Blackhawks Bottom Line: Connor Bedard Is A Generational Superstar

Over the next month, Chicago Hockey Now will be profiling every Chicago Blackhawks player from the 2023-24 season. Today will be forward Connor Bedard

Connor Bedard
Forward
Games Played: 68
(Goals – Assists – Points): 22-39-61
Contract Status: Entry-level deal; Expires in 2026

The Short View

Connor Bedard came into the season as the youngest player in the NHL. It is very hard to break camp with a team at 18 years old and it is even harder to be a star player that young.

He led the team in scoring with 61 points and second place wasn’t close. He is one of the three nominees for the Calder Trophy and he’s the odds on favorite to win it.

Bedard came in with the scouting report claiming that his shot was his best offensive asset. He used it to his advantage and scored some incredible goals. However, his playmaking ability was on full display a lot as well. He makes everybody around him better.

The Long View

Connor Bedard had 61 points in 68 games played. If he stays healthy for most of his career, that will be the lowest total he ever has in a 68-game span. He is already one of the most talented players in the NHL.

It is fair to be very confident in what he brings to the table long term. Bedard was the first overall pick and called a generational talent for a reason. He may end up being compared to some of the best players in the league.

You expect to see lots of goals, assists, points, awards, individual awards, and Stanley Cups when you have a player like this. It is tough to have those kinds of expectations on a young player but he has earned them with his overall performance throughout his teenage years.

The Bottom Line for Connor Bedard

Connor Bedard is already with the Chicago Blackhawks. He did his part in his rookie season and it is only going to get better for him as time goes on. You’d like to think he will develop even better as the team around him improves.

It is on Kyle Davidson and his staff to build around him now. There is no excuse now that they have this player. Winning the lottery in 2023 put an accelerator on the rebuild and for good reason. They can’t just sit around and wait anymore. The organization needs to be proactive when it comes to surrounding this kid with talent.

If the Blackhawks don’t take advantage of having a player like this, it is going to be one of the all-time great failures.

Previous Blackhawks Bottom Line Entries

Seth Jones | Connor Murphy | Ryan Donato | Taylor Raddysh | Joey Anderson | Jason Dickinson | Nick Foligno | Nikita Zaitsev | Philipp Kurashev | Jaycob Megna | Jarred Tinordi | Lukas Reichel | Petr Mrazek | Ethan Del Mastro | Arvid Soderblom | Colin Blackwell | Reese Johnson | Kevin Korchinski | Mackenzie Entwistle | Alex Vlasic | Landon Slaggert | Andreas Athanasiou | Tyler Johnson |

Find Chicago Hockey Now on Facebook and Twitter

Follow Nate on Twitter

Follow Vinnie on Twitter