Chicago Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard is already living up to the lofty expectations placed on him when he was drafted first-overall in the 2023 NHL Draft. He has 12 goals and 17 assists on the season, through just 32 games, and is proving to be a dynamic player in the offensive end.
What he did on Saturday night will only add to the growing legend.
With the Blackhawks trailing the St. Louis Blues 1-0 early in the first period, Bedard was able to level the score.
With a “Michigan” goal:
Bedard puts the puck on his stick and lifts it up, wrapping it around into the top shelf for the game-tying goal. This replay angle is definitely worth a look:
The move is often termed a “Michigan” goal in reference to Mike Legg, a player on the 1996 University of Michigan hockey team. During the 1996 NCAA hockey tournament, Legg scored a goal against MInnesota, becoming the first hockey player to use the move and score in a game.
The first NHL player to score a Michigan goal was Andrei Svechnikov, who scored a Michigan goal of his own for the Carolina Hurricanes against the Calgary Flames during the 2019 season.