Blackhawks' Connor Bedard: '100 Things' I Could Improve amid Slump In 2nd NHL Season
Nov 22, 2024
CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 21: Connor Bedard #98 of the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period against the Florida Panthers on November, 21, 2024 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard said he "could name 100 things" he could do better amid his slow start to the 2024-25 season.
"I don't know, man," Bedard said Friday, per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "It has been frustrating, for sure. I just don't feel like I'm really doing anything. So just keep chipping away at it, I guess, and hopefully find my game again."
Bedard continued: "It's been a tough stretch. You just feel like you don't have it or whatever, and you lose a bit of confidence. And it just kind of goes on."
After leading all rookies with 22 goals in 68 games last season, Bedard has been held to three goals in the first 20 games of his sophomore campaign.
Bedard last scored during an Oct. 26 loss to the Dallas Stars and has been held without a goal for 11 straight games.
Most recently he was held to zero shots for the first time this season, and just the sixth time in his NHL career, during a Thursday win over the visiting Florida Panthers.
The contest marked Bedard's third game in the Blackhawks' latest top line configuration, which features Bedard flanking Jason Dickinson and opposite Joey Anderson. Both Dickinson and Anderson were also held without shots in the victory.
Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson still praised Bedard after the win for his efforts on defense.
"We didn't get him here to be a defensive specialist, but the responsibility of playing against good lines comes first... He did everything right on the defensive side," Richardson said about Bedard, per Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Opponents still largely controlled play when Bedard's line was on the ice at even strength, per Natural Stat Trick.
Playing Bedard on the wing has the advantage of taking him off the face-off dot, where he has a 29.7 percent success rate this season, and he recently said he sees the position as "less work."
The Blackhawks may still be due for another line shuffle as the team looks to build a top line that can control play and get Bedard back on the scoresheet.
Chicago could try slotting the second-year forward in alongside a veteran like Taylor Hall or a young, speedy winger like Lukas Reichel as the team prepares for its next contest on Saturday afternoon against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Blackhawks, Blues Unveil 2025 NHL Winter Classic Uniforms in New Photos
Nov 20, 2024
ST. LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 28: St. Louis Blues leftwing Brandon Saad (20) controls the puck with pressure from Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Kevin Korchinski (14) during a preseason NHL game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues, on September 28, 2024, at Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/IconSportswire)
The Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues are embracing a vintage look for their New Year's Eve Winter Classic at Wrigley Field.
The Blackhawks and Blues unveiled the uniforms on Wednesday ahead of the Dec. 31 outdoor game.
The St. Louis uniform marks the first time in franchise history the Blues will wear a sweater without a music note as the team's primary logo, according to the NHL.
The Blackhawks uniform features red stars representing the flag of the city of Chicago. The back numbers feature pinstripes in a nod to Wrigley Field's baseball history, according to the league.
The Blues sweaters are "inspired by an unworn prototype Blues uniform from 1966," according to the NHL.
The St. Louis jerseys also contain a nod to their own city's flag by incorporating a fleur-de-lis inside the back of the uniform's neck, the league noted.
The Dec. 31 clash between Central Division opponents marks the 16th Winter Classic in NHL history, as well as the 42nd regular-season game played outdoors.
The Blues and Blackhawks previously met in the 2017 Winter Classic. The Blues won 4-1 at Busch Stadium thanks to a pair of goals from former St. Louis winger Vladimir Tarasenko.
This year it will be Brayden Schenn, Jordan Kyrou and Pavel Buchnevich facing off against Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks.
The Blues head into the matchup with a 2-0-0 record in outdoor games, while the Blackhawks are 1-5-0. The Hawks last won outdoors in 2014, when the team defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins at Soldier Field.
Bedard, then eight years old, told NHL.com's Tracey Myers he remembers watching the win at Soldier Field. He will now look to cap off the 2024 calendar year by leading the Blackhawks to the franchise's second outdoor victory.
Connor Bedard Talks Blackhawks, 1st NHL Game in Vancouver and More in B/R Interview
Oct 31, 2024
DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 28: Connor Bedard #98 of the Chicago Blackhawks skates against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on October 28, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
The NHL game looks different for Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard at the start of his second season in the league.
The No. 1 pick of the 2023 draft may already be coming off a Calder Trophy-winning rookie campaign, but he told Bleacher Report he feels more comfortable with the pace of play heading into the 2024-25 season.
