Before they soon became rivals, Cole Caufield and Connor Bedard shared a moment of complicity outside the rink that was captured by the camera lens.
The two young forwards were part of the National Hockey League (NHL) media tour in Las Vegas before training camps began. Bedard, the first pick in the 2023 draft, took advantage of the opportunity to meet several stars, including Sidney Crosby… and Caufield.
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It was the Montreal Canadiens sharpshooter who met the Chicago Blackhawks’ new star backstage. Caufield lightened the mood by joking about the length of Bedard’s stick.
“Are you cutting your stick? Why is it as big as a house? Number 22 said, expressionless.
So we learn that Bedard doesn’t allow anyone to touch the racket he’s about to use in a match. Under these circumstances, Caufield was able to pick up the object and determine that it was exactly his size, approximately 5 feet 7 inches.
“It looks like it’s working for you. You should be fine,” he added with a laugh.
It didn’t take long for Bedard to adjust to the pace of the NHL. He collected five points in three preparatory games. He also scored a hat trick in the rookie tournament.
The Blackhawks will be the Canadiens’ first visitors to the Bell Center in the regular season, coming to Quebec on October 14th.