The Chicago Blackhawks are entering the Jeff Blashill era on the eve of the 2025-26 NHL season. After years of enduring disastrous campaigns, fans in the Windy City are desperate for success—and though it seems those days are still further down the road, they have many things to be hopeful about next season, including Connor Bedard’s evolution, which Blashill has made a powerful statement about.
After his 61-point, Calder Trophy rookie season in the NHL, Bedard registered 67 points in 82 games during his sophomore year, decreasing his point-per-game average production (from 0.90 to 0.82).
Re-gaining his confidence will be pivotal for Bedard, who endured a rollercoaster 2024-25 NHL season, including a head coaching change midway through the campaign, and disheartening showings night in and night out. Bedard seemed to be missing his goal-scoring instincts during his sophomore campaign, often shying away from grade-A chances and opting for passes that were simply not there.
It will be something for Blashill and his coaching staff to work with Bedard during training camp and preseason. His staff will include Anders Sorensen, Michael Peca, and a third assistant who is already in the works. However, the new bench boss in Chicago has the utmost confidence in Bedard—so much so that he delivered a strong warning to the rest of the league.
Jeff Blashill, head coach of the United States looks on during the 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Bronze Medal Game game between the United States and Canada at Royal Arena on May 20, 2018 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
“[Bedard’s] going to get to another level. I don’t think there’s any question,” Blashill stated during his introductory press conference, as reported by Chicago Sun-Times’ Ben Pope. “Because like other superstars in this league, he has the drive and want to be the very best he can be.”
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Working on his craft
While Blashill’s confidence in Bedard won’t waver, the 51-year-old head coach would like for the 19-year-old messiah in Chi-town to focus on certain areas of his game ahead of his third season with the Blackhawks.
“There’s zero doubt of the ability that he has,” Blashill said, per NHL.com. “When you watch him with the puck on his stick, both his ability to shoot pucks and his ability to create plays and make passes is really, really elite. There’s zero doubt about that.
“Working toward Connor’s strengths will be important. Making sure you’re stopping on pucks, making sure your changes are great, making sure you’re [taking] short shifts, all those things lead to the development side of a winner. Then there’s also the development side of continuing to find ways to separate yourself. How can he separate himself with the puck to create a little bit more space, because when he has space in the offensive zone, he’s excellent as we stand here today.”
Connor Bedard #98 of the Chicago Blackhawks looks on during the second period against the St. Louis Blues in the 2024 NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field on December 31, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.
A rising tide lifts all boats
Blashill knows the best way for the Blackhawks to escape the league’s basement and solidify as a competitor in the NHL is by individual growth of every player, including Bedard.
“They go hand-in-hand. The best way to increase the ceiling of your team is through individual growth,” Blashill pointed out. “That’s for everyone from young players to veterans.”
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While he has no doubts the Blackhawks will grow into much bigger roles in the NHL, he couldn’t pinpoint an exact timeline for the organization to follow. “I can’t put a timeline on it. I won’t rush the process,” he said. “I believe in the process, you have to make sure you have a winning culture in place, once it is, the winning takes care of itself.”
