Chicago Blackhawks

Connor Bedard’s Sophomore Slump: What’s Really Going On?

Chicago Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard is not having the season that everyone expected. What’s happening with Bedard and the Blackhawks?

by
Old Prof
December 12, 2024

When Connor Bedard burst onto the NHL scene, fans were quick to pencil him in as the next generational superstar. After a rookie season that teased his enormous potential, the expectation was clear: Bedard was ready to dominate. With offseason additions like Tyler Bertuzzi and the return of Taylor Hall, the Blackhawks seemed poised to give him the support he needed to make the leap that players like Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid did in their second years.

However, none of that now seems like it’s coming to fruition. What’s happening with Bedard?

What’s Holding Bedard Back?

But as the season’s midway point approaches, those lofty dreams feel like a distant memory. The Blackhawks’ Bedard has just five goals. He’s on pace for a modest 61 points—the same as his injury-shortened rookie year. Meanwhile, Chicago is imploding. Hall has been benched, head coach Luke Richardson has been fired, and Bertuzzi has spent more time on other lines than building chemistry with Bedard. To top it off, Bedard barely even entered the conversation for Team Canada at the 4 Nations tournament.

So, what happened? Did the Blackhawks’ plan unravel? Is Bedard hitting a sophomore wall? Or is it something bigger—a reflection of Chicago’s dysfunction spilling over into his development?

Is Bedard in a Sophomore Slump, or Is It a System Failure?

One thing is for sure: Bedard’s season isn’t the breakout everyone anticipated. Instead, it’s raised uncomfortable questions about how the league’s next great hope is being managed. Is he being misused as a defensive grinder? Are the Blackhawks squandering his potential during these critical early years?

It would be a huge mistake to slap the “bust” label on Bedard. He’s still a teenager, but the clock is ticking. If Chicago can’t figure out how to surround him with stability and success, the risk of wasting one of hockey’s brightest talents looms.

Is this a temporary misstep on the road to greatness, or are we watching the beginning of a troubling trend? Let the debate begin.