The first pick in the 2023 NHL Draft was the last to wander into the visitors' dressing room Tuesday morning at Bridgestone Arena.

There, Connor Bedard shed his red Chicago Blackhawks practice sweater in favor of a black Blackhawks sweatshirt after his team's skate in Nashville, where his NHL career finally was born.

A city, he said, has a special place in his heart.

A city he's played in once before.

"It's crazy how — well not long, but — long ago it was or me," Bedard said of the draft. "It's definitely cool looking back and having those memories."

Bedard said the outside of the arena, especially, wakens those recent moments.

"Walking in and those feelings going into it," he said.

As usual, Bedard had a noticeable audience Tuesday morning before the Blackhawks faced the Nashville Predators.

As usual, the 18-year-old who moments earlier had been named NHL Rookie of the Month for the second time this season, obliged everyone.

Nearly halfway through his rookie season and going into Tuesday, Bedard led first-year players in goals (15), assists (18) and points per game (0.92). He also led rookie forwards with 19:31 of ice time per game, which also put him fifth overall.

Is playing in the NHL what he expected so far, his lacrosse-style goal notwithstanding?

"It's hard to have expectations coming in," he said, "Everyone's just so good. Every game you know how hard it's going to be. It's a great challenge."

And what about all the losing the Blackhawks, who have the second-worst record in the league, have done?

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"It's been tough for us so far, losing a lot," Bedard said. "Hopefully we can turn that around a bit."

As for being 18 and being in Nashville on an off day?

"There's a lot more to do than going to the bar," Bedard said.

Yeah, like raising it.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard had to say about Nashville