any other rookie, with Columbus’ Adam Fantilli and Minnesota’s Marco Rossi at 23. 

The NHL is scrapping the division-teams format for this year’s All-Star game, with a fantasy draft format being used instead.  

Bedard has ben viewed as the best hockey prospect of this generation before he ever touched NHL ice. 

Now, he’ll have a chance to be compared directly to the top players in the league.