Connor Bedard didn’t come into the league like another first-overall draft choose. The previous Regina Pats ahead was some of the talked about prospects in NHL historical past. He was thought of among the best gamers to be drafted since Connor McDavid in 2015. When the Chicago Blackhawks drafted him first total final 12 months, his first NHL season could be one in all two tales. Both dwell as much as the expectations or be scrutinized and known as a bust already. Nevertheless, Bedard selected a 3rd alternative. Exceed expectations.
Undisputed Calder Champion
It was no shock to anybody within the Fontainebleau Resort in Las Vegas when Bedard was lastly named the winner of the Calder Trophy, an award given to the season’s greatest rookie. With 61 factors in 68 video games on a struggling Blackhawks workforce, there was no debate that the younger ahead deserved the trophy.
Bedard is aware of the precise achievement is a person award, however he acknowledged that it’s a workforce award as nicely. Celebrating with the individuals who acquired him there may be the primary draw for the rookie.
“It’s a cool honor for positive,” Bedard stated. “There’s lots of people that go into it. I see it as a person award, but it surely’s cool to have a good time it along with your teammates and household with the assistance they’ve put in the direction of it. It’s a cool second for positive.”
On a struggling workforce, it’s necessary to stay near your teammates to maintain going all through the season. A kind of teammates was Philipp Kurashev, Bedard’s linemate for a lot of the season.
“I used to be fortunate to play with him,” Bedard stated. “I performed with him for a lot of the 12 months. It’s good once you construct that chemistry and have a man that you just really feel actually comfy taking part in with.”
Associated: Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard Wins 2024 Calder Memorial Trophy
Nevertheless, Bedard shortly added that the entire workforce helped him get to the place he’s right now. He additionally talked about that this season wasn’t about his particular person achievements. It’s about rising the chemistry that may hopefully assist the Blackhawks return to successful.
“All through the lineup, you might take a look at guys who’ve made massive contributions to our workforce and helped me, so that you don’t play for the person awards,” Bedard stated. “It’s clearly good to get them, however we’re centered on the expansion of our workforce.”
The Blackhawks know that grabbing Bedard at first total and letting him explode into the league final season is the turning level of their rebuild. Now, they’re centered on constructing all of it up once more. They signed key free brokers to encompass Bedard and let him proceed to get even higher subsequent season. Including guys like Tuevo Teravainen and Tyler Bertuzzi, who’re high forwards within the league, will solely let the 18-year-old get higher.
I’m Simply Taking part in Hockey
Even earlier than the Blackhawks drafted Bedard, the entire stress on this planet was positioned on him to avoid wasting no matter franchise he could be drafted by. Whereas he was tearing up the World Juniors with Staff Canada, individuals in contrast him to gamers like Sidney Crosby and McDavid. Many projected him to be the undisputed Calder champion earlier than he even touched the ice with a Blackhawks jersey. For a 17-year-old, the expectations have been sky-high to attempt to assist flip round some of the iconic franchises.
Regardless of the hockey group and the entire world placing him within the highlight, Bedard was simply specializing in hockey. He wasn’t taking note of the huge hype he was receiving. He was simply making an attempt to have enjoyable, which is what he managed to do all through the entire season.
“I’m simply taking part in hockey,” Bedard stated. “There’s loads of stuff that’s out of your management, and that’s not necessary to me. For me, it was enjoyable to play hockey and be with my teammates, with my brothers on daily basis chasing the ball and that’s all I actually deal with. The opposite stuff is what comes with it when you get to a sure degree.”
Bedard’s mindset clearly tuned out all the surface noise. He was by far one of the best rookie of the 12 months and earned reward from NHL gamers like McDavid, Crosby, and others across the league. Now, the expectations are set to rise as the general public seems to see enchancment not simply from Bedard but additionally from the Blackhawks, who completed second to final within the league. Nevertheless, if he performs something like he did this season, he must be simply superb.
Wanting again virtually a 12 months in the past, it’s arduous to consider the pedestal a 17-year-old Bedard was positioned on. Most 17-year-olds have simply graduated highschool and are stressing out about selecting the faculty they wish to go to, not about to be the primary piece of a brand new core for some of the widespread groups within the NHL. To not point out that this younger Blackhawks group is following up among the best groups in current NHL historical past that featured Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.
Nevertheless, flash ahead to the current day, and an 18-year-old Bedard was sitting in entrance of the media in Las Vegas with the Calder trophy, nonetheless unfazed by the quantity of consideration he’s gotten. That second signified that he didn’t simply fulfill the expectations positioned on him prior to now 12 months. He’s exceeded them.