"I maybe haven't been producing at a crazy level, but I feel like I'm creating a lot of opportunities for myself and everyone, and I feel like the game's slowed down a little bit from last year," Bedard told Bleacher Report. "I think that's positive."
Although Bedard has been projected as a potential generational talent since he became the first player to be granted exceptional status for early entrance to the WHL at age 14, the 19-year-old still showed some growing pains adjusting to his first year in the NHL.
One of those adaptations was figuring out how not to overdo practice. Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson told ESPN's Emily Kaplan last season that at one point he hid Bedard's sticks before an optional practice in an effort to encourage the rookie to rest.
Heading into Year 2, Bedard says he has adjusted to a practice schedule that allows him to retain enough energy for the high intensity of NHL play.
"Now I'm here a few years, you kind of have your routine and stuff down and you know what you got to do to feel good," Bedard said. "When you kind of know what it would take for you to be feeling like that, and everything, I think that's a huge bonus."
Other things about playing for the Blackhawks have changed since last season. The team let players like Taylor Raddysh and MacKenzie Entwistle walk in free agency, then added veteran players like Patrick Maroon and Tyler Bertuzzi this summer.
"All the new guys have been great, and we brought a lot in, and it's fun to build some new relationships," Bedard said.
One of those additions to the roster is veteran winger Teuvo Teräväinen, a member of the Blackhawks' 2015 Stanley Cup-winning team who spent the last eight seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes before signing in Chicago this summer.
Since clicking in the preseason, Bedard and Teräväinen have become regular linemates and one of the Blackhawks' most effective offensive duos. Through ten games the Hawks have outscored opponents 5-4 when this top line is on the ice, a positive sign for a team that is as a whole getting outscored at 5v5.
"I think a lot of our chemistry is talking about what we've seen out there," Bedard said about skating with Teräväinen. "He plays the game at such a high level, and I feel like for me, kind of best part of my game is how I think the game. So we just re-up each other... it's been fun to grow that chemistry."
Teravainen clanked this one off the crossbar after Bedard shoveled it across with one hand while falling down 😳 pic.twitter.com/r0vij0J27X
After going 2-2-1 to start the 2024-25 season, the Blackhawks fell into a slump with four straight losses in the fourth week of October.
The team was outscored 17-9 over the span. Bedard was held without a goal despite putting six shots on net against his childhood team, the Vancouver Canucks. And despite Bedard finding the back of the net twice in a pair of back-to-back games the following weekend— one goal that gave the Hawks a 2-0 lead over the visiting Nashville Predators, and another that cut the host Dallas Stars' lead to 3-2— the Blackhawks lost both games.
On the ice, the Hawks looked like a different team from last season. The final scores were closer, and the losses felt more competitive. But on the scoresheet the Blackhawks headed into the 10-game benchmark with a 3-6-1 record, a lower mark than last season's 4-6-0 season-opening record.
"I think just sticking to what you know works," Bedard said about breaking out of the slump. "Obviously, we had a much slower start to our first few games than we would have liked to. I think the rest is just knowing what we do to be our best selves, and that goes on a personal level too. You've got to know what it takes for you to be playing your best. I always want to be getting better, having more of an impact on the game, and hopefully I can do that."
The Blackhawks got back in the win column on Monday with a 5-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche in Denver.
"We were on a little cold streak there... obviously, a happy plane after," Bedard said.
Navigating his second season in the NHL has involved more than Bedard adjusting to roster turnover. As lululemon's NHL ambassador, he has also served as the face of the brand's recent announcement of a multi-year partnership with Fanatics and the NHL.
The collaboration involves lululemon designing apparel for 11 teams including the Blackhawks this season, followed by a full 32-team lineup for the 2025-26 campaign, according to the brand. The products will be available through Fanatics, Lids stores and some NHL team shops.
Bedard, who signedan apparel deal with lululemon last June and inked a memorabilia deal with Fanatics earlier this month, went through product testing with the Vancouver-headquartered brand this summer ahead of the collaboration with the league, according to lululemon. He said his involvement in the campaign made him feel "a little bit" like a trendsetter.
"I know a lot of the guys on our team are always wearing the stuff," Bedard said.
His role as the league's brand ambassador involved posing for shots in a modeling campaign that also featured other NHL stars like the Toronto Maple Leafs' John Tavares and the Vegas Golden Knights' Mark Stone.
