Connor Bedard will step onto the ice in Vancouver as an NHL player for the first time on Saturday in a highly anticipated, yet costly, moment for the wonderkid.

The North Vancouver native and 2023 No. 1 overall pick will lead the Chicago Blackhawks (6–9-1) against the Canucks at Rogers Arena, fulfilling a childhood dream.

“It’s pretty cool,” Bedard said via NHL.com. “I have a lot of friends and family who will be there watching.

“It’ll be different than playing on the road, just knowing that I’m playing in my hometown.”

Last season, Bedard was sidelined during Chicago’s visit to Vancouver due to a broken jaw, making Saturday’s matchup significant.

However, the homecoming comes at a price. With high demand for tickets from friends and family, Bedard joked, “I’ll be paying to play for a night,” as he told Tracey Myers of NHL.com. “But it’ll be good to have some people there.”

It cannot be argued that Bedard’s rise to stardom has been steady since entering the professional ranks last season and winning the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s best rookie in 2024.

This year, however, he’s struggled a bit during the first month of play. After scoring nine points in his first nine games, Bedard has managed just four in the last seven.

“Definitely not playing great the last little bit, so I’ll try to be better,” Bedard told Rob Couch of The Hockey News on Tuesday.

The Blackhawks (6-10-1) have 13 points in 17 games compared to the Canucks’ 19 points in 15 matchups through Friday’s slate. Vancouver’s 8-4-3 record is the seventh-best in the Eastern Conference compared to Chicago’s leaving them 14th in the conference standings.