Frustration has gotten the better out of Connor Bedard, as the Chicago Blackhawks endure very challenging and troubling times in the NHL. With losses piling up in the locker room, interim head coach Anders Sorensen addressed the elephant in the room—issuing an honest message about the 19-year-old’s morale.
The Blackhawks are languishing at the bottom of the NHL standings, stuck in a seven-game losing skid marked by deflating losses. There seems to be no escape from this nerve-racking maze—except for the season’s inevitable end.
However, fans and the organization still expect strong efforts—not the lackluster, soulless performances they’ve seen in recent outings. Bedard, the franchise’s supposed savior, has been dragged down by his surroundings, left helpless as his production spirals into near inexistence.
While the sophomore’s numbers have plummeted—raising concerns around the league about the setbacks he’s faced—he still leads the roster in points, highlighting the overall struggles in The Windy City. Regardless, the 2024-25 campaign has been far from what Bedard envisioned, and Sorensen acknowledges it has been weighing on him lately.
“He’s frustrated a little bit, pressing. Especially with a player of his caliber, he expects to score and is on the spotlight constantly,” Sorensen stated about Bedard, via Chicago Tribune’s Phillip Thompson. “But just trying to get him to trust his instincts and make the plays he sees but don’t force things at the same time.”
Winds of change?
Bedard has been enduring a challenging season with the Blackhawks, and March has been no exception for the second-year star. However, the latest 7-4 win over the Philadelphia Flyers could be the turning point for the Blackhawks.
Bedard found the back of the net once, scoring unassisted to level the game at 3-3 before Chicago took a commanding lead that would prove decisive. Bedard hasn’t had many things go his way this season, with close plays typically bouncing in the opponents’ favor, instead of in his and the Blackhawks’ direction. Therefore, this last game was a positive sign for the 19-year-old and the Hawks.
However, confidence in Bedard hasn’t wavered. The real question is whether Chicago can build a contending team around their superstar and stop squandering both Bedard’s talent and everyone’s time with disappointing seasons.