"It's definitely out of my comfort zone," Bedard laughed about modeling. "It was cool. It's good to do something that you're not used to, and you're not that comfortable with."
Connor Bedard for the new Lululemon x Fanatics collab in partnership with the NHL🤩 pic.twitter.com/FIv4q8Ivcx
Bedard finished his rookie season with 22 goals and 61 points despite being limited by injury to 68 games. The Blackhawks meanwhile finished the campaign a 23-53-6 mark and 52 points, good for 31st in the league.
The second-year forward could be on pace to beat his rookie production totals after recording three goals and six assists through ten games. The Blackhawks will be challenged similarly challenged to take a step forward from last year's record, starting with some wins this week during a West Coast road trip to visit the San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks.
One matchup coming up over the next month has particular meaning for Bedard, a Vancouver local who was sidelined with a fractured jaw when the Blackhawks visited his hometown last season. The Hawks' Nov. 16 matchup against the Canucks will mark Bedard's first trip to Rogers Arena as an NHL player.
"I'm really excited just to play in front of friends and family," Bedard said. "I grew up going to games, watching the team I grew up cheering for. Excited to go home, and see everyone, and yeah, I'm looking forward to that one."
Bedard and the Blackhawks return to action on Thursday night with a road game against the 2-7-2 Sharks at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Video: Nick Foligno Named Blackhawks' Captain; Gifted Jersey by His Children
Sep 18, 2024
CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 14: Nick Foligno #17 of the Chicago Blackhawks points to the crowd after a game against the Carolina Hurricanes at the United Center on April 14, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Chicago Blackhawks winger Nick Foligno, who was named the 35th captain in team history on Wednesday, received his first sweater stitched with a "C" from three special guests.
Foligno's children Milana, Landon and Hudson presented him with his new sweater during the Blackhawks' captaincy announcement.
The Foligno fam were the first to present new Hawks captain Nick Foligno with his new sweater featuring the “C” 🔥❤️
The Blackhawks acquired Foligno via trade in June 2023, then signed him to a two-year extension in January. He served as an alternate captain for the team during the 2023-24 season.
Originally selected in the first round of the 2006 draft by the Ottawa Senators, Foligno spent the first five seasons of his NHL career with the Sens before skating for eight full seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Foligno was named captain of the Blue Jackets following the 2014-15 season, earning the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2017. He held the leadership role for the majority of six seasons in Columbus until his 2021 deadline trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
After a brief stint with the Leafs, Foligno spent two seasons with the Boston Bruins prior to his trade to the Blackhawks.
He is the first player to wear the C for the Blackhawks since former Chicago leader Jonathan Toews stepped away from hockey following the 2022-23 season.
Foligno recorded 17 goals and 20 assists for 37 points in 40 games during his first season in Chicago.
The veteran winger, who turns 37 in October, is currently set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2025-26 season.
Should he decide to retire at the end of his current contract, all eyes would turn to reigning Calder Trophy winner Connor Bedard as the team's next potential leader. Bedard will be 20 at the end of Foligno's current deal, the same age Toews was when he had the C stitched on his sweater following the 2007-08 season.
Bedard will now have the opportunity to watch a veteran NHL captain lead the team next season in Foligno, who said when he was first traded to Chicago that he was excited to help mentor the 2023 first overall pick.
"I'm excited about giving him what I've learned," Foligno said told Sportsnet before Bedard's rookie 2023-24 season (h/t NBC Sports' Tori Rubinstein.) "I came into an incredible locker room in Ottawa with some of the leaders and people that I worked with, and feel very fortunate that I've been able to use that... There's so many young players that hopefully we can make a great impression on."
Foligno will now continue that mentorship work with the Blackhawks' young stars as he heads into his seventh season as an NHL captain this fall.
Blackhawks' Connor Bedard, Gatorade Reveal Endorsement Contract in Epic Video
Jul 17, 2024
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC - MAY 26: Connor Bedard of Canada in action during 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Czechia Third Place Match between Sweden and Canada at Prague Arena on May 26, 2024 in Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo by Jari Pestelacci/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Connor Bedard is the face of the Chicago Blackhawks and, now, one of the faces of Gatorade Canada.
