Early picks to play alongside Connor Bedard for Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks have options entering training camp for who should play alongside Connor Bedard.

Last season, Bedard’s primary linemates were Nick Foligno and Philipp Kurashev. He also spent time playing alongside Ryan Donato, Andreas Athanasiou, Taylor Raddysh and Lukas Reichel. Head Coach Luke Richardson definitely has more options this season to play alongside Bedard, but who would be the right pick?

Early picks to play alongside Connor Bedard for the Blackhawks

Philipp Kurashev

Kurashev is entering training camp with something to prove. Last season, Kurashev spent the most time with Bedard compared to any other forward on the team. The two formed some visible chemistry, with Kurashev primary assisting on 13 of Bedard’s goals and Bedard registering 12 primary assists on Kurashev goals.

With the influx of talent this offseason, there are plenty of star power names to pair with Bedard, but this seems likely Kurashev’s spot to lose entering training camp and potentially all the way up to the first game of the season in Utah on Oct. 8.

Tyler Bertuzzi

Tyler Bertuzzi seems like the most likely linemate for Bedard. Kyle Davidson signed someone like Bertuzzi to play with Bedard. Bertuzzi is someone Blackhawks fans should fall in love with quickly. He works hard, plays physical and isn’t afraid to get infront of the net. Pairing Bedard with Bertuzzi seems like the most likely solution to start the season.

Last season, Bertuzzi spent time in the Toronto Maple Leafs top six playing alongside John Tavares. Bertuzzi knows how to play with elite centers. Giving Bedard the option to play with a forward like Bertuzzi will only improve his game.

Teuvo Teravainen

Is it finally Teuvo Time in Chicago? Teravainen could be a good option to play alongside Connor Bedard on the top line. Last season, Teravainen registered a career high 25 goal season. He also put up 53 points while averaging 16:24 minutes of ice time a night.

It seems likely Teravainen takes on a bigger role with the Blackhawks then he had in Carolina. While he was a high end piece of a supporting cast in Carolina, he now has an opportunity to be one of the top players in Chicago.

Taylor Hall

Losing Taylor Hall to injury hurt the Blackhawks last season. Hall was a likely linemate of Bedard last season if he was not injured early in the year. While the additions of Bertuzzi and Teravainen might push him down the depth chart to the second line, Hall could very well earn a spot alongside Bedard this season.

Nick Foligno

This is a less likely pick but still worth mentioning. Nick Foligno and Connor Bedard played a lot of minutes together last season. Foligno definitely has been a good mentor to Bedard and in certain situations, it could be likely they play together at times this season.

So who plays with Bedard? The most likely lineup to start the year would pair Bedard with Bertuzzi and Kurashev. What happens after the first game is anyone’s guess. The opening night lineup in Utah could look very different from what fans see for the home opener on Oct. 17.

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