Connor Bedard Should Heed Luke Richardson’s Words About Frustration

As Philipp Kurashev said after the Blackhawks 5-2 loss to Columbus, “losing sucks.” Ryan Donato talked about the younger players being “hungry” and not accepting the losing. In the case of Connor Bedard, he wears that frustration on his sleeve. He even takes it out on the boards, the ice, or even his hockey stick.

Head coach Luke Richardson thinks that Bedard has been “all business” when it comes to fighting through the frustration of a losing season. He did have a little bit more of advice for the Blackhawks rookie.

“There’s some nights he gets frustrated when he’s not scoring, [or] he misses a chance” Richardson said. “There’s a couple of times, even in the last game against Colorado, he finished his check, [Colorado defenseman Bowen] Byram gave him a little tug on his jersey to hold him from back checking and he gave him a little whack in the shin pads. So we just talked about not showing that emotion to the other team.

It’s great to have emotion and use that in your own to motivate yourself. But don’t let the other team know that they’re getting to you. Show no emotion and let them be frustrated that they can’t get to you.”

Blackhawks and the Expectations on Connor Bedard

It’s clear that Bedard hates to lose more than he likes to win–something that certainly provides that motor for winning games. But the other half of it is that the Blackhawks success has been tied to Bedard since he was drafted first overall.

The pressure has been immense, and atop that is the fact that the team has struggled to score goals and win games. It’s the perfect recipe for a cocktail of frustration.

Connor Bedard is denied on a breakaway after a beautiful stretch pass by Kevin Korchinski. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/ib283Sz30H

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) March 5, 2024

But even watching the clip above, Bedard takes a shot after he’s stopped on the breakaway and visibly taps his helmet with his stick. Frustrated with himself for not converting? Understandable. But the better version is that he didn’t go and then take it out on the boards with the jabs he’s given with this own fists after.

It also reminds that Bedard is young (18!) and still figuring things out. Often, it’s been lost this season because of just how talented the Blackhawks forward is.

That frustration is understandable. But Richardson’s words are wise, reminding that not giving the opposition the satisfaction of getting under your skin is half the battle. The other half is making them pay later.

The latter will happen at some point. But as everything else this has been this season has taught, it’s a process that will take time. Both the Blackhawks and Bedard were held off the scoresheet Monday night in a 5-0 loss to Colorado.

So in the meantime, Bedard should heed the words of his coach. It’s wise advice that will pay dividends down the road.

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