The Chicago Blackhawks need to fix a problem. Connor Bedard is the face of the franchise thanks to his previous dominance at the levels leading up to the NHL. He was the number one pick in the 2023 NHL Draft with generational hype.
After a rookie season that won him the Calder Trophy, there was a bit of a sophomore slump this year. His assist total (12) is fine, but he has only three goals and 11 straight without one.
Things were bad in other areas of the game as well. While he was on the ice Thursday night against the Florida Panthers, the Hawks lost 10-0. Fortunately, he could be a passenger for a big win over the defending champions.
Bedard spoke after Thursday’s practice, and he had a few things to start with that you don’t want to hear from a young superstar.
Connor Bedard looked the most discouraged I’ve ever seen him after practice today.
“I could name 100 things [I could do better]. I don’t know, man. It was frustrating, for sure. I just don’t feel like I’m really doing anything. Keep it up I guess and I hope…
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) November 22, 2024
Bedard is incredibly humiliated. Your confidence won’t always be at its highest, but this is a new low. It’s not good that he feels like he’s doing nothing at all.
Whether it’s GM Kyle Davidson, head coach Luke Richardson, captain Nick Foligno or whoever in the organization, one of those elders needs to get inside Bedard’s head and feed him some positivity. If they don’t, it will be a long season for the 19-year-old.
Bedard’s next chance to find the back of the net will come in Saturday’s matinee. They go to Philly to take on the Philadelphia Flyers. This is a one-game road trip before returning home before Thanksgiving.
Earlier in the week, Teuvo Teravainen made similar remarks about his distrust. A day later he came out and scored. Now Bedard wishes the same thing could happen to him. He’s too talented to feel that way.
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