Gatorade revealed it signed the Blackhawks center to be part of its team with a video that showed off the youngster's shot:
"I'm proud to join the Gatorade family and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of a team that helps fuel some of the best athletes in the world," Bedard said in a press release. "Like so many kids who grew up playing hockey, Gatorade has been a part of my journey from day one. Gatorade is committed to excellence and is passionate about sports at all levels—I am really looking forward to working together."
It comes as anything but a surprise that Gatorade entered into a partnership with Bedard.
After all, the rising star was the Calder Memorial Trophy winner as the NHL's top rookie while finishing with 61 points on 39 assists and 22 goals. He still has a ways to go to live up to the sky-high expectations that were put in place when the Blackhawks selected him with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 NHL draft, but it was quite the start to his career.
Fanatics also revealed in March he was the highest-selling jersey in the league for the 2023-24 campaign:
The opening days of the NHL's annual
free-agent market are when general managers hustle to address
significant roster needs by signing the best unrestricted…
Blackhawks' Connor Bedard Wins 2023-24 NHL Calder Memorial Trophy as Best Rookie
Jun 27, 2024
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 18: Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) skates during an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings on April 18, 2024 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard is the winner of the 2023-24 Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year.
The honor, as voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, was announced Thursday during the annual NHL awards.
Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber and New Jersey Devils blueliner Luke Hughes finished as runners up.
Bedard is the first Blackhawks rookie to win the honor since Artemi Panarin claimed the trophy in 2016.
Missing 14 games after undergoing surgery on a broken jaw in January didn't stop Bedard from living up to the hype surrounding his selection at the top of the 2023 draft.
It took the Blackhawks phenom just 68 games to lead all NHL rookies with 22 goals, 61 points and 47 takeaways.
He quickly established himself in Chicago as a driver of play both at even strength and on the man advantage, leading the Blackhawks with 17 power-play assists and ranking second on the team with 18 even-strength goals.
Bedard scored the first goal of his NHL career just under three months after his 18th birthday with a wraparound tally against the Boston Bruins on Oct. 11, making him one of the 25 youngest first goal-scorers in NHL history.
Two months later, Bedard became one of the only players in NHL history to score on a lacrosse-style Michigan goal during a game against the St. Louis Blues.
He became the fifth 18-year-old to record five points in a single game with one goal and four assists against the Anaheim Ducks on March 12.
Bedard's production rate would have put him on pace for 73 points during an 82-game season.
Chicago will now hope he is able to stay healthy in 2024-25 as the reigning Calder Trophy winner looks to combine with the Blackhawks' upcoming No. 2 pick to lead the team back into playoff contention.
Blackhawks GM Doesn't Expect to Sign Patrick Kane to Contract in 2024 NHL Free Agency
Jun 7, 2024
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 25: Patrick Kane #88 of the Detroit Red Wings reacts after scoring in overtime against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on February 25, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Bill Smith/NHLI via Getty Images)
A reunion doesn't appear to be in store for Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks.
Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson spoke with reporters at the NHL Combine in Buffalo and shot down the possibility of the team bringing back Patrick Kane when he hits unrestricted free agency on July 1.
"I think we made some really tough decisions on some longstanding players," Davidson said, per Scott Powers of The Athletic. I don't foresee us going back on that."
Whether or not he returns to Chicago, Kane will forever be a legend in the city. The 2007 No. 1 pick recorded 446 goals and 779 assists in 1,161 games in a Blackhawk uniform. He won the Hart and Art Ross trophies in 2015-16, made the All-Star game four times and helped lead Chicago to three Stanley Cups.
The team dealt him away to the New York Rangers at the 2023 trade deadline, and he spent the 2023-24 season with the Detroit Red Wings. The 35-year-old still showcased strong offense output with Detroit, recording 47 points in 50 games, and will be one of the top options available on the market this offseason.
A reunion in Chicago looked intriguing. He could serve in a mentor role for 2023 No. 1 pick Connor Bedard and whoever the team selects with the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. It would also give him a chance to oversee the franchise through a rebuild and possibly retire with the team that drafted him.
Davidson's statements instead appear to signal a focus on rebuilding and not bringing in a high-impact veteran, so Kane's presence would bring less value.
Other potential suitors for Kane's services could be his hometown Buffalo Sabres, as well as contenders like the Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars and the Rangers.
