Trade talks legitimize involving Blackhawks star Connor Bedard
Photo credit: NHL.COM
Connor Bedard Trade Talk Grows Amid Tough Times with Blackhawks
Connor Bedard is having quite the rough week in Chicago, the 19-year-old center got his second misconduct penalty in a row during a 6-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.
Just two nights earlier, he picked up another misconduct in a 4-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks.
Bedard's frustrations which has lead to outrage has fans and analysts talking about his future with the struggling Blackhawks.
The Blackhawks hold a record of 20-38-9, they have 49 points, making them the second-worst team in the NHL.
Bedard, in his second year, isn't shining either. His face-off wins are down to 37.2% from 38.9%, and he has 17 goals and 52 points in 67 games.
Last year as an 18-year old, he had 22 goals and 61 points in 68 games. It's clear he's not improving as hoped.
A Blackhawks team reporter, Phil Thompson, addressed how the former first overall pick is not living up to his potential in Chicago.
«For context, the last couple of Hawks games haven't been pretty, though you could say that about a lot of games this season,» Thompson said. «Bedard finished the last two games with 10-minute misconduct penalties, and he has looked short of the phenom his talent promised to be.
Fans are frustrated, and some are even suggesting a trade, surprisingly the Blackhawks reporter, Thompson, addressed that as well.
Thompson states that it's too early to deem Bedard a trade candidate, but they surely may just do so after next season, if he cannot live up to his potential around a better-talented Blackhawks team, which will be greatly improved this off-season.
"Bedard is still the engine that drives the offense and draws the most attention from defenses, even if other players have been putting up the statistics lately. When the Hawks acquire more legitimate offensive threats, likely through the free agent market or trade, then it'll be fair to scrutinize how he performs next to better talent.»
Next season, the pressure appears to firstly be poured on general manager Kyle Davidson to acquire Bedard skilled teammates, than it is on Bedard to perform at the high level he was projected to, when he was taken first overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
| POLL | ||
MARS 19 | 1007 ANSWERS Trade talks legitimize involving Blackhawks star Connor Bedard If the Blackhawks traded Bedard, what should they look for in return? | ||
| 2 star players plus draft picks | 293 | 29.1 % |
| 1 star and the teams best prospect | 154 | 15.3 % |
| Several players and picks | 125 | 12.4 % |
| Don't trade him | 435 | 43.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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