The Chicago Blackhawks currently sit near the bottom of the NHL standings as the 2024-25 season begins, positioning them for a potential top-three pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. With a record of 7-12-1, they have lost five of their last seven games. One notable player struggling on the ice is their standout center, Connor Bedard.
Bedard, who won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie last season, has registered 15 points in 20 games this year but has only scored three goals, with his last goal coming on October 26. “It’s been a tough stretch, and 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,” Bedard reflected on his recent performance, as reported by NHL.com. He aims to improve with each game and believes good results will eventually come.
Last season, Bedard was productive, leading the Blackhawks in goals, assists, and points while developing a strong rapport with Philipp Kurashev on the top line. This year, however, the lineup has shifted, with Jason Dickinson and Joey Anderson now playing alongside him.
A significant adjustment has seen head coach Luke Richardson shift Bedard to left wing, a transition that makes sense given his struggles in the faceoff circle. Bedard himself expressed comfort with the change, stating, “Yeah, I mean, it’s a lot less work, I feel like, than center. You’re kind of just more about positioning and where to be, and you kind of figure that out playing the position,” according to NHL.com.
When it comes to his individual performance, Bedard admitted he feels frustrated and is eager to improve. “I mean, I could name 100 things. But I don’t know, man. It’s been frustrating, for sure,” he said. “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.”