Blackhawks Sued by Former Female Employee; Accused of Sexual Harassment, Fraud, More
May 15, 2024
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 03: A detail view of the Chicago Blackhawks logo prior to the preseason game between the against the Detroit Red Wings at the United Center on October 03, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Nina Sanders, who formerly worked as a contractor for the Chicago Blackhawks, filed a lawsuit Tuesday accusing the team of fraud and sexual harassment, Dave Savini and Samah Assad reported for CBS Chicago.
Sanders, a Native American woman who filed the lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Cook County, is also accusing the Blackhawks of breach of oral contract, per Savini and Assad.
In her lawsuit, Sanders accused a man working with the Blackhawks of "inappropriate sexual advances," non-consensual touching and sending her "sexually explicit videos," according to the lawsuit.
Sanders said she reported these alleged incidents, as well as two more involving other women being "groped" by men working with the team, and that the Blackhawks responded by pushing her out of her role, Savini and Assad reported.
#Blackhawks statement on the allegations is in the article.
The last sentence is pretty important: “Of note, the persons identified by Ms. Sanders in your question are not, and have never been, independent contractors with nor employees of the Chicago Blackhawks.” https://t.co/AKQaVhUE9Hpic.twitter.com/S50klYsrEm
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) May 15, 2024
Sanders is also accusing the Blackhawks of fraud by enticing her to accept the role with the organization with indications they planned to change their logo without any intention of actually doing so, per Savini and Assad.
The Blackhawks confirmed in a statement to CBS Chicago that Sanders "assisted the Chicago Blackhawks' Native American efforts as an independent contractor" from 2020 to 2023.
The team said it had "noted operational issues in her work" but "made an effort" to extend her contract in June 2023, which Sanders turned down.
"After contract negotiations dissolved, Ms. Sanders shared her frustrations with the organization over the working relationship, and introduced noted allegations, none of which had been shared by Ms. Sanders at any time during her engagement with the Chicago Blackhawks," the organization wrote.
The Blackhawks said they conducted an investigation "with the assistance of outside counsel" in response to Sanders' allegations and "found insufficient evidence to substantiate her claims."
The people identified in Sanders' harassment allegations "are not, and have never been, independent contractors with nor employees of the Chicago Blackhawks," the organization said.
The Blackhawks have previously been accused of covering up sexual assault allegations involving former video coach video coach Brad Aldrich, which allegedly took place in 2010, by two former players.
Most recently an unidentified plaintiff filed a lawsuit regarding the 2010 allegations in November in Cook County. A judge denied the Blackhawks' motion to dismiss the negligence suit in March.
Blues vs. Blackhawks NHL Winter Classic Set for New Year's Eve 2024 at Wrigley Field
Apr 17, 2024
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 07: Connor Bedard #98 of the Chicago Blackhawks poses for a portrait after announcing that the 2025 Discover NHL Winter Classic will feature the Chicago Blackhawks hosting the St. Louis Blues at Wrigley Field on February 07, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images)
Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks will take on the St. Louis Blues on December 31 for next season's NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field.
The NHL announced the date of the 16th Winter Classic on Wednesday night.
This marks the first NHL outdoor game ever played on New Year's Eve, and the second ever played in December.
The event will also mark the first time the Winter Classic is taking place on a date other than Jan. 1 or Jan. 2. The NHL began the New Year's tradition in 2008.
The home field of the Chicago Cubs previously hosted the 2009 Winter Classic, during which the Blackhawks lost to the Detroit Red Wings.
The Blackhawks have played six regular-season games in outdoor stadiums. The team currently holds a 1-5 record in outdoor events, including a victory during the 2014 NHL Stadium Series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Chicago will hope to earn the second outdoor regular-season victory in franchise history thanks to the addition of Bedard, whom the team acquired with the No. 1 pick of the 2023 NHL draft.
Although sidelined for over a month by a fractured jaw, Bedard lived up to the hype surrounding his rookie season with 22 goals and 61 points through 67 games.
The Blackhawks are expecting even more from Bedard in 2024-25, and the first outdoor game of his career could be a highlight.
The Blues will be playing in the third outdoor regular-season game in franchise history. The Blues won both of those prior contests, including a victory over the Blackhawks in the 2017 NHL Winter Classic.
St. Louis will be led by Robert Thomas, who put together the best season of his career in 2023-24 as he recorded a personal-best 25 goals and 85 points, and Jordan Binnington, who is entering his seventh season as the team's starting goaltender.
The Blues dominated the 2023-24 season series against the Blackhawks, earning a 3-1 record and outscoring Chicago 17-12 in four contests.
