Despite another challenging season for the Chicago Blackhawks, Connor Bedard, the team’s crown jewel, maintains a positive outlook on the future. The young forward, selected as the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, sees encouraging signs in the development of his teammates and the arrival of new talent.
Even though the Blackhawks have been eliminated from playoff contention, Bedard emphasizes the importance of focusing on growth and enjoying the process, highlighting the team’s spirit and determination to improve.
His optimistic perspective, despite the team’s struggles, reflects his leadership and commitment to the rebuilding process. “Yes, big time. You’re seeing guys come up and make a difference,” Bedard said on Friday, according to NHL.com.
Blackhawks: Glimmers of Hope in a Rebuilding Phase
The Blackhawks, who have missed the playoffs for five consecutive seasons, are in the midst of a rebuilding phase. However, Bedard sees promise in the performances of young players like Frank Nazar, Wyatt Kaiser, and Ethan Del Mastro, who have shown their potential on the ice.
“I know what I’m trying to do right now is not be so focused on results and just know we’re young, we’re trying to get better, and just have fun,” Bedard added. “It’s a great group of guys, and we have, what, three weeks left? So just have fun, enjoy it, and do the best you can. Obviously, you’re trying to win every game, and you want to win, but we’re going to try to play the best we can.”
Bedard’s focus on consistency
While leading the Blackhawks with 54 points, Bedard acknowledges the need for greater consistency in his own game. “Up to this point, I feel I’ve had a couple of little, like, 12-15 game stretches where if you look at points…” Bedard explained.
“Obviously, points aren’t everything, but as a guy who’s supposed to produce, those stretches are what I need to get rid of. The rest of the year’s been pretty good, I feel like. I have a lot of areas I can improve, but that’s exciting in a way, too, where you can be a lot better.” Bedard added.
Bedard’s relationship with GM Kyle Davidson
Bedard, while focused on his own development, is also willing to share his perspective with general manager Kyle Davidson. “Yeah, we have a good relationship,” Bedard said. “It’s cool. He’s a younger GM (36), and we’re a younger team. We have a lot of guys coming in basically at the same time as him. He’s really easy to talk to, and I think we’re all trying to grow together and take those next steps. Having that relationship is important.”
The future of the Blackhawks
The Blackhawks face a crucial offseason, with the search for a new head coach being a top priority. Rebuilding the team will also involve significant decisions about the roster’s composition.
Despite the challenges, Bedard remains hopeful that the Blackhawks can return to their glory days, when they won the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013, and 2015.
“There are a lot of things you can point to,” Bedard said. “It’s a hard league. I think it is on all of us as individuals in a way. If each guy gets a little better, then we’ll be better as a team. That’s a big step. But there are always little things you can do to win more games, and we’re trying to figure that out.”