Times have been tough for the Chicago Blackhawks. The Blackhawks haven't won more than 40 games in a season since the 2016-2017 season. They haven't won 30 games since 2019-2020. Many had hoped that the arrival of then-18 year old phenom Connor Bedard would fix all of the teams problems. Once again, hockey proves it isn't a one-player sport, and now the Blackhawks will be selecting in the top five once again.
This isn't on Connor Bedard
Being a player with the talent of Bedard comes with a lot of expectations. With big expectations comes a lot of blame when things don't go the way people expect. However, I don't think Bedard is to blame for the Blackhawks struggles. Bedard is still only 19 years old, and he has 49 points in 58 games this season. Not quite what fans expected in terms of point production, but the rest of the talent on the team has a lot left to be desired. According to a tweet from writer Greg Boysen, Bedard has played with 36 different line combinations in 58 games.
That kind of constant rotation is difficult to play with, especially for a player so young that has a lot to learn. Bedard has had almost no opportunity to build chemistry with his linemates and improve his play from his first season. The best player on the team besides Bedard is Teuvo Teravainen, and he hasn't played with Bedard much this season. With all of the constant change surrounding Bedard, it isn't fair to blame him for the teams disappointing season.
Organizational turnover
The turnover in the organization doesn't make things much better. Head coach Luke Richardson was fired before the new year, just two months into the season. The current interim coach is Andres Sorensen, who will also most likely be let go at seasons end. The NHL has caught up with the rest of the sports world with the way coaches are handled; it's usually two or three seasons, and if major improvement isn't made, that coach is fired. That mindset, while sometimes appropriate, isn't always the best course of action.
The Blackhawks, just like any other sports team, need stability in order to be successful. Without that, no team will find themselves winning a championship, much less even making the playoffs. And now, that despair is starting to get to Bedard. A recent video shows Bedard sitting in the penalty box, completely spaced out. He looks almost completely defeated, and I don't blame him.
What does the future look like?
Even with Bedard on the roster, the future of the team looks super bleak. It's going to take a lot for Chicago to return to their mid 2010s form. The team does have a lot of picks and money to work with, but there's no guarantee that money or picks will be used correctly. Many are now speculating if Bedard will remain with the Blackhawks long term, or if he will leave once his rookie deal is up. Few fans are also questioning if Bedard will request a trade. While I find that highly unlikely, Bedard's future in Chicago does have plenty of question marks, especially if things don't turn around in the next few seasons.