PRAGUE — Connor Bedard is not satisfied with his rookie season with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Bedard, a Calder Trophy finalist for NHL Rookie of the Year, believes there is plenty of room for improvement for him and his team.
“Obviously we want more success as a group, but that’s what we’re trying to grow and improve every year,” Bedard said during the 2024 IIHF World Championship, where he plays for Canada. “I thought we had made some steps in that regard throughout the year.
“I don’t think I’m too happy personally, too. We’re players. We’re trying to win every game. We’re not thinking about the process or anything like that. We go out there and try to win every game.” “That’s how we look at it and that’s how we approach every game.”
The Blackhawks (23-53-6) were last in the Central Division, 46 points behind the Vegas Golden Knights for the second wild card to the Western Conference Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was the fourth consecutive season that Chicago missed the postseason.
Bedard, the number one pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, will be an important piece in solving this problem.
“He’s a special player,” Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones said of the center. “I think what separates him maybe is his maturity. He’s passionate about the game and loves it very much. He wants to do well and you can see in moments this year when the team wasn’t doing well, he was improving. “A young man 18 year old who scored 22 goals…sometimes it was really all the offense during games. His pitching is already one of the best in the League.”
The 18-year-old led NHL rookies in goals (22) and points (61), and tied for the lead in assists (39) in 68 games; He missed 14 games due to a broken jaw he suffered on January 5.
Bedard led the Blackhawks in scoring and had the most points by a Chicago rookie since Artemi Panarin scored 77 in 2015-16. Panarin was also the last Blackhawks player to win the Calder Trophy.
“I don’t think he’s a guy who gets individual praise,” Jones said. “I don’t get that vibe from him at all. He wants the team to do well and he wants the team to win. He understands that’s going to be a big part of that going forward. Right now, obviously, we want to improve his game individually in certain areas.” aspects, but he wants the team to win.
Playing in the World Championship for the first time, Bedard helped defending champion Canada reach the semifinals, where they lost 3-2 to Switzerland in a penalty shootout on Saturday. They will face Sweden for the bronze medal on Sunday (9 a.m. ET; NHLN, TSN) before Switzerland plays Czechia in the gold medal game (2 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN).
Bedard has eight points (five goals, three assists) in nine games and left a big impression on Toronto Maple Leafs center and Canada teammate John Tavares.
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