Auston Matthews knows a little bit about what Connor Bedard has been going through to open his NHL career.
A player dubbed as a potential 鈥淣ext One鈥� since age 13, the top pick at June鈥檚 draft ran a gauntlet through his first four professional games.
Bedard kicked things off by facing childhood idol Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins in his debut before visiting a trio of Original Six teams 鈥� the Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs.
鈥淭hey sure started him off on the all-circus tour,鈥� Matthews, selected No. 1 by Toronto in 2016, said with a smile.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot, but in the end you just want to play hockey.鈥�
Bedard has done that, and a lot more, just over a week into his NHL career.
The 18-year-old centre from North Vancouver, B.C., picked up his first point against his hero, scored his first goal against the Bruins, was booed by Montreal fans in a show of respect, and suited up in Toronto under the bright lights of the game鈥檚 biggest media market.
With all that came a lot of attention from media and fans.
Too much at times, according to Blackhawks winger Taylor Hall.
鈥淏ut I think he understands his role as a major ambassador for the game of hockey, and he鈥檚 handling it so well,鈥� said the top pick in 2010. 鈥淗e doesn鈥檛 seem to be fazed by it.鈥�
Bedard said he was prepared for the hype machine early in the schedule, which will see Chicago play one more road game Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche, prior to making his first regular-season appearance at the United Center when the Blackhawks host the Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday.
鈥淎 little crazier just because people haven鈥檛 talked to you or seen you play,鈥� Bedard said of the blitz on his time. 鈥淛ust enjoying it 鈥� living out a dream right now.鈥�
From where Hall sits, there needs to be a balance between growing the game and letting the sport鈥檚 next big thing breathe.
鈥淗e鈥檚 going to get used to it,鈥� Hall said. 鈥淭he NHL is obviously trying to promote their stars in a different way, on so many different streaming platforms and everything that鈥檚 going on now.
鈥淚t鈥檚 different, but I think we鈥檙e pretty in awe of what he鈥檚 done so far.鈥�
Bedard picked up points in his first three games for a rebuilding Chicago team that鈥檚 impressed with two wins and two losses to start the year, including Monday鈥檚 4-1 victory over the Leafs.
The Blackhawks didn鈥檛 hold a morning skate before that one in Toronto, and didn鈥檛 make Bedard available to the media afterwards, but his head coach has been impressed by how he鈥檚 handled the attention.
鈥淰ery mature at this part of the game, which is great for him because he has to go through it,鈥� Chicago bench boss Luke Richardson said. 鈥淏ut lots of help in the room as well with the former No. 1 picks overall and former MVPs and a Stanley Cup winner. A lot of those guys are surrounding him with a lot of great advice.鈥�
鈥淜id is unbelievable,鈥� Blackhawks forward MacKenzie Entwistle added. 鈥淣ot only as a player, but also as a person. For him to start on the road in pretty tough cities to play in, it just shows the character of who he is.鈥�
Toronto captain John Tavares likened Bedard鈥檚 demeanour to the youngster鈥檚 favourite player growing up.
鈥淩eminds me of Sid,鈥� said the No. 1 selection in 2009.
鈥淵ou guys aren鈥檛 easy to please,鈥� Leafs winger Mitch Marner said of the media. 鈥淗e hasn鈥檛 lost himself in it.鈥�
Bedard has made a point to embrace the madness.
鈥淵ou never know what to expect,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen I found out we started on this trip, I was really excited for all the home openers and Canadian markets. It鈥檚 been a lot of fun. There鈥檚 been a lot of media, a lot of attention on it, but I鈥檓 just focused on playing hockey.
鈥淵ou have to enjoy the experience.鈥�
Matthews, who doesn鈥檛 know Bedard on a personal level, said that鈥檚 the best way to approach this new, hectic chapter.
鈥淕ood head on his shoulders,鈥� he said. 鈥淎n exciting time in your life. Gotta have fun with it.鈥�
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