The touching moment Blackhawks star rookie Connor Bedard tosses puck to young fan with sign that says 'I want to be just like you'

Chicago Blackhawks star rookie Connor Bedard tossed a puck over the glass to a young fan holding a sign that said 'I want to be just like you' before Sunday's game against the Florida Panthers.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft spotted the fan minutes before puck drop. Bedard then flung the puck into the first row of seating where the young fan was standing. 

The 18-year-old Bedard stopped his warmup routine to make sure the young fan received his on-ice gift. 

Bedard placed the end of his stick on the glass separating players from fans, pointing it at the young fan he wanted to receive the puck.

Once the puck was in the grasp of the young fan, Bedard staked away. The young fan looked at his new possession in awe with his jaw nearly hitting the floor. 

Bedard's NHL career is off to a good start, scoring 13 points in 13 games, including two goals on Sunday against the Panthers. 

His first marker against Florida came with less than a minute to go in the first period when he stole the puck from Panthers' forward Kevin Stenlund and immediately put a wrist shot into the top of the net. 

Bedard found the scoresheet again halfway through the second period, also capitalizing on a turnover. 

The center blazed past Florida defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson and released a snap shot past the glove side of Panthers' goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. 

While the Blackhawks ended up losing to Florida 4-3, Bedard's pregame recognition of a young fan will endear him to more fans around the globe. 

Bedard has been heralded as hockey's next phenom. Regardless of his possible Hall of Fame future, his human side showing in a road arena always has a place in the game.

Chicago returns to action on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

The Blackhawks are currently in seventh place in the NHL's Central Division.