In a league filled with talent and promise, the 2024 Calder Trophy winner, Connor Bedard, is gearing up to make a statement with the Chicago Blackhawks in the upcoming 2024-2025 season. The highly anticipated first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft showed flashes of his superstar potential during his rookie campaign as an 18-year-old on a struggling Blackhawks team. Now, as he enters his age 19 season, the hockey world eagerly awaits to see if Bedard can make the leap to stardom.
The Blackhawks have made some significant additions to their roster for the upcoming season, including forwards Teuvo Teräväinen and Tyler Bertuzzi on multi-year deals. With returning players like Philipp Kurashev and Jason Dickinson, the team is hopeful that these new faces will provide support for Bedard’s development. Last season, it was clear that Bedard was hindered by the team’s lackluster performance, but with a stronger lineup this season, the young star is expected to shine even brighter.
There have been whispers since Bedard was drafted that he could one day become the captain of the Chicago Blackhawks. While some fans thought he would be named captain immediately after being drafted, the team decided to wait. Now, with a season under his belt, the conversation about Bedard wearing the “C” has resurfaced. General manager Kyle Davidson has hinted that a decision could be made in the summer months, indicating that the young phenom may be ready to take on a leadership role.
If Bedard were to be named captain, he would be the youngest in Blackhawks history at just 19 years old, surpassing Jonathan Toews who was named captain at 20. While there are other veteran leaders on the team who could also be considered for the role, the consensus among fans is that Bedard’s captaincy is inevitable at some point in his career.
With a solid rookie season behind him and a revamped lineup in front of him, Connor Bedard is poised to meet the high expectations set for him in his second year in the NHL. As a generational talent, Bedard has the potential to see a significant increase in his production compared to his rookie year. The possibility of him donning the “C” for the Blackhawks only adds to the intrigue surrounding his future with the team. As the hockey world watches with bated breath, one thing is for certain – Connor Bedard is a name to remember in the world of hockey.