Blackhawks and NHL fans have had little over a month of NHL play and a chance to see the future superstar, Connor Bedard. The sample size is extremely small, and so far, he is exactly what he was expected to be in terms of his offensive skills and hockey IQ in the offensive zone.
However, as many know, there are many facets to a superstar's game, and one of them is the ability to play defensively. Some superstars can do it well, while others struggle. Over the past 10 games, it seems that Bedard has much to work on regarding defensive hockey and what to do with the puck when it's not in the offensive zone.
To be fair, his style of play in the WHL was mostly offensive, and defence was not necessarily a key aspect of his game. But as superstars develop and grow as hockey players in the NHL, it will be necessary to have a discussion with Bedard at some point soon, explaining that he will need to become a more well-rounded player.
With the Blackhawks currently in full rebuild mode, they have plenty of time to assess his deficiencies and work with him to address them. After playing 11 games, he has scored five goals with two assists for seven points and has a -8 rating.
