On one hand, that is the massive leagues. Each participant within the NHL is honest recreation for criticism, and no one is above it — particularly in the event that they make unhealthy performs. However the singling out of Bedard within the Blackhawks scenario simply appears unsuitable.
The Blackhawks should not shedding as a result of Bedard has struggled with a number of the finer facets of two-way hockey or as a result of he hasn’t been exhausting sufficient on pucks or opponents.
They stink and have unhealthy morale as a result of former normal supervisor Stan Bowman did a foul job managing the wage cap and his roster earlier than he was compelled out in shame, and since present normal supervisor Kyle Davidson appears to be in over his head. This can be a unhealthy roster. A really unhealthy roster. It’s a roster that’s nonetheless most likely years away from contending.
When Messier was in his second season within the NHL, he performed on an Oilers workforce that had 5 future Corridor of Famers on it (Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, Glenn Anderson, Paul Coffey and Kevin Lowe) and he was not anticipated to be the point of interest.
Bissonnette entered the NHL as a fighter on a workforce that had Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on it, and no one anticipated something from him aside from to be a roster filler.
Bedard has nothing even remotely near any of that round him in Chicago proper now, whereas additionally carrying the expectation of being the franchise participant. He has principally met, if not exceeded, expectations.
Since coming into the NHL at first of the 2023-24 season, Bedard’s 107 whole factors are 45 greater than another participant on the Blackhawks rosters. He’s the one participant on the workforce who’s a constant risk to provide, and the one participant who has been even price watching.
It is usually honest to level out that he’s nonetheless the second-youngest participant in your entire NHL, forward of solely 2024 No. 1 total decide Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks).
There may be going to be an adjustment interval for him. There are going to be some rising pains. Particularly when the puck will not be on his stick. The actual fact the Blackhawks are relying on a participant that younger, with so little expertise, to be the participant they appear to for all-around play and dominance is a testomony to each how gifted he’s and the way unhealthy the remainder of the roster is.
He isn’t an entire participant but. However he additionally should not be anticipated to be one at this level. Most gamers his age are nonetheless taking part in junior hockey, school hockey or minor league hockey and should not anyplace close to the NHL. The actual fact he’s within the NHL and scoring the best way he has been ought to be an enormous signal of encouragement for the Blackhawks.
There may be additionally a lot to criticize about this Blackhawks workforce and the group as an entire. It simply principally resides within the entrance workplace.
Bedard may be higher away from the puck. He additionally most likely will probably be as he positive factors extra expertise. The workforce will also be higher in giving him some precise assistance on the ice.
