Has Connor Bedard quietly became underrated ?

[FDBluth]

Absolutely massive failure on Chicago's part. How do you do that to your young star. I mean SJ isn't good yet either but at least they have a few decent players and play a fun style.

It was crazy how they gutted the team in the last few years--basically gave away players for free. Last year the team was basically an AHL team.

This year they're a bit better but they have no identity, no structure, and no players that have any chemistry with each other. Bedard had a bit of chemistry with Kurashev but Kurashev is also good to give you about a -2 every night, and is more cut out to be a skill player in the AHL than an NHL top six.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

It was crazy how they gutted the team in the last few years--basically gave away players for free. Last year the team was basically an AHL team.

This year they're a bit better but they have no identity, no structure, and no players that have any chemistry with each other. Bedard had a bit of chemistry with Kurashev but Kurashev is also good to give you about a -2 every night, and is more cut out to be a skill player in the AHL than an NHL top six.

Some decent depth guys can be available after free agency or on the waiver wire too. Makes me think they want to be as bad as possible again. Dangerous game though, if it affects Bedard long term.

 

[Turin]

When the Pens got Sid they signed Gonchar, Leclair, Palffy, Recchi and had Lemieux.. almost all of whom stunk/got/injured/left/retired but still provided some insulation in theory. Blackhawks need to protect their asset better and overpay if necessary to trade for top six/middle six players.

 

[CallMeShaft]

Absolutely massive failure on Chicago's part. How do you do that to your young star. I mean SJ isn't good yet either but at least they have a few decent players and play a fun style.

Some of it is just luck, or lack of it.

San Jose drafted Will Smith the year before they got Celebrini. They had Eklund in the system too. Both really decent kids with legit top 6 upside. They than added Granlund, who nobody expected would be at a PPG pace at this stage of his career. Also Jake Walman is having a big year, which is a surprise to many, but none more than Stevie Y who stapled a 2nd to Walman in the offseason to unload him.

Hawks didn't luck into getting a defender playing well above what he's been in the past. Nor did any of their old guys have a huge resurgence. And the Hawks didn't have a recent top 5 pick they could ice out there with Bedard. They did trade Kirby Dach, who they picked 3rd in 2019, but they traded him before they got Bedard, and Dach has had significant issues for a few years now. The few guys thought to be top 6 players they signed in the off-season (Teravainen, Bertuzzi) have been mostly quiet.

Hawks' future strength is mostly on the backend right now. Two recent top 10 picks (one being 2nd overall), a bunch of kids not picked top 10 that are excelling, and Vlasic who has already turned into a top pairing guy (though more of the shutdown variety). But defenders take longer.

We could really use a Martone, Hagens, or Misa. Or Schaefer and trade away Korchinski or someone else for forward help.

 

[Brookbank]

Bedard with a 3 pt night in the NHL in December 2024, Brookbank swoopin outchea with the junior stats

I've been ignoring the thread and haven't paid as much attention to Bedards play. Im playing the long game.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Absolutely massive failure on Chicago's part. How do you do that to your young star. I mean SJ isn't good yet either but at least they have a few decent players and play a fun style.

It's not for lack of trying. They added Hall, Teravainen, Bertuzzi etc. No superstars but they should be better than 40 point guys.