In what was a deflating and challenging NHL season, the Chicago Blackhawks managed to catch a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel, boosting their morale ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. As the team begins to find its game and solidify its young core, Connor Bedard issued a bold statement—warning the rest of the league about the Blackhawks’ emerging identity.
It wasn’t always pretty—or pretty at all—but the 2024-25 NHL season was a necessary stepping stone for the Blackhawks. Chicago boasts a young roster, and like in life, growth comes with taking hits and learning hard lessons, even when they come in ugly fashion.
That’s been the case for Bedard and the Blackhawks this past season. The teenage star went through a noticeable slump in production, which visibly frustrated him. However, the team stuck together and ultimately showcased their strength in numbers, closing out the campaign on a four-game point streak—highlighted by statement wins in back-to-back road games against the Canadiens and Senators.
The Blackhawks may still be far from becoming a contender during the upcoming season, but they’ve taken a big step in the right direction, and most certainly won’t be a walk in the park for any team facing them going forward. They may not boast the best lineup night in and night out, but Bedard has the utmost confidence in their playstyle, warning the league about their pace.
Connor Bedard #98 of the Chicago Blackhawks skates against the Seattle Kraken during the first period at the United Center on March 18, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
“Some of the guys are pretty quick, it’s hard to keep up sometimes,” Connor Bedard said about the Blackhawks’ playstyle, via Phillip Thompson on X. “Frank and Mooresy and Mikky, you can go down, Greener can wheel, there’s a lot of speed. That’s going to be our identity.”
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Sophomore reflection
The 2024-25 season was far from what Bedard had envisioned for himself and the Blackhawks. Following his Calder Trophy-winning rookie campaign, Bedard’s production took a step back, ultimately affecting his confidence. The star centerman began second-guessing himself, often passing up on shots he would’ve taken in a heartbeat just a year prior.
Bedard second-guessed himself for much of the season, and it significantly impacted his performance. However, during the final stretch, he began to look more like his best version again. Just like Chicago, Bedard closed out the season on a four-game point streak. He capped it off with his only multi-goal outing of the 2024-25 campaign, netting a brace against the Senators in Game 82 and assisting Frank Nazar on the overtime game-winning goal.
Frank Nazar, 91 of the Chicago Blackhawks, warms up prior to an NHL game at United Center in Chicalo, IL, USA.
“Obviously, there was some downs this year that are tough, but to kind of end with a couple of wins, a couple of good games, is nice,” Bedard told NHL.com postgame.
Not looking back
The Blackhawks are sick and tired of being a bottomfeeder in the NHL, and they’re hoping to finally establish themselves as a legitimate threat in the league. These last few games have helped lift the spirits in The Windy City, as the team secured wins in hostile environments—signaling a rite of passage as they prevailed in situations where they once used to crumble.
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“I’m just glad we’re winning these games,” Nazar said. “Honestly, it means a lot. I came in last year, I played three games. And our last game, we were up, the other team came back, we lost in overtime, and it was just a hard flight back. Being able to end on a strong note, it just brings a lot of excitement towards the future and towards next year.”
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A long offseason now awaits the Blackhawks, but there’s a renewed eagerness to get back on the ice. The tide has turned for both Bedard and Chicago, and the once gloomy road ahead is starting to look promising.
