Chicago Blackhawks sensation Connor Bedard becomes the youngest All-Star in NHL history as the 18-year-old is chosen for the prestigious league in his rookie season

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard will be put side-by-side with the NHL's best after being named to the league's All-Star game on Thursday night.

Bedard, who couldn't save the Blackhawks in a 4-1 loss to the New York Rangers on Thursday night, will become the youngest All-Star in NHL history at 18 years and 201 days old when the game takes place in February. 3 in Toronto.

He will take the record from fellow countryman Jeff Skinner, who accomplished the feat at the age of 18 years and 259 days old. NHL legend Steve Yzerman is now the third youngest on the list, appearing in his first All-Star game at 18 years and 267 days old.

The trio of Yzerman, Bedard and Skinner are also the three youngest to play in an All-Star game of the 'Big Four' North American sports.

LeBron James was 20 years and 52 days old when he made his first NBA All-Star appearance in his second season in the league.

The Chicago Blackhawks center is the youngest All-Star in league history at nearly 50 days old

Bedard was drafted by Chicago in late June and has tried to live up to his high expectations

The NHL and MLB have established rules requiring each team to have at least one representative at an All-Star Game, while there are no such requirements in the NFL and NBA.

Bedard is having the best season statistically of any Blackhawk with 33 points, 11 better than second-best Philipp Kurashev.

Bedard's 33 points rank 48th in the league, but 10 more than any other rookie, with Columbus' Adam Fantilli and Minnesota's Marco Rossi at 23.

The NHL is scrapping the divisional team format for this year's All-Star game and instead using a fantasy concept.

Bedard was considered the best hockey player of this generation before he ever hit the NHL ice.

Now he gets the chance to be directly compared to the top players in the league.