Connor Bedard has had several impressive appearances this season, but his performance on March 12 was extraordinary. The rookie phenom scored a goal and four helpers in his first career 5-point game as the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Anaheim Ducks 7-2.
“Is that it? That’s all he has, right?” Bedard’s linemate, Nick Foligno, made a joke after the game. “I am proud of him. I mean, that’s all he can do for us.”
Bedard, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and a leading candidate for rookie of the year, assisted on Tyler Johnson’s power-play goal midway through the third period against the Ducks, giving him a career-high five points in a single game.
Bedard’s Blackhawks keep rolling with their second straight seven-goal game.
Bedard has 8 points (3 goals, 5 assists) over his last two games, including two goals and an assist in Chicago’s 7-4 victory over the Arizona Coyotes on March 10. According to the Blackhawks’ official website, this is the first time the franchise has had consecutive seven-goal games in more than three decades.
The Blackhawks became the first NHL team to be officially eliminated from postseason contention this season on March 9, when the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Detroit Red Wings 5-3 after Chicago’s 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals. Chicago is second-to-last in the NHL standings with 41 points and has failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
However, the Blackhawks, particularly Bedard, have been battling as if there is still something to play for. Bedard’s five-point performance against the Ducks brought his total in the last four games to 10 (3 goals, 7 assists).
“I don’t know,” Bedard remarked when asked to explain the cause for his recent hot streak. “I mean, I always try to approach things with the same mindset and play the same way. I think it’s hilarious because I went eight games without a goal, and then you have a couple of big ones, and people forget about it. I don’t know, I believe I’m just trying to stick to what works, and I’ve been lucky the previous two times to grab a couple.”
Bedard continues to build his case for the Calder Trophy.
At the start of the season, expectations were high for a generational talent like Bedard; but, the 18-year-old wonder has exceeded them.
Bedard leads the Blackhawks and all NHL rookies with 51 points (20 goals, 31 assists) in 52 games this season, while Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber is second with 38 (6 goals, 32 assists). Bedard appears to be a lock for the Calder Trophy, which is awarded annually to the NHL’s best rookie, despite missing more than a month of action earlier this season due to a fractured jaw.
Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson lauded Bedard for “playing the right way” and continuing to develop his defensive game while contributing nearly a point per game.
“That’s what I’m excited about: watching him mature as a young man and a player in this league who will dominate for years to come, but also understanding how he’ll do it,” Foligno said following Bedard’s 5-point performance. “It’s pretty scary because if he starts figuring it out and has nights like this, he’s going to put the whole league on notice.”
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