The team was riddled with injuries, and Kyle Davidson in the offseason sought to improve the team's competitiveness.
Compared to last year, the Blackhawks have more NHL-proven players and roster spots will be fought for.
With numerous veterans added, the lineup is changed for the better, and Bedard's prospects for 100+ points are better.
His projected linemates for 2024-2025, look to be some of the newest additions ot the wings: to his left, Tyler Bertuzzi, a former Maple Leaf, and Teuvo Teraveinen, returning to Chicago after a long stay in Carolina.
Of course, this is the best guess of what course Luke Richardson could take with the talent available at the moment, but in hockey, lines are subject to change.
Both players flanking Bedard have played alongside other NHL elite talent, and putting them next to Bedard makes the most sense. Bertuzzi has experience playing with John Tavares and William Nylander in Toronto, while Teuvo Teraveinen's usual linemates in Carolina, were Sebastian Aho, and Andrei Svechnikov.
Teraveinen is a strong two-way forward, with creative skills offensively, and Bertuzzi is the gritty, power-forward who is a great puck retriever with a scoring touch.
These two should allow Bedard more flexibility to open up the ice, for scoring chances and to continue to grow as an NHLer.
While Philipp Kurashev and Bedard had an excellent season in 20232-2024, he will have to fight to stay in the top line, if he's capable of it.
But most linemates yearly don't end up sticking together, as a result of free agency, trades, and retirements.
We should appreciate what Kurashev brought to the 1st line and hope for the best, with the acquisition of Bertuzzi, and Teraveinen.
Source: NY Times
Blackhawks roster projection: Connor Bedard's linemates? Opportunities for young players?
POLL | ||
17 SEPTEMBRE | 46 ANSWERS Connor Bedard's Linemates for 2024-2025 Season Revealed Will Bedard hit 100+ points this year? | ||
Yes | 30 | 65.2 % |
No | 16 | 34.8 % |
List of polls |