The Chicago Blackhawks continue their horrendous NHL season, with frustration getting the best of the players inside the locker room, and little to no time to change the tide heading into the final games of the campaign. Following the disastrous 5-0 defeat in Pittsburgh, Ryan Donato aimed at his teammates’ performances with a bold remark, perhaps even aimed at Connor Bedard.
The Blackhawks are sick and tired of losing, but at this point, it’s all they know as they try to put on a brave face and limp to the finish line of a dismal year in The Windy City.
The heart-stomping loss to the Penguins on the road, by a lopsided 5-0 final score had an immediate impact on the roster, as the team held a players-only meeting. However, the effects of it may not be reflected on the ice until the upcoming NHL season.
Hoping to spark something before it’s too late and the players sit during spring and summer filled with regret, Ryan Donato issued a powerful wake-up call to the Blackhawks’ locker room, urging a strong response over the team’s final stretch. His pointed remarks have left fans wondering if Connor Bedard was among those being called out.
Ryan Donato #8 and Craig Smith #15 of the Chicago Blackhawks arrive inside Wrigley Field prior to the 2024 NHL Winter Classic against the St. Louis Blues on December 31, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.
“All of us need to show up and buy in every game. Not just every so often,” Donato said, per CHGO Blackhawks on X. “You got to show up every night and give your A-effort. It’s too good of a league, you’re playing against the best players in the world.”
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Below standard
Despite leading the Blackhawks in points with 60 goal participations (20G and 40A), it hasn’t been a good season for Connor Bedard, who hasn’t met the expectations set on him after winning the Calder Trophy during the 2023-24 campaign.
However, his performance has also been influenced by the team’s chaotic season, which saw Anders Sorensen appointed as interim head coach, while the organization prioritized building a stronger foundation for the future at the expense of present-day competitiveness.
Running short on patience
While it’d be odd for Donato to aim at the franchise’s lynchpin, Bedard’s performance has been very inconsistent as of late, as his production in March finished below the ten points.
Nick Foligno #17 of the Chicago Blackhawks looks on against the Seattle Kraken during the third period at the United Center on December 19, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.
‘‘[The coaches] give us a good plan to go into the game,’’ Donato said. ‘‘We all have to buy in to that and play the same way. It’s on the veterans — and some of the young guys — to make sure we’re doing what we’re told.“
Donato’s subtle, yet noticeable, comment about “some of the young guys” suggests he may be displeased with Bedard’s production, as the sophomore looks to put his slump season behind him.
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However, Donato primarily directed his focus toward the veterans on the team — a remark many believe was aimed at Nick Foligno, for instance, as the captain has recorded just eight points since the NHL resumed play following the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Much-needed guidance
“As veterans or guys who have been around long enough know, you’ve got to bring [young players] with you and teach them the right way,” Ryan Donato admitted. “There’s some hard lessons in there, but it makes the team better. I think everybody can look at themselves in the mirror and find something they didn’t do great this game. You’ve got to continue to build. It’s a hard league.”
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Donato is on the cusp of a career-high 30-goal season with the Blackhawks, but his individual success does little to ease the emotional toll of every deflating loss the team has endured. It’s hard enough on him as a veteran — and even tougher for the rookies, who are getting their first taste of NHL life in the form of a bitter pill to swallow.
