it's always better for league interest when Montreal is good.

What frequently happens when southern markets land superstars is media ignores them anyway since those teams don't garner many eyes to begin with.

The Thrashers were rolling Ilya Kovalchuk and Marian Hossa out there and nobody gave a poop because the team still stunk.

To capture imaginations you want iconic players in iconic jerseys. There aren't many of those. NHL fan bases are tribal. You want a player in a place that will have overarching interest and Montreal can provide that better than nearly any other team in the league.

When was the last time there was an actual superstar in Montreal? It's been decades.
- BINGO!

I've always believed that baseball benefits from the Yankees always being in contention.

You either love them or hate them. Either way, you are passionate about them.

I don't love the Coyotes. I don't hate them. I can't possibly imagine a scenario where I'd ever even think about them.

When was the last time there was an actual superstar in Montreal? It's been decades.
- BINGO!

Carey Price.

C'mon, Bingo!

Gomez.
- Atomic Wedgie

didgomezscore.com

There are no true superstars in US west so Coyotes!

And then move the team to Houston, Atlanta or Quebec.

Philly. The amount of viewers and revenue for the sport would sky rocket

Plus after what fetcher did to the organization philly could use the help

Not sure if you have ever heard of Bobby Orr, the 1st ever generational talent?

Also, Bedard would be a good fit for the league, in either Columbus or Anaheim
- Reubenkincade

if they were capable of selling out games then sure, Chicago or Montreal, great stars look better in good fan bases

if they were capable of selling out games then sure, Chicago or Montreal, great stars look better in good fan bases
- NSco1996

Hawks get Bedard, MTL get Fantilli.....

Chicago being it the 3rd largest revenue market in the nhl and 2nd largest market in the United States. Montreal just got the 1st overall pick and Philly could use a player like conner since they have been bad for awhile.

Columbus. The CBJ has had a lot of good players in its history but no potential superstar or even a true #1 Center. The team has never had the #1 pick except for trading up to get Rick Nash years ago.

However, as a CBJ fan I am embarrassed to write this. There is no excuse for this team to be playing so bad, even if it has lost more man-games to injuries than any team in the league. A lot of players that were expected to play well this season after gaining experience last year have regressed.

Even with this horrible season Nationwide Arena has sold out games all year long. The fans in Ohio deserve a winning team that can really compete for the Stanley Cup, and Bedard seems to be a person who can lift the team to that level in time.

This is kid will be a bust. Diagle level bust.
- glove_was_stuck

This is going to age very poorly in a couple years.

"Philly, and NOT just because I am a Flyers fan.

Philadelphia hockey is becoming irrelevant and they need something to bring them back. It's good for them and good for the league.

He absolutely can NOT be wasted in Arizona playing in front of 5000 people."

Not a Philly fan but that organization desperately needs something quick.

Anywhere but Arizona. I am absolutely a fan of great hockey/hockey players but I just cant imagine that Arizona will ever be competitive enough to even remotely make even a star like Bedard will likely be sustainable. I could honestly see Bedard completely failing in that market even if he ends up spectacular.

I would guess Arizona would be Betmans pick but man I hope he does not go there. i couldnt even blame him for pulling a Lindros if he did.

I dont feel there is a Canadian team that would help the hockey market by getting Bedard, and I am Canadian.

Jackets, Philly, and Detroit. I hope he ends up out East but I suppose it would be easier on him to break into the west/pacific conference at the moment.

Gomez.
- Atomic Wedgie

Columbus. The CBJ has had a lot of good players in its history but no potential superstar or even a true #1 Center. The team has never had the #1 pick except for trading up to get Rick Nash years ago.

However, as a CBJ fan I am embarrassed to write this. There is no excuse for this team to be playing so bad, even if it has lost more man-games to injuries than any team in the league. A lot of players that were expected to play well this season after gaining experience last year have regressed.

Even with this horrible season Nationwide Arena has sold out games all year long. The fans in Ohio deserve a winning team that can really compete for the Stanley Cup, and Bedard seems to be a person who can lift the team to that level in time.
- jkumpire

As a flyer fan I agree. Columbus

Detroit

Lets face Facts Matthews , Plays in Toronto , Macdavid plays in Edmonton, THe League does not want another Superstar playing in Canada, . THey want this kid playing somewhere South of the border , I would suspect , New York Philly or Chicago. New York are not in the Lottery. So , I would suspect Chicago , Since Philly odds will not be as good as the Blackhawks.

The obvious answer is Pittsburgh for young Mr. Bedard. Not that it will happen, but every time the NHL rigged it for the Penguins (NOT THAT I BELIEVE THIS). they have taken full advantage and won Cups. No other Org. can say that. So, in order to all but guarantee Connor success and Cups, Welcome to Pittsburgh young man!!! LMAO

From a standpoint of the environment? Yes. But seeing Bedard develop with Keller and Cooley would be cool.
- Only_A_Ladd

Then Matthews could sign there with his hometown, after his TO contract is up, and be their captain....

Vancouver didn't even make the list? lol A struggling team receives their first ever 1st pick, selects a hometown boy and rides him to their first ever Cup. That'd be a pretty sweet story. Financially, the franchise doesn't need him. But emotionally we do lol

Send him to the worst corrupt city in the USA Take your pick There are a lot of choices Too many to mention aka Philly

Philly, and NOT just because I am a Flyers fan.

Philadelphia hockey is becoming irrelevant and they need something to bring them back. It's good for them and good for the league.

He absolutely can NOT be wasted in Arizona playing in front of 5000 people.
- MBFlyerfan

This!!

Why waste that talent to get people in the building for the novelty of it. You can’t create a market where there is none, or a very small one. The big market teams can promote him on many levels.

That being said, Chicago had Towes AND Kane. They can suck for a while. Montreal had their share of stars, and semi big names over the last 75 years! Philly has scraping the bottom of the barrel for decades now. They’re due!

This!!

Why waste that talent to get people in the building for the novelty of it. You can’t create a market where there is none, or a very small one. The big market teams can promote him on many levels.

That being said, Chicago had Towes AND Kane. They can suck for a while. Montreal had their share of stars, and semi big names over the last 75 years! Philly has scraping the bottom of the barrel for decades now. They’re due!
- Hokeeguy9

That's what they said about Tampa.

And Carolina.

And New Jersey.

And Dallas.

And Vegas.

And Nashville.

Hell, they once said it about LA.

It would be nice for fans to see a giant glass sphere of coloured balls, weighted based on lottery odds, and then just have some 8-year old minor hockey player reach in and grab a ball. That ends any myth about the lottery being rigged. Not sure why Bettman and these other clowns can't figure that out.

It would also help the audience from being confused. I mean remember the story about Lafreniere going to LA. Took about 12 hours to correct that.

From a standpoint of the environment? Yes. But seeing Bedard develop with Keller and Cooley would be cool.
- Only_A_Ladd

True, that'd be a dynamic line for sure. It just won't be much fun having him locked in the desert for eight years where the team future is tenuous at best and the on ice product won't match the pedigree of the roster's top guns. It'd be Edmonton, rinse repeat.

Boston

This is going to age very poorly in a couple years.
- Glak18

You taking me seriously is aging like milk already.