Connor Bedard's Breakout Season

0:00On March 25th, the Chicago Black Hawks are having a tough season, sitting 29th in the NHL standings and on track for another top 5 draft. Pick, despite the struggles, there's real hope centered on 20-year-old star Connor Bedard. He's racked up 29 goals and 66 points in just 58 games, proving he's the franchise centerpiece they drafted first overall. Back in 2023, earlier doubts about his game translating to the pros have faded this year. Bedard has boosted his skating speed to a max of 22.36 miles per hour, up from last season's 21.44. He's now in the 87th percentile for Burst over 22 miles per hour and 95th for those between 20 and 22 even. After missing 13 games with an injury, fans and analysts are buzzing about how this speed changes everything for him. At 5-10 and 190 pounds, Bedard uses it to win more puck battles, pressure defenders, and explode in transition.

1:01It creates shooting lanes and has them on pace for 34 goals. Silencing talk that young stars like Macklin Celebrini or Matthew Schaefer have, lapped him, especially given Bedard's thinner supporting cast. Meanwhile, the Black Hawks are building around him with fresh talent. Rookies like Frank Nazar, Ardium Lev Shunov, and Debbie Taunt and Taunt Frendel, Skatey with Bedard this week, while prospects such as Oliver Moore and others, and others, push for spots. More skilled linemates could arrive via the draft or trades next year. Bedard's all-around growth points to 40 or 50 goal seasons and triple digit points soon, laying the groundwork for brighter days ahead in Chicago. Team coverage, power by AI. This is NHL News Today. I'm Corey with The Story.