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Connor Bedard facing criticism for controversial off-season decision
Photo credit: Alex Brandon/AP Photo
Instead of suiting up for Team Canada at the IIHF World Championships, Chicago Blackhawks superstar Connor Bedard will opt to stay home and train, all to a chorus of criticism.
The Chicago Blackhawks finished dead last in the Central Division, with a record of 25-46-11. The bright spot? The youth movement is here, and the future looks bright as long as it develops in the right fashion.
But for Connor Bedard, he's a fiercely competitive hockey player and hasn't been happy with moral victories; he wants to win.
In a puzzling move, instead of trying to win the IIHF World Championships in 2025, Bedard has decided to go home and train.
He could grow his game against his peers in international play, but has since taken his puck and gone home.
As a result, he's facing mounting criticism from pundits and fans alike for not giving us a chance to see him play from May 9th to the 25th.
Who has decided to show up at the World Championships? It's a who's who of prospects, including Macklin Celebrini and Porter Martone. Instead of developing his game, he'll now have to read criticism of his choice from NHL fans across the platform.
Bedard put all of his effort into making this season a better one than in 2023-2024. This year, he dealt with no major injuries, played a full 82-game season, and scored 67 points (23 goals, 44 assists).
«I think the biggest thing is speed and explosiveness is No. 1 for me,» he said. «That's always been my big thing. Just kind of learn about my body a bit and how to keep consistency throughout the year and stuff like that.
»Just try to learn as much as I can. Hopefully it's a successful offseason.»
»Just try to learn as much as I can. Hopefully it's a successful offseason.»
While he's said he wants to develop his game further and build his speed, what better way to develop it than against the best of the best?
| POLL | ||
MAI 9 | 255 ANSWERS Connor Bedard facing criticism for controversial off-season decision Do you think center Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks should be participating in the 2025 IIHF World Championships? | ||
| Yes | 139 | 54.5 % |
| No | 116 | 45.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
