Connor Bedard came prepared ahead of Sunday's celebration for Chris Chelios, as the organization will retire his No. 7 jersey into the rafters alongside the Blackhawks' greats.
Upon arrival at the United Center, the 18-year-old phenom sported Chelios' No. 7 threads. Here's Bedard arriving at the United Center on Sunday.
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It's a clash between the Blackhawks organization's past, present and future. Along with Chelios' jersey retirement, Patrick Kane will return to the United Center for the first time as a visitor.
He had some kind words to say about Bedard ahead of their first meeting.
"Heās been amazing," Kane said. "Heās been great. We talk about the fans and the city and how itās such a great sports town, heās in a great spot for that. I think the fans deserve another long run of a great hockey player and hopefully great teams behind him. But I think itās a great way to kind of start the rebuild and to start with a player like that definitely accelerates it a little bit.
"Heās been special, Iām sure you guys see covering him every night. Heās worth the price of admission. He does special things. Heās going to be a great player for a long time."
