There was never any question that the Chicago Blackhawks needed to improve as a team. They have plenty of holes on the roster to fix before they start thinking about chasing Cups again. However, the quickest way to achieve success is to improve internally. They need several of their young guys to start maturing into quality players. At the head of that line is Connor Bedard. Nobody disputes the former #1 pick is the real deal. His talent is unmistakable. However, it is hard not to feel like last season was disappointing.
There was improvement, to be sure—just not as much as hoped. He scored one more goal and five more assists than he did in his rookie season. That wasn't the big step forward many expected. Part of that was the talent around him, but some believe the young player suffered from some poor habits that held him back. His conditioning wasn't always the best, and his preparation didn't reflect an NHL veteran. According to Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff, all of that has changed.
"It sounds like the Blackhawks' strength and conditioning team and their skills coaches have really spent a lot of time with Connor Bedard this summer.
The reports coming from out west appear to be very exciting (for) a guy that has apparently totally revamped his offseason training, and is probably going down the path of undoing a couple years worth of poor habits.
I'm really bullish on what we see from Connor Bedard next.
Apparently, in a short period of time this offseason, he's taken some significant strides, and that's the change that needed to happen in my view."
Connor Bedard is finally starting to become an adult.
Something to always keep in mind is that the Blackhawks brought him in as a literal teenager. He was 18 years old when they drafted him and threw him onto the ice with a team that wasn't good. For all the love Sidney Crosby gets for his immediate breakout in Pittsburgh, he had more help with Mario Lemieux, Mark Recchi, John LeClair, and Sergei Gonchar on the roster. He had plenty of All-Stars and future Hall of Famers around him to help fast-track his development.
Connor Bedard had none of that. The core that led Chicago to championships was already gone by the time he arrived. Duncan Keith and Marian Hossa had retired. Jonathan Toews had to step away due to medical issues. Patrick Kane was traded. Bedard had no guidance. He had to figure it out himself. That meant it would always take more time to find his way. Now, thankfully, it appears he has.
